The State Bank of India (SBI) has officially released the Preliminary Examination Call Letter for the recruitment of Junior Associates (Customer Support & Sales). Candidates who registered for the 9,124 regular and backlog clerical vacancies under Advertisement No. CRPD/CR/SPLDrive/2026-27/17 can now download their admit card directly from the official portal.

The preliminary online exam is scheduled to take place on 26 and 27 September 2026 across multiple shifts nationwide. To help you seamlessly navigate exam day, this guide provides the direct download link, shift schedules, mandatory document checklists, and actionable last-minute revision tips.

SBI Junior Associate Recruitment 2026: Executive Overview

Important Timeline & Key Dates

Keeping track of the timeline ensures you don't miss any critical steps before stepping into the exam hall:

[11 Aug 2026] ──> Registration Started
[31 Aug 2026] ──> Application Window Closed
[15 Sep 2026] ──> PET Call Letter Released (Reserved Categories)
[21 Sep 2026] ──> Official Prelims Admit Card Out
[26-27 Sep 2026] ──> SBI Clerk Prelims Online Exam

• Online Application Window: 11 August 2026 to 31 August 2026
• Pre-Examination Training (PET) Call Letter: 15 September 2026
• Prelims Admit Card Download Window: 21 September 2026 to 27 September 2026
• SBI Clerk Prelims Exam Dates: 26 & 27 September 2026
• Mains Examination Date: Expected in November 2026

Category-Wise Vacancy Breakup

SBI announced a massive total of 9,124 positions for the 2026 recruitment drive. Here is how the seats are distributed across different categories:

• General (Unreserved): 3,253 Posts
• Other Backward Classes (OBC): 1,716 Posts
• Scheduled Castes (SC): 1,114 Posts
• Scheduled Tribes (ST): 837 Posts
• Economically Weaker Section (EWS): 760 Posts
• Backlog Vacancies: 1,444 Posts

Step-by-Step: How to Download Your SBI Clerk Admit Card

Downloading your call letter only takes a couple of minutes. Make sure you have your Registration Number / Roll Number and Password / Date of Birth (DD-MM-YYYY) ready.

1. Access the Official Portal: Go to SBI's career website at sbi.bank.in/web/careers.
2. Locate the Notice: Click on the Current Openings tab at the top right corner.
3. Select Recruitment: Scroll down to "RECRUITMENT OF JUNIOR ASSOCIATES (CUSTOMER SUPPORT & SALES) (Advt No. CRPD/CR/SPLDrive/2026-27/17)".
4. Open Login Screen: Click on the link titled "Download Preliminary Exam Call Letter".
5. Enter Credentials: Choose your preferred language (English/Hindi), enter your Registration Number, and input your DOB or Password.
6. Submit & Print: Input the CAPTCHA code and click Submit. Your admit card will appear on the screen. Download the PDF and print at least two copies on clean A4 paper.

Exam Day Timings & Shift Schedule

The SBI Clerk Preliminary Exam 2026 will be held across four distinct shifts each day. Arriving on time is crucial to completing biometric verification smoothly.

Pro-Tip: Plan your travel to arrive at least 45 minutes before the reporting time printed on your individual admit card to account for security checks and registration formalities.

SBI Clerk Prelims Exam Pattern 2026

The preliminary exam is an objective online test totaling 100 marks with a fixed duration of 60 minutes. Each section carries an independent 20-minute timer.

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ SBI CLERK PRELIMS PATTERN │
├───────────────────┬──────────────┬──────────────┬───────────┤
│ Section │ Questions │ Marks │ Duration │
├───────────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼───────────┤
│ English Language │ 30 Questions │ 30 Marks │ 20 Mins │
│ Numerical Ability │ 35 Questions │ 35 Marks │ 20 Mins │
│ Reasoning Ability │ 35 Questions │ 35 Marks │ 20 Mins │
├───────────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼───────────┤
│ TOTAL │ 100 Questions│ 100 Marks │ 60 Mins │
└───────────────────┴──────────────┴──────────────┴───────────┤

Important Marking Rules:

• Negative Marking: $0.25$ marks (1/4th) will be deducted for every incorrect response.
• No Sectional Cut-Off: SBI does not enforce sectional minimum qualifying marks for the Prelims round. Your aggregate score determines whether you qualify for the Mains exam.
• Section Timing: You cannot jump between sections; the test automatically transitions after 20 minutes.

Mandatory Documents Checklist for Exam Day

To ensure hassle-free entry into the examination center, keep these essential items prepared in a single folder:

1. Printed Admit Card: A clear hard copy of your SBI Clerk Prelims Admit Card with a recent passport-sized photograph affixed in the designated box.
2. Original Photo ID Proof: Bring one valid, government-issued photo identity proof (Aadhaar Card, PAN Card, Passport, Driving License, or Voter ID).
3. Photocopy of Photo ID: A clear photocopy of the same photo ID staple-pinned to your call letter.
4. Extra Photographs: Bring 2 to 3 passport-sized photographs matching the picture uploaded in your application form.
5. Stationery: Simple blue or black ballpoint pens for rough work.

Expert Last-Minute Exam Strategy (Score +10 Marks)

With only a few days remaining before the exam, pushing your scores higher relies on tactical smart work rather than learning new topics:

1. English Language (Target: 22+ Marks)

• Focus heavily on Reading Comprehension (RC). Tackle direct vocabulary-based questions first before answering theme-based questions.
• Practice Error Spotting and Cloze Tests. If an error isn't clear within 20 seconds, skip it to avoid negative marking.

2. Numerical Ability (Target: 25+ Marks)

• Secure "easy pickings" first: Simplification/Approximation (10-15 questions), Quadratic Equations (5 questions), and Number Series (5 questions).
• Move to Data Interpretation (DI) sets second, leaving single arithmetic word problems for last.

3. Reasoning Ability (Target: 28+ Marks)

• Clear speed-booster topics first: Syllogisms, Inequalities, Coding-Decoding, and Blood Relations.
• Attempt Puzzles and Seating Arrangement sets only after securing baseline marks. If a puzzle gets stuck after 2 minutes, abandon it and come back later.

Essential Portal Links