All Exams Test series for 1 year @ ₹349 only

SBI Clerk Eligibility Criteria 2026: Check Age Limit & Qualification

Paulami Chandra

Feb 5, 2026

SBI Clerk Eligibility 2026 is one of the most important aspects candidates must carefully check before applying for the Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales) post. State Bank of India has set specific eligibility conditions in terms of age, educational qualification, language proficiency, and background requirements. Whether you're a graduate, a final-year student, an ex-serviceman, or someone from a reserved category, it's essential to understand if you're eligible before filling out the application form. Only those who meet all the criteria should apply for SBI Clerk 2026.

SBI Clerk 2026 Age Limit

To apply for SBI Clerk 2026 exam, candidates must meet the prescribed age criteria as on 1 April 2026. The minimum age limit is 20 years, and the maximum age limit is 28 years. This means candidates must have been born not earlier than 2 April 1997 and not later than 1 April 2005 (both dates inclusive). Any candidate falling outside this age bracket is not eligible to apply unless they fall under a reserved category that allows age relaxation.

SBI Clerk 2026 Age Relaxation

Candidates belonging to certain reserved categories are eligible for relaxation in the upper age limit as per government guidelines. Here is the category-wise age relaxation:

Category Age Relaxation
OBC (Other Backward Classes – Non-Creamy Layer) 3 years
SC/ST (Scheduled Castes / Scheduled Tribes) 5 years
PwBD – General / EWS 10 years
PwBD – OBC 13 years
PwBD – SC/ST 15 years
Ex-Servicemen (including Disabled Ex-Servicemen) Actual service rendered + 3 years (max 50 years)
Widows, Divorced Women, and Judicially Separated Women (Unmarried) Up to 7 years (max age: 35 for Gen/EWS, 38 for OBC, 40 for SC/ST)
Trained Apprentices of SBI (joined on/after 01.01.2022) GEN/EWS – 1 year
OBC 4 years
SC/ST 6 years
PwBD GEN/EWS 11 years
PwBD OBC 14 years
PwBD SC/ST 16 years

Important Notes:

  • Cumulative age relaxation is not allowed.
  • Supporting documents and certificates must be submitted at the time of joining, not during the application.
  • For SBI-trained apprentices, the relaxation is applicable only if their training is completed satisfactorily before 26 August 2026 and a valid certificate is available.

SBI Clerk 2026 Educational Qualification

To be eligible for the SBI Clerk 2026 exam, candidates must meet the minimum educational qualification set by the State Bank of India.

  • Candidates must have a graduation degree in any discipline from a recognized university or an equivalent qualification recognized by the Central Government.
  • The date of passing the qualifying examination must be on or before 31 December 2026.
  • If the candidate is awarded a CGPA/OGPA, they must convert it into a percentage using the conversion formula provided by their university. This percentage must be mentioned in the application.
  • If a candidate holds a dual degree, they must ensure that the date of passing both degrees is on or before 31 December 2026.
  • Selected candidates will be required to present their original mark sheets or degree certificates during the document verification stage.
  • Those who do not have a valid proof of graduation on or before the cut-off date will be disqualified, even if they clear the exams.

SBI Clerk 2026 Eligibility for Ex-Servicemen

SBI Clerk 2026 provides special eligibility provisions for Ex-Servicemen, including disabled Ex-Servicemen and those with equivalent qualifications from the armed forces. These candidates can apply under the Ex-Servicemen (ExSM) category, subject to certain rules.

  • Ex-Servicemen who have already secured employment under the Central/State Government using the benefits of reservation for ExSM are not eligible for further reservation under this category.
  • Those re-employed in government jobs after military service and earning pension benefits will also not be considered Ex-Servicemen for further employment.
  • Ex-Servicemen are eligible for age relaxation of actual military service rendered plus 3 years, subject to a maximum upper age limit of 50 years.

SBI Clerk 2026 Eligibility for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD)

The State Bank of India reserves a portion of clerical vacancies for candidates falling under the Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) category. To apply under the PwBD category for SBI Clerk 2026, a candidate must:

  • Have a benchmark disability of 40% or more, as defined under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
  • Possess a valid disability certificate issued by a competent medical authority.
  • Fulfill the educational qualification, i.e., a graduation degree in any discipline from a recognised university, passed on or before 31 December 2026.

Eligible Disability Categories:

PwBD candidates may belong to one or more of the following disability types:

  1. Locomotor Disability (LD): Including cerebral palsy, dwarfism, muscular dystrophy, acid attack victims.
  2. Visual Impairment (VI): Blindness or low vision.
  3. Hearing Impairment (HI): Deaf or hard of hearing.
  4. Intellectual & Mental Illness: Autism spectrum disorder, specific learning disability, mental illness.
  5. Multiple Disabilities: A combination of the above types.

Relaxations Available for PwBD Candidates

  • PwBD candidates with limitations in writing (e.g., visual or locomotor impairments) can use a scribe.
  • A scribe must not be more qualified than the candidate.
  • Such candidates are also entitled to additional time during the exam, as per official guidelines.
  • SBI allows the use of assistive tools such as magnifying lenses, hearing aids, or wheelchair access, depending on the candidate’s disability.
  • Visually impaired candidates can request enlarged font question papers for better readability.
  • Eligible PwBD candidates can opt for free online pre-exam training during registration.

Local Language Proficiency Requirement

One of the key eligibility conditions for the SBI Clerk 2026 recruitment is proficiency in the local language of the State or Union Territory the candidate is applying for. This ensures that selected candidates are able to communicate effectively with local customers and perform region-specific clerical tasks.

How to Prove Local Language Proficiency?

Candidates can meet this requirement in two ways:

  1. Through Academic Records: If the candidate has studied the local language as a subject in their 10th or 12th standard, and it is mentioned in their mark sheet or certificate, they will be exempted from taking the language test.
  2. Through a Language Test:
    • If the candidate hasn’t studied the local language in school, they must appear for a Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT) conducted after selection but before joining.
    • This test will assess the candidate's reading, writing, speaking, and comprehension of the selected language.

Notes:

  • Failing the local language test will result in cancellation of the candidate’s offer, even if they clear all other stages.
  • The LLPT is not part of the main selection process and is only conducted for those who cannot prove language proficiency through school records.

SBI Clerk Eligibility 2026 FAQs

Ques: Can a diploma holder apply for SBI Clerk 2026 exam?

Ans: No, candidates must have a graduation degree in any discipline from a recognised university. A diploma alone does not meet the educational eligibility criteria for SBI Clerk 2026 exam.

Ques: Is there any minimum percentage required in graduation for SBI Clerk 2026 exam?

Ans: No, SBI has not set any minimum percentage in graduation. Candidates only need to pass their degree course before 31 December 2026 to be eligible for SBI Clerk 2026 exam.

Ques: Can a candidate apply for SBI Clerk 2026 exam from a different state than their residence?

Ans: Yes, you can apply for SBI Clerk 2026 exam from any state or UT, but you must be proficient in that region’s local language and fulfill all other eligibility conditions.

Ques: Are candidates awaiting final semester results eligible for SBI Clerk 2026 exam?

Ans: Yes, such candidates can apply provisionally, but they must pass and submit their final graduation proof on or before December 31, 2026.

Ques: Is there a limit on how many times one can appear for SBI Clerk 2026 exam?

Ans: SBI does not mention a fixed number of attempts, but candidates must meet age criteria and other eligibility rules for each application.

*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.
How likely are you to recommend Prepp.in to a friend or a colleague?
Not so likely
Highly likely

Comments

No comments to show
SBI Clerk 2025-26 (Prelims + Mains) Online Test Series
Quizzes
Free
26th February 2026 Daily CA Quiz for Banking Special
5 Minutes
5 Questions
5 Marks
English, Hindi, Telugu +7 More
EASY
Attempted by 335 aspirants in 12 hours
Free
25th February 2026 Daily CA Quiz for Banking Special
5 Minutes
5 Questions
5 Marks
English, Hindi, Telugu +7 More
EASY
Attempted by 316 aspirants in 12 hours
View More
Full Tests
plus
Full Test - 30 : SBI Clerk (Prelims)
60 Minutes
100 Questions
100 Marks
English, Hindi
EASY
Attempted by 36 aspirants in 12 hours
plus
Full Test - 29 : SBI Clerk (Prelims)
60 Minutes
100 Questions
100 Marks
English, Hindi
EASY
Attempted by 30 aspirants in 12 hours
Previous Year Papers
plus
SBI Clerk Prelims Memory Based Paper (Held On: 22 FEB 2025)
60 Minutes
100 Questions
100 Marks
130,653 Attempted
Hindi, English
EASY
Attempted by 104 aspirants in 12 hours
plus
SBI Clerk Prelims Memory Based Paper (Held On: 19 Nov 2022 Shift 2)
60 Minutes
100 Questions
100 Marks
29,710 Attempted
Hindi, English
EASY
Attempted by 23 aspirants in 12 hours
View More