SBI Clerk (Junior Associate) 2026 eligibility — age limit, qualification, relaxation
This page collects who can apply for SBI Clerk (Junior Associate) (SBI Clerk — Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales), Clerical Cadre), conducted by State Bank of India (SBI): the age limit for each group of posts, the educational qualification, nationality rules and the age relaxation for each category. It is built from the same verified data as the SBI Clerk (Junior Associate) guide, which also carries the 2026 cycle status and dates.
✓ Data verified 6 Oct 2026
Age limit
| Posts | Age limit |
|---|---|
| Junior Associate | 20 to 28 years as on 1 April 2026 (born not earlier than 2 April 1998 and not later than 1 April 2006) |
Age relaxation by category
| Category | Relaxation |
|---|---|
| OBC (non-creamy layer) | +3 years |
| SC / ST | +5 years |
| PwBD (Gen/EWS) | +10 years |
| PwBD (OBC) | +13 years |
| PwBD (SC/ST) | +15 years |
| Ex-servicemen / Disabled ex-servicemen | Actual defence service period + 3 years (8 years for disabled ex-servicemen belonging to SC/ST), subject to a maximum age of 50 years |
| Widows, divorced women, women judicially separated and not remarried | +7 years (maximum age 35 for General/EWS, 38 for OBC, 40 for SC/ST) |
| Trained Apprentices of SBI | +1 year (Gen/EWS), +4 (OBC), +6 (SC/ST); PwBD +11/+14/+16. Applies only to apprentices whose engagement started on or after 1 January 2022 and who completed one year of specified branch experience in SBI by 31 August 2026 |
Educational qualification
| Posts / situation | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales) | Graduation in any discipline from a recognised University, or any equivalent qualification recognised by the Central Government, as on 31 December 2026. Final-year/semester students may apply provisionally but must produce proof of passing on or before 31 December 2026. Integrated dual degree (IDD) candidates must have the passing date on or before 31 December 2026. |
| Ex-servicemen without a degree | Matriculate ex-servicemen who obtained the Indian Army Special Certificate of Education (or the corresponding Navy/Air Force certificate) after at least 15 years of service in the Armed Forces are also eligible; the certificate must be dated on or before 31 December 2026. |
Nationality
Eligible Indian Citizens (the advertisement's wording), as per the standard central recruitment clauses of the notice.
Important notes on eligibility
Cumulative age relaxation is not available across categories. Local language proficiency (reading, writing, speaking and understanding) in the specified language of the State/UT applied for is essential and is tested before joining; a Class 10 or 12 marksheet showing the language exempts you from the test. OBC candidates need a non-creamy-layer certificate issued between 1 April 2026 and the date of joining. EWS candidates need the Income and Asset Certificate for FY 2025-26, valid for 2026-27. Serving or resigned SBI clerical-cadre employees are not eligible. Candidates against whom there is an adverse report on character and antecedents are not eligible.
How to read these eligibility rules
The cut-off date decides your age. Your age is not measured on the day you apply or the day of the exam. It is measured on one fixed date written in the notification.
Relaxation is added to the upper limit only. A category relaxation raises the maximum age, not the minimum. The calculator adds the number of years for the category you pick and shows the resulting birth-date window per post group.
Your date of birth is taken from your certificate. Age is checked against the date of birth on your Class 10 / matriculation certificate, so use that date rather than the one on any other document.
Education is checked separately. Meeting the age limit does not make you eligible on its own. Check the qualification table above for your post, including any row about final-year students or candidates who are still waiting for a result.
The notification always wins. Where the official notification differs from this page, follow the notification.
Documents that prove age and qualification
For the application: recent passport photograph (4.5 x 3.5 cm, 20-50 kb; retain at least 8 copies of the same photo, it is needed at every stage), scanned signature (10-20 kb), left thumb impression (or the right thumb if needed) and the hand-written declaration in English. At the exam: the prelims call letter (get it authenticated at the centre and retain it for the mains), an original photo ID (passport, Aadhaar, PAN, driving licence, voter card, bank passbook with photo, or school/college ID) with a self-attested photocopy, and two additional photographs identical to the one on the call letter. At verification and joining: Class 10 or 12 marksheet/certificate proving study of the opted local language (if claiming exemption from the language test), graduation marksheets and degree (proof of passing needed by 31 December 2026), category certificates (SC/ST on the central government format; OBC non-creamy-layer certificate issued between 1 April 2026 and joining; EWS Income and Asset Certificate for FY 2025-26, valid for 2026-27), PwBD disability certificate issued by the competent authority, and ex-servicemen documents (discharge book, or Proforma B/C/D for serving personnel) where applicable. SBI may capture thumb impression or IRIS biometrics at various stages, so keep your hands free of mehendi, ink or chemicals.
SBI Clerk (Junior Associate) eligibility — overview
In one line: the basic educational requirement is Graduation + local language proficiency, and the age limit is 20 to 28 years as on 1 April 2026 (born not earlier than 2 April 1998 and not later than 1 April 2006).
SBI Clerk (Junior Associate) eligibility — FAQs
What is the age limit for SBI Clerk (Junior Associate)?
Junior Associate: 20 to 28 years as on 1 April 2026 (born not earlier than 2 April 1998 and not later than 1 April 2006). The official notification's own age table is final.
What educational qualification is required for SBI Clerk (Junior Associate)?
Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales): Graduation in any discipline from a recognised University, or any equivalent qualification recognised by the Central Government, as on 31 December 2026. Final-year/semester students may apply provisionally but must produce proof of passing on or before 31 December 2026. Integrated dual degree (IDD) candidates must have the passing date on or before 31 December 2026.; Ex-servicemen without a degree: Matriculate ex-servicemen who obtained the Indian Army Special Certificate of Education (or the corresponding Navy/Air Force certificate) after at least 15 years of service in the Armed Forces are also eligible; the certificate must be dated on or before 31 December 2026..
How much age relaxation is given in SBI Clerk (Junior Associate)?
OBC (non-creamy layer): +3 years; SC / ST: +5 years; PwBD (Gen/EWS): +10 years; PwBD (OBC): +13 years; PwBD (SC/ST): +15 years; Ex-servicemen / Disabled ex-servicemen: Actual defence service period + 3 years (8 years for disabled ex-servicemen belonging to SC/ST), subject to a maximum age of 50 years; Widows, divorced women, women judicially separated and not remarried: +7 years (maximum age 35 for General/EWS, 38 for OBC, 40 for SC/ST); Trained Apprentices of SBI: +1 year (Gen/EWS), +4 (OBC), +6 (SC/ST); PwBD +11/+14/+16. Applies only to apprentices whose engagement started on or after 1 January 2022 and who completed one year of specified branch experience in SBI by 31 August 2026. Relaxation is added to the upper age limit; see the notes below the table for the rules that apply to this exam.