Every year, the State Bank of India (SBI) conducts the SBI Clerk (Junior Associate) exam to recruit candidates for clerical positions at all of its Indian branches. This test is highly competitive, with thousands of applicants taking it. Campaigners have to completely understand the SBI Clerk syllabus, examination format, and topic-wise weighting to pass the exam.
SBI Clerk 2026 – Selection Process Overview
The selection process for SBI Clerk 2026 consists of three key stages
1. Preliminary Examination (Prelims)
2 .Main Examination (Mains)
3 .Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT)
Who must appear: Candidates who have not studied the prescribed local language of the state they apply for (in Class 10th or 12th).
SBI Clerk 2026 – Exam Pattern
SBI Clerk Preliminary Exam Pattern
The Prelims exam is a qualifying stage and is designed to test basic aptitude skills.
| Section | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Time Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Numerical Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 1 Hour |
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The exam is objective in nature
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Negative marking: 0.25 marks deducted for each wrong answer
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Marks of Prelims are not added to final merit but are mandatory for qualification
Latest Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026
SBI Clerk 2026 – Main Exam Pattern
The Main exam decides the final merit list.
| Section | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Time Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| General / Financial Awareness | 50 | 50 | 35 minutes |
| General English | 40 | 40 | 35 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 50 | 50 | 45 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude | 50 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| Total | 190 | 200 | 2 Hours 40 Minutes |
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Objective-type questions
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Negative marking applicable (0.25 marks)
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Basics of Computers
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Hardware & Software
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Internet & Networking
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MS Office
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Computer Shortcuts
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Operating Systems
The computer section is combined with Reasoning
SBI Clerk Syllabus 2026
English Language Syllabus (Prelims & Mains)
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Reading Comprehension
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Cloze Test
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Fill in the Blanks
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Sentence Rearrangement / Para Jumbles
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Error Spotting
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Sentence Correction
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Vocabulary (Synonyms, Antonyms)
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Idioms & Phrases
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Word Usage
Level of difficulty is higher in Mains compared to Prelims.
Numerical Ability / Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus
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Simplification & Approximation
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Number Series
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Data Interpretation (Table, Bar Graph, Pie Chart)
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Percentage
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Ratio & Proportion
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Profit & Loss
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Simple & Compound Interest
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Time & Work
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Time, Speed & Distance
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Mensuration
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Average
Mains Level (Additional Topics)
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Caselet DI
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Missing DI
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Quadratic Equations
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Data Sufficiency
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Probability
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Permutation & Combination
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Algebra basics
Reasoning Ability Syllabus
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Puzzles
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Seating Arrangement
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Syllogism
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Coding–Decoding
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Blood Relations
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Direction Sense
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Order & Ranking
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Inequalities
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Alphanumeric Series
Mains Level (Additional Topics)
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Logical Reasoning
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Data Sufficiency
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Coded Inequalities
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Input–Output
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Statement & Assumptions
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Course of Action
General / Financial Awareness (Mains Only)
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Current Affairs (Last 6–8 Months)
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Banking Awareness
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Financial & Economic News
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RBI Functions & Policies
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Static GK (Banking-related)
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Government Schemes
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Budget & Economic Survey (basic facts)
Computer Aptitude (Mains Only)
SBI Clerk Prelims — Topic-wise Weightage
Reasoning Ability
| Topic | Approx. Weightage |
|---|---|
| Puzzles & Seating Arrangement | 15–25 questions (very high) |
| Syllogism | 3–5 |
| Inequality | 2–5 |
| Coding-Decoding | 0–5 |
| Alphanumeric / Series | 0–5 |
| Direction & Distance | 1–3 |
| Blood Relation | 0–4 |
| Miscellaneous | 1–5 |
Focus: Puzzles & arrangements dominate; start here.
Quantitative Aptitude
| Topic | Approx. Weightage |
|---|---|
| Arithmetic (Profit & Loss, Time & Work, Ratio, % etc.) | 8–15 |
| Simplification / Approximation | 8–13 |
| Data Interpretation (DI) | 5–10 |
| Number Series / Missing Series | 0–6 |
| Quadratic Equations | 0–6 |
English Language
| Topic | Approx. Weightage |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 7–10 |
| Error Detection / Spotting | 3–6 |
| Para Jumbles | 0–6 |
| Fillers / Phrase Replacement | 0–5 |
| Cloze Test | 5–8 |
SBI Clerk Mains — Topic-wise Weightage
Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude
| Topic | Approx. Weightage |
|---|---|
| Puzzles & Seating Arrangement | 15–20 |
| Logical Reasoning | 9–15 |
| Data Sufficiency | 3–4 |
| Coding-Decoding | 4–5 |
| Alphanumeric Series | 3–5 |
| Machine Input-Output | 5 |
| Blood Relations | 3 |
| Direction / Inequalities | 2–3 |
Quantitative Aptitude
| Topic | Approx. Weightage |
|---|---|
| Data Interpretation & Caselet DI | 15–20 |
| Arithmetic (Time/Work, Profit & Loss etc.) | 6–12 |
| Number Series | 5–6 |
| Simplification | 5 |
| Data Sufficiency | 3 |
| Quantity Comparison | 2–5 |
| Miscellaneous | 3–5 |
English Language
| Topic | Approx. Weightage |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 12–16 |
| Para Jumbles | 5–6 |
| Error Spotting | 4–6 |
| Fillers | 4–9 |
| Misspelt / Words | 2–5 |
| Match the Column / Word Usage | 2–5 |
General / Financial Awareness
| Topic | Approx. Weightage |
|---|---|
| Current Affairs | 15–20 |
| Banking Awareness | 10–15 |
| Economy, Business & Finance | 10–15 |
SBI Clerk 2026 FAQs
Q.What’s the selection process for SBI Clerk ?
Ans: The SBI Clerk selection process consists of three stages
- Primary Examination
- 2. Main Examination
- LPT
Q. What is the syllabus for the SBI Clerk Prelims examination test?
Ans :The SBI Clerk Prelims examination syllabus includes three subjects
- English Language
- Numerical Capability
- logic Capability
- Important topics include Reading Comprehension, , Number Series,Data Interpretation, Puzzles, Seating Arrangement, and Simplification.