SBI Clerk 2026 — Complete Junior Associate Prelims Course

The State Bank of India recruits Junior Associates — its clerical cadre — through one of the largest banking examinations in the country. For many candidates it is the most realistic first entry into a public-sector banking career, and the volume of applicants makes the competition intense even though the paper itself is not. Prelims is 100 questions for 100 marks in 60 minutes, split into three sections of 20 minutes each: English Language (30 questions), Numerical Ability (35) and Reasoning Ability (35). Marking is +1 for a correct answer and −0.25 for a wrong one, with no penalty for questions left blank. The paper is deliberately easier than SBI PO, and that is precisely what makes it demanding. When questions are straightforward, almost everyone attempts almost everything, so cutoffs climb and the exam stops rewarding cleverness and starts rewarding accuracy and speed. A single careless error costs more here than a hard question ever will — this course is built around that reality. Eligibility & who can join: • A bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university, or an equivalent qualification recognised by the Central Government. • Age limits are typically in a 20–28 band as on the notified cut-off date, with relaxations for OBC, SC/ST, PwBD and ex-servicemen candidates as per the official notification. • Recruitment is state-wise, and candidates are usually expected to be proficient in the official language of the state or union territory they apply to. • Always confirm eligibility, state-wise vacancies and dates against the official notification at sbi.co.in/careers. How the course is structured: The syllabus is taught section by section, exactly as the paper is administered, with topics ordered by their real previous-year question share. Because each section is capped at 20 minutes and the questions are not individually hard, teaching emphasises accuracy under speed rather than advanced technique — simplification, number series and arithmetic word problems together make up the bulk of Numerical Ability, and puzzles the bulk of Reasoning. Every chapter test runs against a per-section clock from the beginning. SBI normally notifies Clerk recruitment once a year on a state-wise basis; always confirm dates and vacancy details against the official notification.