The SBI Junior Associate notifications set no limit on the number of attempts. You can keep applying in every cycle as long as you meet the age and other eligibility conditions, but only once per recruitment.
The SBI Clerk (Junior Associate) notification does not limit the number of attempts. The only practical limit is age: you can apply in every recruitment cycle until you cross the upper age limit for your category (28 for General/EWS, 31 for OBC, 33 for SC/ST, with further relaxations for PwBD, ex-servicemen and some others).
The two rules that do apply
- Once per recruitment: the 2026 notification says candidates can appear for the test only once under a recruitment project. If you submit more than one application, only the last valid completed application is kept and the fee paid for the others is forfeited. Appearing more than once leads to rejection.
- Current SBI clerks cannot apply: candidates already working in SBI in the clerical cadre are not eligible. Former SBI employees who resigned while in the clerical cadre are not eligible either.
Clerk and PO are different on attempts
Do not mix up SBI Clerk with SBI PO. The SBI PO 2026 notification (CRPD/PO/2026-27/09) does limit chances:
| Category | SBI PO maximum chances (2026) | SBI Clerk |
|---|---|---|
| General / EWS | 6 | No limit stated |
| OBC and PwBD (General/EWS/OBC) | 9 | No limit stated |
| SC / ST | No restriction | No limit stated |
For PO, appearing in the Main exam counts as a chance; appearing only in Prelims does not.
How many cycles can you realistically get?
SBI held three Junior Associate recruitments between December 2024 and August 2026, but the gap between cycles varies. A General candidate who starts at 21 could see several cycles before turning 28, though nothing guarantees a notification every year.
- SBI Junior Associates 2026 detailed advertisement (CRPD/CR/2026-27/17)
- SBI PO 2026 detailed advertisement (CRPD/PO/2026-27/09)
Rules can change with each notification. Confirm on sbi.bank.in/web/careers.
More eligibility questions
- What is the age limit for SBI Clerk?You must be at least 20 and not more than 28 years old on the cut-off date. In the 2026 notification the cut-…→
- How much age relaxation do OBC, SC, ST and PwBD candidates get in SBI Clerk?As per the 2026 notification, the upper age limit of 28 is relaxed by 3 years for OBC (non-creamy layer), 5 y…→
- What is the age relaxation for ex-servicemen in SBI Clerk?Ex-servicemen get relaxation equal to their actual period of service in the defence forces plus 3 years (8 ye…→
- Do widows and divorced women get age relaxation in SBI Clerk?Yes. Widows, divorced women and women judicially separated from their husbands who have not remarried get 7 y…→
- Can final-year students apply for SBI Clerk?Yes. Students in the final year or final semester of graduation can apply provisionally, but if selected they…→
- What minimum percentage in graduation is required for SBI Clerk?No minimum percentage is required. The notification asks only for graduation in any discipline from a recogni…→