State Bank of India (SBI), the country’s largest public sector bank, has announced a massive recruitment drive for young job aspirants looking to build a career in the banking sector. The bank has invited online applications for a total of 7,150 Apprentice posts across various branches in India.
The recruitment notification has generated huge interest among graduates seeking government-backed banking opportunities, especially because successful candidates will receive practical banking training along with future advantages in SBI recruitment processes.
Total Vacancies and Educational Qualifications
Through this recruitment notification, SBI aims to fill 7,150 Apprentice vacancies nationwide.
Candidates applying for the apprenticeship programme must possess a graduation degree in any discipline from a recognised university or equivalent institution. The bank has clarified that applicants from all academic backgrounds are eligible as long as they meet the graduation requirement.
Additionally, candidates must be proficient in the official local language of the state for which they are applying. Applicants should be able to read, write, speak, and understand the regional language fluently.
Age Limit and Relaxation
As per the official notification, the candidate’s age should be between 20 and 28 years as of April 1, 2026.
This means applicants must have been born between April 2, 1998 and April 1, 2006.
Age relaxation will be provided to reserved category candidates according to government norms:
- SC/ST candidates
- OBC candidates
- Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD)
The exact relaxation details will be applicable as per SBI and the Government of India recruitment guidelines.
Selection Process and Exam Pattern
The final selection will be based on:
- Online written examination
- Local language proficiency test
The online examination is expected to be conducted in July 2026.
Online Exam Structure
The written exam will consist of 100 questions carrying 100 marks in total. Questions will be asked from the following sections:
- General/Financial Awareness
- General English
- Quantitative Aptitude
- Reasoning Ability
- Computer Aptitude
Each section will contain 25 questions.
Except for the General English section, the remaining sections can be attempted in English, Hindi, or the regional language selected by the candidate for the respective state.
SBI has also confirmed that there will be negative marking in the examination. For every incorrect answer, one-fourth marks (0.25) will be deducted.
Exemption From Local Language Test
Candidates shortlisted through the written examination will have to appear for a local language proficiency test.
However, applicants who can produce proof that they studied the specified local language in Class 10 or Class 12 will be exempted from the language test.
This rule is intended to ensure that selected apprentices can comfortably communicate with customers in regional branches.
Training Period, Stipend and Career Benefits
Selected candidates will undergo apprenticeship training for a period of one year.
During the training period, apprentices will receive a monthly stipend of Rs 15,000.
One of the major attractions of this recruitment is that candidates completing the apprenticeship programme will receive special preference or weightage in future SBI Junior Associate Recruitment processes.
This could significantly improve the chances of securing permanent employment in SBI later.
Application Process and Important Date
The last date to submit online applications is June 8, 2026.
Before applying, candidates must first register themselves on the official government apprenticeship portal (NAPS portal). After completing the registration, applicants can submit the online application through SBI’s official recruitment websites.
Official Links
Candidates are advised to carefully read the official notification, verify eligibility conditions, and complete the application process before the deadline to avoid last-minute technical issues.
With over 7,000 vacancies and strong future career prospects, the SBI Apprentice Recruitment 2026 is expected to attract lakhs of applicants from across the country.
