The State Bank of India (SBI) has officially released its highly anticipated career notification for the engagement of Apprentices under the Apprentices Act, 1961. This massive recruitment drive aims to fill 7,150 training seats across various states and union territories in India. For graduates looking to jumpstart a career in the banking sector, this represents a major opportunity to gain hands-on industrial experience within India’s largest public sector bank.
The official notification was published by SBI’s Central Recruitment & Promotion Department (CRPD), Corporate Centre, Mumbai, under Advertisement Number CRPD/APPR/2026-27/07. The online registration and fee payment window opened on May 19, 2026, and will remain active until June 8, 2026.
This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about the SBI Apprentice Recruitment 2026, including state-wise vacancies, eligibility requirements, selection criteria, stipends, and key exam strategies.
SBI Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Overview
Before diving into the intricate details, let us take a glance at the foundational structure of this corporate announcement.
| Recruiting Organization | State Bank of India (SBI) |
| Advertisement Number | CRPD/APPR/2026-27/07 |
| Post Name | Apprentice |
| Total Vacancies Available | 7,150 Seats |
| Type of Engagement | Apprenticeship Training (Under Apprentices Act, 1961) |
| Training Program Duration | 1 Year (12 Months) |
| Mode of Application | Online Only |
| Registration Timeline | May 19, 2026, to June 8, 2026 |
| Tentative Examination Window | July 2026 |
| Monthly Stipend | ₹15,000 per month |
| Official Career Portal | SBI Careers Page |
Important Dates and Deadlines
Timelines are crucial for competitive banking examinations. Candidates are highly encouraged to submit their registration profiles well before the final closing date to prevent system latency issues.
| Event / Activity | Important Dates |
| Release of Official Advertisement | May 19, 2026 |
| Commencement of Online Registration | May 19, 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online & Edit Details | June 8, 2026 |
| Last Date for Online Fee Payment | June 8, 2026 |
| Final Printing of Completed Application Form | June 23, 2026 |
| Release of Online Examination Admit Cards | To Be Announced (TBA) |
| Tentative Online Written Examination Date | July 2026 |
Category-Wise Distribution of Vacancy Seats
The 7,150 corporate training seats are distributed across different societal reservation metrics adhering strictly to prevailing Government of India guidelines.
| Category | Allocated Training Seats |
| Unreserved (UR) / General | 3,086 |
| Other Backward Classes (OBC) | 1,672 |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 1,107 |
| Economically Weaker Section (EWS) | 699 |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 586 |
| Total Available Vacancies | 7,150 |
Note: The numbers mentioned above are completely provisional. The State Bank of India reserves the explicit right to modify, increase, or decrease the training seat metrics based on real-time operational requirements.
Comprehensive Eligibility Criteria
To apply for a seat in this professional training drive, candidates must fulfill explicit benchmarks regarding educational attainment, age constraints, and regional language proficiency.
1. Educational Qualifications (As of April 30, 2026)
- Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s Degree (Graduation) in any academic discipline or stream from a recognized university or an educational institution approved by the Central Government.
- There is no minimum percentage or grade point average requirement required to apply.
- Candidates in their final year or final semester may apply provisionally, provided they can produce concrete proof of passing the degree examination during the subsequent document verification phase.
- Important Restriction: Candidates who have already completed a formal apprenticeship training program of one year or more in any other organization after graduation, or those currently possessing prior job experience of one year or more, are strictly ineligible to apply.
2. Age Parameters (As of April 1, 2026)
- The minimum age limit is 20 years.
- The maximum age limit is 28 years for unreserved/General and EWS candidates.
- Concretely, applicants must have been born not earlier than April 2, 1998, and not later than April 1, 2006 (both dates inclusive).
Age Relaxation Norms
Upper age boundaries are relaxed for reserved classifications based on institutional guidelines:
| Category Classification | Permissible Upper Age Relaxation |
| Scheduled Caste / Scheduled Tribe (SC / ST) | 5 Years |
| Other Backward Classes (OBC – Non-Creamy Layer) | 3 Years |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) | 10 to 15 Years (Depending on Category) |
Mandatory Registration Fee Structure
The process of online enrollment is validated only after the successful remittance of the non-refundable registration fee via integrated internet payment frameworks.
| Category of Candidate | Application Fee |
| General / OBC / EWS | ₹300/- |
| SC / ST / PwBD | Nil (Exempted) |
Payment Channels: Credit Cards, Debit Cards, and Net Banking instruments are accepted on the secure payment gateway.
Structuring the Selection Methodology
The recruitment design for SBI Apprentice 2026 is built on transparency and merit. It is important to note that there is no personal interview round in this selection workflow. The selection relies entirely on two core parameters:
- Online Written Test
- Local Language Proficiency Test
Detailed Written Exam Pattern
The online test consists of objective-type multiple-choice questions. The exam duration is exactly 60 minutes, split into isolated, timed sections.
| Section Name | Total Questions | Maximum Marks | Allotted Duration |
| 1. General & Financial Awareness | 25 | 25 | 15 Minutes |
| 2. General English | 25 | 25 | 15 Minutes |
| 3. Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 25 | 15 Minutes |
| 4. Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude | 25 | 25 | 15 Minutes |
| Cumulative Total | 100 | 100 | 60 Minutes |
Vital Exam System Notes:
- Negative Marking System: There is a penalty for incorrect submissions. Exactly 1/4th (0.25) of the marks assigned to a specific question will be deducted for every wrong answer. Unattempted questions will carry no penalty.
- Sectional Cutoffs: There are no explicit sectional cutoff boundaries designated for individual topics. Candidates must clear overall, aggregate qualifying thresholds determined by the bank.
- Multilingual Examination Interface: Except for the General English section, the question paper will be available in English, Hindi, and 13 distinct regional languages (including Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Odia, Assamese, Punjabi, Urdu, Manipuri, and Konkani) depending on the state of choice.
Local Language Proficiency Test
Applicants must be completely fluent in the selected local language of the state they choose to work in. If a candidate cannot present a Class 10 or Class 12 marksheet proving they studied the local language as a primary subject, they must clear a dedicated language test prior to joining. Failing this test results in immediate disqualification.
Training Lifecycle and Monthly Stipend
Selected candidates are engaged strictly as corporate apprentices for a fixed timeline of one year (12 months).
- Monthly Stipend Matrix: Apprentices will receive a fixed compensation package of ₹15,000 per month throughout the training timeline.
- Allowance Limitations: Apprentices are not eligible for employee benefits such as Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), medical reimbursement, provident funds, or pension benefits.
- Completion Reward: Upon successfully concluding the 12-month practical branch rotation, the bank issues a formal Apprenticeship Completion Certificate, which adds significant value to professional portfolios across the banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI) industries.
Step-by-Step Online Application Guide
Interested candidates who meet the eligibility criteria can follow these steps to register online:
- NAPS Portal Enrollment: Candidates must first visit the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) platform at
apprenticeshipindia.gov.inor the BFSI SSC site to register and acquire an official user profile. - Accessing Career Section: Navigate directly to the official bank portal via the State Bank of India Careers Tab.
- Primary Registration: Look for the current vacancy announcement titled Engagement of Apprentices Under The Apprentices Act, 1961 (Advt No: CRPD/APPR/2026-27/07) and click on “Apply Online”. Register using a valid email ID and mobile number.
- Form Completion: Log in using your generated credentials and fill in your personal, educational, and state preference details carefully.
- Document Uploading: Scan and upload your passport-sized photograph, formal signature, and required category certificates according to the file size parameters in the document guidelines.
- Fee Payment: Process the ₹300 fee payment (if applicable) using net banking or credit/debit card routes.
- Final Review: Verify all input fields, submit the registration, and save a printed copy of the confirmation receipt for your records.
Expert Preparation Tips to Crack the Written Exam
Master the Basics of Banking: For the General and Financial Awareness block, focus heavily on recent economic updates, monetary policy announcements, capital market terms, and general history of the State Bank of India.
Practice Speed Mathematics: Quantitative Aptitude requires quick thinking. Daily practice of simplifications, data interpretation graphs, number series tracking, and quadratic equations can secure high accuracy marks in short timelines.
Solve Sectional Mock Exams: Since each section has an absolute 15-minute time cap, training with sectional mock examinations is essential to develop optimal time management.
Focus on Accuracy: Because of the 0.25 negative marking penalty, avoid wild guessing. Target high-accuracy attempts over sheer volume.
Important External Resources
To read the complete administrative guidelines, please download the Official SBI Apprentice Notification Document PDF.
To register your online profile, visit the official SBI Current Openings Career Webpage.
General Information Disclaimer
This article is curated solely for educational and informational purposes for corporate aspirants. While every effort has been made to verify data against the official notification released on May 19, 2026, details may vary based on structural announcements by the bank. Job seekers are strongly advised to check the official careers website of the State Bank of India regularly for real-time revisions, exam updates, and administrative amendments.
The NextFirm Editorial Team is a dedicated group of career analysts and tech industry researchers focused on the Indian IT landscape. We specialize in decoding hiring trends at top-tier MNCs to provide candidates with verified, actionable job insights. By combining real-time recruitment data with expert interview preparation strategies, NextFirm empowers professionals in Pune, Bengaluru, and Chennai to navigate their career paths with confidence and clarity