SBI Apprentice 2026 – Overview and Quick Snapshot

7150 vacancies are now open under the State Bank of India Apprentice Engagement 2026 (Advertisement No. CRPD/APPR/2026-27/07), covering all states and Union Territories across India. Graduation holders aged 20–28 years can apply online from 19 May to 08 June 2026. One important distinction most portals miss: the ₹15,000 monthly stipend is the total payout – the notification explicitly states apprentices are not eligible for any other allowances or benefits beyond this fixed amount.

Based on official notification by State Bank of India, CRPD, Mumbai. Verified: May 2026.

Quick Eligibility Check

A point specific to this recruitment: prior work experience of even one year after graduation makes a candidate ineligible – this is stricter than most government job notifications and is a common reason for late-stage rejections.

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Important Dates

Candidates must register on the NAPS portal (apprenticeshipindia.gov.in) before filling the SBI application – skipping this step means your application will be incomplete. The bfsissc.com portal has historically experienced high traffic near deadlines; apply in the first week to avoid gateway failures.

Vacancy and Category Analysis

UR candidates hold the highest share at 3,086 seats (43.1% of total), followed by OBC at 1,672 seats. The top five states by seat count are Andhra Pradesh (709), Uttar Pradesh (561), Telangana (491), Maharashtra (504), and Kerala (403) – candidates in these states face a larger applicant pool but also have more seats available. PwBD reservation is horizontal, meaning these 304 seats are distributed within the overall category totals, not additional.

Expected competition level is HIGH based on SBI’s previous apprentice engagement rounds in 2023–25, which drew over 25–30 lakh applications for comparable seat counts. With 7,150 seats and a historically similar applicant base, the selection ratio stands at roughly 1 in 350–420. OBC candidates face moderate competition relative to UR given their 1,672 seats – historically SBI apprentice OBC cut-offs have stayed 3–5 marks below UR cut-offs in this cadre.

Stipend and In-Hand Amount

The ₹15,000 stipend is uniform across all states and posting locations – there is no city-class variation because HRA is not a component of apprentice compensation. This is a key difference from regular bank clerk or officer roles.

Compared to SBI Junior Associate (JA) positions at Pay Level 1 (Basic ₹17,900), which offer approximately ₹29,000–₹33,000 in-hand depending on posting city, this apprenticeship offers significantly lower take-home due to its fixed stipend structure and absence of allowances. However, the notification confirms that successfully completing this apprenticeship provides weightage and relaxation in future SBI Junior Associate recruitment – making it a potential stepping stone rather than a standalone income.

Beyond the monthly stipend, apprentices benefit from on-the-job banking experience, a National Apprenticeship Certificate (jointly issued by SBI and NSDC/BFSI-SSC) upon successful completion, and formal consideration under SBI’s Junior Associate recruitment policy.

Application Fee

Fee once paid is non-refundable under any circumstances. A common mistake on the bfsissc.com portal: candidates pay the fee but do not complete the final submission – the registration is only considered complete when the fee payment is confirmed and the application is fully submitted. Always download the e-receipt as proof.

Age Limit

Age is calculated as on 01.04.2026. Example for a UR candidate: you must have been born on or after 02.04.1998 and on or before 01.04.2006. An OBC candidate born on 15.03.1996 would be exactly 30 years on 01.04.2026 – eligible with the 3-year relaxation. Ex-Servicemen are not eligible for this engagement and no age relaxation is available to them.

Eligibility Criteria

The notification does not specify any particular stream – any graduate (Arts, Commerce, Science, Engineering, etc.) is eligible. Final year students are not eligible; the degree must be completed as on 01.04.2026. Equivalent qualifications are not addressed separately – candidates with degrees from distance education or open universities should verify recognition status from the UGC/AIU list before applying.

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Selection Process

Stage 1: Online Written Examination (Tentatively July 2026)

A 100-question objective test split equally into four sections – General/Financial Awareness, General English, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude – each carrying 25 marks and allotted 15 minutes separately. Negative marking of ¼ mark applies for each wrong answer. Merit lists are drawn state-wise and category-wise, with age used as a tiebreaker (older candidate ranked higher).

Stage 2: Local Language Test

Conducted after qualifying the written exam, this tests reading, writing, speaking, and understanding of the local language of the applied state. Candidates who submit a 10th or 12th mark sheet showing the opted local language as a studied subject are exempted from this test. Failing this test means disqualification regardless of written exam marks.

Stage 3: Medical Examination

Final engagement is subject to being declared medically fit as per SBI’s requirements. No specific medical standards are detailed in the notification – candidates with health conditions should be prepared for standard bank-level medical screening.

Your first 7 days after applying:

1. Save your NAPS portal registration number and SBI application registration number separately.
2. Download and read the ‘Acquaint Yourself’ booklet once it is released alongside the call letter – it contains exam-specific rules.
3. Begin focused preparation on Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning, which together account for 50 marks and have fixed 15-minute time limits per section.
4. Confirm your local language proficiency – if you cannot produce a 10th/12th certificate for the chosen language, prepare for the language test alongside the written exam.
5. Keep your registered email and mobile active; call letters, advisories, and result updates are sent digitally only – no hard copies are dispatched by SBI.

Exam Pattern and Syllabus

How to Apply

1. Register on the NAPS portal at apprenticeshipindia.gov.in – this step is mandatory before you can proceed to the SBI application.
2. Visit sbi.co.in/careers or bfsissc.com and open the ‘Engagement of Apprentices 2026’ application link under Current Openings.
3. Fill in personal details, select your state (one state only), choose your preferred local language, and indicate up to three preferred training districts.
4. Upload scanned photograph (20–50 KB, 200×230 px), signature (10–20 KB, 140×60 px), left thumb impression (20–50 KB, 240×240 px), and handwritten declaration (50–100 KB, 800×400 px) – all in JPG/JPEG format.
5. Capture and upload a live photograph using webcam or mobile QR scan as prompted by the application system.
6. Review all entered details carefully – no changes are permitted after final submission.
7. Pay the application fee (₹300 for General/OBC/EWS; NIL for SC/ST/PwBD) via debit card, credit card, or net banking.
8. Download and save the e-receipt and system-generated application form – do NOT send any hard copy to SBI.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the monthly stipend for SBI Apprentice 2026, and what is the actual in-hand amount?

Approximately ₹15,000 per month is the complete payout – no HRA, DA, transport allowance, or any other benefit is added to this amount, as explicitly stated in the official notification. This figure is the same across all posting states and cities, since no city-class-based allowance structure applies to apprentices. Candidates comparing this with SBI clerk roles should note the significant difference in total compensation.

What is the last date to apply for SBI Apprentice 2026, and where do I apply?

As per the notification, the last date for online application and fee payment is 08 June 2026. Applications are accepted only through sbi.co.in/careers or bfsissc.com – no other mode is valid. Registering on the NAPS portal (apprenticeshipindia.gov.in) is also mandatory before filling the SBI application form.

How many total vacancies are available, and which state has the most seats?

A total of 7,150 training seats have been announced across all states and UTs (provisional figure). Andhra Pradesh leads with 709 seats, followed by Uttar Pradesh (561), Maharashtra (504), Telangana (491), and Kerala (403). Candidates can apply for one state only and cannot change their state after submission.

What is the minimum educational qualification for SBI Apprentice 2026?

Candidates must hold a graduation degree from a recognised university or institute, completed as on 01.04.2026. No specific stream is required – any graduate discipline qualifies. Final year students are not eligible, and candidates with more than one year of post-qualification work or training experience are also excluded.

What is the age limit, and what relaxation is available for OBC and SC/ST candidates?

Under 7th CPC norms, the age range is 20–28 years for UR/EWS candidates, calculated as on 01.04.2026. OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) candidates receive a relaxation of 3 years (upper limit: 31 years), while SC/ST candidates receive 5 years (upper limit: 33 years). PwBD candidates receive 10 years of relaxation over their base category limit.

Does completing the SBI Apprenticeship guarantee a job in SBI?

Completing the apprenticeship does not guarantee employment – the notification clearly states that SBI has no obligation to offer regular employment during or after the training period. However, candidates who successfully complete training and obtain the joint National Apprenticeship Certificate from SBI-NSDC/BFSI-SSC will receive weightage and relaxation in SBI Junior Associate recruitment, as per the bank’s recruitment policy at the time.

Is prior work experience allowed for SBI Apprentice 2026?

Candidates who have work or training experience of one year or more after completing their qualifying graduation are explicitly not eligible to apply. This applies regardless of the nature of the work – even internships or training programmes of one year or more would make a candidate ineligible. Check this criterion carefully before submitting your application.