SBI Clerk Mains Syllabus 2026 is now available for candidates preparing for the State Bank of India recruitment examination. The syllabus covers four main sections: General/Financial Awareness, General English, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude, totaling 190 questions and 200 marks. Candidates must complete the Mains exam within 160 minutes to qualify for the next stages of selection.
The selection process for SBI Clerk consists of multiple stages: Prelims written exam, Mains written exam, Local Language Test, and Document Verification. Aspirants can access the complete exam pattern, subject-wise topic breakdown, and marking scheme details from https://www.sbi.co.in, the official State Bank of India website.
Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | SBI Clerk Mains Exam 2026 |
| Conducting Body | State Bank of India (SBI) |
| Post Name | Clerk (Junior Associate) |
| Total Vacancies | As per the official notification |
| Exam Mode | Online (Computer-Based Test) |
| Total Questions | 190 |
| Total Marks | 200 |
| Exam Duration | 160 Minutes |
| Negative Marking | 0.25 marks deducted per wrong answer |
| Exam Language | English & Hindi |
| Official Website | https://www.sbi.co.in |
Selection Process
The SBI Clerk recruitment follows a structured four-stage selection process:
- Written Examination (Prelims) – Qualifying round to shortlist candidates for Mains
- Written Examination (Mains) – Final written assessment covering all four sections
- Local Language Test – Proficiency test in the regional language of the candidate’s allocated state
- Document Verification – Final stage where documents are verified before the appointment
SBI Clerk Mains Exam Pattern 2026
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| General/Financial Awareness | 50 | 50 | 35 Minutes |
| General English | 40 | 40 | 35 Minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 50 | 50 | 45 Minutes |
| Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude | 50 | 60 | 45 Minutes |
Marking Scheme: Each correct answer in General/Financial Awareness, General English, and Quantitative Aptitude carries 1 mark. In Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude, each correct answer carries 1.2 marks. Negative marking of 0.25 marks is applied for each incorrect response across all sections. Candidates must achieve minimum qualifying marks in each section as well as in the overall exam.
Detailed Syllabus
General/Financial Awareness
- Current Affairs (Last 6-8 Months)
- Banking and Financial Sector Updates
- Static General Knowledge
- Government Schemes and Policies
- Budget and Economic Survey
- Important Financial Organizations and Functions
- Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Policies and Announcements
- International and National News
- Stock Market and Investment Basics
General English
- Reading Comprehension (Multiple passages)
- Cloze Test
- Para Jumbles and Sentence Rearrangement
- Sentence Improvement and Correction
- Error Detection and Spotting
- Fill in the Blanks
- Vocabulary (Synonyms, Antonyms, One-Word Substitution)
- Word Association and Usage
- Phrase Replacement
Quantitative Aptitude
- Data Interpretation (Tabular, Pie Chart, Line Graph, Bar Chart, Caselet, Radar Chart, Missing Data)
- Number Series and Patterns
- Simplification and Approximation
- Quadratic Equations
- Data Sufficiency
- Arithmetic Topics (Profit and Loss, Simple Interest and Compound Interest, Time and Work, Speed and Distance, Mensuration)
- Probability and Counting
- Permutation and Combination
Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude
- Puzzles (Various types, including high-level seating arrangements)
- Syllogism and Logical Deduction
- Inequality and Comparison
- Coding, Decoding, and Pattern Recognition
- Input-Output Machine Logic
- Blood Relations
- Direction Sense and Spatial Reasoning
- Machine Input-Output Patterns
- Logical Reasoning and Critical Thinking
- Statement and Assumption
- Computer fundamentals
- MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Internet and Web Browsing
- Networking Concepts
- Cybersecurity and Data Protection
Preparation Strategy
Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude carry the highest marks (110 out of 200), making these sections critical priority areas during preparation. Many candidates overlook the Computer Aptitude portion or delay studying it, which costs valuable marks. Allocate equal time to both Reasoning and Computer sections from the beginning. A smart time-management approach is to attempt high-accuracy sections first; since Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude have higher difficulty levels, practice solving quick Data Interpretation sets and standard Arithmetic problems from previous years to build speed and accuracy before attempting complex puzzles. Supplement your preparation with daily current affairs revision through banking awareness podcasts or weekly digests, regular full-length mock tests to simulate actual exam conditions, and previous year question papers to understand question trends and frequently tested topics.
Important Links
| Particulars | Link |
|---|---|
| Official Website | Click Here |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. How many marks is the SBI Clerk Mains Exam, and how much time do I get?
Ans. The Mains exam is worth 200 marks in total. You’ll have exactly 160 minutes to complete the 190 questions, with specific time limits assigned to each section.
Q2. Is there negative marking in the SBI Clerk Mains?
Ans. Yes, you need to be careful with guessing. A quarter of a mark (0.25) is deducted for every incorrect answer across all sections of the test.
Q3. What subjects are tested in the Mains syllabus?
Ans. You’ll face four main sections: General/Financial Awareness, General English, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude.
Q4. Do I need to clear sectional cutoffs?
Ans. Absolutely. You have to score the minimum qualifying marks in each individual section, as well as clear the overall cutoff set by the State Bank of India.
Q5. What happens after passing the Mains exam?
Ans. Once you clear the Mains, you’ll need to take a Local Language Test if you didn’t study the opted language in school, followed by Document Verification before receiving your final appointment.
Q6. Where can I grab the official syllabus PDF?
Ans. You can download the complete and official syllabus straight from the State Bank of India’s website at https://www.sbi.co.in by checking out their Careers or Recruitment page.
Q7. Which section carries the most points?
Ans. The Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude section is the heaviest, bringing 60 marks out of the total 200 to the table.
