The State Bank of India has officially announced that the SBI Clerk Mains Examination 2025 will take place in November 2025, marking a crucial milestone for thousands of banking aspirants across the country. This significant recruitment drive aims to fill 5,180 Junior Associate positions in various SBI branches nationwide.
Exam Schedule and Eligibility Criteria
According to the official recruitment notification released by the banking giant, the exact date and timing for the SBI Clerk Mains 2025 will be confirmed closer to the examination period. Candidates who successfully cleared the preliminary examination held on September 20, 21, and 27, 2025 are eligible to appear for the main examination. The preliminary results were declared on November 4, 2025, setting the stage for the next phase of selection.
The preliminary examination featured 100 questions distributed across three key sections: English Language (30 questions), Numerical Ability (35 questions), and Reasoning Ability (35 questions). Candidates had exactly one hour to complete this initial screening test.
Detailed Examination Pattern for Mains
The SBI Clerk Mains Examination 2025 will be substantially more comprehensive than the preliminary test. The main exam will carry 200 total marks with 190 questions to be completed within a strict time limit of 2 hours and 40 minutes.
The question paper will be divided into four distinct sections, each with separate timing constraints:
- General/Financial Awareness
- General English
- Quantitative Aptitude
- Reasoning Ability and Computer Aptitude
The examination will follow an objective multiple-choice question format, requiring candidates to demonstrate proficiency across all banking-related domains.
Marking Scheme and Qualification Requirements
A critical aspect that candidates must note is the negative marking system. For every incorrect response, one-fourth (¼) of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted. This emphasizes the importance of accuracy alongside speed in the examination.
Candidates must secure the minimum aggregate qualifying marks determined by the Bank. Importantly, a 5% relaxation will be applicable for candidates belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), Other Backward Class (OBC), Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD), Ex-Servicemen (XS), and Disabled Ex-Servicemen (DXS) categories.
Unlike many competitive examinations, the SBI Clerk Mains does not prescribe minimum qualifying marks for individual subjects, and sectional marks will not be maintained separately for the final selection process.
Admit Card and Preparation Strategy
Once the Bank announces the precise examination schedule, the SBI Clerk Mains admit card 2025 will be released on the official SBI website. Aspirants are strongly advised to regularly monitor the official portal at sbi.co.in for updates regarding examination dates, venues, and other crucial instructions.
With the examination pattern now clearly defined, candidates can strategically plan their preparation, focusing on time management across different sections while maintaining accuracy to minimize negative marking impact. The substantial number of vacancies presents a significant opportunity for banking career aspirants to secure positions in India's largest public sector bank.
