SSC CGL 2026 notification released on 31 March. Check eligibility, exam dates, selection process, syllabus, and latest updates for SSC CGL exam here.
SSC CGL 2026 exam-related information for the Group B and Group C posts has been provided in the table. It is expected that the official notification expected in April 2026 (Delayed from 31 March)
| SSC CGL 2026 Exam Overview | |
|---|---|
| Details | Information |
| Exam Name | SSC CGL 2026 |
| Conducting Body | SSC (Staff Selection Commission) |
| Post Name | Group 'B' (Gazetted & Non-Gazetted) and Group 'C' Posts |
| Vacancies | 12256 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Educational Qualification | Bachelor's Degree (Graduation) in any discipline |
| Age Limit | 18 – 32 years (varies by post) |
| Official Notification | Click Here |
| Official Websites | ssc.gov.in |
The SSC CGL 2026 official notification outlines key timelines for the recruitment process. Candidates should mark these dates to ensure timely submission and preparation.
| Important Dates | |
|---|---|
| Event | Date |
| Notification Date | 21 May 2026 |
| Application Start Date | 21 May 2026 |
| Application End Date | 22 June 2026 |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | 23 June 2026 |
| Modification Window | 29 June to 1 July 2026 |
| Exam Date (Tier I) | August - September 2026 |
| Exam Date (Tier II) | December 2026 |
Candidates applying for the SSC CGL Examination must meet the prescribed educational qualifications specified in the official notification. The required qualification varies depending on the post, with certain positions requiring subject-specific degrees, specialized knowledge, or relevant work experience. The detailed post-wise educational eligibility criteria for SSC CGL are provided in the table below.
| Post | Educational Qualification |
|---|---|
| Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) | Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline from a recognized university or institute with at least 60% marks in Mathematics at Class 12 level, OR a Bachelor’s Degree with Statistics as one of the subjects at the degree level. |
| Statistical Investigator Grade-II | Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline with Statistics as one of the subjects from a recognized university or institute. Candidates must have studied Statistics in all parts/semesters of the degree course, not as a single paper only. |
| Research Assistant in NHRC | Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized university/institute along with a minimum of one year of research experience in a recognized university or research institution. |
| All Other Posts | Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline from a recognized university. |
SSC CGL posts are broadly classified into Group B and Group C categories based on their pay level, responsibilities, and nature of work. Group B posts generally hold higher administrative and supervisory responsibilities, while Group C posts mainly include clerical, assistant, and technical roles. These positions are offered across various ministries, departments, and government organizations under the Government of India. The list of SSC CGL posts is provided below.
| S. No. | Post Name | Ministry / Department / Office | Classification |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Assistant Section Officer | Central Secretariat Service | Group B |
| 2 | Assistant Section Officer | Intelligence Bureau | Group B |
| 3 | Assistant Section Officer | Ministry of Railways | Group B |
| 4 | Assistant Section Officer | Ministry of External Affairs | Group B |
| 5 | Assistant Section Officer | AFHQ | Group B |
| 6 | Assistant Section Officer | Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology | Group B |
| 7 | Assistant / Assistant Section Officer | Other Ministries / Departments / Organizations | Group B |
| 8 | Inspector of Income Tax | CBDT | Group C |
| 9 | Inspector (Central Excise) | CBIC | Group B |
| 10 | Inspector (Preventive Officer) | CBIC | Group B |
| 11 | Inspector (Examiner) | CBIC | Group B |
| 12 | Assistant Enforcement Officer | Directorate of Enforcement, Department of Revenue | Group B |
| 13 | Sub Inspector | Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) | Group B |
| 14 | Inspector Posts | Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications | Group B |
| 15 | Inspector | Central Bureau of Narcotics, Ministry of Finance | Group B |
| 16 | Section Head | Director General of Foreign Trade | Group B |
| 17 | Assistant / Assistant Section Officer | Other Ministries / Departments / Organizations | Group B |
| 18 | Executive Assistant | CBIC | Group B |
| 19 | Research Assistant | National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) | Group B |
| 20 | Divisional Accountant | Offices under C&AG | Group B |
| 21 | Sub Inspector | National Investigation Agency (NIA) | Group B |
| 22 | Sub-Inspector / Junior Intelligence Officer | Narcotics Control Bureau (MHA) | Group B |
| 23 | Junior Statistical Officer | Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation | Group B |
| 24 | Statistical Investigator Grade-II | Ministry of Home Affairs | Group B |
| 25 | Office Superintendent | CBDT | Group B |
| 26 | Auditor | Offices under C&AG | Group C |
| 27 | Auditor | Offices under CGDA | Group C |
| 28 | Auditor | Other Ministries / Departments | Group C |
| 29 | Accountant | Offices under C&AG | Group C |
| 30 | Accountant | Controller General of Accounts | Group C |
| 31 | Accountant / Junior Accountant | Other Ministries / Departments | Group C |
| 32 | Postal Assistant / Sorting Assistant | Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications | Group C |
| 33 | Senior Secretariat Assistant / Upper Division Clerk | Central Government Offices / Ministries | Group C |
| 34 | Senior Administrative Assistant | Military Engineering Services, Ministry of Defence | Group C |
| 35 | Tax Assistant | CBDT | Group C |
| 36 | Tax Assistant | CBIC | Group C |
| 37 | Sub-Inspector | Central Bureau of Narcotics, Ministry of Finance | Group C |
Candidates applying for the SSC CGL examination are required to pay the prescribed application fee through online payment modes. The fee can be paid using BHIM UPI, Net Banking, or Debit Cards such as Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, and RuPay. However, candidates belonging to reserved categories and women applicants are exempted from paying the application fee.
| Category | Application Fee | Payment Mode |
|---|---|---|
| General / OBC | ₹100/- | BHIM UPI, Net Banking, Visa / Mastercard / Maestro / RuPay Debit Cards |
| Women Candidates | Exempted | Not Applicable |
| SC / ST / PwBD / ESM | Exempted | Not Applicable |
The age limit is different for different posts, and relaxations are provided to reserved category candidates.
| Age Limit | Posts Covered |
|---|---|
| 18 – 27 Years | Auditor, Accountant, Junior Accountant, Postal Assistant, Sorting Assistant, Senior Secretariat Assistant, Upper Division Clerk (UDC), Senior Administrative Assistant, Tax Assistant, Sub-Inspector (CBN) |
| 18 – 30 Years | Assistant Audit Officer (AAO), Assistant Accounts Officer (AAO), Assistant Section Officer (ASO), Inspector of Income Tax, Inspector (Central Excise), Inspector (Preventive Officer), Inspector (Examiner), Assistant Enforcement Officer (AEO), Inspector Posts, Executive Assistant, Research Assistant, Divisional Accountant, Sub Inspector (NIA), Junior Intelligence Officer, Statistical Investigator Grade-II, Office Superintendent, Section Head |
| 20 – 30 Years | Assistant Section Officer (CSS, Railways, MEA, AFHQ), Sub Inspector (CBI) |
| 18 – 32 Years | Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) |
Given below in the table are the upper-age relaxations provided to different categories in the SSC CGL 2026 Exam.
| Category | Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC / ST | 5 Years |
| OBC | 3 Years |
| PwBD | 10 Years |
| PwBD (OBC) | 13 Years |
| PwBD (SC / ST) | 15 Years |
| Ex-Servicemen (ESM) | 3 Years after deduction of military service |
| Defence Personnel disabled in operation | 3 Years |
| Defence Personnel disabled in operation (SC / ST) | 8 Years |
| Central Government Civilian Employees | Up to 40 Years |
| Central Government Civilian Employees (SC / ST) | Up to 45 Years |
| Widows / Divorced Women / Women judicially separated | Up to 35 Years |
| Widows / Divorced Women / Women judicially separated (SC / ST) | Up to 40 Years |
SSC CGL Selection Process comprises of the two stages of the exam, followed by the skill test, depending on the posts available in the recruitment.
Understanding the SSC CGL exam pattern is essential for candidates to prepare effectively for the examination. The SSC Combined Graduate Level (CGL) Examination is conducted in multiple tiers, including Tier-I and Tier-II. Each tier consists of different sections designed to evaluate candidates on reasoning, quantitative aptitude, English language skills, general awareness, computer knowledge, and subject-specific expertise.
Candidates should carefully review the detailed exam pattern, marking scheme, and time duration for each section before starting their preparation. The complete SSC CGL 2026 Tier-I and Tier-II exam pattern is provided below.
The SSC CGL Tier-I Examination consists of four sections with 25 questions in each section. Each question carries 2 marks. The total duration of the examination is 1 hour with a sectional timer for each subject.
| Subject | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks | Time Allowed |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | 25 | 50 |
1 Hour (15 minutes sectional timer for each subject) 1 Hour 20 Minutes for candidates eligible for scribe (20 minutes sectional timer for each subject) |
| General Awareness | 25 | 50 | |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 | |
| English Comprehension | 25 | 50 |
The SSC CGL Tier-II Examination consists of multiple papers, sessions, and sections. Candidates can check the detailed section-wise exam pattern, marks distribution, and duration in the table below.
| Paper | Session | Sections & Subjects | No. of Questions | Marks | Time Allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper-I | Session-I |
Section-I A. Mathematical Abilities B. Reasoning & General Intelligence |
30 + 30 = 60 | 180 |
1 Hour (30 minutes sectional timer for each subject) 1 Hour 20 Minutes for candidates eligible for scribe (40 minutes sectional timer for each subject) |
| Paper-I | Session-I |
Section-II A. English Language & Comprehension B. General Awareness |
45 + 25 = 70 | 210 |
1 Hour (40 minutes for English and 20 minutes for General Awareness) 1 Hour 20 Minutes for candidates eligible for scribe (55 minutes for English and 25 minutes for General Awareness) |
| Paper-I | Session-I |
Section-III Computer Knowledge Test |
20 | 60 | 15 Minutes / 20 Minutes for scribes |
| Paper-I | Session-II |
Section-IV Data Entry Speed Test (DEST) |
– | – | 15 Minutes / 20 Minutes for scribes |
| Paper-II | – | Statistics | 100 | 200 | 2 Hours / 2 Hours 40 Minutes for scribes |
The SSC CGL salary structure varies depending on the post, pay level, and department to which a candidate is appointed. Selected candidates receive attractive salaries along with various allowances and government benefits as per the 7th Pay Commission.
The table below provides detailed information about the SSC CGL post-wise salary structure, including the post name, ministry/department, pay level, and salary range offered under SSC CGL Recruitment 2026.
| Name of Post | Ministry / Department / Office / Cadre | Pay Level | Salary Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assistant Section Officer | Central Secretariat Service | Pay Level-7 | ₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400 |
| Assistant Section Officer | Intelligence Bureau | Pay Level-7 | ₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400 |
| Assistant Section Officer | Ministry of Railways | Pay Level-7 | ₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400 |
| Assistant Section Officer | Ministry of External Affairs | Pay Level-7 | ₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400 |
| Assistant Section Officer | AFHQ | Pay Level-7 | ₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400 |
| Assistant Section Officer | Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology | Pay Level-7 | ₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400 |
| Assistant / Assistant Section Officer | Other Ministries / Departments / Organizations | Pay Level-7 | ₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400 |
| Inspector of Income Tax | CBDT | Pay Level-7 | ₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400 |
| Inspector (Central Excise) | CBIC | Pay Level-7 | ₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400 |
| Inspector (Preventive Officer) | CBIC | Pay Level-7 | ₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400 |
| Inspector (Examiner) | CBIC | Pay Level-7 | ₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400 |
| Assistant Enforcement Officer | Directorate of Enforcement, Department of Revenue | Pay Level-7 | ₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400 |
| Sub Inspector | Central Bureau of Investigation | Pay Level-7 | ₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400 |
| Inspector Posts | Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications | Pay Level-7 | ₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400 |
| Inspector | Central Bureau of Narcotics, Ministry of Finance | Pay Level-7 | ₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400 |
| Section Head | Director General of Foreign Trade | Pay Level-7 | ₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400 |
| Assistant / Assistant Section Officer | Other Ministries / Departments / Organizations | Pay Level-6 | ₹35,400 – ₹1,12,400 |
| Executive Assistant | CBIC | Pay Level-6 | ₹35,400 – ₹1,12,400 |
| Research Assistant | National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) | Pay Level-6 | ₹35,400 – ₹1,12,400 |
| Divisional Accountant | Offices under C&AG | Pay Level-6 | ₹35,400 – ₹1,12,400 |
| Sub Inspector | National Investigation Agency (NIA) | Pay Level-6 | ₹35,400 – ₹1,12,400 |
| Sub-Inspector / Junior Intelligence | Narcotics Control Bureau (MHA) | Pay Level-6 | ₹35,400 – ₹1,12,400 |
| Junior Statistical Officer | Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation | Pay Level-6 | ₹35,400 – ₹1,12,400 |
| Statistical Investigator Grade-II | Ministry of Home Affairs | Pay Level-6 | ₹35,400 – ₹1,12,400 |
| Office Superintendent | CBDT | Pay Level-6 | ₹35,400 – ₹1,12,400 |
| Auditor | Offices under C&AG | Pay Level-5 | ₹29,200 – ₹92,300 |
| Auditor | Offices under CGDA | Pay Level-5 | ₹29,200 – ₹92,300 |
| Auditor | Other Ministry / Departments | Pay Level-5 | ₹29,200 – ₹92,300 |
| Accountant | Offices under C&AG | Pay Level-5 | ₹29,200 – ₹92,300 |
| Accountant | Controller General of Accounts | Pay Level-5 | ₹29,200 – ₹92,300 |
| Accountant / Junior Accountant | Other Ministry / Departments | Pay Level-5 | ₹29,200 – ₹92,300 |
| Postal Assistant / Sorting Assistant | Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications | Pay Level-4 | ₹25,500 – ₹81,100 |
| Senior Secretariat Assistant / Upper Division Clerks | Central Govt. Offices / Ministries other than CSCS cadres | Pay Level-4 | ₹25,500 – ₹81,100 |
| Senior Administrative Assistant | Military Engineering Services, Ministry of Defence | Pay Level-4 | ₹25,500 – ₹81,100 |
| Tax Assistant | CBDT | Pay Level-4 | ₹25,500 – ₹81,100 |
| Tax Assistant | CBIC | Pay Level-4 | ₹25,500 – ₹81,100 |
| Sub-Inspector | Central Bureau of Narcotics, Ministry of Finance | Pay Level-4 | ₹25,500 – ₹81,100 |