Check SSC CGL Eligibility Criteria 2026, including age limit, educational qualification, nationality, age relaxation, physical standards, and post-wise eligibility requirements.
The SSC CGL Eligibility Criteria 2026 includes the age limit, educational qualification, nationality, and post-wise eligibility requirements prescribed by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC). Candidates must ensure they meet all the eligibility conditions before submitting the application form. The age limit varies by post, with applicable category-wise relaxations, while a Bachelor's degree from a recognized university is the minimum educational qualification for most posts. Some posts, such as Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) and Assistant Audit Officer (AAO), require additional qualifications. Check the complete SSC CGL Eligibility Criteria 2026, including age limit, educational qualification, nationality, age relaxation, and post-wise requirements below.
Before applying for the SSC CGL 2026 Exam, candidates should carefully review the eligibility criteria prescribed by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC). The overview below provides key details, including the age limit, educational qualification, nationality, and other essential eligibility requirements for the SSC CGL 2026 examination.
| SSC CGL Eligibility Criteria 2026 Overview | |
|---|---|
| Conducting Organization | Staff Selection Commission (SSC) |
| Examination Name | SSC Combined Graduate Level (SSC CGL) Examination 2026 |
| Posts | Group 'B' and Group 'C' posts under the Central Government |
| Category | Eligibility Criteria |
| Educational Qualification | Bachelor's Degree from a recognized University or equivalent (post-specific qualifications apply) |
| Age Limit | 18 to 32 years (varies depending on the post) |
| Nationality | Indian (other eligible nationalities are also allowed as per SSC rules) |
To be eligible for the SSC CGL 2026 Exam, candidates must satisfy any one of the following nationality conditions:
Note: Candidates who are not Indian citizens must produce a Certificate of Eligibility issued by the Government of India at the time of document verification, wherever applicable.
The SSC CGL Age Limit 2026 varies depending on the post applied for. As per the official notification, the age limit will be calculated as on 1 August 2026. The minimum age required is 18 years, while the maximum age ranges from 27 to 32 years, depending on the post. Candidates should carefully check the post-wise age criteria before submitting their application. The detailed SSC CGL age limit for all posts is provided in the table below.
| Post | Age Limit |
|---|---|
|
Auditor Accountant Accountant / Junior Accountant Postal Assistant / Sorting Assistant Senior Secretariat Assistant / Upper Division Clerk (UDC) Senior Administrative Assistant Tax Assistant / Sub-Inspector (Central Bureau of Narcotics) |
18 to 27 Years |
| Assistant Section Officer (Central Secretariat Service) | 20 to 30 Years |
|
Sub-Inspector (Central Bureau of Investigation - CBI) Assistant Section Officer (Other Ministries/Departments) Inspector of Income Tax Assistant Enforcement Officer Inspector Posts / Sub-Inspector Posts Assistant / Assistant Section Officer Executive Assistant Research Assistant Divisional Accountant Sub-Inspector (NIA & Other Departments) Sub-Inspector / Junior Intelligence Officer Statistical Investigator Grade-II Office Superintendent Section Head |
18 to 30 Years |
| Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) | Up to 32 Years |
The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) provides upper age relaxation to candidates belonging to reserved categories as per the Government of India rules. Candidates from categories such as SC, ST, OBC, PwBD, Ex-Servicemen, and other eligible groups can avail of the prescribed age relaxation, provided they satisfy the SSC CGL Eligibility Criteria 2026. The category-wise age relaxation applicable for SSC CGL 2026 is given in the table below.
| Category | Upper Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| Other Backward Classes (OBC) | 3 Years |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) / Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 5 Years |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) – Unreserved (UR) | 10 Years |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) + OBC | 13 Years |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) + SC/ST | 15 Years |
| Ex-Servicemen (General/UR) | 3 Years after deduction of the military service rendered from the actual age |
The SSC CGL Educational Qualification 2026 varies depending on the post applied for. While a Bachelor's degree from a recognized university is the minimum qualification for most posts, certain posts require specific educational qualifications. Candidates must ensure they meet the prescribed eligibility requirements before submitting their application. The detailed post-wise educational qualifications for SSC CGL 2026 are provided in the table below.
| SSC CGL Post | Educational Qualification |
|---|---|
| Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) | Bachelor's Degree in any discipline from a recognized university with at least 60% marks in Mathematics at the Class 12 level, OR a Bachelor's Degree with Statistics as one of the subjects. |
| Statistical Investigator Grade-II | Bachelor's Degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Demography, Population Studies, Operational Research, Information Technology, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Computer Technology, Computer Applications, Data Science, or Artificial Intelligence from a recognized university. |
| All Other Posts | Bachelor's Degree in any discipline from a recognized university or an equivalent qualification. |
The SSC CGL Physical Eligibility 2026 applies only to specific posts that require candidates to meet prescribed Physical Standards and Physical Endurance Tests (PET). Candidates applying for these posts must satisfy the required physical measurements and fitness criteria as specified by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC). The detailed SSC CGL physical eligibility standards are provided in the table below.
| Post | Category | Height | Chest | Weight | Physical Efficiency Test (PET) | Vision Standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Inspector (Central Excise / Examiner / Preventive Officer) Inspector & Sub-Inspector, Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) |
Male | 157.5 cm | 81 cm (5 cm expansion) | - |
Walking: 1,600 m in 15 minutes Cycling: 8 km in 30 minutes (Cycling test not applicable for SI in CBN) |
- |
| Female | 152 cm | - | 48 kg |
Walking: 1 km in 20 minutes Cycling: 3 km in 25 minutes (Cycling test not applicable for SI in CBN) |
- | |
| Sub-Inspector, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) | Male | 165 cm | 76 cm (Expanded) | - | - |
Distant Vision: 6/6 & 6/9 Near Vision: 0.6 & 0.8 |
| Female | 150 cm | - | - | - |
Distant Vision: 6/6 & 6/9 Near Vision: 0.6 & 0.8 |
|
| Sub-Inspector, National Investigation Agency (NIA) | Male | 170 cm | 76 cm (Expanded) | - | - |
Distant Vision: 6/6 & 6/9 Near Vision: 0.6 & 0.8 |
| Female | 150 cm | - | - | - |
Distant Vision: 6/6 & 6/9 Near Vision: 0.6 & 0.8 |
|
| Sub-Inspector / Junior Intelligence Officer, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) | Male | 165 cm | 76 cm (Unexpanded, minimum 5 cm expansion) | - | - |
Distant Vision: 6/6 & 6/9 Near Vision: 0.6 & 0.8 |
| Female | 152 cm | - | - | - |
Distant Vision: 6/6 & 6/9 Near Vision: 0.6 & 0.8 |
Candidates applying for certain Group C posts are required to qualify the Physical Efficiency Test (PET), which includes a one-mile run. The test is qualifying in nature, and no marks are awarded for it. Candidates must complete the one-mile run within 10 minutes to be considered successful. Those selected through the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) are required to clear this test at the GREF Centre, Pune. Only candidates who qualify the Physical Efficiency Test will be eligible to appear for the medical examination.