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SSC CGL (Combined Graduate Level)

Introduction of SSC CGL 

The Staff Selection Commission conducts the Combined Graduate Level Examination every year to recruit eligible graduates for several Group B and Group C positions in central government ministries, departments, constitutional bodies, and government organisations across India. 

SSC CGL is regarded as one of the most prestigious competitive examinations for graduates because it offers stable government employment, attractive salaries, career growth opportunities, and nationwide postings. 

The SSC CGL 2026 recruitment process is expected to begin with the release of the official notification in May 2026. Candidates selected through this examination are appointed to various posts such as Assistant Section Officer, Inspector, Auditor, Accountant, Tax Assistant, Junior Statistical Officer, and many more. 

SSC CGL 2026 Overview

Particulars
Details
Conducting Authority 
Staff Selection Commission 
Examination Name 
SSC Combined Graduate Level Examination 2026 
Job Category
Central Government Jobs
Recruitment Level 
National Level 
Posts Offered 
Group B & Group C Posts 
Mode of Examination 
Computer-Based Test 
Frequency 
Once Every Year 
Application Mode 
Online 
Selection Stages 
Tier 1, Tier 2, Document Verification 

Important Dates

Event
Tentative Date
Notification Release
May 2026
Online Application Start
May 2026
Last Date to Apply
June 2026
Correction Window
June 2026
Tier 1 Exam Date
August - September 2026
Tier 2 Exam Date
December 2026
Result Declaration Date
To Be Announced

Vacancy Overview

The Staff Selection Commission will announce the exact number of vacancies along with the detailed notification. The expected number of vacancies for SSC CGL 2026 may exceed 15,000 across various ministries and departments of the Government of India.

Previous Year Vacancy Trends
Year
Vacancies
2026
To Be Announced
2025
14,582
2024
17,727
2023
8,415
2022
37,409
2021
7,621
2020
7,035
2019
8,428
2018
11,271
2017
9,276

Posts Included Under SSC CGL

SSC CGL provides recruitment for multiple posts, including: 

  • Assistant Section Officer 
  • Assistant Audit Officer 
  • Assistant Accounts Officer 
  • Inspector of Income Tax 
  • Central Excise Inspector 
  • Preventive Officer Inspector 
  • Examiner Inspector 
  • Assistant Enforcement Officer 
  • Sub-Inspector in CBI 
  • Junior Statistical Officer 
  • Auditor 
  • Accountant 
  • Tax Assistant 
  • Postal Assistant 
  • Upper Division Clerk 

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates applying for SSC CGL 2026 must satisfy the eligibility conditions related to nationality, age limit, and educational qualification prescribed by the commission. 

Nationality Criteria 

Applicants must fulfill any one of the following conditions: 

  • Citizen of India 
  • Subject of Nepal or Bhutan 
  • Tibetan refugee settled in India before 1 January 1962 
  • Person of Indian origin migrated from selected countries for permanent settlement in India. 

Educational Qualification 

  • Candidates must have a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university or institution.
  • Junior Statistical Officer requires Statistics as a subject. 
  • Assistant Audit Officer / Assistant Accounts Officer may prefer candidates from Commerce, Finance, Economics, or related backgrounds. 
  • Final-year students may apply only if they complete their degree before the specified cutoff date. 

Age Limit

Pay Level
Post Type (Example)
Age Requirement
Level 7
Assistant Section Officer, Inspector, Sub-Inspector
18 to 30 Years
Level 6
Assistant, Executive Assistant, Research Assistant
18 to 30 Years
Level 5
Auditor, Accountant
18 to 27 Years
Level 4
Tax Assistant, Clerk, Postal Assistant
18 to 27 Years
Special
Junior Statistical Officer
Up to 32 Years

Age Relaxation 

Category
Relaxation
SC/ST
5 Years
OBC
3 Years
PwD (UR)
10 Years
PwD (OBC)
13 Years
PwD (SC/ST)
15 Years
Ex-Servicemen
3 years after deduction of the military service rendered from the actual age
Central Government Employee
Up to 40 years of age (Up to 45 years for SC/ST)
Widows/Divorced Women (Group ‘C’ posts)
Up to 35 years of age (Up to 40 years for SC/ST)
Defence Personnel disabled in operation
3 years (8 years for SC/ST)

Ex-Servicemen Eligibility 

  • Ex-servicemen are eligible to apply under reservation benefits according to SSC rules. Candidates already employed in Group ‘C’ or Group ‘D’ posts through the ESM quota may not claim the same benefit again unless they meet the prescribed conditions.

Application Fee

Category
Fee
General/OBC/EWS
₹100
SC/ST/PwD/Ex-Servicemen/Female Candidates
No Fee
  • Payment can be made through UPI, Debit Card, Credit Card, or Net Banking

SSC CGL 2026 Application Process

Candidates can submit their application forms online through the official SSC portal. 

Steps to Apply 

  1. Visit the official SSC website. 
  2. Complete one-time registration. 
  3. Fill in personal and educational details. 
  4. Upload photograph and signature. 
  5. Pay the application fee. 
  6. Submit the application form. 
  7. Download and print the confirmation page.

Selection Process

The SSC CGL recruitment procedure consists of the following stages:

Tier 1 Examination

  • A qualifying computer-based examination containing objective-type questions.

Tier 2 Examination

  • A detailed online examination evaluating candidates in multiple subjects according to the post requirements. 
  • Document Verification
  • Shortlisted candidates are required to present original certificates and documents for verification. 

Note: There is no interview stage in SSC CGL.

SSC CGL 2026 Exam Pattern 

  • The examination is conducted entirely in online mode and includes multiple-choice questions. 
  • Negative marking applies in both tiers.

SSC CGL Tier 1 Pattern 

Section
Number Of Questions
Marks
General Intelligence & Reasoning
25
50
General Awareness
25
50
Quantitative Aptitude
25
50
English Comprehension
25
50
Total
100
200

Key Highlights 

  • Duration: 60 Minutes 
  • Mode: Online 
  • Question Type: Objective 
  • Negative Marking: 0.50 marks for every incorrect answer 

SSC CGL Tier 2 (Paper 1) Pattern 

Session
Subject
Questions
Marks
Duration
Session 1
Quantitative Aptitude
30
90
150 Minutes
General Intelligence & Reasoning Ability
30
90
English Language & Comprehension
45
135
General Awareness
25
75
Computer Knowledge
20
60
Total
150
450
Session 2
Data Entry Speed Test
One Data Entry Task within the time limit
15 Minutes

Key Highlights 

  • Paper 1 is Compuslosy for all candidates
  • Duration: 150 Minutes 
  • Mode: Online 
  • Question Type: Objective 
  • Negative Marking: 1 mark for every incorrect answer & 0.5 marks for every incorrect answer in Computer Knowledge Section 

SSC CGL Tier 2 (Paper 2 for JSO Candidates) Pattern 

Section
Number Of Questions
Marks
Statistics
100
200

Key Highlights 

  • Only those candiadtes will appear in Paper 2 who have applied for the posts of Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) in the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation and are shortlisted in Tier 1 exam.
  • Duration: 120 Minutes 
  • Mode: Online 
  • Question Type: Objective 
  • Negative 0.5 marks for every incorrect answer.

Physical Test for Havildar

Walking Test

Category
Requirement
Male
1600 meters in 15 minutes
Female
1000 meters in 20 minutes

Height Standards  

Category
Height
Male
157.5 cm
Female
152 cm

Detailed SSC CGL 2026 Syllabus

English Comprehension 
  • Reading Comprehension 
  • Cloze Test 
  • Fill in the Blanks 
  • Sentence Improvement 
  • Error Detection 
  • Idioms & Phrases 
  • Synonyms & Antonyms 
  • Active & Passive Voice 
  • Direct & Indirect Speech 
  • One Word Substitution 
  • Vocabulary 
General Awareness 
  • History 
  • Geography 
  • Indian Polity 
  • Economy 
  • Science 
  • Current Affairs 
  • Sports 
  • Important Government Schemes 
  • Books & Authors 
  • Awards & Honours 
  • Important Days 
  • Static GK 
General Intelligence & Reasoning 
  • Syllogism 
  • Non-Verbal Reasoning 
  • Coding-Decoding 
  • Blood Relations 
  • Analogy 
  • Classification 
  • Series 
  • Direction Sense 
  • Puzzle 
  • Seating Arrangement 
Quantitative Aptitude 
  • Number System 
  • Simplification 
  • Percentage 
  • Profit and Loss 
  • Ratio and Proportion 
  • Average 
  • Interest 
  • Time & Work 
  • Time, Speed & Distance 
  • Algebra 
  • Geometry 
  • Mensuration 
  • Trigonometry 
  • Data Interpretation 
  • Probability 

SSC CGL Job Profiles

Selected candidates may work in different departments and perform duties such as: 

  • Administrative Work 
  • Tax Assessment and Inspection 
  • Audit and Accounting 
  • Investigation and Enforcement 
  • Statistical Analysis 
  • Clerical and Documentation Tasks 
Document Verification 

Candidates shortlisted after Tier 2 must produce: 

  • Educational Certificates 
  • Identity Proof 
  • Category Certificate 
  • Disability Certificate (if applicable) 
  • Passport-size Photographs 
  • Other Relevant Documents 

Failure to produce valid documents may result in cancellation of candidature. 

Preparation Strategy 

Recommended Preparation Tips 

  • Understand the latest syllabus thoroughly. 
  • Practice previous year papers regularly. 
  • Attempt mock tests frequently. 
  • Improve speed and accuracy. 
  • Focus on current affairs daily. 
  • Strengthen weak subjects through revision. 
  • Maintain a proper study schedule.

Salary Structure & Benefits

SSC CGL posts provide excellent salary packages along with government allowances and benefits. 

Pay Level
Approximate Salary
Pay Level 4
₹25,500 – ₹81,100
Pay Level 5
₹29,200 – ₹92,300
Pay Level 6
₹35,400 – ₹1,12,400
Pay Level 7
₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400

Additional Benefits

  • Dearness Allowance (DA) 
  • House Rent Allowance (HRA) 
  • Travel Allowance (TA) 
  • Pension Benefits 
  • Medical Facilities 
  • Job Security 
  • Promotion Opportunities

Preparation Tips

  • Follow a daily study timetable 
  • Practice previous year papers regularly 
  • Improve calculation speed for Maths 
  • Read newspapers for current affairs 
  • Attempt mock tests weekly 
  • Focus on revision and accuracy 

Important Books for SSC CGL 2026

Quantitative Aptitude 
  • Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations — R.S. Aggarwal 
  • Fast Track Objective Arithmetic — Rajesh Verma 
  • Magical Book on Quicker Maths — M. Tyra 
  • Advance Maths — Rakesh Yadav 
English Language 
  • Word Power Made Easy — Norman Lewis 
  • Objective General English — S.P. Bakshi 
  • Plinth to Paramount — Neetu Singh 
  • High School English Grammar and Composition — Wren & Martin 
General Intelligence & Reasoning 
  • A Modern Approach to Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning — R.S. Aggarwal 
  • Analytical Reasoning — M.K. Pandey 
  • Lucent Reasoning — Lucent Publication 
General Awareness 
  • Lucent’s General Knowledge — Lucent Publication 
  • Manorama Yearbook — Malayala Manorama 
  • General Knowledge — Arihant Experts 
Statistics (For JSO Post) 
  • Fundamentals of Mathematical Statistics — S.C. Gupta & V.K. Kapoor 
  • Statistics — Murray Spiegel 
Computer Knowledge 
  • Objective Computer Awareness — Arihant Experts 
  • Computer Awareness — Lucent Publication 

Important Instructions for Candidates 

  • Candidates must provide correct information during registration. 
  • Multiple applications may lead to rejection. 
  • Electronic gadgets are prohibited inside the examination hall. 
  • Candidates should carry valid identity proof along with the admit card. 
  • Requests for change of examination centre are generally not accepted. 
  • Negative marking is applicable in both Tier 1 and Tier 2 examinations.

Conclusion

SSC CGL 2026 presents an excellent opportunity for graduates seeking a secure and respected career in the central government sector. With attractive salaries, nationwide postings, promotion opportunities, and multiple post options, the examination remains one of the most competitive recruitment exams in India. 

Candidates should begin preparation early and stay updated with the official notification for accurate details regarding vacancies, examination dates, eligibility conditions, and the application process. 

A disciplined preparation strategy, regular practice, and proper time management can significantly improve the chances of success in the SSC CGL 2026 examination.

Candidates aiming for SSC MTS should begin preparation early, strengthen their basics, and stay updated with the official announcements released by Staff Selection Commission.

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