Important Dates
| Application Start Date | 21 May 2026 |
|---|---|
| Last Date to Apply | 22 June 2026 |
| Admit Card Release | August 2026 |
| Exam Date | August - September 2026 |
The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has released the SSC Combined Graduate Level (CGL) Examination 2026 Notification for recruitment to various Group B and Group C posts in Central Government Ministries, Departments, Constitutional Bodies, Tribunals, and Offices across India. Approximately 12,256 vacancies have been announced for the 2026 recruitment cycle.
Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | SSC Combined Graduate Level (SSC CGL) 2026 |
| Conducting Body | Staff Selection Commission |
| Vacancy | Approximately 12,256 Posts |
| Job Category | Group B & Group C Central Government Jobs |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Qualification | Bachelor’s Degree |
| Selection Process | Tier-I & Tier-II |
| Official Website | SSC Official Website |
| Official Advertisement | Download |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release Date | 21 May 2026 |
| Online Application Start | 21 May 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 22 June 2026 |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | 23 June 2026 |
| Application Correction Window | 29 June – 1 July 2026 |
| Tier-I Exam | August – September 2026 |
| Tier-II Exam | To be announced later |
SSC CGL 2026 Vacancies
The Commission has notified approximately 12,256 vacancies for various Group B and Group C posts. Final post-wise and category-wise vacancies will be updated by SSC during the recruitment process.
Major Posts Under SSC CGL
- Assistant Section Officer (ASO)
- Assistant Enforcement Officer (AEO)
- Inspector of Income Tax
- Inspector (Central Excise)
- Inspector (Preventive Officer)
- Inspector (Examiner)
- Assistant Audit Officer (AAO)
- Assistant Accounts Officer (AAO)
- Sub Inspector (CBI)
- Inspector Posts
- Divisional Accountant
- Junior Statistical Officer (JSO)
- Auditor
- Accountant
- Tax Assistant
- Upper Division Clerk (UDC)
Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized university or institution.
For Junior Statistical Officer (JSO)
- Bachelor’s Degree with at least 60% marks in Mathematics in Class 12, OR
- Bachelor’s Degree with Statistics as a subject.
For Assistant Audit Officer/Assistant Accounts Officer
- Any Bachelor’s Degree.
- Desirable: CA, CMA, CS, MBA (Finance), M.Com, etc.
Age Limit
The age limit varies according to the post:
| Age Group | Posts |
|---|---|
| 18–27 Years | Certain Group C Posts |
| 18–30 Years | Various Inspector & Assistant Posts |
| 20–30 Years | Select Posts |
| 18–32 Years | AAO, AEO and some other posts |
Age relaxation is available for reserved categories as per Government rules.
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General/OBC/EWS | ₹100 |
| SC/ST | Nil |
| PwBD | Nil |
| Women Candidates | Nil |
| Ex-Servicemen | Nil |
SSC CGL 2026 Selection Process
The selection process consists of:
Tier-I (Qualifying)
Computer-Based Examination
Tier-II
Computer-Based Examination
Additional Stages (Where Applicable)
- Data Entry Speed Test (DEST)
- Document Verification
SSC CGL Tier-I Exam Pattern 2026
A major change introduced in SSC CGL 2026 is sectional timing. Candidates will get separate time limits for each section.
| S.No. | Sections | No. of Questions | Total Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | General Intelligence and Reasoning | 25 | 50 | 15 minutes |
| 2 | General Awareness | 25 | 50 | 15 minutes |
| 3 | Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 | 15 minutes |
| 4 | English Comprehension | 25 | 50 | 15 minutes |
| TOTAL | 100 | 200 | 1 hour |
Duration
- 60 Minutes Total
- Sectional Timing Introduced
Negative Marking
- 0.50 marks deducted for each wrong answer.
SSC CGL Tier-II Exam Pattern
Paper-I (Compulsory for All)
| S.No. | Papers | Time Allotted |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paper I (Compulsory for all posts) | 2 hours 30 minutes |
| 2 | Paper II: Statistics | 2 hours |
| 3 | Paper III: General Studies (Finance and Economics) | 2 hours |
| Sessions | Sections | Modules | Subject | No. of Questions | Marks | Duration | Weightage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Session I | Section I | Module-I | Mathematical Abilities | 30 | 90 | 30 minutes | 23% |
| Session I | Section I | Module-II | Reasoning and General Intelligence | 30 | 90 | 30 minutes | 23% |
| Session I | Section II | Module-I | English Language and Comprehension | 45 | 135 | 40 minutes | 35% |
| Session I | Section II | Module-II | General Awareness | 25 | 75 | 20 minutes | 19% |
| Session I | Section III | Module-I | Computer Knowledge Test | 20 | 60 | 15 minutes | Qualifying |
| Session II | Section III | Module-II | Data Entry Speed Test | One Data Entry Task | — | 15 minutes | Qualifying |
Section I
- Mathematical Abilities
- Reasoning & General Intelligence
Section II
- English Language & Comprehension
- General Awareness
Section III
- Computer Knowledge Test
- Data Entry Speed Test (DEST)
Paper-II
| Papers | Sections | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper II | Statistics | 100 | 200 | 2 hours |
- Statistics (For JSO)
Paper-III
| Papers | Sections | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper III | General Studies (Finance and Economics) | 100 | 200 | 2 hours |
- General Studies (Finance & Economics) for AAO/AAO posts
Penalty for Wrong Answer
Penalty for Wrong Answer: There is a negative marking of 1 mark for each wrong answer in Section I, Section II, and Module I of Section III of Paper I, and 0.50 marks for each wrong answer in Paper II.
SSC CGL 2026 Syllabus
General Intelligence & Reasoning
- Analogies
- Coding-Decoding
- Blood Relations
- Series
- Classification
- Syllogism
- Non-Verbal Reasoning
Quantitative Aptitude
- Percentage
- Profit & Loss
- Ratio & Proportion
- Time & Work
- Time & Distance
- Algebra
- Geometry
- Trigonometry
- Data Interpretation
General Awareness
- Current Affairs
- Banking Awareness
- Static GK
- History
- Geography
- Polity
- Economy
- Science
English Language
- Grammar
- Vocabulary
- Reading Comprehension
- Synonyms & Antonyms
- Cloze Test
- Error Detection
Salary Structure
SSC CGL posts offer salaries under Pay Levels 4 to 8.
| Pay Level | Salary Range |
|---|---|
| Level 4 | ₹25,500 – ₹81,100 |
| Level 5 | ₹29,200 – ₹92,300 |
| Level 6 | ₹35,400 – ₹1,12,400 |
| Level 7 | ₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400 |
| Level 8 | ₹47,600 – ₹1,51,100 |
Additional benefits include:
- Dearness Allowance (DA)
- House Rent Allowance (HRA)
- Transport Allowance (TA)
- Medical Benefits
- Pension Benefits
How to Apply
- Visit SSC Official Portal
- Complete One-Time Registration (OTR).
- Log in using registration credentials.
- Select SSC CGL 2026.
- Fill the application form.
- Upload photograph and signature.
- Pay the application fee (if applicable).
- Submit and print the application form.
Preparation Strategy for SSC CGL 2026
- Complete the syllabus at least 2 months before the exam.
- Focus on Quantitative Aptitude and English daily.
- Practice sectional mock tests due to the newly introduced sectional timing.
- Solve previous year SSC CGL papers.
- Revise current affairs of the last 6–8 months.
- Attempt full-length mock tests regularly.
Why SSC CGL is Popular?
SSC CGL is one of India’s most sought-after government examinations because it offers:
- High-paying central government jobs
- Excellent promotion opportunities
- Job security
- Pension and allowances
- Posting in prestigious departments such as Income Tax, Customs, CBI, CBDT, CBIC, Ministries, and Secretariat Services
With over 12,000 vacancies announced and a graduate-level eligibility requirement, SSC CGL 2026 remains one of the best opportunities for candidates seeking a Central Government career.
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