SSC CGL 2026 Notification Out for 12,256 posts: Check Application dates, eligibility criteria and syllabus
The Staff Selection Commission has announced the SSC CGL notification 2026 to recruit 12,256 posts of Commission Combined Graduate Level (CGL). It's a great opportunity for all the graduate students who want to secure a career in government jobs. In this article, we provide all the crucial details, including exam dates, vacancies, eligibility criteria, exam patterns, and more.
SSC CGL Notification 2026
The SSC CGL notification PDF has been released on 21st May 2026 on the official website https://ssc.gov.in/ and announcing 12,256 vacancies for 40 Group B and Group C officers in central government ministries and departments. So, aspirants who are willing to appear for this exam should start the preparation and note that the registration dates are 21st may to 22nd june 2026.
SSC CGL Recruitment 2026- Overview
The SSC CGL Recruitment details for the year 2026 are given in this table below:
|
SSC CGL 2026 Exam- overveiw |
|
|
Exam Name |
SSC CGL 2026 |
|
Full Form |
Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level |
| Notification No. | F. No. HQ-C11018/1/2026-C-1 |
|
Conducting Body |
Staff Selection Commission (SSC) |
|
SSC CGL Vacancy 2026 |
12,256 |
|
Mode of Exam |
Online |
| Registration dates | 21st may to 22nd june 2026. |
|
Category |
Govt Jobs |
|
Exam Type |
National Level |
|
Eligibility |
Graduate (bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline) |
|
Age Limit |
18 to 32 Years |
|
Selection Process |
Tier 1 (Qualifying) Tier 2 (Merit-Based) |
|
Salary |
Varies posts-wise (Pay Level 4 to 7) |
|
Official Website |
|
SSC CGL 2026 Important Dates
The official notification has been released and the start and end of online application are given in the table below:
|
Events |
Dates |
|
SSC CGL Notification Date |
21st May 2026 |
|
Apply Online Start Date |
21st May 2026 |
| Last date to Apply |
22nd june 2026 (23:00 hours) |
|
Fee Payment Last Date |
22nd june 2026 |
|
Application Form Correction Dates |
29th June to 1st July 2026 (23:00 hours) |
|
SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam Date |
August-September2026 |
| SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam2 ate | December 2026 |
SSC CGL 2026 Vacancy Details
With the release of the official notification on 21st May 2026, the SSC CGL 2026 has announced 12,256 vacancies, which is tentative for candidates. The category-wise breakdown of the vacancies for 2026 will be available of the official website at ssc.gov.in.
SSC CGL Previous Year Vacancy Trends
The SSC CGL previous year vacancy trends give a clear idea of how many vacancies were released in the past, so candidates can prepare accordingly. The table below shows the previous year's vacancies from 2017 to 2026:
|
Year |
Number of Vacancies |
|
SSC CGL 2026 |
12,256 |
|
SSC CGL 2025 |
14582 |
|
SSC CGL 2024 |
17727 |
|
SSC CGL 2023 |
8415 |
|
SSC CGL 2022 |
37409 |
|
SSC CGL 2021 |
7621 |
|
SSC CGL 2020 |
7035 |
|
SSC CGL 2019 |
8428 |
|
SSC CGL 2018 |
11271 |
|
SSC CGL 2017 |
9276 |
SSC CGL Posts Classification
The SSC CGL Exam is conducted by the Staff Selection Commission to recruit candidates for Group B and Group C posts in various central ministries, departments, and government organizations across the country. The post-wise classification is provided in the table below:
|
SSC CGL Posts List |
||
|
SSC CGL Post |
Classification of Post |
Department/Ministry |
|
Assistant Section Officer |
Group “B” |
Central Secretariat Service, Intelligence Bureau, Ministry of Railway, Ministry of External Affairs, AFHQ |
|
Assistant |
Other Ministries/ Departments/ Organizations |
|
|
Inspector (Central Excise) |
CBIC |
|
|
Assistant Enforcement Officer |
Directorate of Enforcement, Department of Revenue |
|
|
Sub Inspector |
Central Bureau of Investigation |
|
|
Inspector |
Central Bureau of Narcotics |
|
|
Junior Statistical Officer |
M/o Statistics & Programme Implementation |
|
|
Statistical Investigator Grade-II |
Registrar General of India |
|
|
Inspector of Income Tax |
Group “C” |
CBDT |
|
Auditor |
Offices under C&AG, CGDA |
|
|
Accountant/ Junior Accountant |
Other Ministry/ Departments |
|
|
Senior Secretariat Assistant/ Upper Division Clerks |
Central Govt. Offices/ Ministries other than CSCS cadres |
|
|
Tax Assistant |
CBDT/ CBIC |
|
Attempt Mock test for SSC CGL 2026 exam
SSC CGL 2026 Eligibility Criteria
The SSC CGL 2026 Notification also mentions the eligibility criteria for the examination. The eligibility criteria are based on three aspects.
- Nationality
- Educational Qualification
- Age Limit
Candidates are advised to go through the eligibility criteria thoroughly before starting their preparation. Given below are the details of each aspect of the SSC CGL eligibility criteria.
SSC CGL Nationality
To be eligible, a candidate must be:
- An Indian citizen,
- A Nepalese or Bhutanese citizen,
- A Tibetan refugee who settled in India before 1st January 1962, or
- An individual of India origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, or Vietnam to settle permanently in India.
SSC CGL Education Qualification
The official SSC CGL 2026 Notification states that a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university is the minimum educational qualification required for a candidate to appear for the exam. However, for different posts, the subject of the bachelor’s degree can be different, and some posts even require work experience. The detailed breakdown of the educational qualification requirements is given below:
|
Post Name |
Educational Qualification |
|
Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) |
Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university with at least 60% marks in Mathematics in Class 12, or a graduation degree in any stream with Statistics as a subject. |
|
Statistical Investigator Grade II |
A graduation degree from a recognised university with Economics, Statistics, or Mathematics as a compulsory or elective subject. |
|
Research Assistant (NHRC) |
Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university or institute and a minimum of 1 year of research experience in a recognised university or research institution. |
|
All Other SSC CGL Posts |
Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised university. |
SSC CGL Age Limit
The Age limit for SSC CGL varies by post. Candidates interested in applying for this post must ensure that they fall within the prescribed age range mentioned in the official SSC CGL notification. However, Candidates from certain reserved categories are eligible for age relaxation.
|
Posts |
Age Limit |
|
Pay level-7 (Rs. 44900 to Rs. 142400) |
|
|
Assistant Section Officer in Central Secretariat Service |
20–30 years |
|
Assistant Section Officer in the Intelligence Bureau |
18–30 years |
|
Assistant Section Officer in the Ministry of Railways |
20–30 years |
|
Assistant Section Officer in the Ministry of External Affairs |
20–30 years |
|
Assistant Section Officer in AFHQ |
20–30 years |
|
Assistant Section Officer in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology |
18–30 years |
|
Assistant Section Officer in Other Ministries/Dept./Org. |
18–30 years |
|
Assistant/Assistant Section Officer in Other Ministries/Dept./Org. |
18–30 years |
|
Inspector of Income Tax in CBDT |
18–30 years |
|
Inspector (Central Excise) in CBIC |
18–30 years |
|
Inspector (Preventive Officer) in CBIC |
18–30 years |
|
Inspector (Examiner) in CBIC |
18–30 years |
|
Asst. Enforcement Officer, Dept. of Revenue |
18–30 years |
|
Sub-Inspector in CBI |
20–30 years |
|
Inspector Posts in DOP |
18–30 years |
|
Inspector in the Central Narcotics Bureau |
18–30 years |
|
Section Head in the Director General of Foreign Trade |
18-30 years |
|
Pay level- 6 (Rs. 35400 to Rs. 112400) |
|
|
Assistant/Assistant Section Officer in Other Ministries/Dept./Org |
18-30 years |
|
Executive Assistant in CBIC |
18–30 years |
|
Research Assistant in NHRC |
18–30 years |
|
Divisional Accountant in Offices C & AG |
18–30 years |
|
Sub-Inspector in NIA |
18–30 years |
|
Sub-Inspector in NCB- MHA |
18–30 years |
|
Junior Statistical Officer in the Ministry of Statistics & Programme |
18–32 years |
|
Implementation |
|
|
Statistical Investigator Grade-II in MHA |
18–30 years |
|
Office Superintendent in CBDT |
18-30 years |
|
Pay level- 5 (Rs. 29200 to Rs. 92300) |
|
|
Auditor in C & AG |
18–27 years |
|
Auditor in Other Ministries/Dept. |
18–27 years |
|
Auditor in CGDA |
18–27 years |
|
Accountant in C & AG |
18–27 years |
|
Accountant in the Controller General of Accounts |
18-27 years |
|
Accountant/Junior Accountant in Other Ministry Dept. |
18–27 years |
|
Pay level- 4 (Rs. 25500 to Rs. 81100) |
|
|
Postal Assistant/Sorting Assistant |
18–27 years |
|
Sr. Secretariat Assistant/Upper Division Clerks in CGO/CSOs |
18–27 years |
|
Senior Administrative Assistant |
18-27 years |
|
Tax Assistant in CBDT |
18–27 years |
|
Tax Assistant in CBIC |
18–27 years |
|
Sub Inspector in CBN |
18–27 years |
SSC CGL Age Relaxation
Age relaxation is provided to candidates from reserved categories as per the rules set by the Government of India.
Here is the category-wise age relaxation provided to each category:
|
Category |
Age Relaxation |
|
OBC |
3 years |
|
SC/ST |
5 years |
|
Physically Handicapped (General) |
10 years |
|
Physically Handicapped (OBC) |
13 years |
|
Physically Handicapped (SC/ST) |
15 years |
|
Ex-Servicemen (General) |
3 years |
|
Ex-Servicemen (OBC) |
6 years |
|
Ex-Servicemen (SC/ST) |
8 years |
|
Central Govt. Civilian Employees (General-Group B) |
5 years |
|
Central Govt. Civilian Employees (OBC-Group B) |
8 years |
|
Central Govt. Civilian Employees (SC/ST-Group B) |
10 years |
|
Central Govt. Civilian Employees (General Group C) |
Up to 40 years of age |
|
Central Govt. Civilian Employees (OBC-Group C) |
Up to 43 years of age |
|
Central Govt. Civilian Employees (St/SC-Group C) |
Up to 45 years of age |
|
Candidates domiciled in the State of Jammu & Kashmir (SC/ST) |
5 years |
|
Candidates domiciled in the State of Jammu & Kashmir (OBC) |
8 years |
|
Candidates domiciled in the State of Jammu & Kashmir (SC/ST) |
10 years |
|
Widows/Divorced Women/Women Judicially separated and who are not remarried-Group C/General |
Up to 35 years of age |
|
Widows/Divorced Women/Women Judicially separated and who are not remarried-Group C/OBC |
Up to 38 years of age |
|
Widows/Divorced Women/Women Judicially separated and who are not remarried-Group C/SC&ST |
Up to 40 years of age |
|
Defence Personnel Disabled in Hostilities-General |
5 years |
|
Defence Personnel Disabled in hostilities-OBC |
8 years |
|
Defence Personnel Disabled in hostilities-SC/ST |
10 years |
SSC CGL 2026 Application Fee
The application fee for SSC CGL is Rs. 100/- for general category candidates. Women candidates and candidates who belong to SC, ST, PwBD and ESM are exempted from paying the fee. The fee can be paid only through online modes such as BHIM UPI, Net Banking, or Debit Cards, including Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, and RuPay.
SSC CGL 2026 Selection Process
The SSC CGL selection process, as per the SSC CGL 2026 Notification, consists of two stages:
1. SSC CGL Tier 1 – CBT exam, which is qualifying in nature
2. SSC CGL Tier 2 – Consists of Paper 1, which is compulsory for all posts, and Paper II, which is only mandatory for the post of JSO
It is important to note that there is no interview round in the SSC CGL Selection Process. The selection is based solely on computer-based written examinations (Tier I and Tier II), followed by document verification.
SSC CGL 2026 Exam Pattern
The SSC CGL Exam is conducted in two stages (Tier I and Tier II). Both exams are computer-based.
|
Tier |
Type |
Mode |
|
Tier I (Qualifying) |
Objective Multiple Choice |
Computer-Based (online) |
|
Tier II (Paper I, II) |
Paper I (Compulsory for all posts), |
Computer-Based (online) |
|
Paper II for candidates who apply for the posts of Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) in the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation |
SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam Pattern
The SSC CGL Tier-1 Exam consists of 4 sections with 100 multiple-choice questions. These questions account for 200 marks, and there is a negative marking of 0.5 marks for each wrong answer. The exam duration is of 60 minutes. There are 4 sections in this exam:
1. General Intelligence & Reasoning
2. General Awareness
3. Quantitative Aptitude
4. English Comprehension
The detailed breakdown of the exam pattern of the SSC CGL Tier-1 is given below:
|
SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam Pattern 2026 |
||||
|
S.No. |
Sections |
No. of Questions |
Total Marks |
Time Allotted |
|
1 |
General Intelligence and Reasoning |
25 |
50 |
A cumulative time of 60 minutes |
|
2 |
General Awareness |
25 |
50 |
|
|
3 |
Quantitative Aptitude |
25 |
50 |
|
|
4 |
English Comprehension |
25 |
50 |
|
|
Total |
100 |
200 |
||
SSC CGL Tier 2 Exam Pattern
After SSC CGL Tier 1 exam, candidates have to appear for SSC CGL Tier 2. It is important to note that for Tier 2, there is one compulsory paper for all the posts, but for the post of JSO, there is an additional paper (Paper II)
|
SSC CGL Tier 2 Exam Pattern 2026 |
||
|
S.No. |
Papers |
Time Allotted |
|
1 |
Paper I: (Compulsory for all posts) |
2 hours 30 minutes |
|
2 |
Paper II: Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) and Statistical Investigator Gr. II |
2 hours |
Given below is the SSC CGL Tier-2 Exam Pattern in detail. This paper is compulsory for all posts. It is conducted in 3 sessions and has different weightage. The complete breakdown of the exam pattern is given below:
|
SSC CGL Tier 2 Exam Pattern 2026 [Paper 1] |
|||||||
|
Sessions |
Sections |
Modules |
Subject |
No. of Questions |
Marks |
Weightage |
Duration |
|
Session I |
Section I |
Module-I |
Mathematical Abilities |
30 |
90 |
23% |
1 hour |
|
Module-II |
Reasoning and General Intelligence |
30 |
90 |
23% |
|||
|
Section II |
Module-I |
English Language and Comprehension |
45 |
135 |
35% |
1 hour |
|
|
Module-II |
General Awareness |
25 |
75 |
19% |
|||
|
Section III |
Module-I |
Computer Knowledge Test |
20 |
60 |
Qualifying |
15 minutes |
|
|
Session II |
Module-II |
Data Entry Speed Test |
One Data Entry Task |
Qualifying |
15 minutes |
||
The complete breakdown of the exam pattern for SSC CGL Tier-2 Paper 2 is given below. This examination is only for the candidates who have applied for the JSO post.
|
SSC CGL Tier 2 Exam Pattern 2026 [Paper 2] |
||||
|
Sections |
No. of question |
Maximum Marks |
Duration |
|
|
Statistics |
100 |
200 |
2 hours |
|
SSC CGL 2026 Syllabus
There are 4 sections in the SSC CGL Tier 1 exam: Quantitative Aptitude, General Intelligence and Reasoning, General Awareness and English Comprehension. The complete breakdown of the SSC CGL syllabus for the 2026 exam, as mentioned in the SSC CGL Notification, is given in the table below:
|
General Intelligence and Reasoning |
General Awareness/ GK |
Quantitative Aptitude |
English Comprehension |
|
Classification |
Static General Knowledge (Indian History, Culture etc.) |
Simplification |
Reading Comprehension |
|
Analogy |
Science |
Interest |
Fill in the Blanks |
|
Coding-Decoding |
Current Affairs |
Averages |
Spellings |
|
Series |
Indian Geography |
Mensuration |
Cloze Test |
|
Non-Verbal |
Current CM & Governors |
Data Interpretation |
Synonyms & Antonyms |
|
Word Formation |
Sports |
Percentage |
Idioms and Phrases |
|
Matrix |
Books and Authors |
Ratio and Proportion |
One Word Substitution |
|
Important Schemes |
Problem on Ages |
Sentence Correction |
Detailed SSC CGL Syllabus for 2026
SSC CGL 2026 Salary Structure
Just like most government jobs, the SSC CGL posts also offer a highly rewarding salary. The SSC CGL salary includes a basic pay along with multiple allowances, such as dearness allowance (DA), house rent allowance (HRA), and more. The salaries differ for every post. The complete breakdown of salaries of different posts is given in the table below:
|
Posts |
Level |
Pay Scale |
Grade Pay |
Initial Pay |
Gross Salary |
|
Assistant Section Officer (CSS) |
Level 7 |
₹44,900 - ₹1,42,400 |
₹ 4,600 |
₹ 44,900 |
₹55,000 - ₹65,000 |
|
Inspector (Income Tax) |
Level 7 |
₹44,900 - ₹1,42,400 |
₹ 4,600 |
₹ 44,900 |
₹55,000 - ₹65,000 |
|
Inspector (Central Excise) |
Level 7 |
₹44,900 - ₹1,42,400 |
₹ 4,600 |
₹ 44,900 |
₹55,000 - ₹65,000 |
|
Inspector (Preventive Officer) |
Level 7 |
₹44,900 - ₹1,42,400 |
₹ 4,600 |
₹ 44,900 |
₹55,000 - ₹65,000 |
|
Inspector (Examiner) |
Level 7 |
₹44,900 - ₹1,42,400 |
₹ 4,600 |
₹ 44,900 |
₹55,000 - ₹65,000 |
|
Sub Inspector (CBI) |
Level 7 |
₹44,900 - ₹1,42,400 |
₹ 4,600 |
₹ 44,900 |
₹55,000 - ₹65,000 |
|
Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) |
Level 6 |
₹35,400 - ₹1,12,400 |
₹ 4,200 |
₹ 35,400 |
₹45,000 - ₹55,000 |
|
Divisional Accountant |
Level 6 |
₹35,400 - ₹1,12,400 |
₹ 4,200 |
₹ 35,400 |
₹45,000 - ₹55,000 |
|
Auditor |
Level 5 |
₹29,200 - ₹92,300 |
₹ 2,800 |
₹ 29,200 |
₹40,000 - ₹50,000 |
|
Accountant/Junior Accountant |
Level 5 |
₹29,200 - ₹92,300 |
₹ 2,800 |
₹ 29,200 |
₹40,000 - ₹50,000 |
|
Tax Assistant (CBEC) |
Level 4 |
₹25,500 - ₹81,100 |
₹ 2,400 |
₹ 25,500 |
₹35,000 - ₹45,000 |
|
Tax Assistant (CBDT) |
Level 4 |
₹25,500 - ₹81,100 |
₹ 2,400 |
₹ 25,500 |
₹35,000 - ₹45,000 |
|
Sub Inspector (NIA) |
Level 6 |
₹35,400 - ₹1,12,400 |
₹ 4,200 |
₹ 35,400 |
₹45,000 - ₹55,000 |
Check SSC CGL Post-wise Salary
SSC CGL Previous Year Cut Off
Students who are planning to prepare for the SSC CGL Exam should be aware of the previous year's cut-offs. Knowing the previous year’s cut-off helps in setting a realistic target score for the exam and studying accordingly. The SSC CGL cut-off for the year 2025 is given in the table below:
|
SSC CGL Previous Year Cut Off |
||||
|
Categories |
Finance/AAO |
JSO |
Statistical Investigator Gr.II |
All Other Posts |
|
General |
169.6717 |
168.5398 |
172.3603 |
150.0494 |
|
EWS |
167.1833 |
166.0675 |
158.768 |
143.4444 |
|
OBC |
166.2876 |
165.8686 |
152.4218 |
145.9374 |
|
SC |
154.2929 |
148.5091 |
-- |
126.682 |
|
ST |
148.9892 |
146.6511 |
127.326 |
118.1666 |
|
OH |
147.9527 |
132.7238 |
-- |
115.9847 |
|
HH |
126.864 |
80.99998 |
49.14875 |
77.72754 |
|
Others-PWD |
109.8272 |
-- |
40 |
57.45303 |
|
VH |
-- |
114.61 |
82.56201 |
121.5966 |
|
ESM |
-- |
-- |
-- |
100.29326 |
Preparation Tips for the SSC CGL 2026 Exam
1. Knowing the exam pattern
Before solving a single question, it is important to understand the exam pattern, syllabus, and marking scheme. That is the first step in your preparation journey.
2. Make a plan that you can actually follow
Create a study plan according to your strengths and weaknesses. Give more time and importance to the subjects where you need improvement. This way, you can strengthen your weak spots while ensuring you are not dropping accuracy.
3. Treat each subject differently
Quant needs practice. English needs rule clarity. Reasoning needs pattern recognition. GA needs memory + revision. All the subjects need a different approach. Spend more time where your scores are low and try to improve gradually.
4. Mocks and previous papers are non-negotiable
Mocks and practice tests are very important for SSC CGL. They help you understand the actual level of the exam and train your mind for it. The more you practice using mock tests, the better you will score on the exam day.
5. Stay updated with current affairs
General Awareness is one of the most crucial sections of the exam. It carries a lot of weightage, which makes reading news daily, revising weekly, and doing monthly current affairs PDFs extremely important.
6. Make your own short notes
Don’t rely only on books for revision. Write formulas, grammar rules, and facts in your own words. These come in handy in the last few weeks when you don’t have time to reopen full chapters.
|
SSC CGL Related Links |
