Last Updated: 3 November 2026 | Official Notification: SSC CGL Recruitment 2026 | Recruiting Authority: Staff Selection Commission (SSC) | Published By: GovtJobDeck.com | Estimated Reading Time: 15 minutes
SSC CGL (Combined Graduate Level) is the Staff Selection Commission’s exam for Group B and Group C posts in central government offices. Any graduate can apply for most posts. The 2026 notification came out on 21 May with about 12,256 tentative vacancies, which SSC revised to 10,731 on 24 September 2026. Tier 1 ran from 30 September to 30 October 2026.
This guide covers what SSC CGL is, every post with its pay level and age limit, vacancies by post, eligibility, the selection process, the Tier 1 and Tier 2 pattern, how to apply and the syllabus. Facts are taken from SSC’s official CGL 2026 notice and the revised tentative vacancy notice dated 24 September 2026.
SSC CGL 2026 status
Stage
Status
Notification
Out, 21 May 2026
Online application
Closed. The notice gave 22 June 2026 as the last date; SSC later extended it to 25 June 2026
The full timeline from notification to final selection. Dates marked “SSC notice” are from the official notification; “as reported” dates come from news and coaching sites. Status is as of 3 November 2026.
#
Event
Date
Status
1
Notification released
21 May 2026
Done (SSC notice)
2
Online application starts
21 May 2026
Done (SSC notice)
3
Last date to apply
22 June 2026, 11 pm (SSC notice); extended to 25 June 2026, 11 pm (as reported)
Closed
4
Last date to pay the fee
23 June 2026, 11 pm (SSC notice); extended to 26 June 2026 (as reported)
Closed
5
Application correction window
29 June to 1 July 2026 (SSC notice); revised to 1 to 3 July 2026 (as reported)
Closed
6
Tier 1 schedule notice
12 September 2026
Done
7
Revised tentative vacancies (10,731)
24 September 2026
Done (SSC notice)
8
Exam city intimation slip
About 21 to 23 September 2026 (reports vary by a day or two)
Done
9
Tier 1 admit card
From 27 September 2026, released in phases a few days before each shift
Done
10
Tier 1 exam
30 September to 30 October 2026
Done
11
Tier 1 provisional answer key and objections
Not announced yet; an early November release is expected. Objections cost Rs 100 per question
Pending
12
Tier 1 result and shortlist for Tier 2
Not announced yet
Pending
13
Tier 2 city slip and admit card
Not announced yet
Pending
14
Tier 2 exam (Paper I, plus Paper II or III for some posts)
Tentatively December 2026 (SSC notice)
Pending
15
Tier 2 answer key and result
Not announced yet
Pending
16
Post preference (online option form)
After the Tier 2 result, before the final result; dates will be announced
Pending
17
Document verification
By the user departments after the final result; dates will be announced
Pending
18
Final result and post allocation
Not announced yet
Pending
SSC’s own notice dates win if anything here differs. Check ssc.gov.in for new notices.
What to do now after SSC CGL Tier 1
Applications are closed and Tier 1 is over. Here is what comes next and how to prepare. The Tier 2 date is tentative (December 2026), so watch ssc.gov.in for notices.
1. Wait for the Tier 1 answer key and result
Check the tentative answer key when SSC publishes it. You can challenge an answer for Rs 100 per question, which is not refundable.
Tier 1 is a qualifying stage. Only shortlisted candidates take Tier 2, and the shortlist is made category-wise.
Minimum marks are 30% for UR, 25% for OBC and EWS, and 20% for other categories.
2. Prepare for Tier 2 Paper I
Paper I has 150 questions for 450 marks in 2 hours 15 minutes, with a separate timer for each section.
Each wrong answer loses 1 mark, which is more than in Tier 1, so avoid blind guessing.
Merit is based on Mathematical Abilities, Reasoning, English and General Awareness. Give most of your time to these sections.
Candidates for Junior Statistical Officer and Statistical Investigator Grade II also take Paper II (Statistics). Candidates for Assistant Audit Officer and Assistant Accounts Officer take Paper III (Finance and Economics).
3. Clear the computer tests
The Computer Knowledge Test has 20 questions for 60 marks in 15 minutes, and it is qualifying only.
The Data Entry Speed Test is one passage of about 2,000 key depressions in 15 minutes. UR candidates can make at most 20% errors, OBC and EWS 25%, and others 30%.
Posts such as Tax Assistant, Inspector (Central Excise, Preventive Officer, Examiner), Assistant Section Officer (CSS, MEA, AFHQ) and Executive Assistant (CBIC) have higher standards. Practise typing now if you want these posts.
3. Plan your post preferences
You fill in post preferences in an online option form after the Tier 2 result. Options are final and cannot be changed.
If you don’t submit preferences, you are not considered for any post.
Posts are allotted by merit and preference order, so list posts by what you actually want, from the one you like most.
Check the pay level, department and any physical standards for each post before you fill the form. Inspector, Sub-Inspector and Border Roads Organisation posts have physical and medical standards.
4. Keep your documents ready for verification
Document verification is done by the user departments after the final result.
Keep the originals and photocopies of your degree, mark sheets, ID, category certificates (SC, ST, OBC with creamy layer, EWS) and any disability or ex-servicemen certificates.
Your degree must have been completed, with the result declared, on 1 August 2026.
Keep your application form and score records safe for at least 3 years.
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SSC CGL stands for Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level examination. The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) is a central government body that recruits staff for ministries, departments and offices. CGL is its main graduate-level exam. It fills Group B and Group C posts such as Assistant Section Officer, Inspector (Income Tax, Central Excise), Sub-Inspector (CBI), Auditor, Accountant and Tax Assistant.
The exam is computer-based and held in two tiers. One exam fills posts in many departments, so lakhs of graduates apply every year: about 24.7 lakh registered in 2023 and 34.8 lakh in 2024.
SSC CGL 2026 at a glance
Detail
Information
Conducting body
Staff Selection Commission (SSC)
Posts
Group B and Group C, pay levels 4 to 8
Vacancies
10,731 tentative (revised on 24 September 2026); 12,256 at notification
Notification
21 May 2026
Application window
21 May to 22 June 2026, later extended to 25 June 2026
Application fee
Rs 100; women, SC, ST, PwBD and eligible ex-servicemen exempt
Mode
Computer-based test
Stages
Tier 1 (qualifying), Tier 2 (merit)
Tier 2
Tentatively December 2026
Age limit
18 to 32 years as on 1 August 2026, depending on the post
SSC’s revised tentative notice of 24 September 2026 lists 10,731 vacancies across 59 post and department lines. The original notice said about 12,256. Vacancies are tentative and can change before the final result. Source: SSC tentative vacancy notice.
Category
Vacancies
Unreserved (UR)
4,412
EWS
1,028
OBC
2,772
SC
1,715
ST
804
Total
10,731
#
Post
Department
UR
EWS
OBC
SC
ST
Total
1
Assistant Accounts Officer (State Cadre)
C&AG
253
38
125
60
28
504
2
Assistant Audit Officer (State Cadre)
C&AG
247
40
125
63
29
504
3
Assistant Audit Officer (Central Cadre)
C&AG
210
51
138
76
38
513
4
Assistant / Assistant Section Officer
Central Administrative Tribunal
3
1
3
1
0
8
5
Assistant Section Officer
Central Vigilance Commission
0
1
0
0
1
2
6
Assistant Section Officer
Armed Forces Headquarters
25
5
18
9
2
59
7
Inspector of Income Tax
CBDT
238
49
158
102
48
595
8
Assistant Section Officer
Intelligence Bureau
29
10
23
14
2
78
9
Sub-Inspector
CBI
1
0
4
2
0
7
10
Assistant Section Officer
Central Secretariat Service, DoPT
268
66
125
139
70
668
11
Assistant Section Officer
EPFO
40
9
25
13
6
93
12
Assistant Section Officer
Railway Board
17
2
11
4
2
36
13
Inspector (Central Excise)
CBIC
908
221
634
431
172
2,366
14
Inspector of Posts
Department of Posts
7
3
5
3
1
19
15
Assistant Section Officer
NHRC
10
1
5
2
1
19
16
Assistant Section Officer
MeitY
1
1
1
0
0
3
17
Assistant Section Officer
MEA
14
3
6
7
1
31
18
Assistant Enforcement Officer
Enforcement Directorate
10
0
0
7
6
23
19
Inspector (Examiner)
CBIC
20
3
6
10
3
42
20
Inspector (Preventive Officer)
CBIC
54
3
10
23
8
98
21
Assistant Section Officer
Election Commission of India
0
0
0
1
1
2
22
Assistant (Grade Pay 4200)
NCLT, Ministry of Corporate Affairs
3
1
0
0
1
5
23
Office Superintendent
CBDT
180
39
110
64
33
426
24
Statistical Investigator Grade II
Registrar General of India
13
5
19
0
11
48
25
Sub-Inspector / JIO
Narcotics Control Bureau
6
0
1
0
2
9
26
Assistant (Grade Pay 4200)
Narcotics Control Bureau
2
0
1
0
0
3
27
Junior Statistical Officer
MoSPI
48
9
53
38
10
158
28
Assistant (Grade Pay 4200)
IMD
3
0
4
2
0
9
29
Assistant (Grade Pay 4200)
Enforcement Directorate
4
0
2
0
0
6
30
Executive Assistant
CBIC
147
27
87
54
25
340
31
Assistant (Grade Pay 4200)
Ministry of Textiles
1
0
0
0
0
1
32
Accountant
C&AG
162
40
106
59
29
396
33
Accountant / Junior Accountant
CGCA, Department of Telecommunications
10
5
11
3
1
30
34
Auditor
CGDA
357
88
236
131
63
875
35
Accountant
Controller General of Accounts
94
12
57
27
13
203
36
Junior Accountant
Intelligence Bureau
5
1
2
2
1
11
37
Accountant / Junior Accountant
Postal Accounts Wing
14
4
9
3
2
32
38
Upper Division Clerk
Border Roads Organisation
25
0
6
2
3
36
39
UDC / Senior Secretariat Assistant
DGDE
25
6
16
9
5
61
40
Tax Assistant
CBDT
545
167
362
210
116
1,400
41
Upper Division Clerk
CESTAT
0
0
2
1
0
3
42
Upper Division Clerk
Central Bureau of Narcotics
0
0
1
0
0
1
43
Sub-Inspector
Central Bureau of Narcotics
3
0
0
0
2
5
44
Upper Division Clerk
Department of Fisheries
1
0
1
0
0
2
45
UDC / Senior Secretariat Assistant
DGHS
14
0
2
1
0
17
46
Upper Division Clerk
Narcotics Control Bureau
2
0
0
0
0
2
47
Upper Division Clerk
Dept. of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation
7
0
0
0
1
8
48
Upper Division Clerk
Development Commissioner, MSME
17
6
13
5
3
44
49
UDC / Senior Secretariat Assistant
Department of Science and Technology
9
3
7
4
2
25
50
Tax Assistant
CBIC
320
101
232
130
58
841
51
Upper Division Clerk
Dept. of Animal Husbandry and Dairying
4
0
1
0
0
5
52
Upper Division Clerk
Department of Consumer Affairs
4
0
1
0
0
5
53
UDC / Senior Secretariat Assistant
IMD
4
4
2
0
1
11
54
Accountant / Junior Accountant
NHRC
3
0
0
0
0
3
55
UDC / Senior Secretariat Assistant
Ministry of Textiles
4
0
0
0
1
5
56
Upper Division Clerk
Ministry of Mines
6
0
3
0
0
9
57
UDC / Senior Secretariat Assistant
Central Information Commission
2
1
0
1
1
5
58
UDC / Senior Secretariat Assistant
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
4
1
3
2
1
11
59
UDC / Senior Secretariat Assistant
Dept. of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
9
1
0
0
0
10
Biggest recruiters: Inspector (Central Excise) with 2,366 vacancies, Tax Assistant (CBDT) with 1,400, Tax Assistant (CBIC) with 841, Auditor (CGDA) with 875 and Assistant Section Officer (Central Secretariat Service) with 668.
Posts in SSC CGL 2026
The notice lists posts by pay level. The age limit is counted as on 1 August 2026 and depends on the post, not only on the pay level.
Pay Level 8 (Rs 47,600 – 1,51,100), Group B gazetted
Bachelor’s degree. Desirable: CA, CMA, CS, Master’s in Commerce, MBA (Finance) or Master’s in Business Economics. Direct recruits must pass the Subordinate Audit / Accounts Service examination during probation
Same as above, plus proficiency in the State’s regional or official language at matriculation level, with a certificate from a recognised board
Junior Statistical Officer
Any bachelor’s degree with at least 60% in mathematics at Class 12, or a bachelor’s degree with statistics as a degree-level subject
Statistical Investigator Grade II
Bachelor’s degree in statistics, mathematics, economics, demography, population studies, operations research, IT, computer science / engineering / technology / applications, data science or AI
All other posts
Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university or equivalent
Age relaxation
Category
Relaxation over the upper age limit
SC / ST
5 years
OBC
3 years
PwBD
10 years (OBC: 13; SC / ST: 15)
Ex-servicemen
3 years after deducting military service
Central government civilian employees (3+ years’ regular service), Group C posts
Up to 40 years (SC / ST: 45)
Widows, divorcees and judicially separated women, not remarried
Up to 35 years (SC / ST: up to 40)
SSC CGL eligibility
Can a 12th pass candidate apply for SSC CGL?
No. SSC CGL needs a bachelor’s degree. A candidate who has passed Class 12 can apply for SSC CHSL instead.
Can final-year students apply for SSC CGL?
Yes, final-year graduation students can apply, but they must hold the essential qualification on 1 August 2026. The notice says that merely having your result processed by the university by the cut-off date does not meet the requirement, so your result must be declared by then. Degrees by distance learning must be recognised by the Distance Education Bureau for the relevant period.
Nationality
Candidates must be Indian citizens, subjects of Nepal or Bhutan, or certain persons of Indian origin who hold an eligibility certificate from the Government of India. Border Roads Organisation vacancies are for male candidates only.
Ex-servicemen
Ex-servicemen can apply for Group C posts. Matriculate ex-servicemen need 15 years of service and are not eligible for Group B posts.
SSC CGL salary
Salary depends on the pay level of the post. The notice gives these basic pay scales.
Tax Assistant, Upper Division Clerk, Postal Assistant
Your take-home pay is higher than basic pay because of dearness allowance, house rent allowance and transport allowance, and lower after NPS and other deductions. It varies by city class and department. Use our Central Government Salary Calculator and DA Calculator to estimate your in-hand salary.
SSC CGL selection process
How many exams are there in SSC CGL?
Two computer-based exams: Tier 1 and Tier 2. Candidates are shortlisted category-wise on Tier 1 marks. The merit list is prepared on Tier 2 performance only. Document verification follows the final result and is done by the user departments.
Does SSC CGL have an interview?
No. The notice has no interview stage. Final selection depends on Tier 2 merit, your post preference and document verification. Posts with computer-proficiency needs have extra qualifying tests inside Tier 2, and some posts have physical and medical standards, as explained below.
Tier 1 exam pattern
Subject
Questions
Marks
General Intelligence and Reasoning
25
50
General Awareness
25
50
Quantitative Aptitude
25
50
English Comprehension
25
50
Total
100
200
Duration is 1 hour, with a 15-minute timer for each subject. Candidates eligible for a scribe get 1 hour 20 minutes, with 20 minutes per subject.
Each wrong answer loses 0.50 marks.
Questions are bilingual, except English Comprehension, which is in English only.
Tier 2 exam pattern
Tier 2 is computer-based. Paper I is compulsory for every post and is held in two sessions on the same day. Papers II and III are only for candidates shortlisted in Tier 1 for specific posts.
Paper
Who takes it
Questions
Marks
Time
Paper I, Session I
All posts
150
450
2 hours 15 minutes
Paper I, Session II (Data Entry Speed Test)
All posts; qualifying
One passage of about 2,000 key depressions
Qualifying
15 minutes
Paper II (Statistics)
Junior Statistical Officer and Statistical Investigator Grade II
100
200
2 hours
Paper III (General Studies: Finance and Economics)
Assistant Audit Officer and Assistant Accounts Officer
100
200
2 hours
Paper I, Session I sections
Section
Subject
Questions
Marks
Time
Counts for merit
I, Part A
Mathematical Abilities
30
90
30 minutes
Yes
I, Part B
Reasoning and General Intelligence
30
90
30 minutes
Yes
II, Part A
English Language and Comprehension
45
135
40 minutes
Yes
II, Part B
General Awareness
25
75
20 minutes
Yes
III
Computer Knowledge Test
20
60
15 minutes
Qualifying only
Paper I negative marking is 1 mark per wrong answer in Sections I, II and III. The Data Entry Speed Test has no negative marking.
Papers II and III have 0.50 negative marking.
Paper III has two parts: Finance and Accounts (80 marks) and Economics and Governance (120 marks).
Qualifying marks and skill tests
Requirement
UR
OBC / EWS
Others
Minimum marks in Tier 1, Paper I Sections I to III, Papers II and III
30%
25%
20%
Data Entry Speed Test: maximum errors allowed
20%
25%
30%
The Computer Knowledge Test and the Data Entry Speed Test are qualifying. A higher cut-off applies to posts that need computer proficiency, such as Assistant Section Officer in the Central Secretariat Service, MEA and AFHQ, Inspector (Central Excise), Inspector (Preventive Officer), Inspector (Examiner), Executive Assistant (CBIC) and Postal / Sorting Assistant.
Higher Data Entry Speed Test standards apply to Tax Assistant (CBIC and CBDT) and UDC / SSA in the Central Bureau of Narcotics, as well as the computer-proficiency posts above.
Candidates with orthopaedic disability may be exempt from the Data Entry Speed Test with a Civil Surgeon certificate, but not for computer-proficiency posts or posts with a higher Data Entry Speed Test standard, except Tax Assistant (CBDT).
How merit is decided
Posts
Merit based on
Most posts
Paper I Sections I and II combined, subject to qualifying the Computer Knowledge Test and Data Entry Speed Test
Junior Statistical Officer, Statistical Investigator Grade II
Paper I Sections I and II plus Paper III, subject to qualifying both Computer Knowledge Test modules
Post preference and allocation
You fill in post preferences in an online option form before the result. Options are final and cannot be changed. If you do not submit preferences in the window, you are not considered for any post. Posts are allotted by overall merit and your preference order, and once you get a preferred post, lower preferences are not considered. If you fail the requirements for the post allotted to you, you are rejected and not considered for other posts.
Physical and medical standards
The notice sets physical and medical standards for Inspector (Central Excise, Examiner, Preventive Officer), Inspector and Sub-Inspector (Central Bureau of Narcotics), Sub-Inspector / JIO (NCB), Sub-Inspector (CBI and NIA) and Border Roads Organisation posts. The user department checks them after final selection. The exact height, chest, weight and fitness standards are in Annexures XV and XVI of the official notice.
SSC CGL admit card and exam city slip
SSC releases the exam city slip first and the admit card a few days before your shift. Download them from your SSC regional website with your registration number and password, and carry a photo ID to the centre. For the latest release status and step-by-step help, read our SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam Date 2026 guide and the SSC CGL City Intimation Slip 2026 page.
SSC CGL result
SSC publishes a tentative answer key first, where you can raise objections for Rs 100 per question, and then the result. The Tier 1 answer key and result have not been announced yet. When SSC publishes them:
Open ssc.gov.in and go to the Results section.
Select Combined Graduate Level 2026.
Open the Tier 1 result link.
Search for your roll number in the PDF, or log in for your scorecard.
How to apply for SSC CGL (2026 applications closed)
The 2026 application window is closed. Use these steps to understand the process for the next cycle.
Open the official SSC website, ssc.gov.in, or the “my SSC” app.
Complete a new One Time Registration. The old website’s registration is not valid.
Log in and open the SSC CGL application form.
Fill in your personal and educational details. Aadhaar authentication is recommended because it relaxes some photo and signature rules.
Capture a live photograph and upload your signature (JPEG, 10 to 20 KB).
Choose three exam centres in priority order within one region. You cannot change them later.
Pay the fee if you are not exempt, using UPI, net banking or a debit card.
Submit the form and save the confirmation.
Fee and charges
Amount
Application fee
Rs 100 (exempt: women, SC, ST, PwBD and eligible ex-servicemen)
First correction
Rs 200
Second correction
Rs 500 (maximum two corrections)
Answer key challenge
Rs 100 per question
All fees are non-refundable, and applications with unpaid fees are rejected. The notice gave 29 June to 1 July 2026 as the correction window; SSC later revised it to 1 to 3 July 2026.
SSC CGL syllabus in brief
Tier 1 tests four subjects. Read the full topic list in our SSC CGL Syllabus 2026 guide.
Subject
What it covers
General Intelligence and Reasoning
Analogies, series, coding and decoding, puzzles, syllogism, non-verbal reasoning
General Awareness
Current affairs, history, polity, geography, economy, general science
Quantitative Aptitude
Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, mensuration, data interpretation
English Comprehension
Reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, error spotting, cloze test
Tier 2 adds Mathematical Abilities, English, General Awareness and the computer tests, plus statistics or finance and economics for specific posts.
SSC CGL in past years: applicants
According to an SSCAdda analysis, about half of those who register sit the Tier 1 exam.
Year
Registered
Appeared in Tier 1
2022
33,55,194
16,16,687
2023
24,74,030
12,36,202
2024
34,83,411
18,13,060
SSC CGL 2026 important links
Link
URL
SSC official website (apply, login, notices, results)
It is the Staff Selection Commission’s Combined Graduate Level exam for Group B and Group C posts in central government departments.
How many vacancies are there in SSC CGL 2026?
10,731 tentative vacancies after the 24 September 2026 revision. The original notice said about 12,256.
Does SSC CGL have an interview?
No. Selection is based on Tier 2 merit and post preference, followed by document verification.
Can a 12th pass student apply for SSC CGL?
No. You need a bachelor’s degree. Try SSC CHSL after Class 12.
Can final-year students apply?
Yes, but you must hold the essential qualification, with your result declared, on 1 August 2026.
What is the age limit?
18 to 32 years as on 1 August 2026, depending on the post. See the posts tables above, with relaxation for reserved categories.
Is there negative marking in Tier 1?
Yes, 0.50 marks for each wrong answer. In Tier 2 Paper I it is 1 mark, and in Papers II and III it is 0.50 marks.
How many questions are in Tier 1?
100 questions for 200 marks in 60 minutes, split into four sections of 25 questions with a 15-minute timer each.
What is the application fee?
Rs 100. Women, SC, ST, PwBD and eligible ex-servicemen are exempt.
Which posts have a physical test?
Inspector (Central Excise, Examiner, Preventive Officer), CBN, NCB, CBI and NIA Sub-Inspector posts and Border Roads Organisation posts. See Annexures XV and XVI of the notice.
Candidates preparing for other SSC examinations can also check the latest SSC GD Final Answer Key 2026 to download the final answer key, question paper-cum-response sheet and CBT marks.
Sandeep Dev researches and verifies government recruitment notifications using official advertisements, government recruitment portals, and official notifications. Every article published on GovtJobDeck is reviewed for accuracy, clarity, and timely updates before publication.
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