Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level Examination 2026 is one of India's most sought-after government recruitment exams. With approximately 12,256 vacancies across Group B and Group C posts, SSC CGL 2026 is a golden opportunity for every graduate dreaming of a central government job. This comprehensive guide covers everything — from important dates and eligibility to exam pattern, syllabus, and application steps.
%20Eligibility,%20Vacancies,%20Exam%20Pattern,%20Syllabus%20&%20Dates.png "SSC CGL 2026 (12,256 vacancies) Eligibility, Vacancies, Exam Pattern, Syllabus & Dates")
📅 SSC CGL 2026 Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Application Start Date | 21 May 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 22 June 2026 (11:00 PM) |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | 23 June 2026 (11:00 PM) |
| Application Correction Window | 29 June – 1 July 2026 (11:00 PM) |
| Tier-I Exam (Tentative) | August – September 2026 |
| Tier-II Exam (Tentative) | December 2026 |
Check SSC CGL Notification PDF
📋 SSC CGL 2026 Vacancies
There are approximately 12,256 vacancies across multiple pay levels:
- Pay Level 8 (₹47,600–₹1,51,100): Assistant Audit Officer, Assistant Accounts Officer (under C&AG)
- Pay Level 7 (₹44,900–₹1,42,400): Assistant Section Officer (CSS, IB, Railways, MEA, AFHQ, MeitY), Inspector of Income Tax (CBDT), Inspector (Central Excise, Preventive Officer, Examiner) under CBIC, Assistant Enforcement Officer (ED), Sub Inspector (CBI, NIA), Inspector Posts, Inspector (CBN)
- Pay Level 6 (₹35,400–₹1,12,400): Executive Assistant (CBIC), Research Assistant (NHRC), Divisional Accountant (C&AG), Sub Inspector (NIA, NCB), Junior Statistical Officer, Statistical Investigator Grade-II, Office Superintendent (CBDT), Section Head (DGFT)
- Pay Level 5 (₹29,200–₹92,300): Auditor and Accountant posts under C&AG, CGDA, and other Ministries
- Pay Level 4 (₹25,500–₹81,100): Postal/Sorting Assistant, Senior Secretariat Assistant/UDC, Senior Administrative Assistant, Tax Assistant (CBDT & CBIC), Sub-Inspector (CBN)
Note: Final post allotment is merit-cum-preference based. Once allotted, no change of post is permitted.
🎓 SSC CGL 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification (as on 01 August 2026)
- Most Posts: Bachelor's Degree from a recognized University or equivalent.
- Junior Statistical Officer (JSO): Bachelor's Degree with at least 60% in Mathematics at 12th standard level, OR Bachelor's Degree with Statistics as a subject at degree level.
- Statistical Investigator Grade-II: Bachelor's Degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Demography, Computer Science, Data Science, AI, or related fields.
- Assistant Audit/Accounts Officer: Bachelor's Degree (desirable: CA/CMA/CS/M.Com/MBA Finance).
- Final-year graduation students may apply but must possess the qualification by 01.08.2026.
Nationality
Candidates must be Indian citizens. Subjects of Nepal or Bhutan, and persons of Indian origin from specified countries, are also eligible with a Government of India eligibility certificate.
Age Limit (as on 01 August 2026)
| Posts | Age Limit |
|---|---|
| Auditor, Accountant, Tax Assistant, Postal Assistant, UDC, etc. | 18–27 years |
| Assistant Section Officer (CSS, Railways, MEA, AFHQ) | 20–30 years |
| Inspector (IT, Central Excise, Posts, CBN), ASO (IB, MeitY), AEO, JSO | 18–30 years |
| Junior Statistical Officer | 18–32 years |
| Sub Inspector (CBI) | 20–30 years |
Age Relaxation
| Category | Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC/ST | 5 years |
| OBC | 3 years |
| PwBD | 10 years |
| PwBD (OBC) | 13 years |
| PwBD (SC/ST) | 15 years |
| Ex-Servicemen (ESM) | 3 years after deducting military service |
| Widows/Divorced Women (not remarried) | Up to 35 years |
| Central Govt. Employees (3+ years service) – Group C | Up to 40 years |
💸 SSC CGL 2026 Application Fee
- General/OBC/EWS Male Candidates: ₹100/-
- SC/ST/PwBD/Ex-Servicemen/Women: Nil (Exempted)
- Payment Mode: BHIM UPI, Net Banking, Visa/Mastercard/RuPay/Maestro Debit Cards
- Fee once paid is non-refundable.
Application Correction Fee
- 1st correction: ₹200/-
- 2nd correction: ₹500/-
- Corrections allowed up to 2 times (29 June – 1 July 2026)
📝 How to Apply for SSC CGL 2026
- Visit the official SSC website: https://ssc.gov.in
- Complete One-Time Registration (OTR) — candidates who registered on the old website (ssc.nic.in) must re-register on the new portal.
- Opt for Aadhaar-based authentication (recommended — relaxes photo/signature requirements).
- Fill the online application form and upload your photo and signature.
- Pay the application fee online.
- Submit before 22 June 2026 (11:00 PM).
The SSC mobile app (downloadable from Google Play Store) can also be used to apply.
📊 SSC CGL 2026 Exam Pattern
SSC CGL is conducted in two tiers — both Computer Based Tests (CBT).
Tier-I Exam Pattern
| Section | Subject | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | General Intelligence & Reasoning | 25 | 50 | 15 min |
| B | General Awareness | 25 | 50 | 15 min |
| C | Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 | 15 min |
| D | English Comprehension | 25 | 50 | 15 min |
| Total | 100 | 200 | 60 min |
- Negative Marking: 0.50 marks per wrong answer
- Questions are bilingual (English & Hindi), except English Comprehension
- PwBD candidates with scribe get 1 hour 20 minutes
Tier-II Exam Pattern
Tier-II consists of Paper-I (compulsory for all), Paper-II (for JSO/Statistical Investigator Grade-II), and Paper-III (for Assistant Audit Officer/Assistant Accounts Officer).
Paper-I — Four Sections:
| Section | Subject | Nature |
|---|---|---|
| Section I | Mathematical Abilities + Reasoning & General Intelligence | Marks count toward merit |
| Section II | English Language & Comprehension + General Awareness | Marks count toward merit |
| Section III | Computer Knowledge Test | Qualifying only |
| Section IV | Data Entry Speed Test (DEST) | Qualifying only |
- Negative Marking: 1 mark per wrong answer (Paper-I, II, III)
- All sections of Paper-I are mandatory
- Section-III and Section-IV are qualifying in nature
Merit for Final Selection:
- All other posts → based on Paper-I marks only
- JSO/Statistical Investigator → Paper-I (Sections I & II) + Paper-II
- AAO/AAcO → Paper-I (Sections I & II) + Paper-III
Also Read: RSSB Senior and Basic Computer Instructor Recruitment 2026 For 3951 Posts Notification Out
📚 SSC CGL 2026 Syllabus (Key Topics)
Tier-I Syllabus
- General Intelligence & Reasoning: Analogies, coding-decoding, series, Venn diagrams, spatial reasoning, matrix, critical thinking
- General Awareness: Current affairs, history, geography, polity, economics, science & technology, static GK
- Quantitative Aptitude: Number systems, percentages, profit & loss, time & work, mensuration, algebra, trigonometry, data interpretation
- English Comprehension: Reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, one-word substitution, sentence correction
Tier-II Key Topics
- Mathematical Abilities: Number systems, fractions, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, statistics, probability
- English Language: Spot the error, fill in the blanks, synonyms/antonyms, idioms & phrases, reading comprehension, cloze test
- General Awareness: Similar to Tier-I
- Reasoning: Same as Tier-I
✅ Minimum Qualifying Marks
| Category | Tier-I & Paper-I/II/III of Tier-II |
|---|---|
| UR (General) | 30% |
| OBC / EWS | 25% |
| SC / ST / PwBD / ESM | 20% |
🏅 Selection Process
- Tier-I (CBT): Screening stage — candidates shortlisted category-wise for Tier-II
- Tier-II (CBT): Main examination — determines final merit
- Document Verification: Conducted by the concerned User Department
- Medical/Physical Standards Test: For certain posts like Inspector (Central Excise), Sub Inspector (CBI/NIA/NCB), etc.
Final post allotment is based on merit-cum-preference of posts given by candidates. Failing physical/medical standards after allotment results in rejection — not reallocation.
♿ Provisions for PwBD Candidates
- Scribe/assistive technology provided for candidates with blindness, locomotor disability (both arms), and cerebral palsy
- Compensatory time of 20 minutes per hour for eligible PwBD/PwD candidates (with or without scribe)
- Scribe must complete One-Time Registration and be Aadhaar-authenticated on the SSC portal
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the SSC CGL 2026 total vacancy?
A: Approximately 12,256 vacancies across Group B and Group C posts.
Q: What is the minimum qualification for SSC CGL 2026?
A: A Bachelor's Degree from a recognized University is the minimum requirement for most posts.
Q: Is there any negative marking in SSC CGL?
A: Yes — 0.50 marks deducted per wrong answer in Tier-I, and 1 mark per wrong answer in Tier-II.
Q: What is the application fee for SSC CGL 2026?
A: ₹100 for General/OBC/EWS male candidates. Women, SC, ST, PwBD, and ESM candidates are exempt.
Q: Can final-year students apply?
A: Yes, but they must hold the required qualification by 01 August 2026.
Q: What is the official SSC CGL 2026 website?