Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level (SSC CGL) 2026 — Complete Guide

The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) conducts the Combined Graduate Level (CGL) examination to recruit eligible candidates for prestigious Group 'B' (Gazetted and Non-Gazetted) and Group 'C' posts in Central Government ministries, attached offices, and constitutional bodies.

Sarkari Result: SSC CGL 2026 Latest Updates

Update (September 2026): SSC CGL 2026 notification was released on May 21, 2026, announcing 12,256 tentative vacancies. The Tier 1 Computer-Based Examination is scheduled across the August–September 2026 window. Candidates can access city intimation slips and download admit cards directly via the official candidate portal on ssc.gov.in.

1. SSC CGL 2026 Exam Overview

Parameter	Details
Exam Name	SSC Combined Graduate Level (CGL) Examination 2026
Conducting Authority	Staff Selection Commission (SSC)
Exam Level	All-India National Level (Central Government)
Cadre Classifications	Group 'B' (Gazetted / Non-Gazetted) & Group 'C'
Selection Process	Tier 1 (Qualifying CBT) → Tier 2 (Merit CBT + Qualifying Computer & DEST)
Official Portal	ssc.gov.in

2. Important Exam Dates 2026 (Official Schedule & Reopening)

The Staff Selection Commission published the original notification on May 21, 2026, and subsequently issued a formal re-opening notice (CGLE_Reopen_23062026.pdf) extending the application window:

Event	Official Schedule / Notice Reference
Official Notification Release	May 21, 2026 (Notice No. Notice_of_adv_cgl_2026.pdf) ✅
Initial Online Application Window	May 21, 2026 to June 19, 2026
Reopened / Extended Application Window	Extended up to June 25, 2026 (until 23:00) per CGLE_Reopen_23062026.pdf ✅
Last Date for Online Fee Payment	June 26, 2026 (until 23:00) ✅
Application Correction Window	July 1 to July 3, 2026 (until 23:00) ✅
SSC CGL 2026 Tier 1 Exam Schedule	August–September 2026 (Tentative Window)
Tier 1 Answer Key & Challenges	October 2026
Tier 1 Result Declaration	October–November 2026
SSC CGL 2026 Tier 2 Exam Date	December 2026 – January 2027
Final Result & Department Allocation	Early 2027

Note: Per Commission scheduling notices, the Tier-1 examination is slated within the tentative August–September 2026 window. Specific shift dates and individual examination slot allocations are issued via regional admit cards on ssc.gov.in.

3. Comprehensive Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification (As on Crucial Date)

• For All General Posts: A Bachelor's Degree in any discipline from a recognized University or equivalent qualification acquired on or before the crucial date.
• For Junior Statistical Officer (JSO - MoSPI): Bachelor's Degree in any subject from a recognized University with at least 60% Marks in Mathematics at 12th standard level, OR a Bachelor's Degree with Statistics as one of the subjects at degree level.
• For Statistical Investigator Grade II (Registrar General of India): Bachelor's Degree in any subject with Statistics as one of the subjects from a recognized University or Institute.
• For Assistant Audit Officer (AAO) / Assistant Accounts Officer (C&AG): Essential qualification is a Bachelor's Degree in any discipline. Desirable qualification includes Chartered Accountant (CA), Cost & Management Accountant (CMA), Company Secretary (CS), Master of Commerce (M.Com), or Master in Business Administration (Finance).

Age Limit Details

Age limits are reckoned as on the crucial date stipulated in the recruitment notice (standardly August 1 of the recruitment year as per DoPT guidelines). Category-wise relaxations apply (OBC: 3 years, SC/ST: 5 years, PwBD: 10–15 years, Ex-Servicemen: 3 years after military service deduction).

Post Group	Prescribed Age Bracket	Representative Posts
Group C Posts	18 to 27 Years	Tax Assistant (CBDT/CBIC), Upper Division Clerk (UDC), Auditor, Junior Accountant
Group B (Standard)	18 to 30 Years	Inspector of Income Tax (CBDT), Central Excise Inspector (CBIC), Preventive Officer, Examiner, ASO in CSS/MEA
Group B (Special Investigative)	20 to 30 Years	Sub-Inspector in Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI — Pay Level 7), Sub-Inspector in NIA (Pay Level 6)
Group B (Gazetted & Highest Entry)	Up to 30 or 32 Years	AAO / Assistant Accounts Officer (18 to 30 Years), Junior Statistical Officer (Up to 32 Years), Statistical Investigator Grade II (Up to 30 Years)

Physical Standards Note: Posts of Inspector (Central Excise / Preventive Officer / Examiner) and Sub-Inspector in CBI/NIA prescribe mandatory physical measurements (Height: 157.5 cm male, 152 cm female) and physical endurance tests (Walking: 1600 meters in 15 minutes; Cycling: 8 km in 30 minutes for CBIC male candidates).

4. SSC CGL Exam Pattern & Syllabus Strategy

The SSC CGL examination operates strictly under a Computer-Based Test (CBT) two-tier framework. Descriptive pen-and-paper examinations and interviews have been completely abolished.

Tier 1 Examination (Qualifying Only)

Tier 1 serves as an initial screening examination consisting of 100 objective multiple-choice questions for a total of 200 marks, with a duration of 60 minutes (80 minutes for candidates eligible for scribe). Marks scored in Tier 1 are normalized and used solely to qualify candidates for Tier 2; they are NOT included in the final merit score.

Subject	Questions	Maximum Marks	Duration	Negative Marking
General Intelligence & Reasoning	25	50	—	0.50 marks per incorrect answer
General Awareness	25	50	—	0.50 marks per incorrect answer
Quantitative Aptitude	25	50	—	0.50 marks per incorrect answer
English Comprehension	25	50	—	0.50 marks per incorrect answer
Total	100	200	60 Minutes	0.50 Marks Penalty

Tier 2 Examination (Merit Deciding)

Tier 2 is the decisive examination. Paper I is compulsory for all posts.

Paper I Structure (Conducted in Two Sessions on the Same Day):

• Session I (2 Hours 15 Minutes):
  • Section I (1 Hour): Module-I: Mathematical Abilities (30 Qs) + Module-II: Reasoning and General Intelligence (30 Qs) = 60 Qs × 3 marks = 180 Marks.
  • Section II (1 Hour): Module-I: English Language and Comprehension (45 Qs) + Module-II: General Awareness (25 Qs) = 70 Qs × 3 marks = 210 Marks.
  • Section III (15 Minutes): Module-I: Computer Knowledge Module (20 Qs × 3 marks = 60 Marks). Mandatory and qualifying in nature.
• Session II (15 Minutes):
  • Section III Module-II: Data Entry Speed Test (DEST) — typing a passage of 2,000 key depressions in 15 minutes on computer. Mandatory and qualifying in nature.
• Negative Marking in Paper I: Exactly 1 mark is deducted for each wrong answer in Section I, Section II, and Module-I of Section III.

Specialised Papers for Specific Posts:

• Paper II (Statistics): 100 Questions (200 Marks, 2 Hours, 0.50 marks negative penalty) — conducted for candidates shortlisted for Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) in MoSPI and Statistical Investigator Grade II in Registrar General of India.
• Paper III (General Studies — Finance and Economics): 100 Questions (200 Marks, 2 Hours, 0.50 marks negative penalty) — conducted for candidates shortlisted for Assistant Audit Officer (AAO) and Assistant Accounts Officer in the Indian Audit & Accounts Department under C&AG.

Post-Specific Merit Score Calculations:

• For All General Posts: The final merit list is calculated strictly out of 390 marks (Paper I: Section I [180 Marks] + Section II [210 Marks]). Section III Computer Knowledge and DEST are qualifying.
• For JSO & Statistical Investigator Grade II: Final merit is calculated out of 590 marks (Paper I [390 Marks] + Paper II Statistics [200 Marks]).
• For Assistant Audit Officer / Assistant Accounts Officer: Final merit is calculated out of 590 marks (Paper I [390 Marks] + Paper III Finance & Economics [200 Marks]).

5. SSC CGL Post-wise Salary Structure

Salaries across SSC CGL designations follow the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) Pay Matrix. Below is the realistic monthly breakdown comparing basic pay, gross monthly remuneration in a Class 'X' metro city (including DA at 50%+, HRA at 30%, and Transport Allowance), and estimated net take-home salary after statutory NPS (10%), CGHS, and CGEGIS deductions.

Pay Level	Basic Pay	Gross Monthly (Metro 'X')	Estimated Net In-Hand Take-Home	Representative Designations
Level 8 (Gazetted)	₹47,600	₹86,000 – ₹92,000	₹76,000 – ₹82,000	Assistant Audit Officer (AAO), Assistant Accounts Officer
Level 7	₹44,900	₹78,000 – ₹84,000	₹68,000 – ₹74,000	Inspector of Income Tax (CBDT), Central Excise Inspector, ASO (CSS/MEA), Sub-Inspector (CBI)
Level 6	₹35,400	₹62,000 – ₹68,000	₹54,000 – ₹60,000	Divisional Accountant (CAG), Sub-Inspector (NIA), JSO (MoSPI), Statistical Investigator Gr II
Level 5	₹29,200	₹51,000 – ₹56,000	₹44,000 – ₹49,000	Auditor (CAG/CGDA), Accountant / Junior Accountant
Level 4	₹25,500	₹44,000 – ₹48,000	₹38,000 – ₹42,000	Tax Assistant (CBDT/CBIC), Postal Assistant / Sorting Assistant, UDC

6. How to Apply Online

Applications for SSC CGL must be submitted via the new official portal ssc.gov.in:

1. One-Time Registration (OTR): Register or log in with your credentials on ssc.gov.in. OTR created on the legacy ssc.nic.in portal is not valid on the new system.
2. Online Form Access: Navigate to "Live Examinations" → select "Combined Graduate Level Examination, 2026" → click "Apply".
3. Live Photograph Capture: SSC requires a real-time live photograph captured via web camera or the official MySSC mobile application. Ensure a well-lit environment with a plain white/light background, looking straight at the camera without wearing caps, masks, or spectacles.
4. Signature Upload: Upload scanned signature in JPEG/JPG format (file size 10 KB to 20 KB, dimensions roughly 4.0 cm width × 2.0 cm height).
5. Post Preferences & Exam Centre Selection: Choose 3 examination centre preferences within the same administrative region.
6. Fee Payment: Pay the non-refundable fee of ₹100 online (BHIM UPI, Net Banking, Visa/Mastercard/RuPay credit or debit cards). Women candidates and candidates belonging to SC, ST, PwBD, and Ex-Servicemen (ESM) eligible for reservation are completely exempted from fee payment.
7. Final Submission: Preview all sections thoroughly before clicking "Submit", then save and print the application acknowledgement PDF.

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7. SSC CGL 2026 — Key Posts & Allocating Departments

Post Name	Ministry / Department / Organization	Classification	Pay Level
Assistant Section Officer (ASO)	Central Secretariat Service (CSS)	Group 'B' Non-Gazetted	Level 7 (₹44,900–₹1,42,400)
Assistant Section Officer (ASO)	Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)	Group 'B' Non-Gazetted	Level 7 (₹44,900–₹1,42,400)
Assistant Section Officer (ASO)	Intelligence Bureau (IB)	Group 'B' Non-Gazetted	Level 7 (₹44,900–₹1,42,400)
Assistant Section Officer (ASO)	Ministry of Railways	Group 'B' Non-Gazetted	Level 7 (₹44,900–₹1,42,400)
Assistant Section Officer (ASO)	Armed Forces HQ (AFHQ)	Group 'B' Non-Gazetted	Level 7 (₹44,900–₹1,42,400)
Inspector of Income Tax	Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT)	Group 'B' Non-Gazetted	Level 7 (₹44,900–₹1,42,400)
Inspector (Central Excise)	Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC)	Group 'B' Non-Gazetted	Level 7 (₹44,900–₹1,42,400)
Inspector (Preventive Officer / Examiner)	CBIC	Group 'B' Non-Gazetted	Level 7 (₹44,900–₹1,42,400)
Sub-Inspector	Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)	Group 'B' Non-Gazetted	Level 7 (₹44,900–₹1,42,400)
Sub-Inspector	National Investigation Agency (NIA)	Group 'B' Non-Gazetted	Level 6 (₹35,400–₹1,12,400)
Junior Statistical Officer (JSO)	Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation	Group 'B' Non-Gazetted	Level 6 (₹35,400–₹1,12,400)
Statistical Investigator Grade II	Registrar General of India (MHA)	Group 'B' Non-Gazetted	Level 6 (₹35,400–₹1,12,400)
Divisional Accountant	Offices under C&AG	Group 'B' Non-Gazetted	Level 6 (₹35,400–₹1,12,400)
Auditor	C&AG, CGDA, and Controller General of Accounts	Group 'C'	Level 5 (₹29,200–₹92,300)
Accountant / Junior Accountant	Department of Post, C&AG, other Ministries	Group 'C'	Level 5 (₹29,200–₹92,300)
Postal Assistant / Sorting Assistant	Department of Posts (Ministry of Communications)	Group 'C'	Level 4 (₹25,500–₹81,100)
Tax Assistant	CBDT & CBIC	Group 'C'	Level 4 (₹25,500–₹81,100)
Senior Secretariat Assistant / UDC	Central Govt. Offices & Cadres	Group 'C'	Level 4 (₹25,500–₹81,100)
Assistant Audit Officer (AAO)	Indian Audit & Accounts Dept. under C&AG	Group 'B' Gazetted (Non-Ministerial)	Level 8 (₹47,600–₹1,51,100)
Assistant Accounts Officer	Indian Audit & Accounts Dept. under C&AG	Group 'B' Gazetted (Non-Ministerial)	Level 8 (₹47,600–₹1,51,100)

Note: Per the 2026 official advertisement, Assistant Audit Officer and Assistant Accounts Officer are included in the recruitment scheme under Pay Level 8 with Paper III as the specialized subject paper.

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8. SSC CGL — Official Previous Year Cut-Offs

Tier 1 Cut-Off (Normalized Marks Out of 200 — Qualifying for Tier 2)

The cut-off figures below represent official normalized cut-offs published by the Staff Selection Commission in official result write-ups for general candidates (List 3 / common qualifying list for all posts):

Exam Cycle	Official Document Ref	UR (General)	OBC	EWS	SC	ST
CGL 2023	Write-up No. 11/1/2023-C-1/1 (19-09-2023)	150.05	145.94	143.44	126.68	118.17
CGL 2022	Write-up No. 09-02-2023 (Tier-I Result)	114.28	102.79	102.35	89.09	77.58
CGL 2021	Notice No. 04-07-2022 (Tier-I Result)	130.18	117.87	109.64	94.58	81.52
CGL 2020	Tier-I Result Write-up (26-11-2021)	132.37	119.23	109.21	100.93	93.75

Note: The variation between CGL 2022 and CGL 2023 cutoffs reflects candidate shortlisting ratios: CGL 2022 shortlisted over 3.6 lakh candidates due to record 36,000+ vacancies, whereas CGL 2023 shortlisted ~71,112 candidates for 8,415 vacancies.

Tier 2 Final Merit Cut-Off (Paper I Only — Strictly Out of 390 Marks)

Under the revised examination scheme introduced from CGL 2022, final post-wise merit is decided strictly based on aggregate scores in Paper I (Section I: 180 marks + Section II: 210 marks = 390 marks total). Section III Computer Knowledge (60 marks) and DEST are qualifying modules and do NOT add to the cut-off denominator:

Exam Cycle	Official Write-up Date	Category	Baseline Qualifying Cut-Off (Level 4: Tax Assistant / PA)	Benchmark 4600 GP Posts (Income Tax / Central Excise / CSS ASO)
CGL 2023	04-12-2023 (Final Result)	UR	302.5 / 390	328 – 342 / 390
		OBC	297.8 / 390	320 – 332 / 390
		EWS	299.1 / 390	322 – 334 / 390
		SC	272.4 / 390	294 – 308 / 390
		ST	256.0 / 390	278 – 292 / 390
CGL 2022	13-05-2023 (Final Result)	UR	291.5 / 390	322 – 335 / 390
		OBC	285.2 / 390	315 – 327 / 390
		EWS	286.0 / 390	316 – 328 / 390
		SC	258.4 / 390	288 – 300 / 390
		ST	238.8 / 390	268 – 280 / 390

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9. SSC CGL 2026 — Complete Subject-wise Syllabus

General Intelligence & Reasoning (Tier 1 & Tier 2)

Category	Topics
Verbal	Analogies, Classification (Odd One Out), Series (Alphabet, Number), Coding-Decoding, Blood Relations, Direction Test, Syllogisms, Venn Diagrams, Statement & Conclusion
Non-Verbal	Mirror Image, Paper Folding & Cutting, Figure Matrix, Embedded Figures, Counting Figures
Critical Thinking	Decision Making, Assumptions, Inference-based questions
Advanced (Tier 2)	Logical connectives, Number Puzzles, Input-Output

Quantitative Aptitude (Tier 1 & Tier 2)

Chapter	Key Topics
Arithmetic	HCF/LCM, Percentage, Profit/Loss, Discount, SI/CI, Ratio, Average, Mixture
Algebra	Simultaneous linear equations, Quadratic equations, Algebraic identities, Polynomials
Geometry	Lines, angles, triangles (congruence, similarity), Circle (chord, tangent, arc), Polygons
Trigonometry	Ratios (sin, cos, tan), Complementary angles, Heights & Distances
Mensuration	2D: Area (triangle, circle, quadrilateral); 3D: Volume/surface area (cylinder, cone, sphere, frustum)
Number System	Prime numbers, divisibility rules, Surds & Indices, Simplification (BODMAS)
Data Interpretation	Tables, Bar graphs, Pie charts, Line graphs
Statistics	Mean, Median, Mode, Standard Deviation

English Language & Comprehension (Tier 1 & Tier 2)

Topic	Questions (Tier 2 Estimate)
Reading Comprehension	15–20 (Tier 2: 3 passages)
Cloze Test	10–15
Para Jumbles	5–8
Spot the Error	10–12
Synonyms / Antonyms	8–10
One Word Substitution	5–8
Fill in the Blanks	8–10
Active/Passive Voice	5–8
Direct/Indirect Speech	4–6
Idioms & Phrases	5–8
Spelling Correction	4–6

General Awareness (Tier 1 & Tier 2)

Category	Focus Areas
History	Modern India (1857 to 1947), Ancient Indian culture, World History overview
Geography	India's physical geography, world capitals, rivers, climate zones
Polity	Constitution basics, Parliament, President, Fundamental Rights
Economy	GDP, Inflation, RBI, GST, Budget 2026 highlights
Science	Physics (Light, Heat, Electricity), Chemistry (Elements, Acids), Biology (Human body, Diseases)
Environment	Climate change, biodiversity, national parks
Current Affairs	Last 12 months — Government schemes, sports, awards (Bharat Ratna, Nobel), ISRO
Defence & Security	Missile systems, military exercises, defence acquisitions
Computer	MS Office basics, Internet, Cybersecurity concepts

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10. Preparation Strategy for SSC CGL 2026

4-Month Study Plan

Month 1 — Maths + Reasoning Foundation:

• Target: Complete all Arithmetic chapters (R.S. Aggarwal) + Verbal Reasoning
• Daily: 30 Maths questions + 20 Reasoning questions
• Focus: Accuracy over speed at this stage

Month 2 — English + GK Build-up:

• English: 15 words per day vocabulary (Norman Lewis) + Grammar (Wren & Martin key chapters)
• GK: Lucent GK — History, Polity, Geography (complete within 3 weeks)
• Current Affairs: Start reading one newspaper daily; note government schemes

Month 3 — Tier 1 Mock Tests + Tier 2 Syllabus Start:

• 2 full Tier 1 mock tests per week (100 Qs, 60-min timer)
• Start Tier 2 Maths: Geometry, Trigonometry, Mensuration, DI
• English Tier 2: Practice 3 Reading Comprehension passages daily

Month 4 — Intensive Mock Tests + Revision:

• Tier 1 mock: 3 per week + error analysis
• Tier 2 mock: 1 per week (full Paper I)
• Current Affairs: Last 3 months consolidation
• DEST practice: Type 2,000 key depressions in 15 minutes daily

Best Books for SSC CGL 2026

Subject	Book
Maths (Quantitative Aptitude)	R.S. Aggarwal — Quantitative Aptitude
Maths (Geometry/Trigonometry)	Kiran SSC Mathematics Chapter-wise
Reasoning	R.S. Aggarwal — Verbal & Non-Verbal
English	S.P. Bakshi — Objective English (Arihant)
English (Vocabulary)	Norman Lewis — Word Power Made Easy
General Awareness	Lucent's General Knowledge (latest edition)
Previous Papers	Kiran SSC CGL Tier 1 + Tier 2 Solved Papers
Current Affairs	Pratiyogita Darpan (monthly)

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Official Links for SSC CGL 2026

Resource	Link
SSC Official Website	ssc.gov.in
OTR / Apply Online	ssc.gov.in/login
Notification PDF	SSC Notices
Syllabus PDF	SSC Syllabus
Previous Year Papers	SSC Question Papers

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Last Updated: September 11, 2026 | Source: Staff Selection Commission (SSC) Notices Notice_of_adv_cgl_2026.pdf & CGLE_Reopen_23062026.pdf, ssc.gov.in