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 the most prestigious and highly-coveted Group 'B' and Group 'C' posts across different Ministries, Departments, and Organizations of the Government of India.

CGL is often referred to as the "Mini IAS" exam because it serves as the primary gateway to becoming an Income Tax Inspector, CBI Sub-Inspector, Assistant Section Officer (ASO) in CSS/MEA, and Examiner in Customs.

Sarkari Result: SSC CGL 2026 Latest Updates

Update 1: The SSC has officially released its 2026 calendar. The SSC CGL 2026 Notification will be published on March 31, 2026. Update 2: Aspiring candidates must ensure they complete their One-Time Registration (OTR) on the new SSC portal (ssc.gov.in) before the application window opens, as traffic crashes are common on the final days.

1. SSC CGL 2026 Exam Overview

Parameter	Details
Exam Name	SSC Combined Graduate Level (CGL) 2026
Conducting Authority	Staff Selection Commission (SSC)
Exam Level	National (Central Government)
Posts Offered	Group 'B' (Gazetted/Non-Gazetted) & Group 'C'
Selection Process	Tier 1 (Qualifying) & Tier 2 (Merit)
Official Website	ssc.gov.in

2. Important Exam Dates 2026 (Confirmed by Calendar)

The SSC has officially published its 2026-2027 examination calendar, confirming the vital timeline for the CGL 2026 recruitment drive:

Event	Confirmed/Expected Date
Official Notification Release	March 31, 2026
Online Application Starts	March 31, 2026
Last Date to Apply Online	April 30, 2026
Application Correction Window	May 2026
SSC CGL 2026 Tier 1 Exam Date	May-June 2026
Tier 1 Result Declaration	August 2026
SSC CGL 2026 Tier 2 Exam Date	September-October 2026

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 Institute is mandatory.
• For Junior Statistical Officer (JSO): Bachelor's Degree in any subject 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 Assistant Audit Officer / Assistant Accounts Officer (AAO): Bachelor’s Degree is essential. Desirable qualification includes CA/CMA/CS or Masters in Commerce/Business Economics.

Age Limit Details

The age limit varies based strictly on the specific post applied for. Standard category-wise age relaxations (OBC: 3 years, SC/ST: 5 years, PwBD: 10 years) are applicable.

Post Group	Age Limit	Top Example Posts
Group C (Lower)	18 to 27 Years	Tax Assistant (CBDT/CBIC), UDC, Auditor
Group B (Standard)	18 to 30 Years	Income Tax Inspector, ASO in CSS/MEA
Group B (Special)	20 to 30 Years	CBI Sub-Inspector
Group B (Highest Age)	Up to 32 Years	Junior Statistical Officer (JSO)

Note: For the post of Inspector (Central Excise/Preventive Officer/Examiner) under CBIC, specific Physical Standards and tests (Walking/Cycling) are required.

4. SSC CGL Exam Pattern & Syllabus Strategy

The SSC CGL syllabus was significantly revamped recently, removing descriptive writing and focusing entirely on Computer-Based Tests (CBT).

Tier 1 Examination (Qualifying only)

The Tier 1 exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions for 200 marks, with a duration of 60 minutes. There is a negative marking of 0.50 marks for each incorrect answer.

Subject	Questions	Marks
General Intelligence and Reasoning	25	50
General Awareness	25	50
Quantitative Aptitude	25	50
English Comprehension	25	50
Total	100	200 (60 Mins)

Tier 2 Examination (Merit Deciding)

Tier 2 is the ultimate decider for your rank and post allocation. Paper I is compulsory for all posts.

Paper I Structure:

• Session I (2 Hours 15 Mins):
  • Section I (Maths & Reasoning): 30 Qs Maths + 30 Qs Reasoning = 60 Qs (180 Marks).
  • Section II (English & General Awareness): 45 Qs English + 25 Qs GA = 70 Qs (210 Marks).
  • Section III (Computer Knowledge): 20 Qs (60 Marks) - Qualifying.
• Session II (15 Mins):
  • Data Entry Speed Test (DEST): 2000 key depressions in 15 minutes - Qualifying.

Negative marking in Tier 2 is 1 mark for every wrong answer in Paper 1.

5. SSC CGL Post-wise Salary Structure

SSC CGL offers highly lucrative Central Government salaries mapped against the 7th Pay Commission.

Pay Level	Basic Pay	Gross In-Hand (Metro City 'X')	Top Posts
Level 8 (Gazetted)	₹47,600	₹85,000 – ₹90,000	Assistant Audit Officer (AAO)
Level 7	₹44,900	₹78,000 – ₹82,000	ASO (CSS/MEA), Income Tax Inspector, Central Excise
Level 6	₹35,400	₹60,000 – ₹65,000	Divisional Accountant (CAG), Sub-Inspector (NIA/CBI)
Level 5	₹29,200	₹50,000 – ₹55,000	Auditor (CAG/CGDA), Accountant
Level 4	₹25,500	₹40,000 – ₹45,000	Tax Assistant (CBDT/CBIC), UDC

6. How to Apply Online

1. Log on to the new official SSC portal: ssc.gov.in. (Ensure you update your One-Time Registration if transitioning from the old ssc.nic.in site).
2. Click on the "Apply" section and select the Combined Graduate Level Examination 2026 link.
3. Fill in the detailed application form accurately and provide your Exam City preferences centrally.
4. Capture a live photograph (if requested by the new portal) or upload a scanned recent passport-size photograph without spectacles.
5. Pay the non-refundable examination fee of ₹100 online (Women, SC, ST, and PwBD candidates are exempted).
6. Submit and print the final application form.