SSC CGL 2026 Notification – Combined Graduate Level Examination

Last updated: 7 March 2026

SSC CGL 2026 Overview

The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has officially released the SSC CGL 2026 Notification for the Combined Graduate Level Examination. This is one of the most competitive and sought-after government examinations in India, conducted annually to recruit staff for various Group B and Group C posts across central government ministries, departments, and organisations.

SSC CGL 2026 offers an excellent opportunity for graduates to secure prestigious government positions with attractive pay scales ranging from Pay Level 4 (₹25,500) to Pay Level 11 (₹67,700–₹1,51,100). The examination covers posts such as Tax Assistant, Auditor, Upper Division Clerk (UDC), Inspector (Central Excise/Preventive Officer/Examiner), Assistant Section Officer (ASO), and Statistical Investigator Grade-II, among others.

The total number of vacancies for SSC CGL 2026 is expected to be approximately 17,727, covering multiple ministries including the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Commerce, Comptroller & Auditor General of India (C&AG), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and the Ministry of External Affairs. Candidates from all states and union territories across India are eligible to apply.

The examination follows a two-tier pattern: Tier 1 (Computer Based Examination) serves as the screening test with 100 questions carrying 200 marks across four sections — General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, and English Comprehension. Tier 2 (Computer Based Examination) is the main examination comprising multiple papers including Quantitative Abilities, English Language & Comprehension, Statistics, and General Studies (Finance & Economics).

Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree from a recognised university or equivalent at the time of application. The age limit varies by post, with the general age bracket being 18–32 years for most positions, with relaxations applicable for SC/ST (5 years), OBC (3 years), and PwD candidates (up to 10 years) as per government norms.

The application process is entirely online through the SSC's official website. Candidates must register on the SSC portal, fill in personal and educational details, upload required documents (photograph, signature, and identity proof), and pay the application fee online. The application fee is ₹100 for General/OBC candidates, while female candidates and SC/ST/PwD/ESM candidates are exempted from payment.

This page provides comprehensive details about SSC CGL 2026 including important dates, eligibility criteria, exam pattern, syllabus overview, selection process, salary structure, and a step-by-step application guide. Bookmark this page for the latest updates as we track every official announcement from SSC.

SSC CGL 2026 Important Dates

EventDate
Notification Release Date2026-01-15
Online Application Start Date2026-02-01
Last Date to Apply Online2026-04-30
Last Date for Fee Payment2026-05-02
Application Correction Window2026-05-05 to 2026-05-10
Tier 1 Exam Date2026-07-15 to 2026-08-10
Tier 1 Result Date2026-09-15
Tier 2 Exam Date2026-11-20 to 2026-11-22
Final Result DateTo Be Announced

SSC CGL Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for SSC CGL 2026, candidates must meet the following criteria:

Educational Qualification

  • Minimum Qualification: Bachelor's Degree from a recognised university or equivalent.
  • Statistical Investigator Grade-II: Bachelor's Degree with Statistics as one of the subjects in graduation, OR Bachelor's Degree with Mathematics in Class 12 and Statistics as a paper in the final year.
  • Compiler (in RGI): Bachelor's Degree with Economics or Statistics or Mathematics as a compulsory/elective subject.

Age Limit (as on 01-01-2026)

  • Group B Posts (ASO, Tax Assistant, etc.): 20–30 years
  • Group C Posts (UDC, LDC, DEO): 18–27 years
  • Inspector Posts: 18–30 years

Age Relaxation

  • SC/ST: 5 years
  • OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): 3 years
  • PwD (General): 10 years | PwD (OBC): 13 years | PwD (SC/ST): 15 years
  • Ex-Servicemen: 3 years after deduction of military service rendered

Check your exact eligibility using our Age Calculator for Government Jobs.

Check Your Age Eligibility

Check if you meet the age requirement for SSC CGL. Our calculator shows your exact age on the cut-off date with category-wise relaxation (OBC, SC/ST, PH, Ex-Servicemen).

  • ✓ Enter DOB and cut-off date
  • ✓ Category-wise age relaxation
  • ✓ Preset cut-off dates for major exams
Use Government Age Calculator

SSC CGL 2026 Application Fee

CategoryFee (₹)
General₹100
OBC (Non-Creamy Layer)₹100
SC / STExempted
Female (all categories)Exempted
PwD / Ex-ServicemenExempted

Payment Modes: Net Banking, Credit Card, Debit Card, UPI, SBI Challan

SSC CGL Selection Process

  1. Tier 1 – Computer Based Examination (Screening)
  2. Tier 2 – Computer Based Examination (Main)
  3. Document Verification
  4. Medical Examination
  5. Final Merit List based on Tier 2 score (normalised)

SSC CGL 2026 Exam Pattern

Tier 1 – Computer Based Examination

SubjectQuestionsMarksDurationNegative Marking
General Intelligence & Reasoning255060 min (combined)0.50 per wrong answer
General Awareness25500.50 per wrong answer
Quantitative Aptitude25500.50 per wrong answer
English Comprehension25500.50 per wrong answer
Total100200

Tier 2 – Paper 1 (Compulsory for all posts)

SubjectQuestionsMarksDurationNegative Marking
Mathematical Abilities309060 min (Module I)1.0 per wrong answer
Reasoning & General Intelligence309060 min (Module I)1.0 per wrong answer
English Language & Comprehension4513560 min (Module II)1.0 per wrong answer
General Awareness257560 min (Module II)1.0 per wrong answer
Computer Knowledge206015 min (Module III)1.0 per wrong answer
Total150450

Tier 2 – Paper 2 (Statistics – for JSO only)

SubjectQuestionsMarksDurationNegative Marking
Statistics100200120 min0.50 per wrong answer
Total100200

SSC CGL Syllabus Overview

The SSC CGL syllabus covers a wide range of topics across Tier 1 and Tier 2. Tier 1 tests fundamental aptitude across Reasoning (analogies, classification, coding-decoding, matrix, syllogism), Quantitative Aptitude (number systems, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, data interpretation), English (reading comprehension, cloze test, error spotting, synonyms/antonyms), and General Awareness (current affairs, history, geography, polity, economics, science).

Tier 2 covers advanced topics including Data Sufficiency, Mathematical Modelling, advanced English passages, and Computer Proficiency (MS Office, networking basics, database). For detailed topic-wise syllabus, see our SSC CGL 2026 Syllabus page.

SSC CGL 2026 Salary Structure

Pay Levels

Pay Level 4 to Pay Level 11

Gross Salary Range

₹35,000 – ₹1,80,000 per month

In-Hand Salary Range

₹30,000 – ₹1,50,000 per month (approx.)

Post-wise Basic Pay

Post NamePay LevelBasic Pay (₹/month)
Upper Division Clerk (UDC)Level 4₹25,500 – ₹81,100
Tax Assistant (CBDT/CBIC)Level 4₹25,500 – ₹81,100
Auditor (C&AG/CGDA)Level 5₹29,200 – ₹92,300
Sub-Inspector (CBI)Level 6₹35,400 – ₹1,12,400
Inspector (Central Excise/Customs)Level 7₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400
Assistant Section Officer (CSS)Level 8₹47,600 – ₹1,51,100
Statistical Investigator Gr-IILevel 8₹47,600 – ₹1,51,100
Assistant Audit/Accounts OfficerLevel 8₹47,600 – ₹1,51,100

Allowances & Benefits

  • Dearness Allowance (DA) – revised biannually
  • House Rent Allowance (HRA) – 8% to 24% based on city
  • Transport Allowance (TPTA)
  • Children Education Allowance
  • Leave Travel Concession (LTC)
  • National Pension System (NPS) – 14% employer contribution
  • Medical Benefits under CGHS

Calculate Your In-Hand Salary

Use the 7th CPC Government Salary Calculator to estimate your in-hand salary for SSC CGL 2026 posts — including DA, HRA, and all deductions based on your pay level and city.

  • ✓ Select pay level (1–18) and basic pay
  • ✓ City-wise HRA (X, Y, Z category)
  • ✓ DA, TA, NPS deductions included
Use Government Salary Calculator

How to Apply for SSC CGL 2026

  1. Visit the official SSC website at ssc.gov.in and navigate to the "Register/Login" section.
  2. If you are a new user, click "New User? Register Now" and complete one-time registration with your name, email, mobile number, and create a password.
  3. After registration, log in to the SSC portal and click on "Apply" next to the CGL 2026 notification.
  4. Fill in the application form with personal details (name, date of birth, category), educational qualifications, and examination preferences (centres, posts).
  5. Upload scanned copies of your recent passport-size photograph (20–50 KB, JPEG), signature (10–20 KB, JPEG), and a valid photo ID proof (100–300 KB, PDF).
  6. Pay the application fee of ₹100 via Net Banking, Credit/Debit Card, UPI, or SBI Challan. Female, SC, ST, PwD, and Ex-Servicemen candidates are exempted.
  7. Review all details carefully, submit the application, and download/print the confirmation page with your Registration ID for future reference.

→ Apply Online at https://ssc.gov.in

SSC CGL 2026 Admit Card

Release Date: To Be Announced

→ Download Admit Card

  • Visit ssc.gov.in and click on "Status/Download Admit Card" under the Candidate's Corner
  • Select "Combined Graduate Level Examination 2026" from the exam list
  • Log in with your Registration ID and Date of Birth
  • Download and print the admit card on A4 paper
  • Carry the printed admit card to the examination hall
  • Carry one valid photo ID proof: Aadhaar Card, Passport, Voter ID, Driving Licence, or PAN Card — candidates without both documents will not be permitted to enter

SSC CGL Previous Year Cutoff Marks

YearCategoryCutoff ScoreTotal Marks
2024General175.44200
2024OBC153.70200
2024SC141.63200
2024ST126.28200
2023General170.26200
2023OBC149.52200
2023SC137.33200
2023ST122.41200
2022General160.04200
2022OBC140.68200
2022SC130.31200
2022ST117.51200

SSC CGL 2026 Result

Result Date: To Be Announced

→ Check Result

→ Download Merit List

Next Steps After Result:

  1. Check the result PDF on ssc.gov.in — qualified candidates' roll numbers are listed category-wise
  2. SSC applies normalisation across multiple shifts to ensure fair scoring — your raw score is converted to a normalised score
  3. Download your individual score card from the candidate login portal after result declaration
  4. Tier 1 qualified candidates will be called for Tier 2 examination
  5. Final merit list is prepared based on normalised Tier 2 scores and uploaded to the official website

SSC CGL 2026 – FAQs

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