SSC CGL 2026: The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has officially released the notification for the Combined Graduate Level (CGL) Examination, 2026. This major recruitment drive aims to select eligible candidates to fill various Group ‘B’ and Group ‘C’ posts across multiple Ministries, Departments, Organisations, and Constitutional/Statutory Bodies of the Government of India. Interested candidates can submit their applications exclusively through the online portal on the new SSC website.
SSC CGL 2026 Overview
| Organization | Staff Selection Commission (SSC) |
| Exam Name | Combined Graduate Level Examination, 2026 |
| Total Vacancies | Approx. 12,256 |
| Post Categories | Group ‘B’ and Group ‘C’ |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Job Location | All India (All India Service Liability) |
Official Website |
SSC CGL 2026 Important Dates
| Event | Date / Schedule |
| Online Application Start Date | 21.05.2026 |
| Last Date for Online Application | 22.06.2026 (23:00 hours) |
| Last Date for Online Fee Payment | 23.06.2026 (23:00 hours) |
| Application Form Correction Window | 29.06.2026 to 01.07.2026 (23:00 hours) |
| Tier-I Exam (Computer Based) | August-September, 2026 |
| Tier-II Exam (Computer Based) | December, 2026 |
SSC CGL 2026 Notification PDF
The Staff Selection Commission has released a notification to conduct the SSC Combined Graduate Level Exam 2026. The Notification with 12256 Posts has been hosted at the official Website at ssc.gov.in. Interested Aspirants can check the PDF from the link below.
SSC CGL 2026: Post-Wise Vacancy Details
Tentative vacancies: Approximately 12,256. However, firm vacancies will be determined in due course. Updated vacancies, if any, along with post-wise & category-wise vacancies, will be made available on the Commission’s website (https://ssc.nic.in> Candidate’s Corner > Tentative Vacancy) in due course. Candidates may note that the Commission does not collect State-wise/ Zone-wise vacancies.
Pay Level-8 (₹ 47,600 to ₹ 1,51,100)
| Post Name | Ministry/Department/Office/Cadre | Classification | Age Limit |
| Assistant Audit Officer (Central Cadre) | Indian Audit & Accounts Department under C&AG | Group “B” Gazetted (Non-Ministerial) | 18-30 years |
| Assistant Audit Officer (State Cadre) | Indian Audit & Accounts Department under C&AG | Group “B” Gazetted (Non-Ministerial) | 18-30 years |
| Assistant Accounts Officer (State Cadre) | Indian Audit & Accounts Department under C&AG | Group “B” Gazetted (Non-Ministerial) | 18-30 years |
Pay Level-7 (₹ 44,900 to ₹ 1,42,400)
| Post Name | Ministry/Department/Office/Cadre | Classification | Age Limit |
| Assistant Section Officer | Central Secretariat Service | Group “B” | 20-30 years |
| Assistant Section Officer | Intelligence Bureau | Group “B” | 18-30 years |
| Assistant Section Officer | Ministry of Railways | Group “B” | 20-30 years |
| Assistant Section Officer | Ministry of External Affairs | Group “B” | 20-30 years |
| Assistant Section Officer | AFHQ | Group “B” | 20-30 years |
| Assistant Section Officer | Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology | Group “B” | 18-30 years |
| Assistant / Assistant Section Officer | Other Ministries/ Departments/ Organizations | Group “B” | 18-30 years |
| Inspector of Income Tax | Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) | Group “C” | 18-30 years |
| Inspector (Central Excise) | Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) | Group “B” | 18-30 years |
| Inspector (Preventive Officer) | Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) | Group “B” | 18-30 years |
| Inspector (Examiner) | Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) | Group “B” | 18-30 years |
| Assistant Enforcement Officer | Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Department of Revenue | Group “B” | 18-30 years |
| Sub Inspector | Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) | Group “B” | 20-30 years |
| Inspector Posts | Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications | Group “B” | 18-30 years |
| Inspector | Central Bureau of Narcotics, Ministry of Finance | Group “B” | 18-30 years |
Pay Level-6 (₹ 35,400 to ₹ 1,12,400)
| Post Name | Ministry/Department/Office/Cadre | Classification | Age Limit |
| Assistant / Assistant Section Officer | Other Ministries/ Departments/ Organizations | Group “B” | 18-30 years |
| Executive Assistant | Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) | Group “B” | 18-30 years |
| Research Assistant | National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) | Group “B” | 18-30 years |
| Divisional Accountant | Offices under C&AG | Group “B” | 18-30 years |
| Sub Inspector | National Investigation Agency (NIA) | Group “B” | 18-30 years |
| Sub-Inspector / Junior Intelligence Officer | Narcotics Control Bureau (MHA) | Group “B” | 18-30 years |
| Junior Statistical Officer | Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation | Group “B” | 18-32 years |
| Statistical Investigator Grade-II | Ministry of Home Affairs | Group “B” | 18-30 years |
| Office Superintendent | Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) | Group “B” | 18-30 years |
| Section Head | Director General of Foreign Trade | Group “B” | 18-30 years |
Pay Level-5 (₹ 29,200 to ₹ 92,300)
| Post Name | Ministry/Department/Office/Cadre | Classification | Age Limit |
| Auditor | Offices under C&AG | Group “C” | 18-27 years |
| Auditor | Offices under CGDA | Group “C” | 18-27 years |
| Auditor | Other Ministry/ Departments | Group “C” | 18-27 years |
| Accountant | Offices under C&AG | Group “C” | 18-27 years |
| Accountant | Controller General of Accounts | Group “C” | 18-27 years |
| Accountant / Junior Accountant | Other Ministry/ Departments | Group “C” | 18-27 years |
Pay Level-4 (₹ 25,500 to ₹ 81,100)
| Post Name | Ministry/Department/Office/Cadre | Classification | Age Limit |
| Postal Assistant / Sorting Assistant | Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications | Group “C” | 18-27 years |
| Senior Secretariat Assistant / Upper Division Clerks | Govt. Offices/ Central Ministries other than CSCS cadres | Group “C” | 18-27 years |
| Senior Administrative Assistant | Military Engineering Services, Ministry of Defence | Group “C” | 18-27 years |
| Tax Assistant | Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) | Group “C” | 18-27 years |
| Tax Assistant | Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) | Group “C” | 18-27 years |
| Sub-Inspector | Central Bureau of Narcotics, Ministry of Finance | Group “C” | 18-27 years |
SSC CGL 2026 Eligibility Details
To be eligible for the SSC CGL 2026, a candidate must be either:
- A citizen of India
- A subject of Nepal or Bhutan
- A person of Indian origin who has migrated from specific countries (like Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, etc.) with the intention of permanently settling in India.
SSC CGL Educational Qualifications
| Name of the Post | Essential Educational Qualification | Desirable Qualification |
| Assistant Audit Officer (Central Cadre) | Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized University or Institute. | Chartered Accountant or Cost & Management Accountant or Company Secretary or Masters in Commerce or Masters in Business Studies or Masters in Business Administration (Finance) or Masters in Business Economics. |
| Assistant Audit Officer (State Cadre) & Assistant Accounts Officer (State Cadre) | 1. Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized University or Institute. 2. Proficiency in the Regional/official language of the State at the matriculation level (Requires a certificate of proficiency from a recognized State/Central Board of Education). | Chartered Accountant or Cost & Management Accountant or Company Secretary or Masters in Commerce or Masters in Business Studies or Masters in Business Administration (Finance) or Masters in Business Economics. |
| Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) | Bachelor’s Degree in any subject from a recognized University or Institute with at least 60% Marks in Mathematics at the 12th standard level; OR Bachelor’s Degree in any subject with Statistics as one of the subjects at the degree level. | Not Applicable |
| Statistical Investigator Grade-II | Bachelor’s degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Demography, Population Studies, Operation Research, Information Technology, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Computer Technology, Computer Application, Data Science, or Artificial Intelligence from a recognized University or Institute. | Not Applicable |
| All other Posts | Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized University or equivalent. | Not Applicable |
(Note: Candidates who have appeared in their final year of graduation can also apply, provided they possess the essential qualifications on or before the crucial date of 01.08.2026. )
Age Limit for SSC CGL 2026 (As on 01-08-2026):
The requirement of age for various posts is as follows
| S No | Age Limit | Remarks |
| (i) | For the posts for which age limit is 18-27 years | The candidate must have been born not earlier than 02-08-1998 and not later than 01-08-2007. |
| (ii) | For the posts for which age limit is 20-30 years | Candidate must have been born not earlier than 02-08-1995 and not later than 01-08-2005. |
| (iii) | For the posts for which age limit is 18-30 years | Candidate must have been born not earlier than 02-08-1995 and not later than 01-08-2007. |
| (iv) | For the post for which age limit is 18-32 years | Candidate must have been born not earlier than 02-08-1993 and not later than 01-08-2007. |
SSC CGL Salary Details / Pay Scale
| POST | CLASSIFICATION | PAY Scale | Grade Pay |
| Assistant/ Assistant Section Officer | Group-B | Rs 9300-34800 | 4600 |
| Assistant (various ministries) | Group-B | Rs 9300-34800 | 4200 |
| Inspector/ Enforcement Officer (various ministries) | Group-B & Group-C | Rs 9300-34800 | 4600 |
| Accountant/ Sub-Inspector/ Investigator | Group-B/ Group-C | Rs 9300-34800 | 4200 |
| Assistant Audit Officer (gazetted) | Group-B | Rs 9300-34800 | 4800 |
| Auditor/ Accountant/ Junior Accountant | Group-C | Rs 5200-20260 | 2800 |
| Senior Secretariat Assistant | Group-C | Rs 5200-20260 | 2400 |
| Tax Assistant/ Compiler/ Sub-Inspector | Group-C | Rs 5200-20260 | 2400 |
Selection Process
The SSC CGL 2026 selection process involves multiple stages to shortlist and finalize candidates for various Group ‘B’ and Group ‘C’ posts. The merit list for final selection is prepared solely based on the overall performance in the Tier-II Examination.
Tier-I Examination: A Computer Based Examination consisting of objective-type, multiple-choice questions. This tier serves as a qualifying stage to shortlist candidates for Tier-II.
Tier-II Examination: A comprehensive Computer Based Examination that evaluates candidates across multiple subjects, including a qualifying Computer Knowledge Test and a Data Entry Speed Test (DEST).
Document Verification (DV): Conducted by the respective User Departments/Organizations after the declaration of the final result.
Physical and Medical Tests: Specific posts (such as Inspector in CBIC/CBN, Sub-Inspector in CBI/NIA) require candidates to pass mandatory physical standards and medical tests conducted by the User Department after final selection.
SSC CGL Application Fee
Rs. 100/- for GEN Candidates.
SC/ST/PWD/Ex-servicemen category are exempted from the application fee
Fee can be paid online through BHIM UPI, Net Banking or by using Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, RuPay Credit or Debit cards or in cash at SBI Branches by generating SBI Challan.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted only in online mode at the website of SSC Headquarter i.e. https://ssc.nic.in. For detailed instructions, please refer to Annexure-III and Annexure-IV. Sample proforma of One-time Registration and online Application Form are attached as Annexure-IIIA and Annexure-IVA respectively.
- First of all visit official website ie., ssc.nic.in
- Click on career section.
- Look around for SSC CGL
- Fill application form.
- Pay the application fee.
- Click on submit button for final submission.
- Save and take print out for future use.
SSC CGL 2026 Exam Pattern
Tier-I Examination Pattern
Tier-I consists of objective-type, multiple-choice questions set in English and Hindi (except for English Comprehension). There is a negative marking of 0.50 marks for each incorrect answer.
| Part | Subject | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks | Time Allowed |
| A | General Intelligence and Reasoning | 25 | 50 | 1 Hour Total |
| B | General Awareness | 25 | 50 | (Features a sectional timer of 15 minutes for each subject) |
| C | Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 | |
| D | English Comprehension | 25 | 50 | |
| Total | 100 | 200 |
Tier-II Examination Pattern
Tier-II consists of Paper-I, Paper-II, and Paper-III conducted in separate shifts/days.
Paper-I is compulsory for all posts.
Paper-II is only for candidates shortlisted for Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) and Statistical Investigator Grade-II.
Paper-III is only for candidates shortlisted for Assistant Audit Officer / Assistant Accounts Officer.
There is a negative marking of 1 mark for each wrong answer in Sections I, II, and III of Paper-I, and 0.50 marks for each wrong answer in Paper-II and Paper-III.
Paper-I (Compulsory for All Posts)
| Session | Section & Module | Subject | Questions | Marks | Time Allowed |
Session-I (2 hours 15 mins)
| Section-I Module-I Module-II | Mathematical Abilities Reasoning and General Intelligence | 30 30 (Total: 60) | 90 90 (Total: 180) | 1 Hour (Sectional timer of 30 minutes for each subject) |
Section-II Module-I Module-II | English Language and Comprehension General Awareness | 45 25 (Total: 70) | 135 75 (Total: 210) | 1 Hour (Sectional timer of 40 mins for English, 20 mins for General Awareness) | |
Section-III Module-I | Computer Knowledge Test | 20 | 60 | 15 Minutes | |
Session-II (15 mins) | Section-IV Module-II | Data Entry Speed Test (DEST) | One Data Entry Task | Qualifying | 15 Minutes |
Paper-II & Paper-III (For Specific Posts Only)
| Paper | Subject | Questions | Marks | Time Allowed |
| Paper-II | Statistics | 100 | 200 | 2 Hours |
| Paper-III | General Studies (Finance and Economics) | 100 | 200 | 2 Hours |
