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SSC | SSC

SSC CGL 2026 cycle

Graduate-level recruitment by the Staff Selection Commission for Group B and Group C posts across central government ministries and departments, decided over two computer-based tiers.

Exam scheduled3 stagesSectional timing1 free mock test

Overview

Conducting body
SSCssc.gov.in
Age limit
18 to 32 years
Application fee
₹0 to ₹100
Vacancies
To be announced
First stage duration
1 hr
Negative marking
1/4 mark per wrong answer

Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level Examination is conducted by Staff Selection Commission. Selection runs through 3 stages: Tier I (Computer Based Examination), Tier II, Paper I (Computer Based Examination), Document Verification.

  1. Qualify Tier I, a computer-based objective test used to shortlist candidates for Tier II.
  2. Sit Tier II, whose Paper I is compulsory for all posts and decides the merit; Paper II is only for statistics posts.
  3. Clear the qualifying modules in Tier II, namely the Computer Knowledge test and the Data Entry Speed Test.
  4. Attend Document Verification, where original certificates are checked.
  5. Final selection and post allocation follow the Tier II merit and the preferences submitted.

Important dates

Important dates
EventDateStatus
Notification released

The CGL 2026 notification was published on ssc.gov.in on 21 May 2026, alongside the online application link.

21 May 2026Closed
Online application window

Now closed. Applications ran from 21 May to 22 June 2026 (up to 11:00 PM).

21 May 2026 - 22 Jun 2026Closed
Last date for fee payment

Closed on 23 June 2026.

Until 23 Jun 2026Closed
Application correction window

The only window to correct a submitted form.

29 Jun 2026 - 1 Jul 2026Closed
Tier I examination

Announced for the August–September 2026 window in the SSC examination calendar. Region-wise admit cards appear on the regional SSC websites a few days before each shift; your exact date, shift and centre are printed on the call letter. Confirm on ssc.gov.in.

To be announcedNot announced
Tier II examination

Expected around December 2026 for candidates who clear Tier I. The exact date is announced later in the cycle.

To be announcedNot announced

Eligibility

Educational qualification

Open toGraduate

A Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university or an equivalent qualification, on the cut-off date stated in the notification.

Some posts have additional requirements: Junior Statistical Officer needs at least 60% in Mathematics at the 12th standard, or a Statistics degree; Statistical Investigator Grade II needs a degree with Statistics as one of the subjects. A few posts also require candidates to be within a stated age band that is narrower than the overall range.

Age

18 to 32 years as on the cut-off date stated in the official notification, which has been 1 August in recent cycles.

Upper age relaxation

  • SC and ST+5 years
  • OBC (non-creamy layer)+3 years
  • Persons with Benchmark Disability (unreserved)+10 years
  • Persons with Benchmark Disability (OBC)+13 years
  • Persons with Benchmark Disability (SC/ST)+15 years
  • Ex-servicemen+3 years

Nationality

A candidate must be one of the following:

  • A citizen of India
  • A subject of Nepal or Bhutan
  • A Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1 January 1962 intending to settle permanently
  • A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka or specified East African countries intending to settle permanently in India

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Application fee

CategoryFee
General, OBC and EWS

Paid online. The fee is non-refundable.

₹100
Women, SC, ST, PwBD and Ex-servicemen

Exempt from the application fee, as per SSC rules.

₹0

Exam pattern

Stage by stage structure with question counts, marks, timing and the marking scheme.

Stage 1: Tier I (Computer Based Examination)

Computer based testSectional timingQualifying only
SectionQuestionsMarksTime
General Intelligence and Reasoning255015 min
General Awareness255015 min
Quantitative Aptitude255015 min
English Comprehension255015 min
Total1002001 hr

Duration: 1 hr|Negative marking: 1/4 mark per wrong answer

  • 100 questions for 200 marks in 60 minutes, but for the first time in the 2026 cycle SSC has locked each of the four sections to a fixed 15 minutes.
  • When a section's 15 minutes are over, the screen moves to the next section automatically; you cannot return to an earlier section or carry over spare time, so a weak section can no longer be rescued by a strong one beside it.
  • SSC has extended sectional timing to Tier II Paper I as well from 2026.
  • Tier I is used only to shortlist candidates for Tier II; its marks are not carried into the final merit.

Stage 2: Tier II, Paper I (Computer Based Examination)

Computer based test
SectionQuestionsMarks
Mathematical Abilities3090
Reasoning and General Intelligence3090
English Language and Comprehension45135
General Awareness2575
Computer Knowledge Module (qualifying)2060
Total150450

Duration: 2 hr 15 min|Negative marking: 0.33 mark per wrong answer

  • Tier II is the score-deciding stage. Paper I is compulsory for all posts and runs across two sessions; the Computer Knowledge module and the Data Entry Speed Test are qualifying.
  • Paper II is taken only by candidates for Junior Statistical Officer and Statistical Investigator Grade II posts.

Stage 3: Document Verification

Pen and paperQualifying only

Duration: Varies|Negative marking: None

  • Original certificates are checked against the details in the application before final appointment.
  • The final merit list is drawn from the Tier II marks and the post preferences submitted.

Syllabus

Every subject in the paper, topic by topic. Open a subject for its weightage in this exam, the full topic list and the mock tests, practice sets and notes that cover it.

General Intelligence & Reasoning

  • Analogies, similarities and differences
  • Coding and decoding
  • Series: number, figure and semantic
  • Syllogism and statement conclusions
  • Blood relations and directions
  • Non-verbal reasoning: paper folding, embedded figures, mirror images
  • Venn diagrams and classification
  • Order, ranking and seating arrangement
General Intelligence & Reasoning guide & weightage →

General Awareness

  • Indian polity and Constitution
  • History, culture and the freedom struggle
  • Indian and world geography
  • Economy and the Union Budget
  • General science: physics, chemistry, biology
  • Static general knowledge: awards, days, books and authors
  • Current affairs of national and international importance
General Awareness guide & weightage →

Quantitative Aptitude

  • Number system and simplification
  • Percentage, ratio, proportion and averages
  • Profit and loss, discount and partnership
  • Simple and compound interest
  • Time and work, time, speed and distance
  • Mensuration: 2D and 3D
  • Algebra, trigonometry and geometry
  • Data interpretation: bar, pie, line and tables
Quantitative Aptitude guide & weightage →

English Language

  • Reading comprehension
  • Cloze test and para jumbles
  • Error spotting and sentence improvement
  • Fill in the blanks
  • Synonyms, antonyms and one-word substitution
  • Idioms and phrases
  • Active and passive voice, direct and indirect speech
  • Spelling and misspelt words
English Language guide & weightage →

Computer Aptitude

  • Computer fundamentals and organisation
  • MS Office: Word, Excel and PowerPoint
  • Internet, email and networking
  • Cyber security basics
  • Input, output and memory devices
Computer Aptitude guide & weightage →

How to apply

  1. Complete One-Time Registration (OTR) on ssc.gov.in

    SSC uses a single OTR profile across all its exams. Register once with your name, date of birth, Aadhaar or other ID and contact details, and keep the registration number and password.

  2. Fill the CGL application form

    Log in, open the CGL notice, and complete the form with your education, category and post-related details. Upload the photograph and signature to the stated specifications.

  3. Pay the fee and submit

    Pay the fee online where applicable, or claim the exemption, then submit. Save the final printout and the payment receipt.

Documents to keep ready

  • Valid photo identity proof such as Aadhaar, PAN, passport, driving licence or voter ID
  • Matriculation certificate for date of birth
  • Graduation and, where relevant, post-specific mark-sheets and certificates
  • Category certificate (SC, ST, OBC, EWS) in the prescribed format, where applicable
  • PwBD or Ex-servicemen certificate, where applicable
  • Recent passport-size photograph and signature matching the uploads

Salary and job profile

Pay and allowances

Pay scale:
Pay Level 4 to 7 of the 7th Central Pay Commission, depending on the post (most posts are at Level 6 or 7)
Initial basic pay:
To be announced
Approximate in-hand:
To be announced

Allowances

  • Dearness Allowance revised periodically
  • House Rent Allowance based on city class
  • Transport Allowance

Perks

  • Pension under the National Pension System
  • Central Government Health Scheme cover
  • Leave and other central government benefits

Entry basic pay ranges from about Rs 25,500 at Level 4 to Rs 44,900 at Level 7, plus allowances that depend on the city of posting. Confirm the exact figures for a post from the official notification.

What the job involves

  • Postings such as Assistant Section Officer in central ministries, Inspector in the CBIC or CBDT, Auditor, Accountant, Junior Statistical Officer and Tax Assistant.
  • Duties range from desk work in a ministry to field roles in tax and audit departments, depending on the cadre.
  • Career growth through departmental promotions and, for some posts, limited departmental examinations.

Previous paper analysis

What was actually asked, topic by topic, so you can see where the marks live.

Free mock tests

Written to this exam's pattern, with the same interface, sectional locking and marking scheme you will face on exam day.

  • SSC CGL: 28-question practice mock

    28 questions | 28 min

    Start

Study material

हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध

How to prepare for SSC CGL

  • Tier II decides your rank, so treat Tier I as a threshold to clear comfortably and pour your depth into Tier II Mathematics and English.
  • General Awareness in SSC rewards static general knowledge more than a bank paper does. Build a one-page note each for polity, geography, history and science and revise them weekly.
  • Quantitative Aptitude at SSC reaches into algebra, geometry and trigonometry that a bank paper skips, so do not prepare from bank material alone.
  • From 2026 each Tier I section is locked to 15 minutes and you cannot carry spare time forward, so the old tactic of banking time from reasoning and English for the slower quantitative section no longer works; each section needs its own pace.
  • Sit full mocks under the new sectional clock of 15 minutes a section, and review each one for the questions you should have left, since 0.50 negative marking punishes over-attempting within a tight window.

Practise SSC CGL by topic

Free question banks with worked solutions for the topics SSC CGL tests. Drill one topic at a time, then sit a full mock and keep a daily habit going.

Daily quiz

A fresh mixed set every day to keep every section warm.

Untimed practice drills

Learn a topic with the method shown after every question.

Current affairs

Daily, sourced digests for the general-awareness section.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an interview in SSC CGL?

No. The interview was removed for CGL posts in 2016. Selection is decided by Tier I (shortlisting), Tier II (merit) and Document Verification.

Do Tier I marks count in the final merit?

No. Tier I only shortlists candidates for Tier II. The final merit list is built from the Tier II score, so Tier II is where the selection is actually decided.

How much is deducted for a wrong answer?

In Tier I, 0.50 marks are deducted for each wrong answer, out of the two marks a question carries. In Tier II Paper I, 1 mark is deducted per wrong answer, and in Paper II, 0.50 marks.

What is the minimum qualification?

A Bachelor's degree in any discipline. A few posts add requirements, such as Mathematics at the 12th level for the Junior Statistical Officer post or Statistics for the Statistical Investigator post.

How many attempts are allowed?

There is no fixed limit on attempts. You can apply in every cycle as long as you meet the age and qualification criteria for the posts you want.

Is there sectional timing in Tier I from 2026?

Yes. For the first time, the 2026 cycle locks each of the four Tier I sections to 15 minutes within the 60-minute exam. When a section's time is over the screen moves on automatically and you cannot go back or carry time forward. SSC has extended sectional timing to Tier II Paper I as well.

Last verified 20 August 2026(36 days ago, by editorial)

Not yet confirmed for this cycle: the vacancy count, the schedule and pay scale. Where we have a figure from previous cycles we show it and label it as expected; where we do not, the page says "to be announced". Check the official source below before you rely on any of it.

Official sources

Found something out of date? Tell us and we will correct it, citing the source.