📢 Official Notice 🌐 SSC.GOV.IN 📅 Published 21 May 2026

SSC CGL 2026 — Complete Guide

If you want to know about the Combined Graduate Level Examination 2026, then you are in the right place. Here, we have a detailed discussion from the Exam Overview to the Previous Year’s Paper.

📋 ~12,256 Vacancies 📄 132 Pages Official Notice 📝 Apply: 21 May – 22 Jun 2026 📅 Tier-I: Aug–Sep 2026

📚 Table of Contents

01 Exam Overview & Introduction 02 Eligibility Criteria 03 Age Limit & Relaxation 04 Participating Departments & Posts 05 Salary Structure & Perks 06 Selection Process 07 Exam Pattern & Stages 08 Detailed Syllabus 09 Schedule & Important Dates 10 Vacancy & Demand Analysis 11 Cutoff Analysis 2026 12 Previous Years Question Papers

SSC CGL Exam Overview & Introduction 2026

Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level Examination 2026 (SSC CGL 2026) is most popular competitive government exams for graduate students in India. The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) of the Government of India conducts the examination for recruitment to various Group ‘B’ and Group ‘C’ posts in different Ministries, Departments and Organizations of the Central Government. SSC CGL is conducted once a year in a computer-based test (CBT) mode. SSC CGL is regarded as one of the best career opportunities for graduates looking for a stable government job.

The SSC CGL recruitment posts like Income Tax Inspector, GST Inspector, Assistant Section Officer (ASO), CBI Sub-Inspector, Auditor, Accountant, and Tax Assistant. The examination is very much in demand because of its high salary structure, job security, promotion opportunities, work-life balance and other government benefits.

Most of the posts in SSC CGL are classified as Group ‘B’ and Group ‘C’ of the Central Government. The salary structure is based on post and pay level and ranges generally between Pay Level-4 and Pay Level-8 of the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC). The approximate salary is ₹25,500 to ₹1,42,400 per month. Besides this, the post is also entitled to various Government allowances like Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), Travel Allowance (TA), medical benefits, pension benefits and other facilities as provided to the Central Government employees.

Approximately 30-40 lakh candidates appear for the SSC CGL exam annually, making it one of the biggest graduate-level competitive exams in the country. The competition is still very big because the number of applicants is huge and the vacancies are limited. In recent times, SSC CGL 2022 had more than 37,000 vacancies, SSC CGL 2023 had around 8,000 vacancies, SSC CGL 2024 had announced more than 17,000 vacancies and SSC CGL 2025 had almost 18,000 vacancies. SSC CGL 2026 Official Notification Released on 21st May 2026 on their official website.

The SSC CGL recruitment process generally includes the stages of Tier 1, Tier 2, skill test and document verification. The exam tests the candidates on subjects like Quantitative Aptitude, General Intelligence & Reasoning, English Language, General Awareness, Computer Knowledge and Data Entry Skills.

Exam NameSSC CGL 2026

Conducting BodyStaff Selection Commission

Post TypeGroup B & Group C

PostsIncome Tax Inspector, GST Inspector, ASO, CBI SI, Auditor, Accountant, Tax Assistant, etc.

DepartmentsCBDT, CBIC, CBI, NIA, CAG, MEA and other Central Government departments

Mode of ExamComputer Based Test (CBT)

StagesTier 1, Tier 2, Skill Test, Document Verification

FrequencyOnce every year

ApplicantsAround 30–40 lakh candidates annually

Total Vacancies~12,256 (Tentative)

Vacancies (Recent Years)2022: 37,000+ | 2023: 8,000+ | 2024: 17,000+ | 2025: 18,000+

Salary Range₹25,500 – ₹1,42,400 per month (Pay Level 4 to 8 + allowances)

AllowancesDA, HRA, TA, Medical, Pension Benefits

Job LocationAll over India

Official Websitessc.gov.in

SSC CGL Eligibility Criteria 2026: Qualification, Age Limit & More

Before applying the SSC CGL 2026, students should check and properly read the eligibility conditions of SSC CGL. Because every year, thousands of applications are rejected by SSC due to not fulfilling the basic SSC CGL eligibility conditions. So, please read the requirements carefully before applying.

SSC CGL eligibility criteria are mainly divided into 4 parts:

Nationality / Citizenship
Educational Qualification (Post-wise requirement applicable)
Age Limit & Age Relaxation
Physical Standards (for selected posts only)

Nationality / Citizenship

A candidate shall be one or more of the following:

An Indian citizen, or
A citizen of Nepal or Bhutan, or
A Person of Indian Origin (PIO) who has migrated from the following countries with the intention of settling permanently in India: Pakistan Burma (Myanmar) Sri Lanka East African countries such as Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire (Congo), Ethiopia Vietnam

Additional Requirement, the candidate must:

Have the intention to settle permanently in India
Candidates belonging to Nepal, Bhutan or PIO categories should have Certificate of Eligibility from Government of India (if applicable).
Such candidates may be permitted to appear in the examination provisionally but their final appointment shall be subject to the issuance of the eligibility certificate.

Specific terms and conditions

Only male candidates are eligible for posts in Border Roads Organisation (BRO).

Educational Qualification (as on 01.08.2026)

If you are applying for SSC CGL 2026, then the student must fulfill the required educational qualifications on or before 01 August 2026. Final year graduation students are also eligible to apply, but they have to declare the result and obtain the required qualification on or before the cutoff date, otherwise they will not be considered eligible.

Post Category	Essential Qualification	Desirable Qualification
Assistant Audit Officer (AAO) – Central Cadre	Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized University or Institute	Chartered Accountant (CA), Cost & Management Accountant (CMA), Company Secretary (CS), M.Com, MBS, MBA (Finance), Master’s in Business Economics (MBE)
Assistant Audit Officer (AAO) – State Cadre	Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized University or Institute + Proficiency in Regional/Official Language of the concerned State (Reading, Writing, Speaking, Understanding)	Chartered Accountant (CA), Cost & Management Accountant (CMA), Company Secretary (CS), M.Com, MBS, MBA (Finance), MBE
Assistant Accounts Officer (AAO) – State Cadre	Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized University or Institute + Proficiency in Regional/Official Language of the concerned State (with certificate of proficiency at Secondary/Matric level from a recognized Board)	Chartered Accountant (CA), Cost & Management Accountant (CMA), Company Secretary (CS), M.Com, MBS, MBA (Finance), MBE
Junior Statistical Officer (JSO)	Either: 1. Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline + 60% marks in Mathematics at 12th level OR 2. Bachelor’s Degree with Statistics as one of the subjects	—
Statistical Investigator Grade-II	Bachelor’s Degree in any of the following subjects: Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Demography, Population Studies, Operational Research, Information Technology, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Computer Technology, Computer Applications, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence	—
All Other Posts	Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized University or equivalent	—

Probation Requirement: If any candidates are selected for Assistant Audit Officer (AAO) posts then, they must pass the Subordinate Audit/Accounts Service Examination during the probation period for confirmation and regular appointment.

Important Note: The students who are in their final year of graduation are also eligible to apply. However, they are eligible having the required educational qualification on or before 01 August 2026.

Open & Distance Learning (ODL) Degrees: If you have graduation/diplomas degree through Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode then it is valid only if approved by the Distance Education Bureau, UGC or awarded by a recognized University/Institution.

Important Note: Some of the professional and technical courses are not allowed to be offered in distance/online mode as per UGC Open and Distance Learning (ODL) Regulations, 2017. They include:

Engineering
Medicine
Dental
Nursing
Pharmacy
Architecture
Physiotherapy

Exception: However, a Supreme Court judgment dated 11 March 2019 has held that B.Tech degrees/diplomas awarded by IGNOU to students admitted till the academic year 2009-10 are valid.

Document Verification Requirement: At the time of document verification, it is mandatory to present the original documents by student, including:

Graduation Degree Certificate (or Provisional Certificate)
Mark Sheets of all semesters per years

If a student is unable to submit valid proof of acquiring the essential qualification on or before August 1, 2026, his/her candidature shall be cancelled.

Result & Eligibility Criteria:A candidate will be considered eligible only if there is proper documentary proof that:

The result has been declared on or before the cut-off date
The candidate has been officially declared passed

Equivalent Qualification: Candidates claiming an equivalent qualification must produce an Equivalence Certificate issued by the competent authority during document verification. Final acceptance of equivalence will be decided by the concerned User Department/Appointing Authority.

Age Limit & Age Relaxation

SSC CGL Age Limit and Age Relaxation for 2026 is different for each post and category of the candidate. The complete details of age criteria, post wise age limits and category wise relaxations will be discussed in the next section. For detailed information, please click here: button below.

Click Here to View Age Limit & Age Relaxation

Physical Standards (Post-specific)

Physical standards are applicable only for some specific posts under SSC CGL. Please note that most of the SSC CGL posts do NOT require any physical test. These standards are applicable only after final selection and are conducted by the respective user departments.

Here are the complete physical standards for different SSC CGL posts. Please check all sections.

Inspector (Central Excise / Examiner / Preventive Officer) & Inspector & Sub-Inspector (Central Bureau of Narcotics- CBN)

Physical Standard	Male Candidates	Female Candidates
Height	157.5 cm Relaxable by 5 cm for Garhwalis, Assamese, Gorkhas and ST candidates.	152 cm Relaxable by 2.5 cm for Gorkhas, Garhwalis, Assamese and ST candidates.
Chest	81 cm (Fully Expanded) Minimum Expansion: 5 cm	Not Applicable
Weight	Not Prescribed	48 kg Relaxable by 2 kg for Gorkhas, Garhwalis, Assamese and ST candidates.
Vision	Not Prescribed	Not Prescribed
Physical Test (Walk)	1600 metres in 15 minutes	1 kilometre in 20 minutes
Physical Test (Cycle)	8 kilometres in 30 minutes	3 kilometres in 25 minutes

Sub-Inspector — CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation)

Physical Standard	Male Candidates	Female Candidates
Height	165 cm Relaxable by 5 cm for Hillsmen & Tribals.	150 cm Relaxable by 5 cm for Hillsmen & Tribals.
Chest	76 cm with expansion	Not Applicable
Vision (Distant)	6/6 & 6/9
Vision (Near)	0.6 & 0.8

iii

Sub-Inspector — NIA (National Investigation Agency)

Physical Standard	Male Candidates	Female Candidates
Height	170 cm Relaxable by 5 cm for Hillsmen & Tribals.	150 cm Relaxable by 5 cm for Hillsmen & Tribals.
Chest	76 cm with expansion	Not Applicable
Vision (Distant)	6/6 & 6/9
Vision (Near)	0.6 & 0.8

Sub-Inspector / JIO(Junior Intelligence Officer) — NCB, MHA (Narcotics Control Bureau)

Physical Standard	Male Candidates	Female Candidates
Height	165 cm Relaxable by 5 cm for NE States, Ladakh, J&K, A&N, Lakshadweep, HP Tribal.	152 cm Relaxable by 5 cm for NE States, Ladakh, J&K, A&N, Lakshadweep, HP Tribal.
Chest	76 cm (unexpanded) with 5 cm expansion	Not Applicable
Vision (Distant)	6/6 & 6/9
Vision (Near)	0.6 & 0.8

BRO Posts (PET, Physical & Medical Standards)

Candidates selected for Border Roads Organization (BRO/GREF) posts through SSC CGL must qualify all three schedules prescribed by BRO:

Schedule-I (Physical Efficiency Test)
Schedule-II (Physical Standards)
Schedule-III (Medical Standards)

These tests are conducted after the final SSC selection at GREF Centre, Pune or designated Recruitment Centres.

Physical Standard	Details
Physical Efficiency Test (PET)	One Mile Run (1.6 km) – Mandatory to Qualify within 10 Minutes. Conducted at GREF Centre, Pune or designated Recruitment Centre before Medical Examination.
Physical Standards	Western Himalayan: Height 158 cm, Chest 75+5 cm expansion, Weight 47.5 kg Eastern Himalayan: Height 152 cm, Chest 75+5 cm expansion, Weight 47.5 kg West Plain: Height 162.5 cm, Chest 76+5 cm expansion, Weight 50 kg Eastern Plain: Height 157 cm, Chest 75+5 cm expansion, Weight 50 kg Central: Height 157 cm, Chest 75+5 cm expansion, Weight 50 kg Southern: Height 157 cm, Chest 75+5 cm expansion, Weight 50 kg Gorkhas (Indian Domicile): Height 152 cm, Chest 75+5 cm expansion, Weight 47.5 kg
Relaxation in PST	Sons of Serving / Ex-GREF Personnel: Height −2 cm, Chest −1 cm, Weight −2 kg. DD Cases (Own/Adopted Son): Height −2 cm, Chest −1 cm, Weight −2 kg.
Vision (Medical Standards)	Not less than 6/12 in each eye OR Right Eye 6/6 and Left Eye 6/24. Corrective spectacles permitted. Unaided vision not below 6/60 in each eye.
Permanent Rejection	BMI below 18, Colour Blindness, Squint/Nystagmus, Severe Knock Knee, Bow Legs, Flat Feet, Deafness, Pronounced Stammering, Chronic Lung Disease, Hypertension above 140/95 mm Hg, Major Physical Deformities, Prohibited Tattoos and other serious medical conditions affecting work efficiency.
Temporary Rejection	Conjunctivitis, Pterygium, DNS, Hydrocele, Hernia, Varicocele, Dental Defects, Anaemia, Varicose Veins, Skin Diseases, BMI above 30 and other treatable medical conditions.
Minor Defects May Be Accepted	Mild Flat Feet, Mild Knock Knee, Mild Bow Legs, Slight Stammering, Mild Hyperhidrosis, Minor Varicocele, Healed Tympanoplasty, Corrected DNS and other minor defects not affecting work efficiency.
Tattoo Policy	Permanent tattoos permitted only on the inner side of forearms and back of hands. Tattoos on any other body part may lead to disqualification.
Service Liability	All India Transfer Liability. Initial training at GREF Centre, Dighi Camp, Pune. Certain provisions of the Army Act, 1950 are applicable.

Note: Physical Efficiency Test, Physical Standards Verification and Medical Examination for BRO posts are conducted by the User Department after final selection by SSC. Candidates failing any prescribed requirement for the allotted BRO post will not be considered for appointment to any other SSC CGL post. Therefore, candidates should opt for BRO posts only if they satisfy all physical and medical standards. For more information, read the SSC CGL 2026 Notification.

Critical Note:The User Department conducts physical/medical tests AFTER final selection by SSC. If a candidate fails the physical or medical test for the allotted post, their candidature will NOT be reconsidered for any other post. Choose your post preference carefully.

SSC CGL 2026: Age Limit & Relaxation

There are 40 posts in the SSC CGL exam from Pay Level 4 to Pay Level 8 under the Group B and Group C posts. Each post has its own specific age requirement and Pay Level according to departmental rules and the nature of the job responsibilities.

For the convenience of candidates, all 40 posts are given below in order of Group, Pay Level and age limit applicable. In this section aspirants will get a clear idea about the eligibility criteria of each post in a simple and structured way before applying.

Group B (Gazetted) — Pay Level 8

S. No.	Name of Post	Age Limit
1	Assistant Audit Officer (Central Cadre)	18–30 years
2	Assistant Audit Officer (State Cadre)	18–30 years
3	Assistant Accounts Officer (State Cadre)	18–30 years

Group B — Pay Level 7

S. No.	Name of Post	Age Limit
4	Assistant Section Officer (CSS)	20–30 years
5	Assistant Section Officer (Intelligence Bureau)	18–30 years
6	Assistant Section Officer (Railways)	20–30 years
7	Assistant Section Officer (External Affairs)	20–30 years
8	Assistant Section Officer (AFHQ)	20–30 years
9	Assistant Section Officer (MeitY)	18–30 years
10	Assistant / Assistant Section Officer (Other Ministries)	18–30 years
11	Inspector of Income Tax	18–30 years
12	Inspector (Central Excise)	18–30 years
13	Inspector (Preventive Officer)	18–30 years
14	Inspector (Examiner)	18–30 years
15	Assistant Enforcement Officer	18–30 years
16	Sub Inspector (CBI)	20–30 years
17	Inspector Posts	18–30 years
18	Inspector (Central Bureau of Narcotics)	18–30 years

Group B — Pay Level 6

S. No.	Name of Post	Age Limit
19	Assistant / Assistant Section Officer	18–30 years
20	Executive Assistant	18–30 years
21	Research Assistant	18–30 years
22	Divisional Accountant	18–30 years
23	Sub Inspector (NIA)	18–30 years
24	Sub-Inspector / Junior Intelligence Officer	18–30 years
25	Junior Statistical Officer (JSO)	18–32 years
26	Statistical Investigator Grade-II	18–30 years
27	Office Superintendent	18–30 years
28	Section Head	18–30 years

Group C — Pay Level 5

S. No.	Name of Post	Age Limit
29	Auditor (C&AG)	18–27 years
30	Auditor (CGDA)	18–27 years
31	Auditor (Other Departments)	18–27 years
32	Accountant (C&AG)	18–27 years
33	Accountant (CGA)	18–27 years
34	Accountant / Junior Accountant	18–27 years

Group C — Pay Level 4

S. No.	Name of Post	Age Limit
35	Postal Assistant / Sorting Assistant	18–27 years
36	Senior Secretariat Assistant / UDC	18–27 years
37	Senior Administrative Assistant	18–27 years
38	Tax Assistant (CBDT)	18–27 years
39	Tax Assistant (CBIC)	18–27 years
40	Sub-Inspector (Central Bureau of Narcotics)	18–27 years

Quick Birth Date Reference (as on 01.08.2026):

To help the user avoid calculation, we provide a “Born Not Earlier Than” and “Born Not Later Than” dates to see candidates fall in this date range. The date of birth should strictly be within the prescribed range as per SSC eligibility rules to ensure that they satisfy the age criteria.

Age Limit	Born Not Earlier Than	Born Not Later Than
18–27 years	02-08-1999	01-08-2008
20–30 years	02-08-1996	01-08-2006
18–30 years	02-08-1996	01-08-2008
18–32 years	02-08-1994	01-08-2008

⇒

Permissible Age Relaxation in Upper Age Limit:

Candidates should check their age relaxation according to their category (SC/ST, OBC, PwBD, Ex-Servicemen etc.) and ensure that the date of birth falls within the prescribed eligibility limit of SSC after applying the relaxation rules.

Code	Category	Relaxation
01	SC / ST	5 years
02	OBC	3 years
03	PwBD (General / UR)	10 years
04	PwBD + OBC	13 years
05	PwBD + SC / ST	15 years
06	Ex-Servicemen (ESM)	3 years after deduction of military service rendered
08	Defence Personnel disabled in operations	3 years
09	Defence Personnel disabled in operations – SC / ST	8 years
10	Central Govt. Civilian Employees (≥3 yrs continuous service) – Group C	Up to 40 years of age
11	Central Govt. Civilian Employees (≥3 yrs continuous service) – SC / ST – Group C	Up to 45 years of age
12	Widows / Divorced Women (not remarried)	Up to 35 years of age
13	Widows / Divorced Women (not remarried) – SC / ST	Up to 40 years of age

Critical Warning:

Your Date of birth on the 10th/12th certificate will be considered as the final proof of your age.
No change in DOB will be allowed after submitting the form.
Check your DOB carefully before final submission of the SSC CGL application.

Participating Departments & Posts

The SSC CGL 2026 recruits for different Group “B” and Group “C” posts in the Central Government departments. Posts are classified according to various Pay Levels with Department and age limit for better understanding.

Pay Level-8 (₹47,600 – ₹1,51,100)

S.No	Name of Post	Ministry / Department / Office	Classification	Age Limit
1	Assistant Audit Officer (Central Cadre)	Indian Audit & Accounts Department under C&AG	Group “B” Gazetted (Non-Ministerial)	18–30 years
2	Assistant Audit Officer (State Cadre)	Indian Audit & Accounts Department under C&AG	Group “B” Gazetted (Non-Ministerial)	18–30 years
3	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 – ₹1,42,400)

S.No	Name of Post	Ministry / Department / Office	Classification	Age Limit
4	Assistant Section Officer	Central Secretariat Service	Group “B”	20–30 years
5	Assistant Section Officer	Intelligence Bureau	Group “B”	18–30 years
6	Assistant Section Officer	Ministry of Railways	Group “B”	20–30 years
7	Assistant Section Officer	Ministry of External Affairs	Group “B”	20–30 years
8	Assistant Section Officer	AFHQ (Armed Forces Headquarters)	Group “B”	20–30 years
9	Assistant Section Officer	Ministry of Electronics & IT	Group “B”	18–30 years
10	Assistant / ASO	Various Ministries / Departments	Group “B”	18–30 years
11	Inspector of Income Tax	CBDT (Central Board of Direct Taxes)	Group “B”	18–30 years
12	Inspector (Central Excise)	CBIC (Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs)	Group “B”	18–30 years
13	Inspector (Preventive Officer)	CBIC (Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs)	Group “B”	18–30 years
14	Inspector (Examiner)	CBIC (Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs)	Group “B”	18–30 years
15	Assistant Enforcement Officer	Directorate of Enforcement (ED)	Group “B”	18–30 years
16	Sub Inspector	Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)	Group “B”	20–30 years
17	Sub Inspector	National Investigation Agency (NIA)	Group “B”	20–30 years
18	Inspector Posts	Department of Posts	Group “B”	18–30 years
19	Inspector	Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN)	Group “B”	18–30 years

Pay Level-6 (₹35,400 – ₹1,12,400)

S.No	Name of Post	Ministry / Department / Office	Classification	Age Limit
20	Executive Assistant	CBIC (Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs)	Group “B”	18–30 years
21	Research Assistant	NHRC ( National Human Rights Commission)	Group “B”	18–30 years
22	Divisional Accountant	C&AG Offices	Group “B”	18–30 years
23	Sub Inspector	NIA (NIA National Investigation Agency)	Group “B”	18–30 years
24	Sub Inspector / JIO	NCB (MHA)	Group “B”	18–30 years
25	Junior Statistical Officer	MoSPI (Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation)	Group “B”	18–32 years
26	Statistical Investigator Grade-II	MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs)	Group “B”	18–30 years
27	Office Superintendent	CBDT (Central Board of Direct Taxes)	Group “B”	18–30 years
28	Section Head	DGFT	Group “B”	18–30 years

Pay Level-5 (₹29,200 – ₹92,300)

S.No	Name of Post	Department	Classification	Age Limit
29	Auditor	C&AG / CGDA (Controller General of Defence Accounts)	Group “C”	18–27 years
30	Auditor	Other Ministries	Group “C”	18–27 years
31	Accountant	C&AG (Comptroller and Auditor General of India (Indian Audit & Accounts Department))	Group “C”	18–27 years
32	Accountant	CGA ( Controller General of Accounts)	Group “C”	18–27 years
33	Junior Accountant	Other Ministries	Group “C”	18–27 years

Pay Level-4 (₹25,500 – ₹81,100)

S.No	Name of Post	Department	Classification	Age Limit
34	Postal Assistant / Sorting Assistant	Department of Posts	Group “C”	18–27 years
35	Senior Secretariat Assistant / UDC	Central Government Offices	Group “C”	18–27 years
36	Senior Administrative Assistant	MES ( Military Engineer Services)	Group “C”	18–27 years
37	Tax Assistant	CBDT ( Central Board of Direct Taxes)	Group “C”	18–27 years
38	Tax Assistant	CBIC ( Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs)	Group “C”	18–27 years
39	Sub Inspector	CBN ( Central Bureau of Narcotics)	Group “C”	18–27 years
40	Account Assistant	Central Government Departments	Group “C”	18–27 years

⇒ Total Posts:Here we show the full list of all 40 SSC CGL 2026 posts from different government departments.

SSC CGL Salary Per Month

SSC CGL (Combined Graduate Level) salary is not a fixed single amount. It depends on the post, pay level, city (X/Y/Z), and allowances. But I’ll break it down in a very clear “per month in-hand” way. The gross salary is calculated as: Basic Pay + DA + HRA + TA + Other Allowances.

SSC CGL posts fall under these Pay Levels:

Pay Level	Basic Pay Scale (₹)	Grade Pay	Posts Covered	Group
Level 8	₹47,600 – ₹1,51,100	₹4,800	Assistant Audit Officer (Central Cadre) \| Assistant Audit Officer (State Cadre) \| Assistant Accounts Officer (State Cadre)Under C&AG	Group B (Gazetted)
Level 7	₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400	₹4,600	ASO – CSS \| ASO – Intelligence Bureau \| ASO – Railways \| ASO – MEA \| ASO – AFHQ \| ASO – MeitY \| Assistant / ASO – Other Ministries \| Inspector of Income Tax (CBDT) \| Inspector (Central Excise) (CBIC) \| Inspector (Preventive Officer) (CBIC) \| Inspector (Examiner) (CBIC) \| Assistant Enforcement Officer (ED) \| Sub-Inspector (CBI) \| Inspector Posts \| Inspector – CBN (Ministry of Finance)	Group B
Level 6	₹35,400 – ₹1,12,400	₹4,200	Executive Assistant (CBIC) \| Research Assistant (NHRC) \| Divisional Accountant (C&AG) \| Sub-Inspector (NIA) \| Sub-Inspector / Junior Intelligence Officer (NCB, MHA) \| Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) (MoSPI) \| Statistical Investigator Grade-II (MHA) \| Office Superintendent (CBDT) \| Section Head (DGFT)	Group B
Level 5	₹29,200 – ₹92,300	₹2,800	Auditor (C&AG) \| Auditor (CGDA) \| Auditor (Other Departments) \| Accountant (C&AG) \| Accountant (CGA) \| Junior Accountant (Other Ministries)	Group C
Level 4	₹25,500 – ₹81,100	₹2,400	Postal Assistant / Sorting Assistant (Department of Posts) \| Senior Secretariat Assistant / UDC (Central Government Offices) \| Senior Administrative Assistant (MES) \| Tax Assistant (CBDT) \| Tax Assistant (CBIC) \| Sub-Inspector (CBN)	Group C

Note: The above pay scales are Basic Pay ranges only as per the 7th Pay Commission Pay Matrix. The actual in-hand salary (gross) is more because actual salary calcilate after adding Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), and Transport Allowance (TA) — which vary by city of posting and are governed by separate Government of India orders not covered in this notification.

Additional Perks & Benefits:

Dearness Allowance (DA): Currently, Dearness Allowance (DA) of SSC CGL employees is 60% of the basic pay. This rate, revised from 58%, is revised periodically twice a year (in January and July) to adjust for the impact of inflation.
House Rent Allowance (HRA): 27% (X cities), 18% (Y cities), 9% (Z cities) of Basic Pay — depending on place of posting.
Transport Allowance (TA): ₹3,600–₹7,200/month + DA.
Medical Benefits: Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) for self and family.
Leave Travel Concession (LTC): Fully paid travel to home town or all-India travel once in 4 years.
Pension (NPS): SSC CGL Employees covered under National Pension System (NPS).
General Provident Fund (GPF): Applicable to pre-2004 recruits; NPS for others.
Children Education Allowance: Up to 2 children.

Pension (NPS): National Pension System (NPS) with government contribution of 14% of Basic Pay + DA. GPF (General Provident Fund) is applicable for employees appointed prior to 2004; NPS for others. Children Education Allowance: Maximum 2 children.

SSC CGL Post Wise In-Hand Salary After Joining: Salary may vary depending on City Category (X, Y, Z City), HRA, deductions, and department allowances. The figures below are approximate monthly in-hand salaries of different posts after joining.

Post Name	Pay Level	Expected First In-Hand Salary
Assistant Audit Officer (AAO)	Level 8	₹78,000 – ₹90,000
Assistant Accounts Officer (AAO)	Level 8	₹78,000 – ₹90,000
Assistant Section Officer (CSS)	Level 7	₹68,000 – ₹80,000
Assistant Section Officer (MEA)	Level 7	₹75,000 – ₹90,000
Assistant Section Officer (Railways / AFHQ / IB)	Level 7	₹65,000 – ₹78,000
Inspector of Income Tax	Level 7	₹65,000 – ₹78,000
Inspector (Central Excise)	Level 7	₹65,000 – ₹78,000
Inspector (Preventive Officer)	Level 7	₹68,000 – ₹82,000
Examiner	Level 7	₹70,000 – ₹85,000
Assistant Enforcement Officer (ED)	Level 7	₹65,000 – ₹80,000
Sub Inspector (CBI)	Level 7	₹65,000 – ₹78,000
Inspector Posts	Level 7	₹60,000 – ₹72,000
Inspector (CBN)	Level 7	₹60,000 – ₹72,000
Junior Statistical Officer (JSO)	Level 6	₹55,000 – ₹68,000
Statistical Investigator Grade-II	Level 6	₹55,000 – ₹68,000
Divisional Accountant	Level 6	₹55,000 – ₹65,000
Research Assistant (NHRC)	Level 6	₹55,000 – ₹65,000
Executive Assistant (CBIC)	Level 6	₹52,000 – ₹62,000
Sub Inspector (NIA)	Level 6	₹58,000 – ₹70,000
Sub Inspector / JIO (NCB)	Level 6	₹58,000 – ₹70,000
Auditor (All Departments)	Level 5	₹42,000 – ₹52,000
Accountant / Junior Accountant	Level 5	₹42,000 – ₹52,000
Postal Assistant / Sorting Assistant	Level 4	₹38,000 – ₹48,000
Senior Secretariat Assistant (SSA/UDC)	Level 4	₹38,000 – ₹46,000
Senior Administrative Assistant	Level 4	₹38,000 – ₹46,000
Tax Assistant (CBDT/CBIC)	Level 4	₹35,000 – ₹42,000
Sub-Inspector (CBN)	Level 4	₹40,000 – ₹50,000

SSC CGL Selection Process 2026

The SSC CGL selection process consists of two online exam stages — a qualifying Tier 1 exam and a merit-deciding Tier 2 exam — followed by Document Verification (DV) and, for certain executive posts, Physical or Medical Tests.

The final merit rank and post allotment are based only on Tier 2 performance. Tier 1 is used only for shortlisting candidates for Tier 2.

Tier 1 Exam (Qualifying Stage)
Tier 2 Exam (Merit-Deciding Stage)
Document Verification (DV) & Post Preference
Physical Standards & Medical Test

Tier 1 Exam (Qualifying Stage)

SSC CGL Tier 1 is the first phase of the exam conducted to shortlist candidates for the Tier 2 examination in the SSC CGL selection process. It is an online examination based on computer having objective type multiple choice questions (MCQs).

The examination has 100 questions and total marks of 200. The candidates are given 60 minutes of time to complete the exam.

⇒

Exam Pattern

Mode: Online (Computer-Based Test)
Type: Objective Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs)
Total Questions: 100
Total Marks: 200
Total Duration: 60 Minutes

Note:

SSC CGL Tier 1 is a one-hour computer-based examination divided into four parts, each part dedicated to a different subject. Every part has 15 minutes, and when the 15 minutes of that part end, it is automatically locked. The candidate cannot reopen that part.

⇒

Marking Scheme

Correct Answer: +2 Marks
Wrong Answer: -0.50 Marks

Subject	Questions	Marks	Time
General Intelligence & Reasoning	25	50	15 Minutes
General Awareness	25	50	15 Minutes
Quantitative Aptitude	25	50	15 Minutes
English Comprehension	25	50	15 Minutes
Total	100	200	60 Minutes

Tier 2 Exam (Merit-Deciding Stage)

Tier 2 is the main exam in the SSC CGL which decide the final merit list and rank of the student. And the post decide according to your mark. If you score more marks in Tier 2, you will get a better post in SSC CGL.

In SSC CGL, there are 3 paper are conducted in Tier 2 depending on post applied by you.

Paper 1 (Compulsory for All Posts)

Every candidate must appear for Paper 1.
Paper 1 is divided into three sections, and candidates must clear the sectional cutoff in each section.

⇒

Marking Scheme of SSC CGL TIer 2: Paper 1

Correct Answer: +3 Marks
Wrong Answer: -1 Mark
(Applicable for Sections I & II)

⇒

SSC CGL TIer 2: Paper 1 Structure

Section	Module	Questions	Marks	Duration / Details
Section I (Session-I)	Mathematical Abilities	30	90	1 Hour
Section I (Session-I)	Reasoning & General Intelligence	30	90	1 Hour
Section II (Session-I)	English Language & Comprehension	45	135	1 Hour
Section II (Session-I)	General Awareness	25	75	1 Hour
Section III (Session-I)	Computer Knowledge Test	20 Questions / 60 Marks		15 Minutes
Section IV (Session-II)	Data Entry Speed Test (DEST)	2000 Key Depressions		15 Minutes

Note: Section III and Section IV is qualifying in nature.

Paper-II (For JSO/SI Grade-II)

Applicable only for candidates applying for:
1. Junior Statistical Officer (JSO)
2. Statistical Investigator Grade-II
Pattern
1. Questions: 100
2. Marks: 200
3. Duration: 2 Hours
4. Correct Answer: +2 Marks
5. Wrong Answer: -0.5 Mark

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Paper-III (For AAO/AAO)

Applicable only for:
1. Assistant Audit Officer (AAO)
2. Assistant Accounts Officer (AAO)
Pattern
1. Questions: 100
2. Marks: 200
3. Duration: 2 Hours
4. Correct Answer: +2 Marks
5. Wrong Answer: -0.5 Mark

Document Verification (DV) & Post Preference

Those candidates who clear the Tier 2 cutoff are called for Document Verification (DV). At this stage, candidates have to show the original documents for verification.

Document Verification (DV)

The candidates who clear the Tier 2 cutoff are called for Document Verification (DV).
For the verification process, all original documents and supporting certificates must be produced.
Non-submission of valid documents shall result in cancellation of candidature.

Post Preference Submission

- After the examination process, candidates have to apply through the SSC portal for their post preference.
- For the allocation of posts, Tier 2 marks, category, and post preferences are considered.

Candidates who do not submit their post preferences within the stipulated date will not be eligible for final selection.

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Documents Required for SSC CGL DV

Matriculation (10th Class) Certificate – Proof of Date of Birth.
Graduation Degree / Provisional Degree Certificate.
Category Certificate: (SC/ST/OBC/EWS), if applicable.
PwBD Certificate: if applicable.
No Objection Certificate (NOC) for candidates already employed in Government service, if applicable.
Photo Identity Proof: Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, PAN Card, Passport, etc.
Any other document specified by the SSC in the official notification.

Note: Candidates keep the all original certificates and documents at the time of Document Verification (DV). If you fail to showing the required documents at the time of Document Verification (DV), then your candidature may be rejected.

Physical Standards & Medical Test

For some SSC CGL posts, candidates have to clear the Physical Standard Test (PST), Physical Endurance Test (PET), and Medical Examination. Candidates for such posts shall be required to meet the prescribed physical and medical standards.

Posts Requiring Physical & Medical Tests

Inspector (Central Excise)
Examiner
Preventive Officer
Sub-Inspector in CBI
Sub-Inspector in NIA

Physical Standard Test (PST)

Height
Weight
Chest Measurement (for male candidates)
Physical Endurance Test (PET)

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Physical Endurance Test (PET)

Walking Test
Cycling Test

Medical Examination

Vision Test
Color Vision Test
General Physical Fitness Examination

Please Note: Some of the posts under SSC CGL have strict eyesight and color blindness criteria. Candidates must be able to satisfy the required medical conditions.

Final Selection Process

The final selection of candidates in SSC CGL is based on the following factors:

Qualification in Tier 1
Tier 2 Marks
Post Preference Submitted by the Candidate
Category-wise Cutoff
Document Verification (DV)
Physical & Medical Qualification (for applicable posts)

Important: Tier 1 marks are not considered for the final SSC CGL merit list. Tier 1 is a qualifying one only and is used for shortlisting the candidates for Tier 2.

SSC CGL Exam Pattern 2026

SSC CGL is the 2 tier examination. Tier 1 and Tier 2: Both exams are the CBT (Computer-Based Tests).

SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam Pattern 2026

SSC CGL Tier 1 is a qualifying exam conducted to shortlist students for Tier 2. If a student passes Tier 1, then they become eligible to appear in Tier 2, and their marks will not be counted in the final merit.

It is an online computer-based exam and contains 100 multiple-choice questions carrying a total of 200 marks. Tier 1 includes four subjects and each subject contains 25 questions for 50 marks. Total exam duration is 1 hour, with a sectional timer of 15 minutes for each section. For PwBD candidates, exam duration is 1 hour 20 minutes. There is also a negative marking of 0.50 marks for every wrong answer.

Subject	No. of Questions	Maximum Marks	Duration
A. General Intelligence & Reasoning	25	50	15 Minutes
B. General Awareness	25	50	15 Minutes
C. Quantitative Aptitude	25	50	15 Minutes
D. English Comprehension	25	50	15 Minutes
Total	100	200	60 Minutes
Exam Duration: Total Duration: 1 Hour Sectional Timer: 15 Minutes per Section PwBD Candidates Eligible for Scribe: 1 Hour 20 Minutes (20 Minutes per Section)

Negative Marking: Tier-I: –0.50 marks per wrong answer. Questions are set in both English and Hindi, except for the English Comprehension section.

SSC CGL Tier 2 Exam Pattern 2026

SSC CGL Tier 2 Exam is the most important phase in the selection process because the final merit list is based only on Tier 2 marks, and rank and post allocation are based.

SSC CGL Tier 2 consists of different papers depending on the post applied for. Paper 1 is compulsory for all, & Paper 2 and Paper 3 are only for certain posts.

⇒

SSC CGL Tier 2 Papers

Paper	Applicable For	Duration
Paper 1	Compulsory for all posts	2 Hours 30 Minutes
Paper 2 (Statistics)	Junior Statistical Officer (JSO), Statistical Investigator Grade-II	2 Hours
Paper 3 (Finance & Economics)	Assistant Audit Officer (AAO), Assistant Accounts Officer (AAO)	2 Hours

Paper-I (Compulsory for all Posts)

Section	Subject	Questions	Marks	Duration
Section I(Session-I)	Mathematical Abilities	30	90 (3 marks each)	1 hour (20 minutes extra for PwBD)
Section I(Session-I)	Reasoning and General Intelligence	30	90 (3 marks each)	1 hour (20 minutes extra for PwBD)
Section II (Session-I)	English Language & Comprehension (Part A)	45	135 (3 marks each)	1 hour (20 minutes extra for PwBD)
Section II (Session-I)	General Awareness (Part B)	25	75 (3 marks each)	1 hour (20 minutes extra for PwBD)
Section III (Session-I)	Computer Knowledge Test (CKT) — Qualifying	20	60 (3 marks each)	15 mins (5 minutes extra for PwBD)
Section-IV (Session-II)	Data Entry Speed Test (DEST) — Qualifying (~2000 key depressions)	—	—	15 mins (5 minutes extra for PwBD)

Note:

Session I includes Section I, Section II, and Section III with a total duration of 2 hours 15 minutes.
1. Section-I (Maths + Reasoning) → 1 hour
2. Section-II (English + General Awareness) → 1 hour
3. Section-III (Computer Knowledge Test) → 15 minutes
Each section closes automatically after its allotted time ends.
After Session I, candidates get a break for re-registration.
Session-II contains only Section-IV (Data Entry Speed Test) and lasts 15 minutes. After this, Paper-I is completed.

Paper-II (For JSO/SI Grade-II)

Section	Questions	Marks	Duration
Statistics	100	200 (2 marks each)	2 hours (40 minutes extra for PwBD)

iii

Paper-III (For AAO/AAO)

Section	Questions	Marks	Duration
General Studies (Finance & Economics)	100	200 (2 marks each)	2 hours (40 minutes extra for PwBD)

Negative Marking in Tier-II

Paper-I (Sections I, II, III): -1 mark per wrong answer.
Paper-II and Paper-III: -0.50 marks per wrong answer.

⇒

Important Points About Tier 2

Final selection is based only on Tier 2 marks.
Tier 1 is only a qualifying/screening stage.
Paper 1 is compulsory for all candidates.
Paper 2 is only for JSO and Statistical Investigator posts.
Paper 3 is only for AAO/AAO posts.
Computer Knowledge Test (CKT) and DEST are qualifying in nature.

∴

Minimum Qualifying Marks (All Tiers)

Candidates must score the minimum qualifying marks decided by SSC.

Category	Minimum Marks
UR (General)	30%
OBC / EWS	25%
SC / ST / PwBD / ESM	20%

Note: Computer Knowledge Test (CKT) is of 60 marks and qualifying in nature. Candidates must secure minimum qualifying marks as prescribed by SSC – 18 marks (30%) for UR, 15 marks (25%) for OBC/EWS, 12 marks (20%) for SC/ST/PwBD/ESM categories.

⇒

DEST Error Percentage Allowed

Category	Maximum Permissible Error
UR	20%
OBC / EWS	25%
Other Categories	30%

∴

SSC CGL Tie-Breaking Rule

If two candidates score equal marks in Tier 2, SSC uses the following tie-breaking method:

Higher marks in Paper 3/Paper 2 (for AAO/JSO posts)
Higher marks in Section I of Paper 1
Older candidate gets higher rank
Alphabetical order of candidate names

∴

Final Merit in SSC CGL

The final SSC CGL merit list is prepared completely on the basis of Tier 2 performance. Candidates scoring higher marks in Tier 2 generally get better posts and departments according to their preferences and cutoff ranks.

SSC CGL Syllabus 2026 (Tier 1 & Tier 2) – Complete Subject-Wise Syllabus

The SSC CGL Syllabus 2026 is divided into Tier 1 and Tier 2. Candidates should understand the complete syllabus before starting their preparation, as questions are asked from four major subjects: Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning, English Language, and General Awareness.

For specific posts such as JSO and AAO, additional subjects like Statistics and Finance & Economics are also included in Tier 2.

SSC CGL Tier 1 Syllabus 2026

Tier 1 consists of four subjects carrying equal weightage. The exam is qualifying in nature and is used to shortlist candidates for Tier 2.

Parts A, B, D → Graduation Level | Part C → 10th Standard Level

Part A: General Intelligence & Reasoning

Graduation Level

Includes questions of both verbal and non-verbal type testing analogies, similarities and differences, space visualization, spatial orientation, problem solving, analysis, judgment, decision making, visual memory, discrimination, observation, relationship concepts, arithmetical reasoning and figural classification, arithmetic number series, non-verbal series, coding and decoding, statement conclusion, syllogistic reasoning etc.

This section tests a candidate’s logical thinking, analytical ability, and problem-solving skills.

Analogy & Classification

Semantic Analogy
Symbolic / Number Analogy
Figural Analogy
Semantic Classification
Symbolic / Number Classification
Figural Classification

Series

Semantic Series
Number Series
Figural Series
Arithmetic Number Series
Non-verbal Series

Coding, Operations & Matching

Coding & Decoding
Numerical Operations
Symbolic Operations
Word Building
Address Matching
Date & City Matching
Classification of Centre Codes / Roll Numbers
Small & Capital Letters / Numbers Coding, Decoding and Classification
Indexing

Space, Figures & Patterns

Space Orientation
Space Visualization
Venn Diagrams
Punched Hole / Pattern — Folding & Unfolding
Figural Pattern-Folding and Completion
Embedded Figures

Reasoning & Higher-Order Thinking

Problem Solving
Trends
Drawing Inferences
Statement Conclusion
Syllogistic Reasoning
Arithmetical Reasoning
Critical Thinking
Emotional Intelligence
Social Intelligence

Part B: General Awareness

Graduation Level

Tests candidates’ general awareness of the environment and its application to society. Includes questions on current events and everyday observations in their scientific aspect, and knowledge relating to India and its neighboring countries.

This section evaluates a candidate’s awareness of current events and general knowledge related to India and the world.

History
Culture
Geography
Economic Scene
General Policy
Scientific Research
Current Events
India & Neighbouring Countries
Everyday Observations & Experience (Scientific Aspect)

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Part C: Quantitative Aptitude

10th Standard Level

Tests the ability of appropriate use of numbers and number sense. Covers computation of whole numbers, decimals, fractions and relationships between numbers.

This section tests numerical ability and mathematical concepts.

Number System & Arithmetic

Whole Numbers, Decimals & Fractions
Relationships between Numbers
Percentage
Ratio & Proportion
Square Roots
Averages
Simple Interest
Compound Interest
Profit and Loss
Discount
Partnership Business
Mixture and Alligation
Time and Distance
Time & Work

Algebra

Basic Algebraic Identities of School Algebra
Elementary Surds
Graphs of Linear Equations

Geometry

Triangle & its Various Kinds of Centres
Congruence and Similarity of Triangles
Circle — Chords, Tangents
Angles Subtended by Chords of a Circle
Common Tangents to Two or More Circles

Mensuration

Triangle
Quadrilaterals
Regular Polygons
Circle
Right Prism
Right Circular Cone
Right Circular Cylinder
Sphere
Hemispheres
Rectangular Parallelepiped
Regular Right Pyramid with Triangular or Square Base

Trigonometry

Trigonometric Ratios
Degree and Radian Measures
Standard Identities
Complementary Angles
Heights and Distances

Statistics & Data Interpretation

Histogram
Frequency Polygon
Bar Diagram
Pie Chart

Part D: English Comprehension

Graduation Level

Tests candidates’ ability to understand correct English, basic comprehension and writing ability.

This section checks English language skills, grammar, and comprehension ability.

Reading Comprehension
Vocabulary
Grammar
Sentence Structure
Basic Writing Ability

SSC CGL Tier 2 Syllabus 2026

Tier 2 is the main examination stage. Final selection and rank are based on Tier 2 performance.

SSC CGL Tier 2 consists of different papers depending on the post applied for. Paper 1 is compulsory for all, & Paper 2 and Paper 3 are only for certain posts.

Paper-I (Compulsory for All Posts)

⇒ Mathematical Abilities

Matriculation Level

Number Systems: Computation of Whole Number, Decimal and Fractions, Relationship between numbers.

Fundamental Arithmetical Operations: Percentages, Ratio and Proportion, Square roots, Averages, Interest (Simple and Compound), Profit and Loss, Discount, Partnership Business, Mixture and Alligation, Time and Distance, Time and Work.

Algebra: Basic algebraic identities of School Algebra and Elementary surds (simple problems) and Graphs of Linear Equations.

Geometry: Familiarity with elementary geometric figures and facts: Triangle and its various kinds of centres, Congruence and similarity of triangles, Circle and its chords, tangents, angles subtended by chords of a circle, common tangents to two or more circles.

Mensuration: Triangle, Quadrilaterals, Regular Polygons, Circle, Right Prism, Right Circular Cone, Right Circular Cylinder, Sphere, Hemispheres, Rectangular Parallelepiped, Regular Right Pyramid with triangular or square Base.

Trigonometry: Trigonometry, Trigonometric ratios, Complementary angles, Height and distances (simple problems only), Standard Identities like sin²θ + cos²θ = 1 etc.

Statistics and Probability: Use of Tables and Graphs: Histogram, Frequency polygon, Bar-diagram, Pie-chart; Measures of central tendency: mean, median, mode, standard deviation; calculation of simple probabilities.

⇒ Reasoning and General Intelligence

Not Mentioned

Questions of both verbal and non-verbal type. These will include questions on Semantic Analogy, Symbolic operations, Symbolic/ Number Analogy, Trends, Figural Analogy, Space Orientation, Semantic Classification, Venn Diagrams, Symbolic/ Number Classification, Drawing inferences, Figural Classification, Punched hole/ pattern-folding & unfolding, Semantic Series, Figural Pattern-folding and completion, Number Series, Embedded figures, Figural Series, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, Emotional Intelligence, Word Building, Social Intelligence, Coding and Decoding.

⇒ English Language & Comprehension

10+2 Level

Vocabulary, grammar, sentence structure, synonyms, antonyms and their correct usage; Spot the Error, Fill in the Blanks, Synonyms/Homonyms, Antonyms, Spellings/Detecting mis-spelt words, Idioms & Phrases, One word substitution, Improvement of Sentences, Active/Passive Voice of Verbs, Conversion into Direct/Indirect narration, Shuffling of Sentence parts, Shuffling of Sentences in a passage, Cloze Passage, Comprehension Passage.

To test comprehension, three or more paragraphs will be given and questions based on those will be asked. At least one paragraph should be a simple one based on a book or a story and the other two paragraphs should be on current affairs, based on a report or an editorial.

⇒ General Awareness

Not Mentioned

Questions are designed to test the candidates’ general awareness of the environment around them and its application to society. Questions are also designed to test knowledge of current events and of such matters of everyday observation and experience in their scientific aspect as may be expected of an educated person.

The test will also include questions relating to India and its neighboring countries especially pertaining to History, Culture, Geography, Economic Scene, General policy and scientific research.

⇒ Computer Knowledge Test (CKT)

Not Mentioned

Computer Basics: Organization of a computer, Central Processing Unit (CPU), input/output devices, computer memory, memory organization, back up devices, PORTs, Windows Explorer, Keyboard shortcuts.

Software: Windows Operating system including basics of Microsoft Office like MS Word, MS Excel and PowerPoint etc.

Working with Internet and e-mails: Web Browsing & Searching, Downloading & Uploading, Managing an E-mail Account, e-Banking.

Basics of Networking and Cyber Security: Networking devices and protocols, Network and information security threats (like hacking, virus, worms, Trojan etc.) and preventive measures.

Paper-II (For Junior Statistical Officer, Statistical Investigator Grade-II)

⇒ Statistics

Graduation Level

Collection, Classification and Presentation of Statistical Data: Primary and Secondary data, Methods of data collection, Tabulation of data, Graphs and charts, Frequency distributions, Diagrammatic presentation of frequency distributions.

Measures of Central Tendency: Common measures of central tendency – Mean, Median and Mode; Partition values – Quartiles, Deciles, Percentiles.

Measures of Dispersion: Common measures of dispersion – Range, Quartile Deviation, Mean Deviation and Standard Deviation; Measures of relative dispersion.

Moments, Skewness and Kurtosis: Different types of moments and their relationship; meaning of skewness and kurtosis; different measures of skewness and kurtosis.

Correlation and Regression: Scatter diagram, Simple correlation coefficient, Simple regression lines, Spearman’s rank correlation, Measures of association of attributes, Multiple regression, Multiple and partial correlation (for three variables only).

Probability Theory: Meaning of probability, Different definitions of probability, Conditional probability, Compound probability, Independent events, Bayes’ theorem.

Random Variable and Probability Distributions: Random variable, Probability functions, Expectation and Variance of a random variable, Higher moments of a random variable, Binomial, Poisson, Normal and Exponential distributions, Joint distribution of two random variables (discrete).

Sampling Theory: Concept of population and sample, Parameter and statistic, Sampling and non-sampling errors, Probability and non-probability sampling techniques (Simple random sampling, Stratified sampling, Multistage sampling, Multiphase sampling, Cluster sampling, Systematic sampling, Purposive sampling, Convenience sampling and Quota sampling), Sampling distribution (statement only), Sample size decisions.

Statistical Inference: Point estimation and interval estimation, Properties of a good estimator, Methods of estimation (Moments method, Maximum likelihood method, Least squares method), Testing of hypothesis, Basic concept of testing, Small sample and large sample tests, Tests based on Z, t, Chi-square and F statistic, Confidence intervals.

Analysis of Variance: Analysis of one-way classified data and two-way classified data.

Time Series Analysis: Components of time series, Determination of trend component by different methods, Measurement of seasonal variation by different methods.

Index Numbers: Meaning of Index Numbers, Problems in the construction of index numbers, Types of index numbers, Different formulae, Base shifting and splicing of index numbers, Cost of Living Index Numbers, Uses of Index Numbers.

Paper-III: General Studies-Finance and Economics (For AAO,AAO)

⇒ Part A: Finance and Accounts-(80 marks)

Graduation Level

Fundamental Principles and Basic Concepts of Accounting

Financial Accounting: Nature and scope, Limitations of Financial Accounting, Basic concepts and Conventions, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

Basic Concepts of Accounting: Single and double entry, Books of original Entry, Bank Reconciliation, Journal, ledgers, Trial Balance, Rectification of Errors, Manufacturing, Trading, Profit & loss Appropriation Accounts, Balance Sheet, Distinction between Capital and Revenue Expenditure, Depreciation Accounting, Valuation of Inventories, Non-profit organisations Accounts, Receipts and Payments and Income & Expenditure Accounts, Bills of Exchange, Self-Balancing Ledgers.

⇒ Part B: Economics and Governance-(120 marks)

Graduation Level

Comptroller & Auditor General of India: Constitutional provisions, Role and responsibility.

Finance Commission: Role and functions.

Basic Concept of Economics and Introduction to Micro Economics: Definition, scope and nature of Economics, Methods of economic study, Central problems of an economy, and Production Possibilities Curve.

Theory of Demand and Supply: Meaning and determinants of demand, Law of demand and Elasticity of demand, Price, income and cross elasticity, Theory of consumer’s behaviour (Marshallian approach and Indifference Curve approach), Meaning and determinants of supply, Law of supply and Elasticity of Supply.

Theory of Production and Cost: Meaning and Factors of production, Laws of production – Law of Variable Proportions and Laws of Returns to Scale.

Forms of Market and Price Determination in Different Markets: Perfect Competition, Monopoly, Monopolistic Competition, Oligopoly, and Price determination in these markets.

Indian Economy: Nature of the Indian Economy, Role of Agriculture, Industry and Services, their problems and growth.

National Income of India: Concepts of national income and different methods of measuring national income.

Population: Its size, rate of growth and its implication on economic growth.

Poverty and Unemployment: Absolute and relative poverty, types, causes and incidence of unemployment.

Infrastructure: Energy, Transportation and Communication.

Economic Reforms in India: Economic reforms since 1991, Liberalisation, Privatisation, Globalisation and Disinvestment.

Money and Banking: Monetary/Fiscal policy, Role and functions of Reserve Bank of India, Functions of Commercial Banks, RRB and Payment Banks.

Budget and Fiscal Deficits and Balance of Payments.

Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2003.

Role of Information Technology in Governance.

SSC CGL 2026 Exam Dates & Important Schedule

The SSC CGL 2026 is a national level Government exam which is conducted by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) for the recruitment to various posts in the Central Government. Every year lakhs of candidates appear for a limited number of vacancies.

It is important to keep track of all important dates related to registration, application correction, and examination schedules to avoid missing any stage of the recruitment process.

Event	Date / Period
Notification Released	21 May 2026
Online Application Opens	21 May 2026
Last Date for Online Application	22 June 2026 (23:00 hrs)
Last Date for Fee Payment	23 June 2026 (23:00 hrs)
Application Correction Window	29 June – 01 July 2026 (23:00 hrs)
Tier-I (Computer Based Examination)	August – September 2026 (Tentative)
Tier-II (Computer Based Examination)	December 2026 (Tentative)
Document Verification / Medical	After Final Result (by User Departments)

Pro Tip:

Do not wait until the last day because SSC servers experience extreme load near deadlines. Apply well in advance to avoid technical failures.

Correction Window allows changes up to twice (Charges: ₹200 for the 1st correction, ₹500 for the 2nd correction — applicable to all categories).

Application Fee: ₹100/- payable via BHIM UPI, Net Banking, or Visa / Mastercard / Maestro / RuPay Debit Cards. Exempted Categories: Women, SC, ST, PwBD, and Ex-Servicemen candidates eligible for reservation.

Toll-Free Helpline: 1800 309 3063 (for any difficulty in filling the application form).

SSC CGL 2026: Vacancy & Demand Analysis

SSC CGL is one of India’s largest and most competitive government recruitment examinations, conducted annually for Group B and Group C posts in various Central Government Ministries, Departments, and Organizations.

Every year, lakhs of aspirants compete for a limited number of vacancies, making it important to understand both the vacancy scenario and the level of competition.

SSC CGL 2026 Vacancy Overview

As per the SSC CGL 2026 notification, approximately 12,256 tentative vacancies have been reported by various Indenting Ministries and Departments. These vacancies are provisional and may increase or decrease based on the requirements submitted by the respective departments during the recruitment process.

The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) only conducts the examination and selection process. The final number of vacancies is determined entirely by the concerned User Departments and Ministries.

Assistant Audit Officer (AAO) and Assistant Accounts Officer vacancies have been included in this cycle with a pay scale of Rs. 47,600 – Rs. 1,51,100 (Pay Level 8) — one of the highest pay brackets available under SSC CGL.

⇒

Important Vacancy-Related Facts

The announced vacancies are tentative and subject to revision.
SSC does not collect or publish state-wise or zone-wise vacancy details.
Candidates seeking state-specific vacancy information must contact the respective User Department.
Reservation for SC, ST, OBC, EWS, PwBD, and Ex-Servicemen categories is provided as per Government of India rules.
Ex-Servicemen (ESM) reservation is applicable only for eligible Group ‘C’ posts.
Updated post-wise and category-wise vacancy details will be published separately on the SSC website.

SSC CGL Vacancy 2026 — Year-Wise Trend (2017–2026)

The 2022 spike of 37,409 posts was an exceptional outlier due to backlog clearing and should not be used as a benchmark.

The 2026 vacancy count of 12,256 represents a continuing decline from the 2024 peak of 17,727, indicating tighter competition.

Aspirants must target scores well above the cut-off — not just at the threshold.

Year	Total Vacancies	Change vs. Previous Year	Competition Level
2017	9,276	—	Very High
2018	11,271	+21.5%	High
2019	8,428	–25.2%	Very High
2020	7,035	–16.5%	Very High
2021	7,621	+8.3%	Very High
2022	37,409	+390.9%	Moderate (Anomaly Year)
2023	8,415	–77.5%	Very High
2024	17,727	+110.7%	High
2025	15,118	–14.7%	High
2026	12,256	–18.9%	Very High

Trend Insight:

The 2022 spike of 37,409 posts was an exceptional outlier due to backlog clearing and should not be used as a benchmark. The 2026 vacancy count of 12,256 represents a continuing decline from the 2024 peak of 17,727, indicating tighter competition. Aspirants must target scores well above the cut-off — not just at the threshold.

Demand & Competition Analysis

SSC CGL remains one of the highest-demand government examinations in India due to its attractive salary structure, job security, career growth opportunities, and postings in prestigious Central Government departments.

Each year, approximately 30 to 50 lakh candidates register for the examination, while vacancies generally range between 7,000 and 18,000 posts (excluding the 2022 anomaly). As a result, the competition level remains extremely high.

However, the large applicant pool should not discourage serious aspirants. A significant percentage of registered candidates either do not appear for the examination or are inadequately prepared. The effective competition pool — candidates scoring consistently above 130 (UR category) — is roughly 10–15% of those who actually appear. Candidates who follow a structured preparation strategy and consistently score above expected cut-off levels have a realistic chance of securing selection.

Most Competitive SSC CGL Posts

The following posts generally attract the highest number of preferences from candidates due to salary, job profile, posting location, and career growth.

Competition for these posts is significantly higher, with post-specific cut-offs often ranging 20–50 marks above the general cut-off.

Inspector of Income Tax (CBDT)
Assistant Section Officer — CSS (Central Secretariat)
Inspector — CBIC (Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs)
Examiner — CBIC
Assistant Enforcement Officer (Enforcement Directorate)
Assistant Audit Officer — AAO (CAG)
Assistant Accounts Officer (CAG)
Junior Statistical Officer — JSO (Ministry of Statistics)
Sub-Inspector (CBI / Narcotics Control Bureau)

SSC CGL Cut Off Analysis 2026

SSC does not announce cut-off marks before the examination. The SSC CGL 2026 Notification has been released for 12,256 Group B and Group C posts, and the Tier 1 examination is scheduled for August–September 2026. After the completion of each stage, SSC CGL Cut-Off marks will be released along with the result of that stage.

The cut-off is determined after the examination based on multiple factors such as the number of vacancies, difficulty level of the paper, candidate performance, normalization across shifts, and category-wise reservation.

The following ranges are based on previous SSC CGL examination trends and should be treated only as indicative benchmarks.

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SSC CGL Tier-I Cut-off Marks 2021 to 2025 — Complete Analysis

SSC CGL examination is conducted every year. After the declaration of Tier-I results, SSC releases category-wise cut-off marks. If your score is equal to or above the cut-off marks, you become eligible for Tier-II.

This section shows the official SSC CGL cut-off marks from 2020 to 2025 in a simple table format to help candidates understand how much they need to score to qualify for Tier-II.

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What is a Cut-off Mark?

A cut-off mark is the minimum mark required to qualify for a particular stage of the examination. If you score this mark or more, it means you are qualified for the current stage and eligible for the next stage.

Simple Rule: Score ≥ Cut-off ⇒ You are qualified for Tier-II. Score < Cut-off ⇒ You are not qualified.

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SSC CGL Cut-off Comparison 2021–2025 (All Posts Except JSO & Statistical Investigator Grade-II)

Category	Cut-off (2025)	Candidates (2025)	Cut-off (2024)	Candidates (2024)	Cut-off (2023)	Candidates (2023)	Cut-off (2022)	Candidates (2022)	Cut-off (2021)	Candidates (2021)
SC	114.97063	25338	126.45554	31131	126.68201	14108	89.08864	70739	94.58598	22355
ST	106.36936	11729	111.88930	16019	118.16655	6152	77.57858	35769	81.52690	12784
OBC	130.36617	43260	146.26291	50191	145.93743	21217	114.27651	98518	117.87106	32563
EWS	127.41630	20268	142.01963	23746	143.44441	11108	102.35275	53277	109.64915	17979
UR	136.83159	20035	153.18981	25814	150.04936	13133	114.27651	73065	130.18384	15904
ESM	92.80460	3511	69.92674	11133	100.29326	2398	40.00000	16444	42.54780	7897
OH	100.87394	1667	113.10008	2093	115.98466	1013	70.69038	5717	77.22326	1792
HH	68.79973	1550	64.79156	2042	77.72754	895	40.00000	2803	40.00000	1359
VH	72.00006	1615	102.97465	1694	121.59662	499	40.00000	3175	64.77883	841
Others (PwD)	41.70541	1445	45.74000	1377	57.45303	589	40.00000	925	40.00000	374
Total Candidates		130418		165240		71112		360432		113848

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SSC CGL Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) Cut-off Comparison 2021–2025

Category	Cut-off (2025)	Candidates (2025)	Cut-off (2024)	Candidates (2024)	Cut-off (2023)	Candidates (2023)	Cut-off (2022)	Candidates (2022)	Cut-off (2021)	Candidates (2021)
SC	137.29518	1509	143.53855	3640	148.50911	732	150.55987	455	139.09377	803
ST	136.40211	473	135.23007	1935	146.65109	243	150.32888	123	125.58731	784
OBC	153.46108	1494	160.65216	6839	165.86857	761	167.19245	421	162.48375	669
EWS	151.58638	934	161.73406	2504	166.06750	400	169.35896	150	162.48375	490
UR	153.46108	1449	167.02061	2844	168.53975	537	—	—	162.48375	790
OH	125.16130	111	133.35717	217	132.72381	90	—	—	—	—
HH	104.04315	92	95.45162	210	80.99998	180	—	—	—	—
VH	134.15850	44	122.51903	247	114.60998	180	—	—	—	—
Others (PwD)	91.01367	90	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Total Candidates		6196		18,436		3,123		1,149		3,536

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SSC CGL Statistical Investigator Grade-I Cut-off Comparison 2021–2025

Category	Cut-off (2025)	Candidates (2025)	Cut-off (2024)	Candidates (2024)	Cut-off (2023)	Candidates (2023)	Cut-off (2022)	Candidates (2022)	Cut-off (2021)	Candidates (2021)
SC	137.16184	577	—	—	—	—	—	—	75.77920	5694
ST	130.16987	377	134.49545	485	127.32602	542	—	—	62.81674	3243
OBC	150.51402	892	161.13462	1106	152.42184	1569	—	—	95.11560	10496
EWS	152.14666	350	163.50858	352	158.76802	364	—	—	104.63758	3544
UR	152.47231	525	170.65672	276	172.36025	52	—	—	114.84987	4026
HH	112.62423	30	60.66162	213	49.14875	240	—	—	40.00000	199
OH	127.48052	30	—	—	—	—	—	—	47.42084	582
VH	—	—	92.05218	181	82.56201	211	—	—	40.00000	179
Others (PwD)	—	—	40.30795	220	40.00000	162	—	—	40.00000	69
Total Candidates		2781		2833		3140		—		28032

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SSC CGL (Assistant Audit Officer and Assistant Accounts Officer) Cut-off Comparison 2021–2023

Category	Cut-off (2023)	Candidates (2023)	Cut-off (2022)	Candidates (2022)	Cut-off (2021)	Candidates (2021)
SC	154.29292	790	137.54533	4832	136.76166	2062
ST	148.98918	382	131.03984	2325	131.61117	989
OBC	166.28763	1483	152.92049	8469	153.36633	3738
EWS	167.18331	605	154.80185	3485	156.80136	1513
UR	169.67168	914	158.36560	4776	159.07699	2162
OH	147.95269	82	128.59598	435	124.29269	207
HH	126.86400	60	96.45331	382	101.81933	150
Others (PwD)	109.82718	61	72.79273	367	65.27562	150
Total Candidates		4377		25071		10971

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Official SSC CGL Cut-off PDFs (Year-wise)

For download official SSC CGL cut-off Pdf follow below table:

Year	Official Cut-off PDF Status	Download Source
2025	Available in result PDF	Click here to download PDF
2024	Available in result PDF	Click here to download PDF
2023	Available in result PDF	Click here to download PDF
2022	Available in result PDF	Click here to download PDF
2021	Available in result PDF	Click here to download PDF

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SSC CGL Tier-II Cut-off PDF : 2022 to 2025

Year	Download Source
2025	Click here to download PDF
2024	Click here to download PDF
2023	Click here to download PDF
2022	Click here to download PDF

SSC CGL 2026: Previous Years Question Papers

SSC CGL 2026 previous year question papers will be available soon for practice and preparation.