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 2026: Qualification, Age Limit & More
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
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.
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 | |
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.