SSC CGL 2026
SSC CGL 2026
Quick Information
| Organization | SSC CGL 2026 |
Official Links
What SSC CGL Is
SSC CGL (Combined Graduate Level) recruits for Group B and Group C posts in central government ministries, departments, and organisations — Inspector (Income Tax), Inspector (Central Excise), Assistant Section Officer, Statistical Investigator, Auditor, Accountant, and several others. These are real, substantive government jobs spread across income tax offices, customs departments, CBI, CAG, CVC, MEA, and more.
The exam is conducted by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) and draws anywhere from 30–40 lakh registrations per year for roughly 15,000–20,000 vacancies depending on the cycle. Roughly 1 in 200 applicants makes the final cut. It takes serious preparation and — for most people — multiple attempts.
What you're competing for is worth it: central government postings, 7th Pay Commission salaries, job security, a government identity (Inspector/ASO level), and legitimate career growth within the ministry you're allocated to.
Posts You Can Get
| Post | Department / Office |
|---|---|
| Inspector (Income Tax) | CBDT |
| Inspector (Central Excise/Preventive) | CBIC |
| Inspector (Examiner) | CBIC |
| Assistant Section Officer (ASO) | CSS, MEA, AFHQ, Intelligence Bureau, Others |
| Statistical Investigator Gr II | M/o Statistics & PI |
| Auditor | CAG, CGDA, Defence Accounts |
| Accountant / Junior Accountant | CAG, CGDA, Others |
| Tax Assistant | CBDT, CBIC |
| Upper Division Clerk (UDC) | Various Ministries |
| Sub-Inspector | CBI, NIA |
Your post allocation depends on your Tier I + Tier II score, your post preference, and the vacancy available in that category. Higher merit = more choice.
Eligibility
Age (as on 1 August of the recruitment year)
Age limits vary by post:
| Post Category | Age |
|---|---|
| Inspector IT/Excise/Examiner, ASO, SI-CBI | 18–30 years |
| Statistical Investigator Gr II, Compiler | 18–32 years |
| Auditor, Accountant, UDC, Tax Assistant | 18–27 years |
Age Relaxation:
| Category | Relaxation |
|---|---|
| OBC (NCL) | 3 years |
| SC / ST | 5 years |
| PwBD (UR) | 10 years |
| Ex-Servicemen | 3 years after deducting military service |
| Central Govt Employees | 5 years (for Group C posts) |
Qualification
Graduation in any discipline from a recognised university. For Statistical Investigator Gr II: Bachelor's with Statistics as a subject. For all other posts: any stream works.
Pay
| Post | Pay Level | Basic Pay | Approx. Gross |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inspector IT / Excise | Level 7 | ₹44,900 | ₹68,000–₹85,000/month |
| ASO (CSS/MEA/Others) | Level 6 | ₹35,400 | ₹55,000–₹72,000/month |
| Auditor / Accountant | Level 5 | ₹29,200 | ₹45,000–₹60,000/month |
| Tax Assistant | Level 4 | ₹25,500 | ₹40,000–₹52,000/month |
| UDC | Level 4 | ₹25,500 | ₹38,000–₹50,000/month |
Central government employees get DA (revised quarterly), HRA (8/16/24% based on city), TA, medical under CGHS, and pension under NPS. Inspector-level posts in CBDT/CBIC come with additional official perks and field allowances.
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS | ₹100 |
| SC / ST / PwBD / Ex-Servicemen | Nil |
| Women (all categories) | Nil |
Pay online through the SSC portal at ssc.gov.in.
Selection — Three Tiers
Tier I — Preliminary Exam (screening)
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 25 | 50 | 60 minutes (80 min for PwBD) |
| General Awareness | 25 | 50 | |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 | |
| English Comprehension | 25 | 50 | |
| Total | 100 | 200 |
Negative marking: 0.50 per wrong answer (each question is 2 marks). Tier I marks are used for merit in SSC CGL — unlike many other exams where prelims are screening-only.
Tier II — Mains Exam
Session I (compulsory for all posts):
| Paper | Sections | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | Mathematical Abilities (30Q, 90m) + Reasoning & GI (30Q, 60m) | 180 + 90 = 270 total marks from 2 sections | 1 hour each |
| Paper II | English Language & Comprehension | 200 | 2 hours |
Session II (post-specific):
- Paper III: Statistics — for Statistical Investigator Gr II
- Paper IV: General Studies (Finance & Economics) — for Auditor/Accountant/Tax Assistant posts
Tier III — Document Verification + Skill Test Computer Proficiency Test (CPT) or Data Entry Speed Test (DEST) depending on the post — qualifying only.
Syllabus — What Actually Matters
Quantitative Aptitude (Tier I + Tier II): Tier I is 2-mark questions with broad coverage. Tier II Paper I (Mathematical Abilities) goes deeper — advanced maths: Algebra, Trigonometry, Geometry (lines, triangles, circles, coordinate geometry), Statistics (mean, median, mode, standard deviation), mensuration. If maths is your weak spot, Tier II will hurt you. Start with Class 10–12 NCERT, then move to SSC-specific question banks.
English (Tier I + Tier II Paper II): Reading comprehension, vocabulary (one-word substitution, synonyms/antonyms, idioms), error spotting, sentence rearrangement, cloze test, fill in the blanks. Tier II Paper II (200 marks, 2 hours) is a full English paper — more like a serious language exam than a general awareness section.
Reasoning (Tier I): Series, analogy, matrix, coding-decoding, blood relations, direction, Venn diagrams, odd one out, syllogism, non-verbal reasoning. Fast-paced — 25 questions in 18–20 minutes is the target.
General Awareness (Tier I): History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Science & Technology, Current Affairs. The GK section in SSC CGL is factual and broad — you need both static GK depth and 6-month current affairs coverage. Don't miss sports, awards, and science/tech current events, which SSC tests more than most other exams.
How to Apply
- Go to ssc.gov.in
- Register once using your Aadhaar or other ID (one-time registration)
- Log in → CGL 2026 → Apply Online
- Fill personal and educational details, mark post preferences
- Upload photo and signature → pay fee → submit
Save your registration number — you'll need it for every subsequent stage.
Realistic Preparation Approach
Most successful first-attempt candidates spend 5–8 months preparing. Here's what actually works:
First 6 weeks: Identify your weak tier. If maths is weak, it will haunt you all the way to Tier II. Address it first. Work through Class 10–12 NCERT Maths before diving into SSC-specific books.
Middle phase: Build GK systematically — static GK (NCERT History/Geography/Polity for Class 6–12) + current affairs (daily 15–20 minutes). Don't treat GK as a last-minute addition.
Final 6 weeks: Full mock tests for Tier I, then shift to Tier II mock series. Review every error — SSC errors tend to be habitual (same type of mistake in reasoning, same gap in English grammar). Fix them in mock review, not by doing more mocks.
The single most underused resource: SSC previous year papers from 2018–2024 for Tier I and Tier II. The question pattern is stable. Solving 15–20 full papers is more useful than any coaching module.
Common Questions
Can I choose my posting city? No. Post allocation is national. You can indicate a preference for certain regions, but SSC distributes based on vacancy and merit.
Is SSC CGL easier than IBPS PO? The subject overlap is similar, but SSC CGL's Maths is harder at Tier II (advanced topics like coordinate geometry, statistics), while IBPS PO tests banking awareness and data interpretation more heavily. Neither is "easier" — they test different strengths.
Can I appear for both SSC CGL and IBPS PO in the same year? Yes, both exams are held at different times of year. Many candidates prepare for both simultaneously with overlapping study material.
How many posts can I apply for? You indicate preferences in one application. You're considered for all posts you're eligible for based on merit and preference.
Official Links
| SSC Official Site | ssc.gov.in |
| CGL Notification | ssc.gov.in → Examinations → CGL |