SSC CGL Recruitment 2026

1. Important Dates & Schedule

Candidates must adhere strictly to the timelines mentioned below to ensure successful application submission.

2. Vacancy & Pay Level Breakdown

A total of approximately 12,256 tentative vacancies have been announced. These span across Pay Level 4 to Pay Level 8.

Pay Level 8 (Rs. 47,600 to 1,51,100)

• Assistant Audit Officer (Central/State Cadre) under C&AG.
• Assistant Accounts Officer (State Cadre) under C&AG.

Pay Level 7 (Rs. 44,900 to 1,42,400)

• Assistant Section Officer (CSS, IB, Railways, MEA, AFHQ, MeitY).
• Inspector of Income Tax (CBDT).
• Inspector (Central Excise, Preventive Officer, Examiner) in CBIC.
• Assistant Enforcement Officer (ED).
• Sub Inspector (CBI).

Pay Level 6 to Pay Level 4 (Rs. 25,500 to 1,12,400)

• Junior Statistical Officer (JSO), Sub Inspector (NIA, NCB).
• Auditor, Accountant (C&AG, CGDA).
• Postal Assistant/Sorting Assistant, Tax Assistant (CBDT, CBIC).
• Upper Division Clerk (UDC).

3. Educational & Age Eligibility

A. Age Limit (Calculated as on 01-08-2026)

Age requirements vary strictly depending on the post applied for. Age relaxations apply for SC/ST (5 years), OBC (3 years), and PwBD (10-15 years).

• For 18-27 Years Posts: Born between 02-08-1999 and 01-08-2008.
• For 20-30 Years Posts: Born between 02-08-1996 and 01-08-2006.
• For 18-30 Years Posts: Born between 02-08-1996 and 01-08-2008.
• For 18-32 Years Posts (JSO): Born between 02-08-1994 and 01-08-2008.

B. Educational Qualifications (as on 01-08-2026)

• All General Posts: Bachelor's Degree from a recognized University or equivalent. Final year appearing candidates can apply, provided they acquire the degree on or before 01-08-2026.
• Junior Statistical Officer (JSO): Bachelor's Degree in any subject with at least 60% Marks in Mathematics at 12th standard level, OR Bachelor's Degree with Statistics as one of the subjects.
• Statistical Investigator Grade-II: Bachelor's Degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Demography, Data Science, etc.
• Note: Distance Learning degrees are accepted ONLY if approved by the Distance Education Bureau, UGC.

4. Application & Correction Fee

Fees must be paid online via BHIM UPI, Net Banking, or Visa/Mastercard/RuPay debit cards.

5. Exam Pattern (Tier-I & Tier-II)

The selection is exclusively based on a two-tier Computer Based Examination (CBE). There is no provision for re-evaluation.

Tier-I Examination

• Subjects: General Intelligence & Reasoning (25 Q), General Awareness (25 Q), Quantitative Aptitude (25 Q), English Comprehension (25 Q).
• Total Marks & Time: 200 Marks. 1 Hour duration (Sectional timer of 15 min per section applies).
• Negative Marking: 0.50 marks deducted for every wrong answer.

Tier-II Examination

• Paper-I (Compulsory for all): Includes Mathematical Abilities, Reasoning, English Language, General Awareness, Computer Knowledge Test (CKT), and Data Entry Speed Test (DEST).
• Paper-II (JSO / Statistical Investigator): Statistics (100 Questions, 200 Marks).
• Paper-III (AAO / AAcO): General Studies in Finance and Economics (100 Questions, 200 Marks).
• Negative Marking in Tier-II: 1 mark per wrong answer in Section-I, II, III of Paper-I; 0.50 marks in Paper-II and Paper-III.

6. How to Apply (Live Photo Rules)

Applications must be submitted electronically through the new SSC portal. Avoid common mistakes to prevent rejection.

1. Generate New OTR: Candidates must generate a fresh One Time Registration (OTR) on the newly launched website: https://ssc.gov.in. Old registrations from ssc.nic.in are no longer valid.
2. Form Completion: Log in and fill the application form under "Latest Notifications" for the CGL Examination 2026.
3. Live Photo Capture: You are strictly required to capture a Live Photo using a webcam or mobile camera. Ensure good lighting, a plain background, and no spectacles/caps. Uploading an old, pre-existing photo file will lead to rejection.
4. Signature Upload: Upload a scanned, clearly visible signature (10-20 KB in JPEG format). Blurred signatures are a major cause of rejection.
5. Fee Payment: Proceed to the payment gateway to deposit the Rs. 100 fee (if not exempted).
6. Final Submit: Verify all details carefully and submit the application before 22nd June 2026.

8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)