The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has officially released the detailed notification for the Combined Graduate Level (CGL) Examination, 2026. This national-level recruitment exam is conducted to recruit eligible graduates for prestigious Group ‘B’ and Group ‘C’ posts (both Gazetted and Non-Gazetted) across various Ministries, Departments, and Organizations of the Government of India.
If you are looking for a secure and reputable career in the central government, read below for complete details regarding important dates, eligibility criteria, post profiles, application fees, and a highly detailed breakdown of the Tier-I and Tier-II exam patterns.
### SSC CGL 2026 Recruitment Overview
- Name of Exam: Combined Graduate Level Examination, 2026 (SSC CGL 2026)
- Conducting Body: Staff Selection Commission (SSC)
- Classification of Posts: Group ‘B’ & Group ‘C’
- Job Category: Central Government Jobs
- Job Location: Across India
- Application Mode: Online Only
### Important Dates
| Event | Schedule |
| Start Date of Online Application | May 21, 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | June 22, 2026 (Till 23:00 Hrs) |
| Last Date for Online Fee Payment | June 23, 2026 (Till 23:00 Hrs) |
| Application Form Correction Window | June 29, 2026 to July 1, 2026 (23:00 Hrs) |
| Tentative Schedule of Tier-I Exam (CBT) | August – September, 2026 |
| Tentative Schedule of Tier-II Exam (CBT) | To be notified later |
### Eligibility Criteria
1. Educational Qualification
- For General Posts: Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s Degree (Graduation) in any discipline from a recognized University or equivalent institution.
- For Junior Statistical Officer (JSO): Bachelor’s Degree in any subject with at least 60% marks in Mathematics at the 12th standard level OR a Bachelor’s Degree with Statistics as one of the subjects at the degree level.
2. Age Limit (Varies by Post)
- Minimum Age: 18 Years
- Maximum Age: Ranges from 27 to 32 Years depending on the post profile.
- Age relaxation is applicable to SC/ST (5 years), OBC (3 years), PwD, and Ex-Servicemen categories as per Government of India guidelines.
### Detailed Selection Process & Exam Scheme
The SSC CGL 2026 recruitment process will consist of two primary stages conducted via the Computer Based Test (CBT) mode: Tier-I and Tier-II.
## STAGE 1: Tier-I Examination (Qualifying Stage)
The Tier-I exam is compulsory for all candidates. It consists of Objective Type, Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs). The marks scored in Tier-I are normalized to shortlist candidates for Tier-II, but they are not added into the final merit list.
Tier-I Exam Pattern Structure:
| Section / Subject | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks |
| A. General Intelligence and Reasoning | 25 | 50 |
| B. General Awareness | 25 | 50 |
| C. Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 |
| D. English Comprehension | 25 | 50 |
| TOTAL | 100 Questions | 200 Marks |
- Negative Marking: There is a negative marking of 0.50 marks for each wrong answer in Tier-I.
- Medium of Exam: Except for English Comprehension, questions will be set in both English and Hindi.
## STAGE 2: Tier-II Examination (Merit Deciding Stage)
Tier-II is the final exam format that determines a candidate’s selection. It is structured into multiple papers and further split into separate sections and sessions conducted on the same day.
Paper-I (Compulsory for All Posts):
Paper-I is divided into two main Sessions. Session-I covers objective sections, and Session-II evaluates your operational and typing skills.
SESSION-I (Total Duration: 2 Hours 15 Minutes)
- Mathematical Abilities: 30 Questions (90 Marks)
- Reasoning and General Intelligence: 30 Questions (90 Marks)
- Sectional Time: 1 Hour total for this module block.
- English Language and Comprehension: 45 Questions (135 Marks)
- General Awareness: 25 Questions (75 Marks)
- Sectional Time: 1 Hour total for this module block.
- Computer Knowledge Module: 20 Questions (60 Marks)
- Sectional Time: 15 Minutes. (This module is qualifying in nature, but higher qualifying thresholds are set for posts like CSS, MEA, etc.)
SESSION-II (Total Duration: 15 Minutes)
- Data Entry Speed Test (DEST) Module: Candidates must complete a single Data Entry Task consisting of approximately 2000 key depressions in 15 minutes. This test is mandatory and qualifying for all posts.
Paper-II & Paper-III (For Specialized Posts Only):
- Paper-II (Statistics): 100 Questions for 200 Marks (Duration: 2 Hours). Required only for candidates applying for the post of Junior Statistical Officer (JSO).
- Paper-III (General Studies – Finance and Economics): 100 Questions for 200 Marks (Duration: 2 Hours). Required only for candidates applying for the post of Assistant Audit Officer/Assistant Accounts Officer.
- Negative Marking in Tier-II: There is a negative marking of 1 mark for each wrong answer in Paper-I (Section-I, Section-II, and Section-III Module-I) and 0.50 marks in Paper-II and Paper-III.
### Application Fees
- General / OBC / EWS: ₹100/-
- Women / SC / ST / PwD / ESM: NIL (Exempted)
- The payment must be made securely via online payment methods like Net Banking, Visa/Mastercard/Rupay Credit or Debit cards, or UPI.
### How to Apply for SSC CGL 2026
Follow these step-by-step guidelines to submit your online application form smoothly:
- Visit the New Official Portal: Open your browser and head over to the unified SSC website: https://ssc.gov.in.
- Complete One-Time Registration (OTR): If you haven’t registered on the new website, click on “Register Now” to finish your OTR profile. Fill in basic details like name, father’s name, matriculation details, and contact numbers.
- Login: Log in to your candidate dashboard using your permanent Registration Number and Password.
- Apply for CGL 2026: Under the “Live Examinations” section, find the tab for Combined Graduate Level Examination, 2026 and click on “Apply”.
- Fill Application Details: Choose your preferred examination centers and indicate if you wish to apply for specialized posts like JSO.
- Live Photo Capture & Signature Upload: * Use a webcam or your phone via the official SSC app to capture a live photograph. Ensure you are against a light/white background and not wearing caps or glasses.
- Upload a cleanly scanned image of your signature on white paper with black or blue ink.
- Fee Payment: Pay the application fee of ₹100/- via the integrated online payment gateway (if applicable).
- Final Submission: Preview your form entries completely to check for errors. Click on “Submit” and take a clean printout of your generated application form for future verification rounds.
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