SSC CGL 2026: 12,256 Vacancies, Eligibility, Exam Pattern, Salary & Important Dates

The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has released the SSC CGL (Combined Graduate Level) 2026 notification for recruitment to various Group B and Group C posts in ministries, departments, constitutional bodies, statutory bodies and tribunals under the Government of India. The recruitment is for 12,256 tentative vacancies.

The notification was released on 21 May 2026, and the online application window closed on 25 June 2026. The Tier 1 examination is scheduled from 30 September to 30 October 2026, with the Tier 2 examination tentatively expected in December 2026.

SSC CGL 2026: Overview

The number of advertised vacancies is subject to increase or decrease according to the recruitment notification.

SSC CGL Posts 2026

SSC CGL covers around 37 posts across dozens of Central Government departments. Some of the key posts include:

• Assistant Audit Officer (AAO) and Assistant Accounts Officer – reintroduced in the 2026 notification after a gap, Group B Gazetted, the only directly Gazetted posts available through CGL

• Income Tax Inspector, Central Excise/CBIC Inspector, Preventive Officer, Examiner

• Sub-Inspector (CBI/NIA/NCB)

• Assistant Section Officer (ASO)

• Divisional Accountant, Auditor, Accountant

• Tax Assistant

• Upper Division Clerk / Senior Secretariat Assistant

• Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) and Statistical Investigator Grade II

• Compiler

Two posts – Section Head (DGFT) and Office Superintendent (CBDT) – have also been added to the CGL post list in recent cycles.

SSC CGL Eligibility 2026

Educational Qualification

Candidates must hold a Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognized university. Certain posts carry additional requirements:

• JSO / Statistical Investigator Grade II: Degree with at least 60% marks in Mathematics at Class 12 level, OR a degree with Statistics as one of the subjects

• Compiler: B.Com or an equivalent degree

Age Limit (as on 1 January 2026)

SSC CGL Salary 2026

SSC CGL posts are placed across Pay Level 4 to Pay Level 8 of the 7th Pay Commission, depending on the post:

• Entry-level posts: Pay Level 4 (₹25,500 – ₹81,100)

• Mid-level posts (Inspector-category, ASO, etc.): up to Pay Level 7 (₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400)

• Assistant Audit Officer & Assistant Accounts Officer: Pay Level 8 (₹47,600 – ₹1,51,100), the highest-paying posts under CGL and the only ones offering direct Gazetted status from day one

This is the pay scale and should not be confused with the final in-hand salary, because applicable allowances and deductions will affect the actual amount received.

SSC CGL Exam Pattern 2026

SSC CGL is a two-tier exam – there is no interview and no separate descriptive Tier 3 paper. Both tiers are Computer-Based Tests (CBT) with objective, multiple-choice questions.

Tier 1 (Qualifying)

Tier 1 has a total duration of 60 minutes, with sectional timing of 15 minutes per section. Negative marking of 0.50 marks applies per wrong answer. Tier 1 is qualifying only – marks are not counted toward the final merit list. Roughly 15 to 20 times the number of vacancies are shortlisted for Tier 2 based on Tier 1 performance.

Tier 2 (Merit-Determining)

Paper I is compulsory for all posts and is conducted in two sessions on the same day:

• Session I: Mathematical Abilities, Reasoning & General Intelligence, English Language & Comprehension, General Awareness, and a Computer Knowledge Module

• Session II: Data Entry Speed Test (DEST) – qualifying only, no negative marking

Candidates must clear each section of Paper I individually; poor performance in any one section can affect eligibility for the final merit list even if the overall score is high. Negative marking of 1 mark applies for wrong answers in Sections I, II and Module I of Section III of Paper I.

Paper II is only for candidates applying for JSO and Statistical Investigator Grade II posts, testing statistics and mathematics concepts, with a negative marking of 0.50 marks per wrong answer.

Paper III is only for candidates applying for Assistant Audit Officer and Assistant Accounts Officer posts, testing Finance, Accounts, Economics and Governance; its marks are counted in the final merit list for these posts.

SSC CGL Selection Process 2026

The recruitment process includes:

1. Tier 1 (CBT, qualifying, for shortlisting only)

2. Tier 2 (CBT, merit-determining – Paper I for all posts, Paper II for JSO/Statistical Investigator, Paper III for AAO/Assistant Accounts Officer)

3. Skill Test / Typing Test, where applicable to the post (for example, a typing test for Tax Assistant)

4. Document Verification

There is no interview in SSC CGL. Post allocation is based on the candidate's Tier 2 score, category rank, and the order of post preferences submitted by the candidate.

SSC CGL Application Fee 2026

Important Dates

How to Apply for SSC CGL 2026

The application process is conducted online through the SSC portal.

Step 1: Complete One Time Registration (OTR)

Visit ssc.gov.in and complete the mandatory One Time Registration before filling the application form.

Step 2: Fill the Application Form

Log in and enter personal, educational and other required details.

Step 3: Upload Documents

Upload the photograph, signature and other documents as prescribed.

Step 4: Pay the Fee

Pay the applicable application fee online, where applicable.

Step 5: Submit and Save

Review all details carefully, submit the application, and save a copy of the confirmation page and payment receipt for future reference.

Documents Required

• Recent photograph

• Signature

• Graduation degree certificate and marksheets

• Date of birth proof (Class 10 certificate)

• Category certificate, where applicable

• PwBD certificate, where applicable

• Other documents required by the notification

Preparation for SSC CGL Exam

Tier 1

Since Tier 1 is only for shortlisting, focus on building speed and accuracy across all four sections within the sectional time limits, without over-investing preparation time relative to Tier 2.

Tier 2

Tier 2 determines the final merit and post allocation, so deeper practice here matters most. Candidates must clear each section individually, so avoid neglecting any one section even if it feels like a strength area overall.

Paper II / Paper III (Post-Specific)

Candidates aiming for JSO or Statistical Investigator Grade II should prepare Statistics and Mathematics in depth. Candidates aiming for AAO or Assistant Accounts Officer should prepare Finance, Accounts, Economics and Governance alongside the regular Tier 2 subjects.

Important Points for Candidates

• 12,256 tentative vacancies have been announced for Group B and Group C posts.

• The notification was released on 21 May 2026; the application window closed on 25 June 2026.

• The Tier 1 exam is scheduled from 30 September to 30 October 2026.

• Tier 2 is tentatively expected in December 2026; the exact date has not yet been announced.

• Selection involves Tier 1 (qualifying), Tier 2 (merit-determining), Skill/Typing Test (where applicable), and Document Verification.

• There is no interview and no separate descriptive paper in the current CGL pattern.

• Tier 1 has 100 questions for 200 marks; negative marking of 0.50 marks applies.

• Tier 2 Paper I is compulsory for all posts; Paper II applies to JSO/Statistical Investigator, and Paper III applies to AAO/Assistant Accounts Officer.

• Posts span Pay Level 4 to Pay Level 8, with AAO/Assistant Accounts Officer as the highest-paying and only directly Gazetted posts.

• The application fee is ₹100 for General/OBC/EWS; Women, SC, ST, PwBD and Ex-servicemen are exempted.

FAQs

How many vacancies are available in SSC CGL 2026?

12,256 tentative vacancies have been announced for Group B and Group C posts.

When was the SSC CGL 2026 notification released?

The notification was released on 21 May 2026.

What was the last date to apply?

The online application window closed on 25 June 2026.

When is the SSC CGL 2026 Tier 1 exam?

The Tier 1 exam is scheduled from 30 September to 30 October 2026.

When is the Tier 2 exam?

Tier 2 is tentatively expected in December 2026; the exact date is yet to be announced.

Is there negative marking?

Yes. Tier 1 deducts 0.50 marks per wrong answer; Tier 2 Paper I deducts 1 mark in most sections, and Paper II deducts 0.50 marks per wrong answer.

What is the eligibility for SSC CGL?

A Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognized university, with some posts requiring additional subject-specific qualifications.

What is the highest-paying post in SSC CGL?

Assistant Audit Officer and Assistant Accounts Officer, both at Pay Level 8, are the highest-paying posts and the only ones offering direct Gazetted status.

Conclusion

SSC CGL 2026 has opened 12,256 vacancies across Group B and Group C posts in Central Government departments, with the Tier 1 exam now scheduled for 30 September to 30 October 2026.

Candidates who have already applied should focus on Tier 1 preparation in the near term while keeping half an eye on Tier 2, since Tier 1 only shortlists while Tier 2 decides the final merit and post allocation. Keep track of the official website for the Tier 1 admit card and the eventual Tier 2 exam date.