The SSC Selection Post Examination

The SSC Selection Post examination is conducted by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) to fill Group B (non-gazetted), Group C and other posts in central government offices, departments and attached bodies. It is run in numbered phases, and the latest cycle is Phase XIV (2026). Unlike CGL or CHSL, it is not one fixed post: each phase bundles many posts across regions and qualification levels.

This page explains how the exam works, where the current Phase XIV cycle stands as of 19 October 2026, and how to prepare.

Table of Contents

What Is the SSC Selection Post Exam

Selection Post is the umbrella name SSC uses for recruitment to posts that do not have their own separate examination. Ministries, departments and offices send their requirements to the Commission, and SSC publishes them together as one phase. Candidates apply post by post and region by region.

The most important thing to understand is that the phase is split by educational qualification. Posts are grouped into three levels: Matriculation (Class 10), Higher Secondary (Class 12) and Graduation and above. You compete only for posts that match your own qualification level, and your age limit depends on the post you choose.

SSC Selection Post at a Glance

Phase XIV Notification Overview

The Phase XIV notification was released on 13 April 2026. Online registration ran until 4 May 2026, followed by a short correction window in May. The Computer Based Test was held from 16 to 26 September 2026 in multiple shifts.

After the exam, SSC uploaded candidate response sheets with the tentative answer key and invited objections, which closed on 12 October 2026. At the time of writing, the result and cut-off marks are awaited. Because the vacancy figure was revised after the original notice, always read the latest corrigendum on the official website instead of relying on an older page.

Important Dates

Tentative dates come from the notification schedule and can change. Track the official notice board on ssc.gov.in and your registered email for the final word.

Vacancy Details

Selection Post vacancies vary a lot from phase to phase, which is why a single number never tells the full story. Phase XIV was reported at roughly 3,000 posts in the original notice, and a later cancellation notice reduced the count. Treat any total you read as indicative and check the final list in the notification.

Vacancies are published region-wise and post-wise, and also by category (UR, SC, ST, OBC, EWS). Some posts show zero vacancy in a region, and some are reserved for persons with benchmark disabilities or ex-servicemen. Before applying, check the exact post and region you want rather than only the headline total.

Eligibility Criteria

Educational qualification

The qualification depends on the post level. Matric-level posts need a Class 10 pass. Higher Secondary posts need a Class 12 pass. Graduate-level posts need a bachelor's degree from a recognised university. The qualification must usually be completed by the closing date of the application, which in Phase XIV was 4 May 2026.

Age limit

The minimum age is generally 18 years. The maximum varies by post, with the common brackets being 18 to 25, 18 to 27 and 18 to 30 years, and a few posts allow higher or have a higher minimum. Age is counted as on a fixed date stated in the notification. Your date of birth is taken from your Matriculation or equivalent certificate only.

These are the standard central government relaxations. The notification lists the exact rules for each post, so confirm there.

Application Fee and How to Apply

The fee in Phase XIV was Rs. 100 for General and OBC male candidates. Women, SC, ST, persons with benchmark disabilities and eligible ex-servicemen were exempt. Fees can change, so check the current notice.

1. Register or log in: Create a One Time Registration on the official SSC website if you do not already have one.

2. Fill the application: Choose your qualification level, post preferences and region carefully, because each post applied for can require a separate application.

3. Upload documents: Add a recent photograph and signature in the specified format.

4. Pay the fee: Pay online if you are not exempt, and save the confirmation.

5. Submit and download: Submit the form and keep a copy for later stages.

Common reasons for rejection are a wrong date of birth, a qualification not completed by the cut-off date, mismatched photographs and applying for posts that do not match your level.

Exam Pattern

The Computer Based Test is a single objective paper. It has four sections of 25 questions each, and each question carries 2 marks.

The duration is 60 minutes (longer for candidates eligible for a scribe), and each wrong answer costs 0.50 marks. The paper is bilingual. Level-wise papers may differ in difficulty, so check the notification for any change in your level.

Syllabus Summary

SSC names the sections but does not publish a full topic-wise list for this exam. The topics above are a working checklist built from the notification and from the kinds of questions seen in earlier phases.

Selection Process

1. Computer Based Test: The main stage. Your marks decide whether you move forward, and the merit list is based on them.

2. Skill or typing test: Only for posts that need it, such as data entry or clerical roles. It is generally qualifying in nature.

3. Document verification: Original certificates for age, qualification, category and any reservation are checked.

There is no interview. Qualifying marks apply, and merit is prepared post-wise and region-wise, so your preferences matter.

Pay and Career Growth

Pay depends on the post and level, and it follows the central government pay matrix. Matric-level posts sit at the lower levels, while graduate-level posts begin higher. The pay level for each post is given in the notification. Apart from basic pay, posts carry allowances such as dearness allowance and house rent allowance, and the in-hand salary varies by city. Any in-hand figure you read online is an estimate, not an official one.

Career growth comes through departmental promotions and, for many employees, through departmental exams for higher posts.

How to Prepare

Four sections of equal weight reward balanced preparation. Spend about equal time at first, then shift effort to the section where you lose the most marks.

• General Intelligence: Practise one topic each day and learn shortcuts for series and coding questions.

• Quantitative Aptitude: Revise tables and percentage-fraction values, then solve timed sets.

• General Awareness: Read static topics in small chunks and add current affairs in a monthly notebook.

• English Language: Read a newspaper editorial daily and solve a passage or two.

Cut-Off Reference

SSC publishes post-wise and region-wise cut-off marks along with the result. Because merit is calculated separately for each post and category, there is no single number to aim for.

Cut-offs change every year with difficulty, vacancies and the number of applicants. Treat last year's figures as a benchmark only, and aim for a clear margin above them rather than a bare pass.

For the latest official updates, always cross-check with the Staff Selection Commission official website.