SSC Combined Graduate Level Examination 2026 — Apply Online for 12,256 Group B & C Posts
The Staff Selection Commission has released the SSC Combined Graduate Level (CGL) Examination 2026 notification with approximately 12,256 tentative vacancies across the most popular Central Government posts — Assistant Audit Officer, Assistant Section Officer, Inspector of Income Tax, Inspector (CBIC), Sub Inspector (CBI), Junior Statistical Officer, Tax Assistant, Auditor and many more. This is the biggest graduate-level Group B and Group C recruitment of the year, and one of the most awaited SSC recruitment notifications for lakhs of aspirants across India.
Online applications are open from 21 May 2026 to 22 June 2026 on the official SSC website. The pay band runs from Rs 25,500 to Rs 1,51,100 (Pay Level 4 to Level 8 of the 7th CPC), with postings across central ministries pan-India. If you’re a graduate dreaming of a stable, respected central government job, this is your chance. This complete guide on GovtJobsAlert.in covers vacancies, eligibility, salary, selection process, important dates, fees and the official notification PDF.
SSC CGL 2026 Recruitment — Key Highlights at a Glance
The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) is a Central Government body under the Department of Personnel and Training that recruits Group B and Group C staff for various ministries and departments. SSC CGL is its flagship graduate-level examination, and clearing it lands you in offices like the Income Tax Department, CBIC, CBI, Enforcement Directorate, Ministry of External Affairs, C&AG, NIA, NCB and many more.
- Recruiting Body: Staff Selection Commission (SSC), Government of India
- Examination Name: Combined Graduate Level Examination, 2026 (SSC CGL 2026)
- Total Vacancies: Approximately 12,256 (tentative; post-wise and category-wise breakup to be released later)
- Pay Level: Level-4 to Level-8 of 7th CPC (Rs 25,500 – Rs 1,51,100)
- Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university
- Age Limit: 18 to 30 years (varies by post: 18-27, 20-30, 18-32)
- Application Mode: Online only via SSC website / “my SSC” mobile app
- Job Location: All India (transferable, All India Service Liability)
- Last Date to Apply: 22 June 2026 (11:00 PM)
What are the Posts and Vacancies in SSC CGL 2026?
The recruitment covers around 34 distinct posts grouped under five pay levels. The exact category-wise (UR, OBC, EWS, SC, ST, PwBD) and post-wise vacancy split will be uploaded on the official SSC website during the application window. Below is the indicative post-level mapping.
| Pay Level | Sample Posts | Pay Scale (Rs) |
|---|---|---|
| Level-8 | Assistant Audit Officer / Assistant Accounts Officer | 47,600 – 1,51,100 |
| Level-7 | Inspector of Income Tax, ASO (CSS, IB, Railways, MEA), Inspector (CBIC), Sub Inspector (CBI), Assistant Enforcement Officer, Inspector Posts | 44,900 – 1,42,400 |
| Level-6 | Junior Statistical Officer, Sub Inspector (NIA / NCB), Divisional Accountant, Executive Assistant (CBIC), Research Assistant (NHRC), Statistical Investigator Grade-II | 35,400 – 1,12,400 |
| Level-5 | Auditor (C&AG / CGDA), Accountant / Junior Accountant | 29,200 – 92,300 |
| Level-4 | Tax Assistant (CBDT / CBIC), Postal Assistant / Sorting Assistant, UDC / SSA, Senior Administrative Assistant (MES) | 25,500 – 81,100 |
The full ministry-wise mapping is given in the official notification — please refer to the link in Essential Links below.
What is the Eligibility for SSC CGL 2026?
Educational Qualification
Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree from a recognised University or equivalent as on 01 August 2026. Final-year students may apply provisionally, but must produce the degree on the cut-off date. Some posts carry additional subject requirements:
- Junior Statistical Officer: Bachelor’s degree with at least 60% Marks in Mathematics at 12th level, or a Bachelor’s degree with Statistics as a subject.
- Statistical Investigator Grade-II: Bachelor’s degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Demography, Population Studies, Operation Research, Information Technology, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Computer Application, Data Science or Artificial Intelligence.
- Assistant Audit / Accounts Officer: Desirable qualifications include CA, CMA, CS, M.Com, MBS, MBA (Finance) and Masters in Business Economics.
If you hold a graduate degree in any discipline, you are eligible for most of the posts.
Age Limit (as on 01-08-2026)
The age range depends on the post category. Most posts fall between 18 and 30 years.
| Age Bracket | Applicable To |
|---|---|
| 18 – 27 years | Auditor, Accountant, Tax Assistant, UDC, Postal Assistant |
| 18 – 30 years | Most Inspectors, ASO, AAO, AEO, JSO-related posts |
| 20 – 30 years | Sub Inspector (CBI) |
| 18 – 32 years | Junior Statistical Officer (M/o Statistics) |
Age relaxation: SC/ST — 5 years, OBC — 3 years, PwBD — 10 years (with category stacking up to 15 years), Ex-Servicemen — 3 years after deducting military service, Central Government Group C employees with 3+ years’ service — up to 40 years (45 for SC/ST), Widows, Divorced or Judicially-separated women — up to 35 years (40 for SC/ST).
What is the Salary for SSC CGL 2026?
Salary depends on the post and its pay level under the 7th Central Pay Commission. The basic pay starts from Rs 25,500 for Level-4 posts and goes up to Rs 1,51,100 for Level-8 posts. On top of the basic pay, you receive Dearness Allowance, HRA based on city class, Transport Allowance and other admissible perks.
- Level-8 (AAO / AAccO): Rs 47,600 – 1,51,100
- Level-7 (Inspectors, ASO, AEO, SI-CBI): Rs 44,900 – 1,42,400
- Level-6 (JSO, SI-NIA/NCB, Divisional Accountant): Rs 35,400 – 1,12,400
- Level-5 (Auditor, Accountant): Rs 29,200 – 92,300
- Level-4 (Tax Assistant, UDC, Postal Assistant): Rs 25,500 – 81,100
Approximate in-hand monthly salary ranges from Rs 35,000 to Rs 80,000 depending on the post, city class and applicable allowances.
You also get central government benefits — CGHS medical cover, NPS / pension contributions, LTC, paid leaves, gratuity and a clearly defined career progression with timely promotions and pay increments.
What is the Selection Process for SSC CGL 2026?
SSC CGL 2026 follows the standard two-tier Computer Based Test pattern, followed by Document Verification by the user departments. Some posts also have additional Physical and Medical Standards.
- Tier-I (Computer Based Test): 100 questions, 200 marks, 1 hour. Four sections — General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, English Comprehension (25 questions / 50 marks each). Negative marking 0.50 per wrong answer. Questions in English and Hindi (except English Comprehension).
- Tier-II (Computer Based Test): Paper-I is compulsory for all posts. Paper-II is for JSO / Statistical Investigator Grade-II only. Paper-III is for AAO / AAccO only. Paper-I includes a Computer Knowledge Test and a Data Entry Speed Test (DEST).
- Document Verification & Medical Standards: Conducted by the User Departments. Posts like Inspector (CBIC), SI (CBI, NIA, NCB, CBN) and BRO posts also have physical and medical standards.
The final merit list is prepared purely on Tier-II marks. Qualifying cut-offs: UR — 30%, OBC/EWS — 25%, Others — 20%. For detailed topic-wise preparation, refer to our SSC CGL syllabus and exam pattern guide.
Tier-II Paper-I Pattern (Compulsory)
- Session-I: Section-I — Mathematical Abilities (30) + Reasoning (30) = 180 marks; Section-II — English (45) + General Awareness (25) = 210 marks; Section-III — Computer Knowledge Test (qualifying) = 60 marks. Total 2 hours 15 minutes. Negative marking 1 mark per wrong answer.
- Session-II: Section-IV — Data Entry Speed Test (~2000 keystrokes in 15 minutes, qualifying).
What is the Syllabus for SSC CGL 2026 Tier 1 and Tier 2?
Knowing the syllabus early helps you start preparation in time. Here is a topic-wise overview drawn from the official notification.
- Tier-I — Reasoning: Analogies, classification, series, coding-decoding, blood relations, direction sense, syllogism, non-verbal reasoning.
- Tier-I — General Awareness: Indian History, Geography, Polity, Economy, General Science, Current Affairs, Static GK.
- Tier-I — Quantitative Aptitude: Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Mensuration, Trigonometry, Data Interpretation.
- Tier-I — English Comprehension: Reading comprehension, cloze test, error spotting, sentence improvement, vocabulary.
- Tier-II Paper-I: Advanced Mathematics, Reasoning, English Language, General Awareness, Computer Knowledge (MS Office / Internet / Cyber Security), and DEST.
- Paper-II (JSO / SI Gr-II): Statistics — central tendency, dispersion, correlation, regression, sampling theory, ANOVA, time series, index numbers.
- Paper-III (AAO / AAccO): Finance & Accounts (book-keeping, balance sheet) plus Economics & Governance (RBI, FRBM Act, Indian economy, fiscal policy).
What Documents are Required to Apply for SSC CGL 2026?
Keep these ready in scanned/digital form before you start the application — it saves time and avoids last-minute rejection.
- 10th class certificate (for date of birth proof)
- 12th class mark sheet and certificate
- Graduation degree certificate / provisional certificate / final-year mark sheet
- Aadhaar card (recommended for biometric authentication)
- Category certificate — SC / ST / OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) / EWS, if applicable
- PwBD certificate, if applicable
- Ex-Servicemen discharge book, if applicable
- Recent live photograph (captured at the time of filling the form)
- Signature image (JPEG, 10–20 KB, 6 cm × 2 cm)
- Active email ID and mobile number
How to Apply Online for SSC CGL 2026?
The application is fully online via the official SSC website or the “my SSC” mobile app on the Play Store.
- Visit the official SSC application portal (link available in Essential Links below).
- Complete the One-Time Registration (OTR). Aadhaar-based biometric authentication is recommended.
- Log in and open the SSC CGL 2026 application.
- Capture a LIVE photograph through the portal (pre-existing photos are not allowed). Upload your signature (JPEG, 10–20 KB, 6 cm × 2 cm).
- Fill in personal, educational and post-preference details. Choose 3 examination centres in order of priority within ONE region.
- Pay the application fee (if applicable) using BHIM UPI, Net Banking, Visa, MasterCard, Maestro or RuPay debit card.
- Submit the application and download a copy for your records.
A correction window will be open from 29 June 2026 to 01 July 2026 to fix errors. Corrections attract additional charges — Rs 200 for the first correction and Rs 500 for the second.
What are the Important Dates for SSC CGL 2026?
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online application starts | 21 May 2026 |
| Last date to apply | 22 June 2026 (11:00 PM) |
| Last date for fee payment | 23 June 2026 (11:00 PM) |
| Application correction window | 29 June – 01 July 2026 |
| Tier-I exam (tentative) | August – September 2026 |
| Tier-II exam (tentative) | December 2026 |
What is the Application Fee for SSC CGL 2026?
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS | Rs 100 |
| SC, ST, PwBD, Ex-Servicemen, Women | Exempted (No Fee) |
Fee can be paid online via BHIM UPI, Net Banking or debit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Maestro and RuPay). Once submitted, the application fee is non-refundable.
SSC CGL 2026 Essential Links — Notification PDF & Apply Online
- Download Official Notification PDF
- Apply Online for SSC CGL 2026
- Visit SSC Official Website
- Join WhatsApp Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Telegram Channel for Government Jobs
SSC CGL is a life-changing exam for every Indian graduate — clearing it puts you in a respected central government job with long-term stability, growth and pride. Don’t wait till the last week to apply, the SSC portal slows down due to heavy traffic. Keep visiting GovtJobsAlert.in for the latest SSC job notifications, admit card updates and result alerts.