SSC CGL 2026 Tier-I Exam Date Out — Computer Based Exam from 30 September to 30 October 2026
Here is the news every SSC CGL 2026 candidate was waiting for. The Staff Selection Commission has announced the Tier-I (Computer Based Examination) schedule — the exam will be conducted from 30 September 2026 to 30 October 2026, as per Important Notice F.No. HQ-EC033/7/2025-EC dated 12 September 2026. This replaces the tentative “August–September 2026” window given in the Notice of 21 May 2026. Please remember that the application window for this examination closed on 25 June 2026, so no fresh applications are being accepted — if you have already applied, use these weeks for calm, steady revision and watch the Commission’s website for your exam city and admit card. Download the SSC CGL 2026 Tier-I Exam Schedule Notice (PDF). Tier-II is still shown as December 2026 (tentative) and was not revised by this notice, so treat that date as provisional until SSC says otherwise.
Earlier Update: SSC CGL 2026 Application Window Re-Opened, Then Closed on 25 June 2026
The Staff Selection Commission had re-opened the SSC CGL 2026 online application window for two extra days — from 23 June 2026 (11:00 PM) to 25 June 2026 (11:00 PM). The last date for online fee payment was 26 June 2026 (11:00 PM), and the application correction window ran from 01 July to 03 July 2026. More than 28 lakh candidates had already submitted their forms in the first phase. This window is closed — the Commission is not accepting fresh applications for CGL 2026. Download the SSC CGL 2026 Re-Opening Notice (PDF) for the record. All other terms and conditions of the 21 May 2026 Notice remained unchanged.
SSC Combined Graduate Level Examination 2026 — Tier-I Exam from 30 September to 30 October, Approx. 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 ran from 21 May 2026 to 22 June 25 June 2026 and that window is now closed. 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 have already submitted your form, your focus now shifts fully to the Tier-I Computer Based Examination, which SSC will hold from 30 September to 30 October 2026. This complete guide on GovtJobsAlert.in covers vacancies, eligibility, salary, selection process, important dates, fees and the official notification PDF.
What are the Key Highlights of SSC CGL 2026 Tier-I Exam?
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)
- Application Window: 21 May 2026 to
22 June 202625 June 2026 (11:00 PM) — closed - Tier-I Exam (CBE): 30 September 2026 to 30 October 2026 (announced 12 September 2026)
What are the Posts and Vacancies in SSC CGL 2026 Tier-I Exam?
The recruitment covers about 40 posts grouped under five pay levels. The notification gives only an approximate total of 12,256 vacancies, described as tentative and still being collected — the exact post-wise and category-wise (UR, OBC, EWS, SC, ST, PwBD) split has not been published yet and will be uploaded on the official SSC website. 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. You must be able to prove with documents that you acquired this qualification on or before the cut-off date, failing which the candidature will be cancelled. If you can prove with documents that the result of your qualifying examination was declared on or before the cut-off date and you were declared passed, that also counts — but mere processing of the result by the University does not. Candidature stays provisional until the Appointing Authority verifies your certificates, and a person who has married someone with a living spouse, or who has a living spouse and marries another person, is not eligible for appointment unless the Central Government grants an exemption. 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 Technology, 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, AAO / AAccO, AEO, ASO (IB and other ministries), Statistical Investigator Gr-II |
| 20 – 30 years | Assistant Section Officer (CSS, Railways, MEA, AFHQ), 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. Group C posts only: Central Government civilian employees with 3+ years’ service — up to 40 years (45 for SC/ST), Widows/divorced/judicially-separated women — up to 35 years (40 for SC/ST).
What is the Salary for SSC CGL 2026 Posts (Pay Level 4 to 8)?
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 come the standard Central Government allowances — Dearness Allowance, HRA by city class and Transport Allowance.
- 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
The notification states pay levels only — Rs 25,500 at the start of Level-4 up to Rs 1,51,100 at the top of Level-8. Your in-hand pay depends on the allowances admissible at your posting, which the notification does not spell out.
Service benefits — CGHS, NPS, LTC, paid leave and gratuity — follow the Central Government rules for these posts; this notification does not describe them.
What is the Selection Process for SSC CGL 2026 Tier-I and Tier-II?
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 (CBE) will be held from 30 September 2026 to 30 October 2026, and Tier-II is still shown as December 2026 (tentative) — the 12 September 2026 notice did not revise the Tier-II schedule. Please take the exam-hall rules seriously: candidates found involved in any malpractice or unfair means at any stage will have their candidature cancelled and will be debarred from the Commission’s future examinations.
- 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 (2 hours 15 minutes): Section-I — Mathematical Abilities (30) + Reasoning (30) = 180 marks; Section-II — English (45) + General Awareness (25) = 210 marks; Section-III — Computer Knowledge Test, 20 questions, 60 marks (qualifying). Negative marking 1 mark per wrong answer.
- Session-II (15 minutes): Section-IV — Data Entry Speed Test, a passage of about 2000 key depressions in 15 minutes (qualifying).
What is the Syllabus for SSC CGL 2026 Tier 1 and Tier 2?
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: Mathematical Abilities, 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 Did SSC CGL 2026 Candidates Need?
The form took only the photo, signature and, where applicable, the PwBD disability certificate. Keep originals and scans safe — User Departments check them at document verification after the final result.
- 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 Did Candidates Apply for SSC CGL 2026? (Application Window Closed)
The application was fully online through the official SSC website or the “my SSC” mobile app on the Play Store. That window closed on 25 June 2026, so the steps below are kept as a record for candidates who have already applied.
- Candidates visited the official SSC application portal (link available in Essential Links below).
- They completed the One-Time Registration (OTR); the Commission advised choosing Aadhaar-based authentication.
- They logged in and opened the SSC CGL 2026 application form.
- A LIVE photograph had to be captured through the portal (pre-existing photos were not allowed), along with a signature image (JPEG, 10–20 KB, 6 cm × 2 cm).
- Personal and educational details were filled in, with three examination centres chosen in order of priority within ONE region — no change of centre is considered later.
- The fee, where applicable, was paid using BHIM UPI, Net Banking, Visa, MasterCard, Maestro or RuPay debit card.
- The form was submitted and a copy downloaded for records.
A correction window was open from 29 June to 01 July 2026 01 July to 03 July 2026 and it has also ended. SSC levied a correction charge of Rs 200 for the first re-submission and Rs 500 for the second, for every candidate irrespective of gender or category.
What are the Important Dates for SSC CGL 2026 Tier-I Exam?
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online application starts | 21 May 2026 |
| Last date to apply (closed) | |
| Last date for fee payment | |
| Application correction window | |
| Tier-I exam (CBE) — announced | |
| Tier-II exam (tentative) | December 2026 |
| Post preference (Online Option Form) | Before FRTA / result, on the SSC website — separate from the application form; no preference submitted, no post considered |
What is the Application Fee for SSC CGL 2026?
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS | Rs 100 |
| SC, ST, PwBD, Ex-Servicemen (eligible for reservation), Women | Exempted (No Fee) |
The fee was payable online only, via BHIM UPI, Net Banking or debit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Maestro and RuPay). Fee once paid is not refunded under any circumstances, nor adjusted against any other examination or selection.
SSC CGL 2026 Essential Links — Tier-I Exam Date Notice & Notification PDFs
- Download SSC CGL 2026 Tier-I Exam Schedule Notice (12.09.2026)
- Download SSC CGL 2026 Official Notification PDF (21.05.2026)
- Download SSC CGL 2026 Application Re-Opening Notice (23.06.2026)
- Visit SSC Official Website for Exam Updates
- SSC CGL 2026 Candidate Login Portal (application window closed)
- 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. The application stage is behind you now — everything depends on how well you use the weeks before your Tier-I slot, which falls somewhere between 30 September and 30 October 2026. Keep visiting GovtJobsAlert.in for the latest SSC job notifications, admit card updates and result alerts.