Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level Examination 2026 Notification Out: Apply Online for Around 12,256 Vacancies

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The Government of India’s Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has officially released the recruitment notice for the Combined Graduate Level Examination, 2026 (SSC CGL 2026). This highly anticipated competitive exam is held to select eligible graduates for various Group B and Group C posts across different central ministries, departments, organizations, constitutional bodies, statutory bodies, and tribunals.

With an estimated 12,256 tentative vacancies available, this recruitment drive offers an exceptional opportunity to build a stable, permanent career within the central administrative framework. The online registration link became active on May 21, 2026, and will accept applications until June 22, 2026.

Important Dates and Schedule

Candidates must strictly observe the timelines set by the Commission, as registrations close automatically and extension requests will not be entertained due to heavy server loads during the final days.

  • Date of Official Notification Release: May 21, 2026
  • Period for Submission of Online Applications: May 21, 2026 to June 22, 2026
  • Last Date and Time for Receipt of Online Applications: June 22, 2026 (Up to 23:00 hours)
  • Last Date and Time for Online Fee Payment: June 23, 2026 (Up to 23:00 hours)
  • Window for Application Form Correction and Correction Fee Payment: June 29, 2026 to July 1, 2026 (Up to 23:00 hours)
  • Tentative Schedule for Tier-I Computer-Based Exam: August to September, 2026
  • Tentative Schedule for Tier-II Computer-Based Exam: December, 2026

Detailed Vacancy Matrix and Pay Scale Structure

The vacancies are categorized systematically across multiple pay scales corresponding to the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) pay levels. Here is the organized breakdown of the prominent post classifications and their respective frameworks:

Pay Level-8 (Rs. 47,600 to Rs. 1,51,100)

These positions represent Group B Gazetted (Non-Ministerial) profiles with an age limit window of 18 to 30 years:

  • Assistant Audit Officer (Central Cadre) under the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (C&AG)
  • Assistant Audit Officer (State Cadre) under the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (C&AG)
  • Assistant Accounts Officer (State Cadre) under the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (C&AG)

Pay Level-7 (Rs. 44,900 to Rs. 1,42,400)

These executive positions are classified as Group B profiles:

  • Assistant Section Officer (ASO) in Central Secretariat Service (Age: 20-30 years)
  • Assistant Section Officer (ASO) in Intelligence Bureau (Age: 18-30 years)
  • Assistant Section Officer (ASO) in Ministry of Railways (Age: 20-30 years)
  • Assistant Section Officer (ASO) in Ministry of External Affairs (Age: 20-30 years)
  • Assistant Section Officer (ASO) in Armed Forces Headquarters (AFHQ) (Age: 20-30 years)
  • Inspector of Income Tax in the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) (Age: 18-30 years)
  • Inspector (Central Excise, Preventive Officer, or Examiner) in the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) (Age: 18-30 years)
  • Assistant Enforcement Officer in the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) (Age: 18-30 years)
  • Sub-Inspector in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) (Age: 20-30 years)

Pay Level-6 (Rs. 35,400 to Rs. 1,12,400)

Group B profiles with an age limit generally spanning 18 to 30 years, unless specified:

  • Assistant / Assistant Section Officer in other specialized ministries and departments
  • Executive Assistant in the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC)
  • Divisional Accountant under offices of the C&AG
  • Sub-Inspector in the National Investigation Agency (NIA)
  • Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) in the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (Age: 18-32 years)
  • Statistical Investigator Grade-II in the Ministry of Home Affairs

Pay Level-5 (Rs. 29,200 to Rs. 92,300)

These ministerial positions belong to the Group C classification with a standard age window of 18 to 27 years:

  • Auditor in offices under the C&AG, CGDA, and other central ministries
  • Accountant / Junior Accountant under the C&AG, Controller General of Accounts, and other departments

Pay Level-4 (Rs. 25,500 to Rs. 81,100)

Standard clerical and clerical-support positions under the Group C framework with an age window of 18 to 27 years:

  • Postal Assistant / Sorting Assistant in the Department of Posts
  • Senior Secretariat Assistant / Upper Division Clerks in central ministries and offices
  • Tax Assistant in CBDT and CBIC departments
  • Sub-Inspector in the Central Bureau of Narcotics

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates planning to apply for any CGL post must clear three main parameters: citizenship, age limits, and exact educational qualifications.

Nationality and Gender Limits

An applicant must be a citizen of India, a subject of Nepal or Bhutan, a Tibetan refugee who migrated to India before January 1, 1962, with permanent settlement intentions, or a Person of Indian Origin (PIO) from specified countries, provided they possess a valid eligibility certificate issued by the Government of India. Note that only male candidates are eligible to apply for any vacancies reported under the Border Roads Organization (BRO).

Age Profile Benchmarks (As of August 1, 2026)

The reference birth dates for the distinct age brackets are outlined explicitly as follows:

  • For the 18-27 years post bracket: Candidates must be born between August 2, 1999, and August 1, 2008 (both days inclusive).
  • For the 20-30 years post bracket: Candidates must be born between August 2, 1996, and August 1, 2006 (both days inclusive).
  • For the 18-30 years post bracket: Candidates must be born between August 2, 1996, and August 1, 2008 (both days inclusive).
  • For the 18-32 years post bracket: Candidates must be born between August 2, 1994, and August 1, 2008 (both days inclusive).

Upper Age Relaxations

Standard central relaxation multipliers are applicable beyond the normal limits for reserved categories:

  • Scheduled Castes / Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST): 5 years relaxation
  • Other Backward Classes (OBC): 3 years relaxation
  • Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD): 10 years for General, 13 years for OBC, and 15 years for SC/ST
  • Ex-Servicemen (ESM): 3 years after deduction of actual military service rendered from the age

Educational Qualifications (As of August 1, 2026)

  • For Assistant Audit Officer / Assistant Accounts Officer: A Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized university. Proficiency in the regional language of the chosen state at the matriculation level is mandatory for State Cadre assignments.
  • For Junior Statistical Officer (JSO): A Bachelor’s Degree in any subject with at least 60% marks in Mathematics at the 10+2 standard level, or a Bachelor’s Degree with Statistics as a dedicated graduation subject.
  • For Statistical Investigator Grade-II: A Bachelor’s degree with specialization in Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Demography, Population Studies, Operation Research, Information Technology, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Computer Technology, Computer Application, Data Science, or Artificial Intelligence.
  • For all other posts: A foundational Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized university or its equivalent. Final year graduation candidates can apply, but their qualifying exam results must be officially declared on or before August 1, 2026.

Scheme of the Examination

The SSC CGL 2026 selection architecture utilizes a two-tier computerized competitive structure.

Tier-I Examination (Computer-Based Objective Test)

Tier-I consists of multiple-choice questions set bilingually in English and Hindi (except the English section). It features four subjects with 25 questions each, making a total of 100 questions evaluated for 200 marks:

  • Part A: General Intelligence and Reasoning (25 questions | 50 marks)
  • Part B: General Awareness (25 questions | 50 marks)
  • Part C: Quantitative Aptitude (25 questions | 50 marks)
  • Part D: English Comprehension (25 questions | 50 marks)

The total time allowed is 1 hour, monitored by a sectional timer of 15 minutes per subject. A negative marking penalty of 0.50 marks is applied for each wrong answer.

Tier-II Examination (Computer-Based Objective Test)

Tier-II features three separate papers conducted on distinct shifts or days. Paper-I is mandatory for all posts, Paper-II applies to JSO/Statistical Investigator shortlists, and Paper-III applies to AAO shortlists.

Paper-I Structural Framework (Compulsory for All Posts)

Paper-I is split into two sessions on the same day. Session-I lasts 2 hours and 15 minutes, broken down as follows:

  • Section-I: Covers Module A (Mathematical Abilities, 30 questions) and Module B (Reasoning and General Intelligence, 30 questions) for a total of 60 questions evaluated at 3 marks each (180 marks). Time allowed: 1 hour.
  • Section-II: Covers Module A (English Language and Comprehension, 45 questions) and Module B (General Awareness, 25 questions) for a total of 70 questions evaluated at 3 marks each (210 marks). Time allowed: 1 hour.
  • Section-III: Covers the Computer Knowledge Test featuring 20 questions evaluated at 3 marks each (60 marks). Time allowed: 15 minutes (Qualifying in nature, though higher cut-offs apply to specific posts).

Session-II takes place after a re-registration break and lasts 15 minutes:

  • Section-IV: Data Entry Speed Test (DEST). Candidates must perform a data entry task of about 2000 key depressions within 15 minutes. It is mandatory and qualifying in nature.

Note on Tier-II Rules: Candidates must qualify every individual section of Paper-I separately. A negative marking penalty of 1 mark is deducted for each wrong answer inside Sections I, II, and III of Paper-I. For Paper-II (Statistics) and Paper-III (Finance and Economics), which feature 100 questions for 200 marks each over a 2-hour duration, the negative marking penalty is 0.50 marks per incorrect response.

Step-by-Step Application Protocol

All applications must be submitted online through the Commission’s new dedicated website interface.

Step 1: One-Time Registration (OTR)

  1. Go to the official homepage at https://ssc.gov.in and select the Login or Register options.
  2. Note that legacy URNs or passwords from the older ssc.nic.in site are non-functional; you must set up a fresh OTR on the new platform.
  3. Fill out your core personal details, including your Name, Father’s Name, Mother’s Name, Date of Birth, and Matriculation records exactly as they appear on your 10th-standard passing certificate.
  4. Provide a functional mobile number and active email address to pass separate automated OTP validations.
  5. Complete your password setup, fill in your permanent/present address columns, and complete the registration process within 14 days before your partial data is automatically wiped.

Step 2: Live Photo and Signature Capture

  1. The new application module records your photograph live through your webcam or smartphone camera interface; you do not need to upload a pre-existing photograph file.
  2. For an optimal capture, stand or sit against a plain background with good lighting, keep the camera level with your eyes, and look straight ahead without wearing any cap, mask, or spectacles.
  3. Upload a scanned copy of your signature file in JPEG/JPG format, keeping the file size strictly between 10 KB and 20 KB.
  4. To ensure seamless verification, the Commission strongly recommends using Aadhaar-Based Authentication during your OTR setup. Applications passed through Aadhaar links are protected from summary rejection due to minor photograph or signature format discrepancies.

Step 3: Payout and Fee Particulars

  • Application Fee: Rs. 100/- (Rupees One Hundred only).
  • Fee Exemptions: All women candidates, as well as applicants belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD), and Ex-servicemen (ESM) eligible for reservation, are completely exempt from paying fees.
  • Accepted Payment Channels: Payments can be processed online via BHIM UPI networks, Net Banking, or major credit/debit instruments (Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, RuPay) until June 23, 2026.

Step 4: Form Correction Protocol

If you spot an error after submitting your form, the Commission will open a Window for Application Form Correction between June 29, 2026, and July 1, 2026. You can modify and re-submit your form up to two times during this period. However, uniform correction fees apply to all categories: Rs. 200/- for the first re-submission and Rs. 500/- for the second re-submission.

Official Helpline Infrastructure

If you experience portal errors, transaction failures, or system blockages while filling out your application form, you can contact the central and regional helpline desks during working hours:

  • Central SSC Headquarter Help Desk (Toll-Free): 1800 309 3063
  • Northern Region (NR), New Delhi Desk: 011 24363343
  • Central Region (CR), Prayagraj Desk: 0532 2460511, 0532 6541021
  • Eastern Region (ER), Kolkata Desk: 09477461228, 033 22902230
  • Western Region (WR), Mumbai Desk: 09869730700, 07738422705
  • Southern Region (SR), Chennai Desk: 09445195946, 044 28251139
  • Karnataka-Kerala Region (KKR), Bengaluru Desk: 080 25502520, 09483862020

Ensure you secure your online application well before the June 22 deadline to complete all sections smoothly. Keep a printed copy of your final registration sheet for future verification rounds.

SSC CGL 2026 – Important Links

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