SSC CGL 2026 |12,256 Vacancies, Apply Now
Last Updated: 21 May 2026 | The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has officially released the SSC CGL 2026 Notification today, 21 May 2026, announcing 12,256 vacancies for Group B and Group C posts across various central government ministries and departments including Income Tax, CBI, CBIC, Enforcement Directorate, C&AG, and more. Online applications are open from 21 May to 22 June 2026 at ssc.gov.in. The Tier 1 exam is tentatively scheduled for August–September 2026. SSC CGL is one of the most prestigious and popular government exams in India — with a single graduation degree, you can become an Income Tax Inspector, CBI Sub-Inspector, Assistant Enforcement Officer, or Auditor in C&AG. If you are a graduate or in your final year, this is the notification to act on right now.
📌 Key Highlights: Notification No.: F. No. HQ-C11018/1/2026-C-1 | Total Vacancies: 12,256 | Apply: 21 May – 22 June 2026 | Tier 1: August–September 2026 | Fee: ₹100 (Free for Women/SC/ST/PwBD/Ex-SM) | Salary: Pay Level 4–8 (₹25,500–₹1,51,100)
SSC CGL 2026 – Complete Overview
| Detail | Information |
| Exam Name | SSC Combined Graduate Level Examination 2026 |
| Notification No. | F. No. HQ-C11018/1/2026-C-1 |
| Conducting Body | Staff Selection Commission (SSC) |
| Total Vacancies | 12,256 Posts |
| Post Type | Group B & Group C (Central Government) |
| Application Start | 21 May 2026 ✅ |
| Last Date to Apply | 22 June 2026 (11:00 PM) ⚠️ |
| Form Correction Window | 29 June – 1 July 2026 |
| Tier 1 Exam Date | August–September 2026 |
| Application Fee | ₹100/- (Women/SC/ST/PwBD/Ex-SM: Nil) |
| Age Limit | 18–32 years (post-wise, as on 01/08/2026) |
| Qualification | Bachelor’s Degree from a recognised University |
| Helpline | 1800 309 3063 (Toll Free) |
| Official Website | ssc.gov.in |
SSC CGL 2026 – Important Dates
| Event | Date |
| Notification Released | 21 May 2026 |
| Online Application Starts | 21 May 2026 ✅ |
| Last Date to Apply | 22 June 2026 ⚠️ |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | 22 June 2026 |
| Form Correction Window | 29 June – 1 July 2026 |
| Tier 1 Exam (CBE) | August–September 2026 |
| Tier 2 Exam | To be announced after Tier 1 |
SSC CGL 2026 – Vacancy Trend (Year-wise)
| Year | Vacancies |
| SSC CGL 2026 | 12,256 |
| SSC CGL 2025 | 15,118 |
| SSC CGL 2024 | 17,727 |
| SSC CGL 2023 | 8,415 |
| SSC CGL 2022 | 37,409 |
| SSC CGL 2021 | 7,621 |
SSC CGL 2026 – Key Posts and Salary
| Post Name | Department | Pay Level | Basic Pay |
| Assistant Audit Officer / Accounts Officer | C&AG | Level 8 | ₹47,600 |
| Assistant Section Officer | CSS / IB / MEA / Railways | Level 7 | ₹44,900 |
| Inspector of Income Tax | CBDT | Level 7 | ₹44,900 |
| Inspector (Central Excise / GST) | CBIC | Level 7 | ₹44,900 |
| Assistant Enforcement Officer | Directorate of Enforcement | Level 7 | ₹44,900 |
| Sub-Inspector | CBI | Level 7 | ₹44,900 |
| Inspector | Central Bureau of Narcotics | Level 7 | ₹44,900 |
| Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) | M/o Statistics | Level 6 | ₹35,400 |
| Auditor | C&AG / Other Ministries | Level 5 | ₹29,200 |
| Tax Assistant | CBDT / CBIC | Level 4 | ₹25,500 |
| Upper Division Clerk (UDC) | Central Govt. Ministries | Level 4 | ₹25,500 |
Eligibility Criteria – SSC CGL 2026
Educational Qualification (as on 01 August 2026)
| Post | Qualification |
| Assistant Audit/Accounts Officer | Bachelor’s Degree (Desirable: CA / CMA / CS / MBA / M.Com) |
| Junior Statistical Officer | Bachelor’s Degree with 60% in Maths at Class 12 OR Statistics as a graduation subject |
| Statistical Investigator Grade-II | Bachelor’s Degree with Economics / Statistics / Maths as a subject |
| All Other Posts | Bachelor’s Degree in any subject from a recognised university |
Age Limit (as on 01 August 2026)
| Category | Age Relaxation |
| General / EWS | 18–32 years (post-wise; 18–27 for Auditor) |
| OBC | +3 years |
| SC / ST | +5 years |
| PwBD (General) | +10 years |
| Ex-Servicemen | As per Central Govt. rules |
SSC CGL 2026 – Selection Process
- Tier 1 – Computer Based Exam (Qualifying): 100 questions, 200 marks, 60 minutes. Covers General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, and English Comprehension. Sectional timing introduced from 2026 — each section gets a specific time. Tier 1 only qualifies you for Tier 2; marks are NOT added to final merit.
- Tier 2 – Computer Based Exam (Scoring): Main exam. 3 papers based on post applied. Paper I: Maths & Reasoning (mandatory for all) + English Language + General Awareness (3 hours). Paper II: Statistics (for JSO only). Paper III: General Studies (Finance & Economics) for AAO/AAO posts only.
- Document Verification: For final shortlisted candidates.
SSC CGL 2026 – Exam Pattern (Updated with Sectional Timing)
Tier 1 (Qualifying)
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 25 | 50 | 15 min |
| General Awareness | 25 | 50 | 15 min |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 | 15 min |
| English Comprehension | 25 | 50 | 15 min |
| Total | 100 | 200 | 60 min |
Negative Marking: -0.50 per wrong answer | Mode: Online CBT | New in 2026: Sectional timing (15 min per section)
Tier 2 (Scoring – Paper I, mandatory for all)
| Module | Questions | Marks | Time |
| Session 1: Maths & Reasoning + English & GK | 90 + 45 + 25 | 180 + 135 + 75 | 3 hours |
| Session 2: Computer Proficiency Test (CPT) | Practical test | Qualifying | 15 min |
SSC CGL Previous Year Cut Off – Reference
| Year | Tier 1 Cutoff (UR) | Tier 2 Cutoff – Paper I (UR) |
| CGL 2024 | ~148 / 200 | ~350 / 450 |
| CGL 2023 | ~145 / 200 | ~340 / 450 |
| CGL 2022 | ~140 / 200 | ~335 / 450 |
| Expected 2026 (UR) | ~145–155 | ~345–360 |
How to Apply – SSC CGL 2026 Online Form
- Visit ssc.gov.in and click “Apply” under CGL 2026
- Complete One-Time Registration if not already registered — use valid email and mobile
- Log in and fill the application form — personal details, educational qualification, post preferences
- Upload photo (20–50 KB) and signature (10–20 KB) in JPEG format
- Pay ₹100 fee via online mode — debit/credit card, UPI, or net banking (exempt categories: Nil)
- Submit and download the confirmation page — note your application number
- Correction window: 29 June – 1 July 2026 for fixing mistakes
SSC CGL 2026 – Top Posts to Target (By Value)
| Post | Why It’s Valued | In-Hand Salary (Approx.) |
| Inspector of Income Tax (CBDT) | Field work, transfers, IT raids exposure, Level 7 | ~₹67,000–75,000 |
| Assistant Section Officer (CSS) | Delhi posting, best career growth, promotions fast | ~₹65,000–72,000 |
| Sub-Inspector (CBI) | Prestigious, investigative work, Level 7 | ~₹65,000–72,000 |
| Asst. Enforcement Officer (ED) | High-profile postings, Level 7 | ~₹65,000–72,000 |
| Assistant Audit Officer (C&AG) | Highest pay in CGL (Level 8), fast promotion to Group A | ~₹75,000–85,000 |
SSC CGL 2026 Preparation Tips
- Sectional timing in Tier 1 (new in 2026): Practice each section separately with a 15-minute timer — you cannot shift time between sections. Speed and accuracy per section become critical.
- Quant (Tier 1 + Tier 2): Arithmetic (percentage, ratio, SI/CI, profit-loss) + Algebra + Geometry — NCERT + R.S. Aggarwal. Aim for 45+/50 in Tier 1.
- English (highest scoring in Tier 2): Grammar rules, vocabulary (synonyms/antonyms), cloze tests, error detection — Wren & Martin + previous year papers.
- General Awareness: Current affairs (last 6 months) + History + Polity + Geography + Economics. SSC GK is static + dynamic — balance both.
- Reasoning: Easiest section if practiced — puzzles, analogies, coding-decoding, blood relations. Solve 30 questions daily.
- Previous year papers: Solve last 5 years of SSC CGL Tier 1 and Tier 2 — question patterns repeat heavily.
- Target: 160+ in Tier 1 (out of 200) and 380+ in Tier 2 Paper I (out of 450) for top posts like IT Inspector and CBI SI.
Important Links – SSC CGL 2026
| Apply Online ✅ | ssc.gov.in |
| Download Official Notification PDF | SSC CGL 2026 Official Notification |
| Tentative Vacancy Details | ssc.gov.in – Tentative Vacancy |
| Best Books for SSC Preparation | Best Books for SSC 2026 – Tried & Tested Guide |
| How to Start SSC Preparation | How to Start SSC Prep from Zero in 2026 |
| Best SSC Study Plan | Best Study Plan for SSC 2026 |
Frequently Asked Questions – SSC CGL 2026
Q1. How many vacancies are there in SSC CGL 2026?
SSC CGL 2026 has announced 12,256 tentative vacancies for Group B and Group C posts across various central government departments.
Q2. What is the last date to apply for SSC CGL 2026?
The last date is 22 June 2026 at 11:00 PM at ssc.gov.in. Do not wait for the last day — apply early to avoid website load issues.
Q3. What is the SSC CGL 2026 Tier 1 exam date?
Tier 1 is tentatively scheduled for August–September 2026. Exact dates will be released separately on ssc.gov.in closer to the exam.
Q4. Can a final-year graduate apply for SSC CGL 2026?
Yes — candidates appearing in their final year of graduation are also eligible to apply, provided they complete their degree by the cutoff date 01 August 2026.
Q5. What is new in SSC CGL 2026 compared to previous years?
Sectional timing has been introduced in Tier 1 — each section (Reasoning, GK, Quant, English) will have a fixed 15-minute window. You cannot move time between sections. This is the biggest pattern change in 2026.
Q6. What is the application fee for SSC CGL 2026?
General/OBC/EWS candidates pay ₹100/-. Women candidates, SC/ST, PwBD, and Ex-Servicemen are fully exempted from fee payment.
Q7. Which is the best post in SSC CGL 2026?
The most valued posts are Assistant Audit Officer (C&AG) at Level 8 (highest pay, fast promotion to Group A), Inspector of Income Tax (CBDT), and Assistant Section Officer (CSS). For career growth, AAO and CSS are considered the best long-term picks.
Q8. What is the salary of SSC CGL 2026 posts?
Salary varies by post — from Pay Level 4 (₹25,500 basic for UDC/Tax Assistant) to Pay Level 8 (₹47,600 for AAO). In-hand salary for top posts like IT Inspector and CBI SI is approximately ₹65,000–75,000/month after HRA and allowances.
Bookmark rozgarofficial.com for SSC CGL 2026 admit card, answer key, result, and cut off updates. Also check our SSC preparation study plan to start your preparation the right way today.
