SSC CGL Eligibility 2026 – Age Limit, Qualification & Age Relaxation

SSC CGL Eligibility 2026 covers age limit, educational qualification, nationality, and post-wise physical standards. Before applying for SSC CGL 2026, every candidate must verify that they meet all the eligibility criteria listed by the Staff Selection Commission.

SSC CGL 2026 Eligibility Criteria at a Glance

SSC CGL Age Limit 2026 (Post-Wise)

The age limit for SSC CGL 2026 varies by post. Most Group B posts have an upper age limit of 30 years while Group C posts may go up to 27 years. Here is the post-wise age limit:

SSC CGL Age Relaxation 2026

SSC provides age relaxation to candidates belonging to reserved categories. The relaxation is applied to the maximum age limit of the post applied for.

Educational Qualification for SSC CGL 2026

The basic educational qualification for SSC CGL is a Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline from a recognised university. However, certain posts require specific qualifications:

Nationality Criteria

A candidate must be one of the following to be eligible for SSC CGL 2026:

• A citizen of India, or
• A subject of Nepal or Bhutan, or
• A Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1st January 1962, or
A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries, etc., with the intention of permanently settling in India.

Candidates belonging to Nepal, Bhutan, or Tibetan/Indian origin categories need a certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India.

Physical Standards (for Inspector-level posts)

Posts such as Inspector (Central Excise), Inspector (Examiner), Inspector (Preventive Officer), and Sub Inspector (CBI/NIA) have physical and medical standards. Candidates applying for these posts should meet the following:

• Height (Male): 157.5 cm
• Chest (Male): 81 cm (unexpanded), 5 cm expansion
• Height (Female): 152 cm
• Weight (Female): 48 kg
• Vision: Near vision N6 in each eye; Far vision 6/6 in each eye (with/without glasses)

Important Links — SSC CGL 2026 Cluster

• SSC CGL 2026 Complete Guide — Pillar Hub
• SSC CGL Exam Pattern 2026
• SSC CGL Salary 2026
• SSC CGL Syllabus 2026
• SSC CGL Cutoff 2026
• SSC CGL Post List 2026
• SSC CGL 2026 Notification
• SSC Exams 2026 — Master Guide

How to Check Eligibility Before Applying for SSC CGL 2026

Before filling the SSC CGL 2026 application form, candidates should complete a quick eligibility check. Follow these steps:

1. Check your age: Calculate your age as on the closing date of application. Compare it with the post-wise age limit table above and verify the relaxation applicable to your category.
2. Confirm your degree: Your Bachelor’s Degree must be from a UGC-recognised university. Degrees from open universities or distance learning are also accepted provided the university has UGC recognition.
3. Check nationality: Indian citizens are directly eligible. Candidates of Nepali/Bhutanese/Tibetan/PIO origin need the relevant certificate of eligibility from the Government of India.
4. Post-specific qualification check: If you want to apply for JSO or Statistical Investigator, confirm that you have Statistics or Mathematics as a subject in your graduation.
5. Physical standards (Inspector posts): If targeting Inspector of Central Excise, Examiner, Preventive Officer, or Sub Inspector (CBI/NIA), verify the physical standards before applying to avoid rejection at the medical stage.

SSC CGL 2026 Number of Attempts

SSC CGL does not impose a restriction on the number of attempts. Candidates can appear in SSC CGL every year as long as they are within the eligible age limit for the post. There is no lifetime attempt cap unlike UPSC Civil Services.

This makes SSC CGL accessible to candidates who may not clear it in the first attempt. Many candidates appear 3–5 times before getting selected into their preferred post.

Can Candidates with Backlogs Apply?

Yes. SSC CGL does not require a minimum percentage or a backlog-free record. As long as the candidate has a passing certificate (degree) from a recognised university by the time of document verification, they are eligible. Candidates with supplementary or compartment results are also eligible provided the final degree is awarded before joining.

SSC CGL Eligibility for Female Candidates

There is no gender restriction for most SSC CGL posts. Female candidates can apply for all posts including Inspector-level posts. However, the physical standard requirements for Inspector posts (Central Excise, Examiner, Preventive Officer) differ for female candidates — height of 152 cm and weight of 48 kg. Female candidates are exempted from the chest measurement requirement.

Anuj Baghel ✓

Government Jobs Editor • 58 articles • 6 min read

Anuj Baghel is the founder and chief editor of RozgarOfficial.com, a leading government jobs portal covering exam notifications, admit cards,...