The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) will officially release the notification for the Combined Graduate Level (CGL) 2026 examination soon. This much-awaited announcement opens the gateway to thousands of prestigious Group B and C posts in various central government departments.
SSC CGL 2026 Notification
The notification marks the start of the recruitment process.
The Tier-I exam is expected to be held in the coming months.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release Date | March 31, 2026 |
| Application Start Date | March 31, 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | April 30, 2026 |
| Tier‑I Exam Date | May – June 2026 |
| Tier‑II Exam Date | To be announced later |
SSC CGL (2026) Vacancy Details
While the final, category-wise vacancy numbers will be
confirmed in the detailed official PDF, early reports and trends from previous
years point toward a significant number of openings.citation:6 The 2026
recruitment is expected to announce around 15,000+ vacancies. Last year, a
total of 15,118 vacancies were filled, and a similar trend is anticipated this
year.citation:6
Here is the complete list of posts you can aim for, categorized by their respective pay levels and departments:
| Name of Post | Classification | Pay Level | Department/Ministry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pay Level 8 (₹47,600 – 1,51,100) | |||
| Assistant Audit Officer | Group "B" | Level 8 | C&AG |
| Assistant Accounts Officer | Group "B" | Level 8 | C&AG |
| Pay Level 7 (₹44,900 – 1,42,400) | |||
| Assistant Section Officer (ASO) | Group "B" | Level 7 | CSS, IB, Ministry of Railways, External Affairs, etc. |
| Inspector of Income Tax | Group "C" | Level 7 | CBDT |
| Inspector (Central Excise) | Group "B" | Level 7 | CBIC |
| Inspector (Preventive Officer) | Group "B" | Level 7 | CBIC |
| Assistant Enforcement Officer | Group "B" | Level 7 | Directorate of Enforcement |
| Sub Inspector (CBI) | Group "B" | Level 7 | CBI |
| Pay Level 6 (₹35,400 – 1,12,400) | |||
| Divisional Accountant | Group "B" | Level 6 | C&AG |
| Sub Inspector (NIA) | Group "B" | Level 6 | NIA |
| Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) | Group "B" | Level 6 | Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation |
| Statistical Investigator Gr‑II | Group "B" | Level 6 | Registrar General of India |
| Pay Level 5 (₹29,200 – 92,300) | |||
| Auditor | Group "C" | Level 5 | C&AG, CGDA |
| Accountant / Junior Accountant | Group "C" | Level 5 | Various Ministries |
| Pay Level 4 (₹25,500 – 81,100) | |||
| Tax Assistant | Group "C" | Level 4 | CBDT, CBIC |
| Senior Secretariat Assistant / UDC | Group "C" | Level 4 | Central Govt. Offices |
| Postal Assistant / Sorting Assistant | Group "C" | Level 4 | Department of Posts |
Syllabus
A solid preparation strategy begins with a thorough
understanding of the exam pattern.
Tier-I Syllabus
This is a qualifying exam consisting of four mandatory
sections. It carries a total of 200 marks, with a 1-hour duration.
General Intelligence & Reasoning (25 questions, 50
marks): Analogies, Coding-Decoding, Syllogism, Blood Relations, Seating
Arrangement, etc.
Quantitative Aptitude (25 questions, 50 marks): Number
System, Percentage, Profit & Loss, Time & Work, Geometry, Trigonometry,
Data Interpretation.
General Awareness (25 questions, 50 marks): Current affairs,
history, geography, science, and static GK.
English Comprehension (25 questions, 50 marks): Grammar,
vocabulary, reading comprehension, and sentence structure.
Negative Marking: 0.50 marks for each wrong answer.
Tier-II Syllabus
This phase determines the final merit and comprises Paper 1
(mandatory for all) and Paper 2 (only for JSO candidates).
Paper 1, Session 1 (180 marks): Mathematical Abilities (30
questions) and Reasoning & General Intelligence (30 questions).
Paper 1, Session 2 (210 marks): English Language &
Comprehension (45 questions) and General Awareness (25 questions).
Paper 1, Session 3: Computer Knowledge (60 marks, 20
questions) and a qualifying Data Entry Speed Test (DEST) of 15 minutes.
Paper 2: Statistics (200 marks), only for JSO candidates.
Previous Year Cut-Off
Analyzing previous years' cut-offs gives crucial insight into the competition level. For Tier-I 2025, the SSC revised the cut-off marks for posts other than JSO and Statistical Investigator. A total of 1,31,027 candidates qualified for Tier-II.
SSC CGL Tier-I 2025 Revised Cut-Off Marks (List-3: All Posts
Other than JSO & Statistical Investigator)
| Category | Cut‑Off Marks | Candidates Shortlisted |
|---|---|---|
| Unreserved (UR) | 136.83159 | 20,035 |
| Other Backward Classes (OBC) | 130.36617 | 43,260 |
| Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) | 127.41630 | 20,268 |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 114.97063 | 25,338 |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 106.36936 | 11,729 |
For more specific posts like the Junior Statistical Officer (JSO), the cut-offs are significantly higher:
SSC CGL JSO Tier-I 2025 Cut-Off Marks
| Category | Cut‑Off Marks |
|---|---|
| Unreserved (UR) | 153.46108 |
| OBC | 153.46108 |
| EWS | 151.58638 |
| SC | 137.29518 |
| ST | 136.40211 |
SSC CGL Final 2024 Cut-Off Marks
The final cut-off marks from the 2024 cycle, which combine
Tier-I and Tier-II scores, show the overall standard needed for selection:
UR: 322.77352
OBC: 306.27841
EWS: 300.03797
SC: 285.45888
ST: 266.49513
Salary Structure and Benefits
The salary for SSC CGL posts is highly attractive, ranging
from approximately ₹33,000 to over ₹80,000 per month, depending on the post and
city of posting. The Dearness Allowance (DA) has been hiked to 58% of the basic
pay, effective from July 2025, which significantly boosts the take-home amount.
| Post Name | Pay Level | Approx. Gross Salary Range (X City) |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant Section Officer / Inspector | Level 7 | ₹75,000 – ₹80,000 |
| Junior Statistical Officer | Level 6 | ₹55,000 – ₹60,000 |
| Auditor / Accountant | Level 5 | ₹50,000 – ₹52,000 |
| Tax Assistant / UDC | Level 4 | ₹40,000 – ₹45,000 |
Key Allowances and Perks:
House Rent Allowance (HRA): 27% for X cities, 18% for Y
cities, and 9% for Z cities of the basic pay.
Transport Allowance (TA): Up to ₹3,600 + DA for X cities.
Dearness Allowance (DA): 58% of Basic Pay.
Pension: A guaranteed monthly pension under the National
Pension System (NPS).
Application Process
Candidates can apply through the official SSC website soon.
1. Visit the Website:
Go to the official SSC portal at ssc.gov.in.
2. Registration:
Complete the One-Time Registration (OTR) process if you are a new user.
Existing users can log in directly.
3. Fill Out the Form:
Select the "SSC CGL 2026 Application" link and fill in all personal,
educational, and communication details with utmost accuracy.
4. Upload Documents:
Upload scanned images of your recent photograph and signature as per the
specifications mentioned in the notification.
5. Pay the Fee: Make
the payment online using a debit/credit card, net banking, or UPI. Fee
relaxation is applicable for female, SC/ST, and ex-servicemen candidates.
6. Final Submission:
After reviewing the entire application, submit it and download the confirmation
page for your records.
