2026 examination guide

SSC CGL Exam 2026: Eligibility, Pattern, Syllabus and Preparation

Graduate-level route to Group B and Group C roles across central ministries, departments and organisations.

Last reviewed12 August 2026
Source statusChecked against SSC calendar/notice system
Official action sitessc.gov.in

What is SSC CGL?

Graduate-level route to Group B and Group C roles across central ministries, departments and organisations. SSC conducts the recruitment under an examination notice that defines the posts, vacancies, age cut-off, reservation, fee, examination scheme and document rules. This guide helps you understand the route; the latest notice remains final.

Education

Bachelor’s degree; a few posts have additional subject/statistics requirements.

Jobs covered

Assistant Section Officer, Inspector, Auditor, Accountant and other notified graduate-level posts.

Age and nationality

Post- and category-specific. Calculate age on the notice’s cut-off date and apply only after checking relaxation and nationality rules.

Pay and posting

Pay level, allowances, department, location and service conditions differ by post. Compare post preferences in the vacancy/notice annexures.

2026 official-calendar window

SSC’s tentative 2026–27 calendar lists the broad window below. A later notice, corrigendum or schedule can replace it.

Advertisement monthMarch 2026
Closing monthApril 2026
Tentative exam windowMay–June 2026
Current vacancy/statusDo not infer live vacancies from the calendar. Open the latest SSC CGL notice on ssc.gov.in and verify whether applications, corrections, city details, admit cards, answer keys or results are currently active.

Eligibility decision

1. Match education exactly

Bachelor’s degree; a few posts have additional subject/statistics requirements. The result/status and cut-off date rules in the notice control eligibility.

2. Check every post condition

Some posts have physical/medical or subject-specific requirements; post preferences must be checked carefully.

3. Calculate age correctly

Use the notified reckoning date—not today’s date. Check post-wise limits and valid category relaxation.

4. Prepare documents

Keep name/date-of-birth records, education proofs, photo/signature, category certificates and post-specific evidence consistent.

Selection process

Clearing one stage does not remove later eligibility, skill, physical, medical or document requirements.

01Tier I computer-based examination
02Tier II computer-based examination
03Post-specific qualifying modules such as DEST, where notified
04Document verification by the allocated department

Exam pattern at a glance

Stage Coverage Purpose
Tier I General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, English Comprehension Screening/shortlisting under the notified scheme
Tier II · Paper I Mathematical Abilities, Reasoning, English, General Awareness, Computer Knowledge, DEST Compulsory modules, with qualifying sections as notified
Tier II · Paper II Statistics Only for posts/candidates covered by the notice
Marking ruleQuestion counts, marks, timing, normalisation, negative marking and qualifying standards can change. Use the current official scheme before building your timed-test strategy.

Syllabus map

Use this as an orientation, then open the detailed syllabus page and cross-check it against the current notification.

01

Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, mensuration, trigonometry and data interpretation

02

Analogy, series, coding, classification, logic and non-verbal reasoning

03

English grammar, vocabulary, comprehension and usage

04

Current affairs, history, geography, polity, economy, science and static awareness

05

Computer basics and data-entry accuracy for notified modules

Preparation strategy

Foundation

Map the official syllabus, diagnose your baseline, and rebuild weak concepts before chasing full mocks.

Topic practice

Solve original SSC-pattern questions by topic. Record wrong answers, guessed answers and time-consuming methods.

Timed sections

Move to timed sectional tests only after accuracy is stable. Review every attempt before the next test.

Full simulation

Use the notified duration and marking rule. Combine mock analysis with revision, skill or physical preparation.

Study materialPrefer the official syllabus and notices, NCERT-level concept sources where relevant, one dependable practice source per subject, and your own error/revision notebook. Avoid collecting many books without completing them.

Application-to-result flow

01Read notice and complete OTR
02Apply, pay if applicable, save PDF
03Check city details and admit card
04Review answer key/objection window
05Read result, cut-off and DV instructions

SSCExam.in will explain each stage, but registration, login, payment, correction, admission certificate, answer-key objection and official result actions must be completed through ssc.gov.in or the destination named in the notice.

Practice and previous-paper policy

We publish original, newly typed SSC-pattern practice with worked explanations. A page is not described as an official previous-year paper unless SSC has released it or reuse rights are clear. Thin year shells remain outside the index until they contain unique reviewed material.

Frequently asked questions

Who can apply for SSC CGL?

Bachelor’s degree; a few posts have additional subject/statistics requirements. Age, nationality, category and post-specific requirements must match the current notice.

What is the SSC CGL selection process?

Tier I computer-based examination; Tier II computer-based examination; Post-specific qualifying modules such as DEST, where notified; Document verification by the allocated department. The current notification controls the exact sequence and qualifying rules.

When is the SSC CGL exam?

The tentative calendar window is May–June 2026. Confirm the exact date, city and shift through the latest SSC notice and candidate login.

Where should I confirm changes?

Use ssc.gov.in, the current examination notice, corrigenda, candidate login and regional/departmental instructions where referenced.

Related guidance

Prepared by SSCExam.in Editorial Desk
Source review completed on 12 August 2026. Corrections are logged and checked against the latest official document.
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