What is the age limit for SSC CGL 2026?

Candidates must be between 18 and 32 years of age, depending on the post applied for. Age relaxation is applicable for reserved categories as per government rules.

When will the SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam 2026 be conducted?

SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam 2026 is scheduled to be held between August and September 2026.

How many attempts are allowed in SSC CGL?

There is no restriction on the number of attempts. Candidates can appear for the exam as long as they meet the eligibility criteria and age limit.

Which posts are offered in SSC CGL?

Popular posts include Assistant Section Officer (ASO), Assistant Audit Officer (AAO), Income Tax Inspector, Examiner, Assistant Enforcement Officer, Auditor, Accountant, Tax Assistant, and Junior Statistical Officer (JSO).

Can candidates from any stream apply for SSC CGL?

Yes, candidates from Arts, Commerce, Science, Engineering, and other streams can apply, provided they meet the eligibility criteria for the post.

SSC CGL Notification 2026 Out for 12256 Group B and C Vacancy, Application Ends Today

The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has released the SSC CGL Notification 2026 on its official website for 12,256 vacancies for various Group B and Group C posts in Central Government Ministries, Departments, Constitutional Bodies, Statutory Bodies, and Tribunals. The application process is now over and the Tier 1 exam dates will be announced soon. Check out what’s new this year in the SSC CGL 2026 Exam and how to prepare.

SSC CGL Notification 2026

The detailed notification contains information regarding vacancies, eligibility criteria, exam pattern, selection process, salary structure, reservation policy, and application instructions. Candidates are advised to read the notification carefully before submitting their application forms.

Download SSC CGL Notification 2026 PDF

What’s New in SSC CGL in 2026?

The two major changes made by SSC that have attracted widespread attention are: reintroduction of AAO post after a few years, and introduction of sectional timing; other than that, the selection process, salary, and exam pattern remain the same.

New Changes Introduced by SSC for CGL 2026 Exam:

Change	Details
AAO Posts Added	SSC has reintroduced the posts of Assistant Audit Officer (AAO) and Assistant Accounts Officer (AAO) under the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (C&AG). These posts fall under Pay Level 8, offering a higher salary.
Sectional Timing in Tier 1	Each section in Tier 1 has separate sectional timing of 15 minutes (total 60 mins)
Sectional Timing in Tier 2	Like Tier 1, Tier 2 also has sectional timings.
Paper III for AAO Posts	Candidates applying for AAO and Assistant Accounts Officer posts must appear for Paper III (General Studies – Finance & Economics) in Tier 2.
New Streams for Statistical Investigator	SSC has expanded eligibility for the Statistical Investigator Grade-II post by including candidates from Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data Science, Information Technology (IT), Computer Science, and related streams.

SSC CGL 2026 – Highlights

Particulars	Details
Exam Name	SSC CGL 2026
Conducting Body	Staff Selection Commission
Vacancy	12,256
Posts	Group B & Group C
Qualification	Graduation
Age Limit	18 to 32 Years (Post-wise)
Application Dates	21 May to 25 June 2026 (extended)
Selection Process	Tier 1, Tier 2, DV
Tier 1 Exam	August–September 2026
Tier 2 Exam	December 2026
Official Website	ssc.gov.in

Important Dates

Event	Date
Online Application Start Date	21 May 2026
Last Date to Apply Online	25 June 2026 (11:00 PM)
Last Date for Fee Payment	26 June 2026 (11:00 PM)
Application Correction Window	1st to 3rd July 2026 (11:00 PM)
City Intimation	TBA
Admit Card	TBA
SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam	August–September 2026
SSC CGL Tier 2 Exam	December 2026

SSC CGL Selection Process

The Selection Process consists of two examination stages: Tier 1 and Tier 2. There is no Interview in the process.

Stage 1: Tier 1/Prelims Exam

The Tier 1 exam is a computer-based test.
This stage is qualifying in nature, and marks are not added to the final list.
Only those who qualify in Tier 1, will be called for Tier 2.

Stage 2: Tier 2/Mains Exam

Like Tier 1, this is also a CBT mode test, and candidates who pass Tier 1, will be eligible for Tier 2.
It consists of both an Objective paper and a Typing/Skill Test.
Tier 2 consists of Papers I, II, and III. Paper I is compulsory for all posts, and others are post-specific.
This stage decides the final merit list.

Stage 3: Answer Key & Objection Process

SSC will release provisional answer keys and response sheet for both Tier 1 and Tier 2.
Candidates can check official answers to the questions asked in the exam.
An objection window will opened and after considering the answer key objections, a final answer key will be released by SSC.

Stage 4: Document Verification (DV)

SSC will verify educational certificates, category certificates, ID proof, and other required documents.

SSC CGL Exam Pattern

The tier 1 and tier 2 exam patterns have been discussed in detail below. Candidates are advised to go through the latest pattern and start preparing accordingly.

Tier 1 Exam Pattern

Sections	Sectional Timing	No. of Questions	Marks	Remarks
English Comprehension	15 Mins	25	50	Each question carries 2 marks Negative Mark: 0.50 mark MCQ-type question format
General Awareness	15 Mins	25	50
General Intelligence and Reasoning	15 Mins	25	50
Quantitative Aptitude	15 Mins	25	50
Total	60 Mins	100	200

Tier 2 Exam Pattern

Paper	Session	Section	Subject	No. of Questions	Maximum Marks	Duration	Weightage
Paper I	Session I	Section I	Mathematical Abilities	30	90	30 minutes	23%
		Section I	Reasoning and General Intelligence	30	90	30 minutes	23%
		Section II	English Language and Comprehension	45	135	40 minutes	35%
		Section II	General Awareness	25	75	20 minutes	19%
		Section III	Computer Knowledge Test	20	60	15 minutes	–
	Session II	Section III	Data Entry Speed Test	One Data Entry Task	Qualifying	15 minutes	–
Paper II	For JSO only	Statistics	Statistics	100	200	2 hours	–
Paper III	for AAO only	General Studies	General Studies (Finance and Economics)	100	200	2 hours	–

How Sectional Timing Will Impact SSC CGL Preparation?

For the first time, SSC has introduced sectional timing in both Tier 1 and Tier 2 examinations. In Tier 1, candidates will get 15 minutes for each section. Once the allotted time for a section ends, the system will automatically move to the next section.

This change makes balanced preparation more important, as candidates will no longer be able to spend extra time on stronger sections to compensate for weaker ones

How to Prepare for the SSC CGL Exam in 2026?

With new changes now introduced by the Commission, candidates must revise their strategy as well. Here, are some tips that will help you get ahead of the competition.

Practice Strict Sectional Timing: With sectional timing, you can no longer borrow time from other subjects, so focus on solving all questions in a strict time limit environment.

Target AAO If You Have a Finance Background: The reintroduced AAO posts sit at Pay Level 8 (highest in CGL) but require an additional Paper III on Finance & Economics. If commerce is your strength, prioritise this post.

Solve Previous Year Papers: SSC CGL has a consistent question style. Solving the last 5 years’ papers helps you identify high-weightage topics and manage exam-day time better.

Take Regular Mock Tests: Attempt full-length mocks with sectional timing and review your performance section-by-section after every test.

SSC CGL Mock Test 2026

SSC CGL Online Coaching 2026