The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) conducts the Combined Graduate Level (CGL) Examination annually to recruit candidates for various posts across Central Government departments and offices. To ensure fairness and transparency from candidates, SSC has established specific SSC CGL eligibility criteria that applicants must meet to participate in the examination process. These criteria include age limits, educational qualifications, nationality requirements, category-based relaxations, and physical standards. Read the article for full information on this.
SSC CGL Eligibility Criteria 2025
It is important for candidates to thoroughly understand and fulfil all the eligibility conditions before applying, as failing to meet any one of them may lead to disqualification at later stages. Overall, the SSC CGL eligibility criteria ensure that only suitable candidates get the opportunity to serve in various important roles in the Central Government.
Age Limit (Post-wise)
The SSC CGL exam offers a variety of posts across multiple departments, each with its own age limit. For example, the maximum age for the Junior Statistical Officer is up to 32 years, reflecting the specialised nature of the post and the requirement for technical expertise. On the other hand, posts like Assistant Section Officer in various ministries have an age range of 20 to 30 years.
Age Limit | Post | Ministry / Department / Office / Cadre |
---|---|---|
Up to 32 years | Junior Statistical Officer | Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation |
Upto 30 Years | Assistant Audit Officer | Indian Audit & Accounts Department (C&AG) |
Assistant Accounts Officer | Indian Audit & Accounts Department (C&AG) | |
Inspector of Income Tax | Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) | |
Inspector (Central Excise), Preventive Officer, Examiner | Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC) | |
Inspector | Central Bureau of Narcotics | |
Assistant | Various Ministries / Departments / Organisations | |
Assistant/Superintendent | Various Ministries / Departments / Organisations | |
Divisional Accountant | Offices under the Comptroller & Auditor General (C&AG) | |
Sub-Inspector / Junior Intelligence Officer | Narcotics Control Bureau (Ministry of Home Affairs) | |
Assistant Enforcement Officer | Directorate of Enforcement, Department of Revenue | |
Sub-Inspector | National Investigation Agency (NIA) | |
20-30 years | Assistant Section Officer | Central Secretariat Service, Intelligence Bureau, Ministry of Railways, Ministry of External Affairs, Armed Forces Headquarters (AFHQ) |
Sub-Inspector | Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) | |
18-27 years | Auditor | Offices under C&AG, other Ministries / Departments, Offices under CGDA |
Accountant | Offices under C&AG | |
Accountant / Junior Accountant | Other Ministries / Departments | |
Postal Assistant / Sorting Assistant | Department of Post, Ministry of Communications | |
Senior Secretariat Assistant / Upper Division Clerk | Central Government Offices | |
Senior Administrative Assistant | Military Engineering Services, Ministry of Defence | |
Tax Assistant | CBDT, CBIC | |
Sub-Inspector | Central Bureau of Narcotics | |
Upper Division Clerk | Directorate General Border Roads Organisation (Ministry of Defence) |
Also Check: What Documents are required for SSC CGL Recruitment 2025?
Age Relaxation
SSC also grants age relaxations to candidates from reserved categories and special backgrounds. For instance, candidates from the OBC category receive a 3-year relaxation, while SC/ST candidates receive a 5-year relaxation. This provision also extends to ex-servicemen, central government employees, and candidates from Jammu & Kashmir, among others.
Category | Relaxation |
---|---|
OBC | 3 years |
SC/ST | 5 years |
Physically Handicapped (General) | 10 years |
Physically Handicapped (OBC) | 13 years |
Physically Handicapped (SC/ST) | 15 years |
Ex-Servicemen (General) | 3 years |
Ex-Servicemen (OBC) | 6 years |
Ex-Servicemen (SC/ST) | 8 years |
Central Govt. Civilian Employees (General-Group B) | 5 years |
Central Govt. Civilian Employees (OBC-Group B) | 8 years |
Central Govt. Civilian Employees (SC/ST-Group B) | 10 years |
Central Govt. Civilian Employees (General-Group C) | Up to 40 years of age |
Central Govt. Civilian Employees (OBC-Group C) | Up to 43 years of age |
Central Govt. Civilian Employees (SC/ST-Group C) | Up to 45 years of age |
Candidates domiciled in Jammu & Kashmir (General) | 5 years |
Candidates domiciled in Jammu & Kashmir (OBC) | 8 years |
Candidates domiciled in Jammu & Kashmir (SC/ST) | 10 years |
Widows/Divorced Women/Women judicially separated and not remarried (Group C/General) | Up to 35 years of age |
Widows/Divorced Women/Women judicially separated and not remarried (Group C/OBC) | Up to 38 years of age |
Widows/Divorced Women/Women judicially separated and not remarried (Group C/SC & ST) | Up to 40 years of age |
Defence Personnel disabled in hostilities (General) | 5 years |
Defence Personnel disabled in hostilities (OBC) | 8 years |
Defence Personnel disabled in hostilities (SC/ST) | 10 years |
Educational Qualification (Post-wise)
Posts like Assistant Audit Officer (AAO) seek graduates from any stream but prefer candidates with qualifications like CA, CMA, CS, or a master’s degree in commerce or finance-related fields. This reflects the financial responsibilities associated with the position. For full details on the post-wise educational qualification of candidates, check the table.
Post | Educational Qualification |
---|---|
Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) | Bachelor’s degree in any subject from a recognised University or Institute with at least 60% marks in Mathematics at the 12th standard level, or a Bachelor’s degree with Statistics as a subject at degree level. |
Assistant Audit Officer/ Assistant Accounts Officer (AAO) | Essential: Bachelor’s degree in any subject from a recognised University.
Desirable: Chartered Accountant, Cost & Management Accountant, Company Secretary, Master’s in Commerce, Business Studies, Business Administration (Finance), or Business Economics. |
Statistical Investigator Grade-II | Bachelor’s degree in any subject with Statistics as one of the subjects from a recognised University or Institute. Candidates must have studied Statistics in all three years of the graduation course. |
Assistant in the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) | Essential: Bachelor’s degree from a recognised University or Institute.
Desirable: Degree in Law from a recognised University. |
Research Assistant in the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) | Essential: Bachelor’s degree from a recognised University or Institute.
Desirable: Minimum one-year research experience in any recognised university or research institution, or a degree in Law or Human Rights from a recognised University. |
Other Posts | Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised University or equivalent. |
Nationality
- A Citizen of India,
- A Citizen of Nepal,
- A Citizen of Bhutan,
- A Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1 January 1962, intending to live here permanently,
- A person of Indian origin who moved to India from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, or from East African countries like Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania (which was once Tanganyika and Zanzibar), Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, or Vietnam, planning to stay in India for good.
Also Check: SSC CGL Section Head Salary 2025, Job Profile, Promotion Opportunities
SSC CGL Eligibility Criteria for People with Disabilities (PwD)
SSC also accommodates candidates with disabilities. For the candidate’s convenience, the list has been shared below.
Ministry/Department | Post Name | SSC CGL Eligibility Criteria |
---|---|---|
C&AG | Asstt. Audit/ Accounts Officer (AAO) | Deaf/Hard of hearing; Locomotor disability, dwarfism, leprosy cured, acid attack victims; Multiple disabilities (above) |
Auditor | Same as above | |
Accountant | Same as above | |
CSS | Assistant Section Officer | Locomotor disability (includes dwarfism, leprosy cured, acid attack victims; excludes muscular dystrophy & cerebral palsy) |
MEA | Assistant Section Officer | Locomotor (OAL, OL, OA, BL), dwarfism, cerebral palsy, leprosy cured, acid attack victims, muscular dystrophy; blind/low vision; deaf/HH; specific learning disability |
AFHQ | Assistant Section Officer | Cerebral palsy, deaf, leprosy cured, acid attack victims, dwarfism, muscular dystrophy, specific learning disability, multiple disabilities except deaf |
MoEIT | ASO | Locomotor disability (OAL, OL, OA, BLOA, BL), including cerebral palsy, leprosy cured, dwarfism, acid attack victims, muscular dystrophy; blind/low vision; deaf/HH; autism, mental illness, specific learning disability |
SSA/UDC | Same as above | |
Ministry of Home Affairs | Tax Assistant & Inspector of Income Tax | Locomotor, visual, hearing impairment; multiple disabilities |
MoSPI | JSO | Low vision (correctable), hearing impairment (with aids), locomotor (OA, OL, OAL, BL), mobility unaffected |
Statistical Investigator | Low vision, hearing impairment, locomotor disabilities (OA, OL, OAL, BL), leprosy cured, dwarfism, cerebral palsy, acid attack victims, mobility unaffected | |
Auditor | Deaf/HH; locomotor (OA, OL, BL) including leprosy cured, dwarfism, acid attack victims, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy; specific learning disability, multiple disabilities |
SSC CGL Eligibility Criteria: Physical Standards
Certain SSC CGL posts, especially in enforcement and inspection roles, require candidates to meet specific physical standards to ensure they can handle field duties effectively. Check the physical standards required by male and female candidates to follow the SSC CGL eligibility criteria pattern.
For Male Candidates
Criteria | Details |
---|---|
Height | 157.5 cm (Height relaxable by 5 cm for Garwalis, Assamese, Gorkhas, and STs) |
Chest | 81 cm (fully expanded), with a minimum expansion of 5 cm |
Weight | – |
Walking Test | 1600 metres in 15 minutes |
Cycling Test | 8 km in 30 minutes |
For Female Candidates
Criteria | Details |
---|---|
Height | 152 cm (Height relaxable by 2.5 cm for Garwalis, Assamese, Gorkhas, and STs) |
Weight | 48 kg (Weight relaxable by 2 kg for Garwalis, Assamese, Gorkhas, and STs) |
Walking Test | 1 km in 20 minutes |
Cycling Test | 3 km in 25 minutes |