SSC CGL (Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level) Exam is a national-level competitive exam for recruiting Group B and Group C officers
Total vacancies 12,256
Application fee 100
Exam tiers 2 (CBT) Salary range 25.5K–1.51L
Eligibility Criteria
- Nationality: Indian citizen (or certain other specified categories as per rules).
- Educational Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized university. For specific posts like Junior Statistical Officer (JSO), additional requirements (e.g., Statistics or Mathematics in graduation) apply. Final-year students can apply provisionally if they complete their degree before document verification.
- Age Limit (as on the cutoff date, usually 1st August of the exam year): Generally 18–32 years, varying by post.
Post-wise Age Limits (typical ranges):
- Many posts (e.g., Assistant Section Officer, Inspector, Tax Assistant): 18–27/30 years.
- Assistant Audit/Accounts Officer, some Inspectors: Up to 30 years.
- Junior Statistical Officer: Up to 32 years.
Age Relaxations:
- OBC: +3 years
- SC/ST: +5 years
- PwBD: +10/15 years (depending on category)
- Ex-Servicemen and others: As per government rules.
No limit on the number of attempts as long as you meet the age criteria.
Salary Structure (7th Pay Commission)
Salaries vary by Pay Level (4 to 8). In-hand salary includes Basic Pay + Dearness Allowance (DA, currently around 50%+ and revised biannually), House Rent Allowance (HRA: 27%/18%/9% for X/Y/Z cities), Transport Allowance, and other perks like medical benefits (CGHS), NPS pension, etc.
Approximate Post-wise Details:
| Post | Pay Level | Basic Pay (starting) | Approx. In-Hand Salary (varies by city) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assistant Audit Officer / Assistant Accounts Officer | 8 | ₹47,600 | ₹68,000–₹80,000+ |
| Assistant Section Officer (CSS, MEA, etc.) | 7 | ₹44,900 | ₹55,000–₹70,000 |
| Inspector (Income Tax, Excise, Preventive, etc.) | 7 | ₹44,900 | ₹55,000–₹65,000 |
| Assistant Enforcement Officer | 7 | ₹44,900 | ₹55,000–₹65,000 |
| Sub-Inspector (CBI, NIA) / Junior Statistical Officer | 6 | ₹35,400 | ₹45,000–₹55,000 |
| Auditor / Accountant | 5 | ₹29,200 | ₹38,000–₹48,000 |
| Tax Assistant / UDC | 4 | ₹25,500 | ₹33,000–₹42,000 |
Gross salary can reach higher with increments, promotions (every 5–7 years typically), and allowances. Total CTC is attractive with job security and benefits.
Exam Pattern (2026)
The exam has two main tiers (Tier-1 is qualifying; Tier-2 is merit-determining). No Tier-3/4 descriptive or skill test in the latest pattern for most candidates.
Tier-1 (Screening, CBT)
- Mode: Online, Objective MCQs
- Total: 100 Questions, 200 Marks, 60 minutes
- Sections (25 Qs / 50 Marks each, 15 min per section):
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 25 | 50 |
| General Awareness | 25 | 50 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 |
| English Comprehension | 25 | 50 |
| Total | 100 | 200 |
- Negative Marking: 0.50 marks per wrong answer.
- Qualifying nature only.
Tier-2 (Main Exam, CBT)
- Paper 1 (Compulsory for all): Multi-section, ~2.5 hours total.
- Session I: Mathematical Abilities (30 Qs/90 marks), Reasoning & General Intelligence (30 Qs/90 marks), English Language & Comprehension (45 Qs/135 marks), General Awareness (25 Qs/75 marks).
- Session II: Computer Knowledge Test (20 Qs/60 marks, qualifying) + Data Entry Speed Test (qualifying).
- Paper 2 (Statistics): For JSO posts – 100 Qs, 200 marks, 2 hours.
- Paper 3 (General Studies – Finance & Economics): For AAO posts – 100 Qs, 200 marks, 2 hours.
Negative Marking: 1 mark (most sections in Paper 1), 0.50 for Paper 2.
Final Selection: Based on Tier-2 marks + document verification. Preference for posts is filled via option form.
For the latest official notification (2026, ~12,256 vacancies), check ssc.gov.in directly, as details like exact vacancies, dates, and post preferences can be updated there.
Preparation tip: Focus on speed & accuracy for Tier-1 and in-depth concepts for Tier-2 Quant, English, and Reasoning. Use previous papers and mocks. Good luck!