SSC Combined Graduate Level (CGL) Examination — Eligibility, Pattern, Syllabus, Salary & Vacancy 2026
Conducting Body: Staff Selection Commission (SSC), Government of India
SSC CGL is the gateway to ~14,000 Group B and Group C posts across central ministries — Income Tax, Customs, Audit, Statistical Investigator, and the prestigious Assistant Section Officer cadre. Conducted yearly with two tiers since 2022.
About SSC CGL
The SSC Combined Graduate Level Examination (CGL) is the largest and most popular Sarkari exam for graduates in India. Each year, approximately 35–40 lakh aspirants apply and ~25 lakh actually appear, competing for around 14,000 Group B (Gazetted) and Group C posts across 30+ central ministries and departments. The exam was last restructured in 2022, reducing the four-tier format to two tiers — Tier-1 (qualifying) and Tier-2 (merit-deciding).
Top posts available through SSC CGL include: Assistant Section Officer (CSS) at ministries in Delhi, Assistant Audit Officer (Group B Gazetted, AAO is the most coveted post), Inspector at CGST/Customs/Central Excise, Inspector (Examiner) at Customs, Inspector of Income Tax (CBDT), Sub-Inspector in CBI, NIA, NCB, Junior Statistical Officer (NSSO), Auditor (CAG), Tax Assistant (CBDT/CBIC), and Postal Senior Auditor.
Selection is purely on Tier-2 marks since the 2022 revision (Tier-1 is qualifying-only). Final posting depends on rank and post preference. Top 1,500 ranks usually get ASO/AAO/Inspector posts; ranks 5,000–10,000 get Tax Assistant or Auditor; below that, Junior Statistical Officer or Postal Senior Auditor. Posting state is allotted based on rank, preference, and category — All-India recruitment with no state quota.
SSC CGL Eligibility 2026
| Qualification | Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university. For Statistical Investigator post, Statistics as a subject in graduation. For AAO post, B.Com or specific qualifications. |
|---|---|
| Minimum Age | 18 years |
| Maximum Age (General) | 32 years (relaxed for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD/ESM as per rules) |
| Nationality | Indian citizen, or subject of Nepal/Bhutan, or Tibetan refugee, or person of Indian origin migrated from specific countries. |
SSC CGL Salary & Pay Scale 2026
| Pay Level | Level 4 (₹25,500) to Level 8 (₹47,600) |
|---|---|
| Basic Pay (entry) | ₹25,500 – ₹47,600 |
| Approx. Gross Salary | ₹40,000 – ₹78,000 per month (depending on post and city) |
| Application Fee (General) | ₹100 (General/OBC/EWS) |
| Application Fee (Reserved) | Free for SC/ST/PwBD/ESM/Women |
SSC CGL Exam Pattern 2026
| Stage | Mode | Duration | Questions | Marks | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tier-1 (Qualifying) | Computer-Based (Online) | 60 min | 100 | 200 | -0.50 per wrong |
| Tier-2 Paper-1 (Merit) | Computer-Based (Online) | 165 min | 150 | 450 | -1.00 (Math/Reasoning), -0.25 (GA) |
| Tier-2 Paper-2 (Statistics) | Computer-Based (post-specific) | 120 min | 100 | 200 | -0.50 per wrong |
| Tier-2 Paper-3 (General Studies for AAO) | Computer-Based (post-specific) | 120 min | 100 | 200 | -0.50 per wrong |
SSC CGL Syllabus Highlights
- Quantitative Aptitude — Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Mensuration, Data Interpretation
- English Language and Comprehension — Grammar, Vocabulary, Reading Comprehension, Cloze Test, Para Jumbles, Error Spotting
- General Intelligence and Reasoning — Verbal and Non-verbal — Series, Analogy, Coding-Decoding, Puzzles, Syllogism, Statement-Conclusion
- General Awareness — Indian History, Polity, Geography, Economy, Static GK, General Science, Current Affairs (last 6 months)
- Computer Knowledge (in Tier-2 GA) — Basics of MS Office, Internet, Cyber Security
- Tier-2 Paper-2 (Statistics): Probability, Sampling, Time Series, Index Numbers — for JSO post only
- Tier-2 Paper-3 (General Studies — Finance & Economics): Public Finance, Indian Economy, GST, Budget — for AAO post only
SSC CGL — Important Points to Remember
- Notification: typically June; Tier-1: September; Tier-2: December–January; Final result: April–May of next year
- Recent normalisation: SSC uses topper-based normalisation across 23–28 shifts of Tier-1
- AAO is the most demanded post: only ~250 vacancies, requires B.Com or equivalent commerce-stream qualification
- Posting in Delhi NCR for ASO and AAO; other posts have All-India transferable cadre
- Tier-3 (descriptive) was removed in 2022; Tier-4 (CPT/DEST) remains as a qualifying skill test for select posts
SSC CGL Vacancy Trend (Recent Years)
SSC CGL 2024 notification announced 17,727 vacancies (highest in recent years). SSC CGL 2023 had 8,415 vacancies, 2022 had 7,500, 2021 had 7,686. The 2024 hike was driven by long-pending vacancies in Income Tax, Customs, and CGST cadres being released after a regularisation drive.
Frequently Asked Questions — SSC CGL 2026
Q1. Is SSC CGL difficult?
Tier-1 is moderately difficult — focused on speed and accuracy across 4 sections in 60 minutes. Tier-2 is significantly harder — Quantitative Aptitude is the differentiator. Top scorers typically attempt 95+ in Tier-1 and 130+ in Tier-2 Paper-1.
Q2. What is the salary of an SSC CGL Inspector after 5 years?
Inspector (CGST/Income Tax) starts at Level 7 (₹44,900). After 5 years with two annual increments (3% each compounded), basic reaches ~₹52,000. With DA (53%), HRA (X-class), Transport Allowance — gross is around ₹85,000–₹95,000 per month in Delhi.
Q3. Is there interview in SSC CGL?
No. SSC removed interviews from CGL in 2016. Selection is based purely on written exam (Tier-2) and qualifying skill tests. This is a major attraction — no subjective evaluation in selection.
Q4. Can a final-year student apply for SSC CGL?
Yes, provided you can produce the graduation degree certificate by the cut-off date for document verification (usually mentioned in the notification — typically 1 January of the recruitment year).
Q5. How many attempts are allowed in SSC CGL?
No attempt limit. Only the upper age limit applies — General 32 (with category-wise relaxation). You can appear every year until you cross the maximum age.
Official Information
For the most current notification, eligibility updates, and application links, always visit the official website: https://ssc.gov.in. ExamResultDekho.com – Sarkari Job Alert is an information portal — we do not conduct any exam or process applications. Always verify deadlines and apply through the conducting body's official portal.
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Related Sarkari Terms
Understand key concepts used in this exam — see our Sarkari Glossary for definitions of cut-off marks, normalisation, EWS, OBC-NCL, Pay Matrix, document verification and more.