SSC CGL 2026: 12,256 Vacancies — Complete Guide on Eligibility, Exam Dates & Preparation

SSC CGL 2026: One of India's Biggest Recruitment Opportunities

The Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level (SSC CGL) examination recruits candidates for a wide range of Group B and C positions in central government ministries, departments, and organisations. The SSC CGL 2026 notification has been released with 12,256 vacancies — one of the highest in recent years, making this a golden opportunity for graduates across India.

SSC CGL 2026 Key Dates

• Notification Released: May 21, 2026
• Application Period: May 21 – June 26, 2026
• Tier 1 Exam: August–September 2026 (expected)
• Tier 2 Exam: November–December 2026 (expected)

Top Posts Under SSC CGL 2026

• Assistant Section Officer (ASO) – MEA, CBI postings
• Income Tax Inspector – CBDT, highly coveted with good pay and perks
• Excise Inspector / Preventive Officer – CBIC
• Assistant Audit Officer / Assistant Accounts Officer – CAG (Gazetted Group B)
• Junior Statistical Officer (JSO)
• Tax Assistant / UDC – Entry-level Group C posts

Eligibility Criteria

• Education: Bachelor's degree from a recognised university
• Age: 18–27 years for Group C posts; 20–30 years for Group B posts (with relaxation for reserved categories)

SSC CGL 2026 Exam Pattern

Tier 1 (Computer Based Test)

Duration: 60 minutes. Negative marking: 0.50 marks per wrong answer.

SSC CGL 2026 Salary

• Group B Gazetted (AAO, AO): Pay Level 8 – Basic ₹47,600/month
• Group B Non-Gazetted (ASO, Income Tax Inspector): Pay Level 7 – Basic ₹44,900/month
• Group C: Pay Level 4–6 – Basic ₹25,500–₹35,400/month

Preparation Strategy

• Reasoning: Analogy, Coding-Decoding, Blood Relations, Non-Verbal Reasoning — practice 30–40 questions daily.
• Quantitative Aptitude: Arithmetic topics (Percentage, Profit–Loss, SI/CI, Time–Work) carry maximum weight. Master shortcuts.
• English: Vocabulary, Reading Comprehension, Error Detection — read English newspapers daily.
• General Awareness: History, Geography, Polity, Science, Current Affairs — use SSC-focused monthly magazines.

Document Preparation Tip

For document verification after qualifying SSC CGL, you'll need scanned copies of all certificates in specific file sizes. Use AnantaHQ PDF Tools to merge all your documents into a single compressed PDF. For resizing your passport photograph, AnantaHQ Image Tools gives instant resizing and compression with no registration required.