SSC Combined Graduate Level CGL Recruitment 2026 Apply Online for 12256 Post
If you are looking for a secure and prestigious career in the central government, your wait is officially over. The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has released the official notification for the Combined Graduate Level (CGL) Examination 2026. This year brings a massive wave of opportunities with an estimated 12,256 vacancies up for grabs across various Group 'B' and Group 'C' portfolios.
Every year, lakhs of graduates prepare for this exam because it is the gateway to some of the most sought-after posts in the country, including Income Tax Inspector, Central Excise Inspector, Assistant Section Officer (ASO), and Sub-Inspector in the CBI. The online application window is officially live. In this detailed guide, we have organized every single piece of information from the official notification into clean, easy-to-read tables so you can check your eligibility and selection parameters at a single glance.
1. Key Application Deadlines & Help Desk
Make sure to keep a close eye on these official timelines to avoid heavy website traffic during the closing hours:
| Exam Milestone / Event | Official Dates & Cutoffs |
|---|---|
| Online Application Window | May 21, 2026 to June 22, 2026 |
| Closing Time for Form Submission | June 22, 2026 (Until 23:00 Hours) |
| Last Date for Making Online Payment | June 23, 2026 (Until 23:00 Hours) |
| Window for Application Form Correction | June 29, 2026 to July 01, 2026 (Until 23:00 Hours) |
| Tentative Schedule of Tier-I Exam (CBT) | August–September, 2026 |
| Tentative Schedule of Tier-II Exam (CBT) | December, 2026 |
| Official National Toll-Free Helpline | 1800 309 3063 |
2. Application Fees & Modification Charges
The baseline application fee structure and the specific penalties for editing errors are laid out below:
| Category / Operational Scenario | Fee Amount & Charges |
|---|---|
| General, OBC, and EWS Category (Male) | ₹100/- |
| SC, ST, and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) | ₹0/- (Exempted) |
| Ex-Servicemen (ESM) Eligible for Reservation | ₹0/- (Exempted) |
| Female Candidates (All Categories) | ₹0/- (Exempted) |
| Form Correction Charge (First-Time Modification) | ₹200/- (Universal charge across all categories) |
| Form Correction Charge (Second-Time Modification) | ₹500/- (Universal charge across all categories) |
3. Complete Post Matrix, Age Limits & Salary Tiers
Age calculations are assessed strictly against the cutoff date of August 01, 2026. Check the age profiles and departments below:
| Pay Level Band | Name of the Post | Ministry / Department / Office | Permissible Age Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level-8 (₹47,600 to ₹1,51,100) |
Assistant Audit Officer | Indian Audit & Accounts Department under Comptroller and Auditor General of India (C&AG) | 18–30 Years |
| Assistant Accounts Officer | 18–30 Years | ||
| Level-7 (₹44,900 to ₹1,42,400) |
Assistant Section Officer (ASO) | Central Secretariat Service (CSS), Ministry of Railways, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), AFHQ | 20–30 Years |
| Assistant Section Officer (ASO) | Intelligence Bureau (IB), MeitY, Other Ministries & Organizations | 18–30 Years | |
| Inspector of Income Tax | Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) | 18–30 Years | |
| Inspector (Central Excise / Examiner / Preventive Officer) | Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) | 18–30 Years | |
| Assistant Enforcement Officer (AEO) | Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Department of Revenue | 18–30 Years | |
| Sub-Inspector (SI) | Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) | 20–30 Years | |
| Inspector Posts | Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications | 18–30 Years | |
| Inspector | Central Bureau of Narcotics, Ministry of Finance | 18–30 Years | |
| Level-6 (₹35,400 to ₹1,12,400) |
Assistant / Assistant Section Officer | Other Ministries, Departments & Organizations | 18–30 Years |
| Divisional Accountant | Offices under C&AG | 18–30 Years | |
| Sub-Inspector | National Investigation Agency (NIA) | 18–30 Years | |
| Sub-Inspector / Junior Intelligence Officer | Narcotics Control Bureau (MHA) | 18–30 Years | |
| Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) | Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation | 18–32 Years | |
| Statistical Investigator Grade-II | Ministry of Home Affairs | 18–30 Years | |
| Level-5 (₹29,200 to ₹92,300) |
Auditor / Accountant / Junior Accountant | Offices under C&AG, CGDA, Controller General of Accounts, and Other Ministries | 18–27 Years |
| Level-4 (₹25,500 to ₹81,100) |
Postal Assistant / Sorting Assistant | Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications | 18–27 Years |
| Tax Assistant | CBDT & CBIC | 18–27 Years | |
| Sub-Inspector / Upper Division Clerk (UDC) | Central Bureau of Narcotics, Central Govt. Offices | 18–27 Years |
Category-Wise Upper Age Relaxations
| Category Code | Eligible Category | Permissible Relaxation Beyond Upper Limit |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Scheduled Castes (SC) / Scheduled Tribes (ST) | 5 Years |
| 02 | Other Backward Classes (OBC) - Non-Creamy Layer | 3 Years |
| 03 | Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD - Unreserved) | 10 Years |
| 04 | PwBD (OBC Configuration) | 13 Years |
| 05 | PwBD (SC / ST Configuration) | 15 Years |
| 06 | Ex-Servicemen (ESM) | 3 years after deduction of the rendered military service |
4. Post-Specific Educational Eligibility
While the generic qualification threshold is a Graduation Degree from a recognized university, specific positions carry selective academic guidelines:
| Target Post Designation | Essential Academic Qualifications (As of August 01, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Assistant Audit / Accounts Officer | Essential: Bachelor's Degree in any discipline from a recognized University. Desirable: CA, Cost & Management Accountant, CS, M.Com, MBA (Finance), or Masters in Business Economics. |
| Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) | Bachelor's Degree in any subject from a recognized University combining at least 60% marks in Mathematics at the 12th standard level; OR a Bachelor's Degree with Statistics listed as a core subject at the degree tier. |
| Statistical Investigator Grade-II | Bachelor's degree majoring explicitly in Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Demography, Population Studies, Operations Research, Information Technology, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Data Science, or Artificial Intelligence from a recognized University. |
| All Other Post Fields | Bachelor's Degree from a recognized University or equivalent. |
Note for Final Year Students: Candidates appearing in their final year of graduation can apply provisionally, but they must possess the final passing proof officially declared on or before August 01, 2026.
5. Re-Engineered Exam Blueprints & Timers
The examination will be conducted in a re-structured computer-based format using a progressive step-down evaluation timeline:
Tier-I Examination Protocol (Screening Round)
| Subject Testing Segments | Questions | Max Marks | Negative Marking | Sectional Allotment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A. General Intelligence & Reasoning | 25 | 50 | 0.50 Marks deducted per error | 1 Hour Absolute (Features an internal sectional timer limiting execution to exactly 15 minutes per component subject) |
| B. General Awareness | 25 | 50 | ||
| C. Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 | ||
| D. English Comprehension | 25 | 50 |
Tier-II Examination Scheme (Final Merit Blocks)
| Paper Ref | Session Blocks | Core Subject Modules | Questions | Marks Allocation | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper-I (Mandatory for all posts) |
Session-I (2 Hrs 15 Mins) |
Section-I (1 Hr): Mathematical Abilities (30 Qs) + Reasoning & GI (30 Qs) | 60 | 180 Marks (3 Marks per Q) | 1.00 Mark per incorrect answer |
| Section-II (1 Hr): English Language (45 Qs) + General Awareness (25 Qs) | 70 | 210 Marks (3 Marks per Q) | |||
| Section-III (15 Mins): Computer Knowledge Test (Qualifying) | 20 | 60 Marks (3 Marks per Q) | |||
| Session-II (15 Mins) |
Section-IV (15 Mins): Data Entry Speed Test (DEST) → 2000 Key Depressions | 1 Task | Qualifying Profile | Skill-based assessment | |
| Paper-II | 2 Hours | Statistics (Selective for JSO tracks) | 100 | 200 Marks (2 Marks per Q) | 0.50 Marks |
| Paper-III | 2 Hours | General Studies - Finance & Economics (AAO post) | 100 | 200 Marks (2 Marks per Q) | 0.50 Marks |
6. Mandatory Physical & Eye Standards Matrix
Certain executive uniforms require specific physical parameters. These are evaluated post-selection directly by the user departments:
| Target Ministry / Department | Gender | Minimum Height | Chest / Weight Metric | Physical Efficiency Test (PET) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inspector (Central Excise / Examiner / Preventive) & CBN profiles | Male | 157.5 cm | 81 cm (5 cm expansion minimum) | Walking: 1600m in 15 mins; Cycling: 8 Km in 30 mins |
| Female | 152 cm | Weight: 48 Kgs minimum | Walking: 1 Km in 20 mins; Cycling: 3 Km in 25 mins | |
| Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) | Male | 165 cm | 76 cm with expansion | Vision Check: Distant: 6/6 in one, 6/9 in other eye. Near Vision: 0.6 & 0.8 metrics. |
| Female | 150 cm | Exempted | ||
| National Investigation Agency (NIA) | Male | 170 cm | 76 cm with expansion | Identical distance-vision mapping parameters matching the CBI grid. |
| Female | 150 cm | Exempted | ||
| Border Roads Organisation (BRO) | Male Only | Region-based | Weight: 47.5 to 50 Kgs base limits | 1 Mile Run within exactly 10 Minutes (Mandatory qualifying pass). |
7. The Official Tie-Resolution Hierarchy
In case multiple candidates end up with identical total consolidated marks in Tier-II, the final ranking position is decided systematically using these sequential metrics:
| Allotted Post Stream | Primary Tie-Breaker | Secondary Tie-Breaker | Final Deciding Loop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assistant Audit / Accounts Officer (AAO) | Marks scored in Paper-III | Marks scored in Section-I of Paper-I | 1. Date of Birth: The older candidate gets higher priority placement. 2. Alphabetical Order: Arranged straight by candidate name strings. |
| Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) / SI Grade-II | Marks scored in Paper-II | Marks scored in Section-I of Paper-I | |
| All Other Non-Specialized Post Profiles | Marks scored in Section-I of Paper-I | Direct pass to Date of Birth parameters |
8. Official Misconduct Debarment Rules
SSC monitors login trails, biometric scans, and lab video recording closely. Engaging in malpractice will cost you several years of your career:
| Type of Malpractice / Exam Violations | Debarment Penalty Timeframe |
|---|---|
| Taking away rough sheets or commission copies out of the testing room | 2 Years debarment window |
| Leaving the examination venue uninformed while testing is underway | 2 Years debarment window |
| Possessing a mobile phone inside the lab (in switched on or off modes) | 3 Years debarment window |
| Submitting fabricated certificates or suppressing material data fields | 3 Years debarment window |
| Intentionally damaging testing computers, accessories, or lab facilities | 5 Years debarment window |
| Appearing for the CBT modules using a forged or altered Admit Card | 5 Years debarment window |
| Carrying active Bluetooth earpieces, spy-cams, or electronic smart devices | 7 Years debarment window |
| Attempting to cheat off surrounding monitors or copying from paper notes | 7 Years debarment window |
| Hacking or manipulating SSC recruitment servers or backend databases | 10 Years maximum debarment |
9. Step-by-Step OTR & Form Filling Workflow
To avoid technical rejections, follow this precise sequencing on the official module interface:
- Step 1: Fresh Registration: Go to ssc.gov.in, click "Login or Register", and select "Register Now" to initiate your OTR. Fill in your details exactly as recorded in your 10th standard matriculation certificate.
- Step 2: Password Realignment: Log in using the system-generated credentials sent to your verified mobile number and email. Create a personalized new secure password when prompted on first login.
- Step 3: Access CGL Application: Re-login with your updated credentials, navigate to the dashboard, and select the active application link for "Combined Graduate Level Examination, 2026" under the latest notifications tab.
- Step 4: Live Photo Capture: Stand or sit directly in front of your system webcam or download the My SSC application via the official QR code provided on the interface. Capture a clear, bright frontal view live photograph. Ensure you are not wearing any caps, glasses/spectacles, or face masks. Upload your signature file cropped between 10 to 20 KB.
- Step 5: Select Centers & Submit: Declare three preferred testing locations in order of priority within the same regional territory zone. Open the interactive 'Preview' window to check your data, check the "I Agree" checkbox, fill in the captcha code, and process your online fee payment. Save and print out your final copy.
10. Important Links Dashboard
Quickly access all the necessary links, downloads, and candidate support platforms using the table below:
| Resource Description | Direct Links |
|---|---|
| Apply Online (New Portal Registration) | Click Here |
| Download Official SSC CGL 2026 Notification PDF | Click Here |
| Official Website (Staff Selection Commission) | Click Here |
| Join Our Telegram Channel (Instant Job Alerts) | Join Telegram Channel |
| Join Our WhatsApp Group (Daily GK & Updates) | Join WhatsApp Group |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) — SSC CGL 2026
Q1: What is the total number of vacancies released for SSC CGL 2026?
Ans: As per the official advertisement notification, there are approximately 12,256 tentative vacancies open across various Group 'B' and Group 'C' administrative cadres.
Q2: Can I upload a saved passport-size photograph from my phone gallery?
Ans: No. SSC has updated its system workflow. You must capture a live photograph using either an integrated system webcam or the camera interface via the official My SSC mobile application. Uploading copies of existing photos will lead to instant rejection.
Q3: What happens if I make an error in my application name layout? Can it be corrected?
Ans: Yes. SSC will provide an exclusive 'Window for Application Form Correction' from June 29, 2026, to July 01, 2026. Correcting structural fields parameters for the first time costs ₹200/-, and doing it for a second time costs ₹500/-.
Q4: Are final year college appearing students allowed to apply for the SSC CGL 2026 Exam?
Ans: Yes, final year appearing candidates are provisionally eligible. However, you must structurally possess the valid final graduation mark sheet/passing certificate officially declared by your university on or before the critical deadline of August 01, 2026.
Q5: Is there any negative marking penalty associated with the computer-based tiers?
Ans: Yes. In Tier-I, there is an automated deduction of 0.50 marks per incorrect click. For Tier-II, sections I, II, and III of Paper-I incur a negative marking penalty of 1.00 mark per wrong answer, while Papers II and III penalize errors at 0.50 marks.
Q6: Can women candidates apply for the vacancies under the Border Roads Organisation (BRO)?
Ans: No. As per the clear terms outlined in the formal administrative guidelines, only male candidates are eligible to apply for the vacancy blocks allotted to the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).