SSC CGL stands for Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level. It is a national exam conducted by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) to recruit graduates into Group B and Group C posts in central government ministries and departments, such as Assistant Section Officer, Income Tax Inspector, Auditor and Tax Assistant. The current exam has two computer-based stages, Tier 1 and Tier 2.
What does CGL mean?
- SSC: Staff Selection Commission, the body under the Government of India that recruits non-gazetted (and some gazetted Group B) staff for central ministries, departments and offices.
- Combined: one common exam fills dozens of different posts. You rank in a single merit list and posts are allotted by rank and the order of preference you give.
- Graduate Level: the minimum qualification is a bachelor’s degree.
So when someone asks “what is CGL”, the short answer is: the SSC’s yearly recruitment exam for graduates. It is one of the most applied-for government exams in India, with posts from Pay Level 4 up to Pay Level 8.
SSC CGL 2026 at a glance
| Item | SSC CGL 2026 |
|---|---|
| Notification | 21 May 2026 |
| Online application | 21 May to late June 2026 (closed) |
| Vacancies (tentative) | 12,256 |
| Tier 1 (computer-based) | 30 September to 30 October 2026 |
| Tier 2 (computer-based) | December 2026 (tentative) |
| Official website | ssc.gov.in |
Vacancy numbers in SSC notices are tentative and are usually revised before the final result, so treat 12,256 as a starting figure.
SSC CGL exam pattern (2026 scheme)
The old four-tier structure, with descriptive Tier III and skill-test Tier IV, is gone. Since the 2022 cycle SSC has run CGL as two tiers, both computer-based, and the 2026 notification keeps that shape.
Tier 1: screening test
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | 25 | 50 | 15 min |
| General Awareness | 25 | 50 | 15 min |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 | 15 min |
| English Comprehension | 25 | 50 | 15 min |
| Total | 100 | 200 | 60 min |
Each correct answer earns 2 marks and each wrong answer costs 0.5 marks. New for 2026, every section has its own 15-minute clock, so you can no longer borrow time from a strong section for a weak one. Tier 1 marks only shortlist you for Tier 2; they are not added to the final merit.
Tier 2: the paper that decides your rank
Paper I is compulsory for every candidate and is held in two sessions on one day.
| Part of Paper I | Module | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session I, Section I (1 hour) | Mathematical Abilities | 30 | 90 |
| Reasoning and General Intelligence | 30 | 90 | |
| Session I, Section II (1 hour) | English Language and Comprehension | 45 | 135 |
| General Awareness | 25 | 75 | |
| Session I, Section III (15 min) | Computer Knowledge | 20 | 60 (qualifying) |
| Session II (15 min) | Data Entry Speed Test (DEST) | 1 task | Qualifying |
- Every question in Sections I to III carries 3 marks, and 1 mark is deducted per wrong answer.
- Sections I and II (390 marks) count towards merit. Computer Knowledge and DEST are pass-or-fail: you must clear them, but their marks are not added.
- DEST checks typing of about 2,000 key depressions in 15 minutes on a computer, similar to the skill test for CHSL data-entry posts.
- Paper II (Statistics), 100 questions for 200 marks in 2 hours with 0.5 negative marking, is only for candidates who opt for Junior Statistical Officer and Statistical Investigator Grade II.
- Paper III (General Studies: Finance and Economics), with the same 100 questions / 200 marks format, is only for Assistant Audit Officer and Assistant Accounts Officer candidates.
Some posts add a further step after Tier 2: a physical and medical standard test for Inspector and Sub-Inspector posts in CBIC, CBN and CBI, and document verification for all.
Eligibility for SSC CGL
- Education: a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised university. A few posts ask for more: Junior Statistical Officer needs Mathematics at Class 12 or Statistics in the degree, and Statistical Investigator Grade II needs Statistics as a degree subject. Final-year students can apply if they finish the degree by the cut-off date in the notification.
- Age: this varies by post. The common bands are 18 to 27, 18 to 30, 20 to 30 and 18 to 32 years, counted on the cut-off date (1 August 2026 for the 2026 exam). Tax Assistant and similar Level 4 posts usually stop at 27; ASO and several Inspector posts go up to 30 or 32.
- Relaxation: upper age limit relaxed by 5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC and 10 years for PwBD (general category), with further relaxation for ex-servicemen and some other groups.
- Nationality: Indian citizen, with the limited exceptions listed in the notice.
A B.Tech or B.E. degree is valid, so engineering graduates can sit CGL without any extra qualification. The paper does not test engineering subjects.
Posts and pay levels (7th CPC)
CGL fills around 40 kinds of posts. They group into pay levels like this:
| Pay level | Pay range (basic) | Typical posts | Group |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 8 | ₹47,600 to ₹1,51,100 | Assistant Audit Officer, Assistant Accounts Officer | B (Gazetted) |
| Level 7 | ₹44,900 to ₹1,42,400 | Assistant Section Officer, Income Tax Inspector, Inspector (CGST and Central Excise), Preventive Officer, Examiner, Assistant Enforcement Officer, Sub-Inspector (CBI), Inspector of Posts | B |
| Level 6 | ₹35,400 to ₹1,12,400 | Junior Statistical Officer, Divisional Accountant | B |
| Level 5 | ₹29,200 to ₹92,300 | Auditor, Accountant, Junior Accountant | C |
| Level 4 | ₹25,500 to ₹81,100 | Tax Assistant, Postal Assistant / Sorting Assistant, Upper Division Clerk, Senior Secretariat Assistant | C |
Dearness allowance, house rent allowance (which depends on the city) and transport allowance are paid on top of basic pay, so two people at the same level can have different in-hand salaries. The exact post list changes a little every year; the notification on ssc.gov.in is the final word.
SSC CGL vs SSC CHSL
Both exams are run by the SSC and both now have two computer-based tiers, so students often mix them up. The difference is the qualification level and the posts. For the full breakdown of the 12th-level exam, see our page on the SSC CHSL full form.
| Point | SSC CGL | SSC CHSL |
|---|---|---|
| Full form | Combined Graduate Level | Combined Higher Secondary Level |
| Minimum qualification | Graduation | Class 12 |
| Typical posts | ASO, Inspector, Auditor, Tax Assistant | LDC, JSA, Data Entry Operator |
| Pay levels | 4 to 8 | 2, 4, 5 |
| Skill test | DEST (qualifying) inside Tier 2 | Typing / data-entry test inside Tier 2 |
If you are a graduate, you can apply for both in the same year, provided you meet each exam’s age limit. Many aspirants do, because the Tier 1 syllabus overlaps heavily.
Preparation tip for Tier 2
Tier 2 carries 390 merit marks against Tier 1’s zero, so plan backwards from it. English (135 marks) is the single largest block, and with 1 mark lost for every wrong answer, accuracy matters more than attempts. Do not ignore the Computer Knowledge module either: it is only qualifying, but failing it knocks you out regardless of your other scores.
Official source
FAQs
What is the full form of CGL?
CGL stands for Combined Graduate Level. With the commission’s name added, SSC CGL is the Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level examination.
How many tiers are there in SSC CGL now?
Two. Tier 1 is a 100-question screening test and Tier 2 decides the final merit. The old descriptive Tier III and skill-test Tier IV were dropped from the 2022 cycle onwards.
What is the age limit for SSC CGL?
It depends on the post. Most posts fall within 18 to 32 years on the cut-off date (1 August 2026 for the 2026 exam), with some capped at 27 or 30. Reserved categories get relaxation.
Is there negative marking in SSC CGL?
Yes. Tier 1 deducts 0.5 marks per wrong answer, Tier 2 Paper I deducts 1 mark per wrong answer, and Papers II and III deduct 0.5 marks.
Which is the highest post in SSC CGL?
By pay, Assistant Audit Officer and Assistant Accounts Officer at Pay Level 8 (₹47,600 starting basic pay). Among Level 7 posts, Assistant Section Officer and Income Tax Inspector are the most sought after.
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