SSC CGL

The notice gives a total of approximately 12,256 vacancies. This figure is tentative and can change. The notice itself does not print a post-wise or category-wise breakdown; instead, SSC publishes the tentative post- and category-wise vacancies on its website under the 'Tentative Vacancy' link, so check that list before you rank your post preferences.

SSC does not collect state-wise or zone-wise vacancy figures. If you want to know how many posts a department has in a particular region, the notice asks you to contact that user department directly.

CGL posts fall into five pay levels of the 7th Pay Commission matrix. Level-8 and Level-7 posts carry the highest basic pay; Level-5 and Level-4 posts are Group 'C'. Allowances are paid on top of basic pay under central government rules; the notice does not print an in-hand figure, so none is shown here.

Your post preference matters because the same exam leads to very different pay, departments and age limits. The table below groups posts as the notice prints them.

Age is counted on 1 August 2026, and each post has one of four age bands. Check the band of every post you intend to prefer: a candidate who is 28 can still compete for Level-6 to Level-8 posts but not for the Level-4 and Level-5 posts, which stop at 27.

For category benefits such as reservation and age relaxation, the crucial date is the closing date of the application, 22 June 2026.

Almost every post needs a bachelor's degree from a recognised university. Junior Statistical Officer needs a degree in any subject with at least 60% marks in Mathematics at 12th level, or a degree with Statistics as one of the subjects. Statistical Investigator Grade-II needs a degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Demography, Population Studies, Operations Research, IT, Computer Science or a related computing field, Data Science or AI. For Assistant Audit Officer, CA, CMA, CS, M.Com, Master's in Business Studies, MBA (Finance) or Master's in Business Economics are listed as desirable, not essential.

The essential qualification must be held on 1 August 2026. Final-year students may apply, but their result must actually be declared by that date; a result still being processed does not count. Degrees through open or distance learning must be recognised by the Distance Education Bureau.

Most CGL posts are desk posts with no physical test, but the notice names a set of posts that carry their own physical standards, physical tests and medical standards. If you prefer any of these, you must meet those standards in addition to clearing the written tiers. The detailed figures are printed in the notice's annexures on physical and medical standards; read them before choosing these posts.

Tier-I has 100 questions for 200 marks in one hour, with negative marking of 0.50 per wrong answer. In Tier-II Paper-I, each wrong answer costs 1 mark in Sections I, II and III; Paper-II (Statistics) and Paper-III (General Studies — Finance and Economics) deduct 0.50 per wrong answer. Questions are in English and Hindi, except the English sections. Where a paper runs in several shifts, scores are normalised using the procedure SSC notified on 2 June 2025.

Minimum qualifying marks apply in Tier-I and in Sections I, II and III of Tier-II Paper-I: 30% for UR, 25% for OBC and EWS, and 20% for all other categories. From Tier-I, candidates are shortlisted category-wise for Tier-II, with separate cut-offs for JSO/Statistical Investigator Grade-II, for AAO/AAO-State and for all other posts.

Tier-I marks do not count in the final merit; the merit list is built on Tier-II alone, and which parts count depends on the post.

Tier-I's Reasoning, General Awareness and English parts are set at graduation level, while Quantitative Aptitude is pitched at 10th standard. Tier-II Paper-I covers broadly the same subjects in more depth, plus a computer section.

Section-III (Computer Knowledge Test) and Section-IV (Data Entry Speed Test) of Tier-II Paper-I are compulsory for all posts but only qualifying. They do not add to your merit score, yet failing them blocks selection.

In the DEST you type a passage of about 2,000 key depressions in 15 minutes. Errors allowed are up to 20% for UR, 25% for OBC and EWS and 30% for other categories. Higher standards apply for posts where computer proficiency is prescribed, such as Assistant Section Officer in CSS, MEA and AFHQ, CBIC Inspectors and Executive Assistant, and Postal/Sorting Assistant.

PwBD-OH candidates can be exempted from attempting the DEST with a certificate from the competent medical authority, but not for posts where computer proficiency or DEST is prescribed — except Tax Assistant in CBDT, where the exemption is available.