SSC Selection Post 2026 · Age limit & eligibility
SSC Selection Post Age Limit 2026: Relaxation, Qualification and Eligibility
Age limit, the date on which age is counted, category-wise relaxation and the educational qualification, as printed in the official notice.
SSC Selection Post age limit and relaxation
Age limit
Varies by post: bands from 18–25 up to 18–35 years (e.g. 18–25, 18–27, 18–30, 20–30, 21–27, 23–28) (as on 1 January 2026)
Educational qualification
- Post-specific essential qualification (Class 10, Class 12, or a degree and above) and any experience, as printed against each post in Annexure-III
- Essential qualification and experience must be held as on the closing date, 4 May 2026
- Skill tests (typing, data entry, computer proficiency) apply only where the post's essential qualification prescribes them
Upper age relaxation
| SC / ST | 5 years |
| OBC | 3 years |
| PwBD (Unreserved) | 10 years |
| PwBD (OBC) | 13 years |
| PwBD (SC/ST) | 15 years |
| Ex-Servicemen | 3 years after deducting military service |
| Central Govt civilian employees (3 years' regular service; Group C posts only) | Up to age 40 (45 for SC/ST) |
| Widows / divorced / judicially separated women, not remarried | Up to age 35 (40 for SC/ST) |
Application fee
₹100 for each post category applied for. Women, SC, ST, PwBD and Ex-Servicemen eligible for reservation are exempted from the fee.
Source: Selection Posts Examination, Phase-XIV/2026 — Notice (published 13 April 2026). Confirm in the official notice before applying.
Age bands, relaxation and qualification
Age is counted on 1 January 2026, and each post has its own band, printed against it in Annexure-III. The notice gives the birth-date windows for every band used.
Your essential qualification and any required experience must be held on the closing date, 4 May 2026. Category and reservation status is also judged on 4 May 2026 unless stated otherwise.
You must be a citizen of India, a subject of Nepal or Bhutan, a Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1 January 1962 to settle permanently, or a person of Indian origin who migrated from one of the countries listed in the notice to settle in India. Non-citizen categories need a Government of India eligibility certificate before an offer of appointment.
Age bands and birth-date windows (age on 1 January 2026)
| Age band | Born not earlier than | Born not later than |
|---|---|---|
| 18–25 | 2 Jan 2001 | 1 Jan 2008 |
| 18–27 | 2 Jan 1999 | 1 Jan 2008 |
| 18–28 | 2 Jan 1998 | 1 Jan 2008 |
| 18–30 | 2 Jan 1996 | 1 Jan 2008 |
| 18–35 | 2 Jan 1991 | 1 Jan 2008 |
| 20–25 | 2 Jan 2001 | 1 Jan 2006 |
| 20–30 | 2 Jan 1996 | 1 Jan 2006 |
| 21–27 | 2 Jan 1999 | 1 Jan 2005 |
| 21–28 | 2 Jan 1998 | 1 Jan 2005 |
| 22–28 | 2 Jan 1998 | 1 Jan 2004 |
| 23–28 | 2 Jan 1998 | 1 Jan 2003 |
Which band applies depends on the post; see Annexure-III.
Upper age relaxation (para 6.3)
| Category | Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC / ST | 5 years |
| OBC | 3 years |
| PwBD (Unreserved) | 10 years |
| PwBD (OBC) | 13 years |
| PwBD (SC/ST) | 15 years |
| Ex-Servicemen | 3 years after deducting military service |
| Central Government civilian employees with at least 3 years' regular, continuous service on 4 May 2026 | Up to age 40 (up to 45 for SC/ST); Group 'C' posts only, not Group 'B' |
| Widows, divorced women and women judicially separated, not remarried | Up to age 35 (up to 40 for SC/ST) |
Frequently asked questions
What is the age limit for SSC Selection Post?
Varies by post: bands from 18–25 up to 18–35 years (e.g. 18–25, 18–27, 18–30, 20–30, 21–27, 23–28), counted as on 1 January 2026, as per the Selection Posts Examination, Phase-XIV/2026 — Notice. Category-wise upper age relaxation is given in the notice.
What qualification is needed for SSC Selection Post?
Post-specific essential qualification (Class 10, Class 12, or a degree and above) and any experience, as printed against each post in Annexure-III. Essential qualification and experience must be held as on the closing date, 4 May 2026. Skill tests (typing, data entry, computer proficiency) apply only where the post's essential qualification prescribes them.
What is the age limit for SSC Selection Post Phase-XIV?
It depends on the post. Bands run from 18–25 up to 18–35 years, with age counted on 1 January 2026. SC/ST get 5 years' relaxation, OBC 3 years and PwBD 10 years (13 for OBC, 15 for SC/ST).
What qualification is needed for SSC Selection Post?
Each post has its own essential qualification at Class 10, Class 12 or graduation level and above, sometimes with experience. It must be held on the closing date, 4 May 2026.