SSC CGL
Recruitment to Group B and Group C posts in central ministries, departments and organisations, such as Assistant Section Officer, Income Tax Inspector, Central GST/Customs Inspector, CBI Sub-Inspector, Auditor, Accountant and Junior Statistical Officer.
Eligibility
A bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university. Some posts need more: for example, Junior Statistical Officer needs Mathematics at Class 12 or Statistics in the degree. The age limit varies by post, from 18–27 up to 20–32 years, with the usual relaxation (SC/ST 5 years, OBC 3 years, PwBD 10 years). There is no cap on the number of attempts within the age limit.
Age limit: 18–32 years depending on post (relaxation for reserved categories)
Exam pattern
Two-tier computer-based examination. Tier 1 is qualifying and screens candidates for Tier 2: 100 multiple-choice questions for 200 marks in 60 minutes, across Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude and English (25 questions each), with 0.5 marks deducted per wrong answer. Tier 2 Paper 1 is compulsory for all posts. Section I covers Mathematical Abilities and Reasoning, Section II covers English and General Awareness, and Section III is Computer Knowledge (qualifying). Each question carries 3 marks, with 1 mark deducted per wrong answer. Paper 1 also includes a qualifying Data Entry Speed Test. Paper 2 (Statistics) is only for Junior Statistical Officer and Statistical Investigator posts. Marks from different shifts are normalised.
Syllabus at a glance
Quantitative Aptitude covers arithmetic (percentages, ratio, profit and loss, interest, time-work-distance), algebra, geometry, mensuration, trigonometry and data interpretation. Reasoning covers analogies, coding-decoding, series, syllogisms, puzzles and non-verbal items. English covers grammar, vocabulary, cloze tests and comprehension. General Awareness spans history, polity, geography, economy, static GK, science and current affairs. Computer Knowledge covers fundamentals, MS Office, the internet and security.
Upcoming dates
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| CGL 2026 Tier 1 (CBE), in progress | 30 Sep – 30 Oct 2026 | confirmed |
| Tier 1 provisional answer key | Nov 2026 (expected) | expected |
| Tier 1 result | Dec 2026 (expected) | expected |
| Tier 2 examination | Dec 2026 – Jan 2027 (expected) | expected |
| CGL 2027 notification | Apr – Jun 2027 (expected, per usual calendar) | expected |
Expected dates follow the usual calendar; confirm on the official notification before planning.
Free prep material
Standard books
- Advance Maths – Rakesh Yadav
- Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations – R.S. Aggarwal
- A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning – R.S. Aggarwal
- Objective General English – S.P. Bakshi (Arihant)
- Plinth to Paramount (English) – Neetu Singh
- Lucent's General Knowledge – Lucent Publications
How toppers play it
- Tier 1 is only a qualifier, but its cut-off is steep. Target 150+ out of 200 by finishing Reasoning and General Awareness quickly (about 25 minutes together) to leave time for Quant and English.
- Tier 2 Paper 1 decides your merit, and its 1-mark negative marking on 3-mark questions punishes guessing. Only attempt a question if you can eliminate at least two options.
- Don't neglect Computer Knowledge or the Data Entry Speed Test. Both are qualifying, and failing either removes you regardless of your score.
- Solve SSC's own shift-wise previous papers from the last three years. SSC repeats question types and even exact General Awareness facts heavily.
- Fill the post-preference form carefully. Allocation depends on rank, preference and post-specific physical or educational criteria (for example, Inspector posts have physical standards).