SSC CGL
Recruits graduates to Group B and Group C posts in central government ministries, departments and organisations — Income Tax Inspector, Central Excise/GST Inspector, Assistant Section Officer, Auditor, Accountant, Sub-Inspector in CBI/NIA, Junior Statistical Officer and more.
Eligibility
A bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university is required; final-year students can apply if the degree is completed by the cut-off date. Age limits vary by post, broadly 18 to 32 years, with relaxation of 3 years for OBC, 5 years for SC/ST and 10 years for PwBD candidates. There is no limit on the number of attempts as long as the age criterion is met. Junior Statistical Officer posts additionally need Class 12 Maths (60 per cent) or Statistics at graduation.
Age limit: 18–32 years (varies by post); OBC +3, SC/ST +5, PwBD +10 relaxation
Exam pattern
Two-tier, fully computer-based. Tier I: 100 questions, 200 marks, 60 minutes, four sections of 25 questions each — General Intelligence and Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, English Comprehension — with 0.50 mark deducted per wrong answer; it is qualifying for Tier II. Tier II Paper I (compulsory) is held in sessions covering Mathematical Abilities, Reasoning, English and General Awareness, plus a Computer Knowledge module and a qualifying Data Entry Speed Test; wrong answers in the main sections cost 1 mark each. Paper II (Statistics) is only for Junior Statistical Officer and Paper III for Assistant Audit/Accounts Officer aspirants. From the 2026 cycle SSC has introduced strict section-wise timing in Tier I — 15 minutes per section, with no switching between sections — on top of Tier II's existing session/module structure. Final merit is based on Tier II Paper I marks.
Syllabus at a glance
Quantitative Aptitude spans arithmetic (percentages, ratio, profit and loss, time and work) and advanced maths (algebra, geometry, trigonometry, mensuration, data interpretation). English covers grammar, vocabulary, comprehension, para jumbles and error spotting. Reasoning includes analogies, series, syllogisms, puzzles and non-verbal items. General Awareness mixes static GK (history, polity, geography, economy, science) with current affairs, and Tier II adds a computer-knowledge module.
Upcoming dates
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Notification released (12,256 vacancies) | 21 May 2026 | confirmed |
| Application window (closed) | 21 May – 25 Jun 2026 | confirmed |
| Tier I computer-based exam | Aug–Sep 2026 (date-wise schedule via admit card) | confirmed |
| Tier I result | Oct–Nov 2026 | expected |
| Tier II computer-based exam | Dec 2026 | expected |
Expected dates follow the usual calendar; confirm on the official notification before planning.
Free prep material
Standard books
- Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations — R.S. Aggarwal
- Advance Maths — Rakesh Yadav
- Fast Track Objective Arithmetic — Rajesh Verma
- Objective General English — S.P. Bakshi
- A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning — R.S. Aggarwal
- Lucent's General Knowledge — Dr Binay Karna et al.
How toppers play it
- Tier I is only qualifying but Tier II decides merit, so build advanced maths and English depth from day one rather than chasing Tier I cut-offs alone.
- With 15-minute section-wise timing now in force in Tier I, practise mocks section by section — you can no longer borrow time from a strong section to rescue a weak one.
- Negative marking is 0.50 in Tier I and 1 mark per wrong answer in Tier II Paper I; cap blind guessing and attempt General Awareness first within its slot as it takes the least time.
- Solve at least the last five years of actual SSC papers — question types repeat heavily, especially in geometry, algebra and idioms.
- Do not neglect the qualifying Computer module and Data Entry Speed Test; candidates clear the written papers and still get rejected here every year.