SSC CGL Recruitment 2026 – Apply Online for 12,256 Combined Graduate Level Posts

Three things most candidates believe about SSC CGL 2026 that are factually wrong: (1) Your Tier 1 score decides your rank — it does not; Tier 1 is a qualifying hurdle only, and your final rank is built entirely in Tier 2. (2) The category-wise vacancy breakdown is published with the notification — it is not; SSC explicitly states that "vacancy collection is still in progress" and post-wise, category-wise data will be uploaded separately at ssc.gov.in under "For Candidates → Tentative Vacancy." Candidates who make post-preference decisions based on the headline 12,256 figure alone are working with incomplete data. (3) All 12,256 posts pay roughly the same — they span five distinct pay levels (Level 4 through Level 8), with starting basic pay ranging from ₹25,500 to ₹47,600, and an in-hand salary gap of over ₹30,000 per month between the lowest and highest post.

SSC CGL Recruitment 2026 – Overview

The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has released the official notification for Combined Graduate Level (CGL) Examination 2026 on 21 May 2026, inviting online applications for 12,256 Group B and Group C posts across more than 30 central government ministries, departments, and organisations. Online applications are accepted at ssc.gov.in from 21 May 2026 to 22 June 2026 (up to 11 PM only). The Tier 1 examination is scheduled for August/September 2026; Tier 2 in December 2026. Two new procedural requirements make this cycle distinct from all previous CGL cycles: SSC's One-Time Registration (OTR) on the new ssc.gov.in portal is now mandatory — candidates without OTR cannot access the application form at all — and photographs must be uploaded live via webcam or the official SSC mobile app at the time of application; pre-scanned photo uploads are no longer accepted.

SSC CGL 2025 announced 15,118 vacancies; the 2026 notification brings this down to 12,256 — a decrease of 2,862 posts (18.9% fewer). This is the first sub-13,000 CGL vacancy count since 2022, largely because Assistant Audit Officer (AAO) and Assistant Accounts Officer (AAcO) vacancies are not included this year, which also means Paper 3 (Finance & Economics) of Tier 2 has been removed entirely from the 2026 exam pattern.

Source: Official SSC CGL 2026 Notification published at ssc.gov.in on 21 May 2026. Notification PDF available directly at ssc.gov.in official notification PDF .

SSC CGL 2026 – Important Dates & Full Schedule

The application window is exactly 32 days (21 May to 22 June 2026). Notably, the online fee payment last date (23 June 2026) is one day after the form submission deadline — candidates who submit the form on the last day still have 24 additional hours to complete fee payment. The correction window (29 June – 1 July 2026) allows limited modifications to non-critical fields for a tiered fee: ₹200 for the first correction, ₹500 for a second correction. Both Tier exam dates are now confirmed in the notification.

All dates as per SSC CGL 2026 official notification. Exact Tier 1 and Tier 2 dates will be published separately on ssc.gov.in.

SSC CGL 2026 – Vacancy Details

The 12,256 vacancies span Group B (gazetted and non-gazetted) and Group C posts across more than 30 central government ministries, departments, and constitutional bodies. Reservations for SC, ST, OBC, EWS, ESM (Ex-Servicemen), and PwBD categories will apply as per existing Government of India rules. The post-wise and category-wise vacancy breakdown — including UR/OBC/SC/ST/EWS/PwBD counts — is published separately on the official SSC portal at: ssc.gov.in → For Candidates → Tentative Vacancy. This data is not embedded in the notification PDF and is updated progressively as departments submit their final vacancy figures to SSC.

SSC has explicitly stated that vacancy collection is in progress and the final, post-wise category-wise list will be updated on the SSC website. Do not rely on third-party or estimated breakdowns for reservation-category planning.

SSC CGL 2026 – Application Fee

The SSC CGL 2026 application fee is ₹100 for General, OBC, and EWS male candidates. Women candidates of all categories, SC, ST, and PH (PwBD) candidates pay no fee and are completely exempt. A separately charged correction fee applies if a candidate wishes to modify their application after submission — ₹200 for the first correction and ₹500 for a second. These are fees for the correction itself, independent of the original application fee.

Fee payment accepted through Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, or BHIM UPI only. Cash or e-Challan payments are not accepted for SSC CGL 2026.

SSC CGL 2026 – Eligibility Criteria

Before applying, two preconditions must be met: the candidate must have completed OTR (One-Time Registration) on the new ssc.gov.in, and must hold a graduation degree that is completed — candidates whose results are awaited cannot apply. The age limit varies by post (18–27, 18–30, 20–30, or 18–32 years) as shown in the post-wise tables below.

Age Limit for SSC CGL 2026 (as on 01 August 2026)

Educational Qualification for SSC CGL 2026

SSC CGL 2026 – Department-wise Post Details & Age Limits (All Posts)

The 12,256 posts span 30+ departments. Each post carries a department-specific age limit (independent of category relaxation), and in several cases the same post title leads to different pay levels depending on the parent department. Review your target post and its age limit carefully — the age cut-off date is 01 August 2026.

SSC CGL 2026 – Group B Posts (Gazetted / Pay Level 7–8)

SSC CGL 2026 – Group B / Group C Posts (Pay Level 5–6)

SSC CGL 2026 – Auditor / Accountant Posts (Pay Level 5)

SSC CGL 2026 – Group C Posts (Pay Level 4)

Age limits are as on 01 August 2026 and are the baseline limits for General/EWS candidates. Standard age relaxation (OBC: +3, SC/ST: +5, PwBD: +10/13/15) applies over these post-wise limits. JSO has the highest upper age limit (32 years) among all CGL posts.

SSC CGL 2026 – Pay Scale & Salary (Post-wise)

SSC CGL posts cover five pay levels under the 7th Pay Commission — a spread wider than most single-examination recruitments in India. The practical in-hand salary difference between a Tax Assistant (Level 4, ₹25,500 basic) and an Income Tax Inspector (Level 7, ₹44,900 basic) is approximately ₹25,000–₹30,000 per month after accounting for DA, HRA, and TA differences. Post preference submitted in Tier 2 is, therefore, among the most consequential decisions in the entire CGL process.

Among all SSC CGL 2026 posts, Income Tax Inspector (CBDT) and Central Excise Inspector (CBIC) at Level 7 are among the most competitive in terms of salary-growth trajectory — both posts have a promotion path leading to Income Tax Officer / Assistant Commissioner / Deputy Commissioner (CBDT) and Superintendent of Central Excise (CBIC), with salary growth well beyond ₹1 lakh per month at senior levels. The ASO (CSS) route, also at Level 7, offers one of the fastest promotion tracks in central government service, with Section Officer reachable in 5–7 years via departmental exam. For candidates prioritising job profile over starting salary, Sub Inspector (CBI) and Assistant Enforcement Officer (Directorate of Enforcement) are among the most sought-after investigative roles accessible through a single entrance exam.

SSC CGL 2026 – Selection Process

SSC CGL 2026 uses a two-Tier process. The critical fact most candidates miss: Tier 1 is qualifying only — it does not count in your final merit. Your entire rank is built in Tier 2. Every mark gained or lost in Tier 1 beyond the cut-off threshold is irrelevant to your post allocation. Tier 2 Paper 1 is compulsory for all posts. Paper 2 is only for candidates who applied for JSO or Statistical Investigator Grade-II. Paper 3 (Finance & Economics/GS) has been removed in 2026 as AAO/AAcO posts are not included this cycle.

Tier 1 Exam Pattern – SSC CGL 2026

Tier 2 Exam Pattern – SSC CGL 2026

Negative marking rates differ between sections of Tier 2 Paper 1 — −1 mark in Sections I, II, and Module I; −0.50 marks in Modules II and III. Paper 2 also uses −0.50 per wrong answer. No penalty for unanswered questions in any tier.

How to Fill SSC CGL 2026 Online Form – Step by Step

The application must be submitted at ssc.gov.in. Two requirements are unique to the 2026 cycle and trip up many first-time applicants: OTR must be completed before the application form can be opened, and the photo must be taken live at the time of application — no pre-scanned photographs are accepted.

1. Complete One-Time Registration (OTR) first — mandatory: Visit ssc.gov.in and complete OTR if you have not already done so. OTR requires your Aadhaar details, personal information, and contact details. Without a completed OTR, you cannot access the CGL 2026 application form at all. OTR is a one-time process valid for all future SSC exams.
2. Log in and open the CGL 2026 application: Log in with your OTR credentials at ssc.gov.in. Find and click the "SSC CGL 2026 / Combined Graduate Level Examination 2026" application link under current notifications. The link is active from 21 May 2026.
3. Upload live photo — via webcam or SSC App only: SSC has changed the photo upload process for 2026. Your photograph must be taken live at the time of application — either through your computer's webcam (via the application portal) or through the official SSC mobile application. Pre-scanned or pre-taken photographs are not accepted. Ensure you are in a well-lit area with a plain white or light background. Look directly at the camera. The photo taken must clearly show your face — blurry, dark, or angled photographs will be rejected.
4. Fill in educational and personal details: Enter your graduation qualification details (university name, year of passing, percentage, degree name) and all personal details. For JSO applicants, provide your 12th-level Mathematics marks (60% or above required) or Statistics subject at degree level. Verify every pre-filled OTR field — name, DOB, category — against your original certificates.
5. Upload signature: Upload a scanned signature in running (cursive/joined) handwriting in black ink on white paper, in the prescribed file format and size. Block or capital-letter signatures are grounds for rejection.
6. Pay the application fee: General / OBC / EWS male candidates pay ₹100 via Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, or BHIM UPI before 23 June 2026. SC, ST, female, PwBD, and ESM candidates are fully exempt. Save the payment confirmation.
7. Review all details carefully before final submission: Use the preview option to verify every field — exam name, post preference, category, educational qualification, photo, and signature. Correction after submission requires paying ₹200 (first time) or ₹500 (second time) during the 29 June – 1 July 2026 correction window.
8. Submit and save the confirmation: Click Final Submit. Download and print the application form confirmation PDF. Keep it for the admit card stage, Tier 1, and Tier 2 examinations.

SSC CGL 2026 Admit Card – How to Download

The SSC CGL Tier 1 2026 admit card will be available for download on ssc.gov.in before the examination (scheduled August/September 2026). No physical admit card is dispatched by post. Keep your OTR registration details and application number ready for download.

1. Visit ssc.gov.in when the Tier 1 admit card link for CGL 2026 is activated.
2. Log in with your OTR credentials (registration number and password / date of birth as prompted).
3. Navigate to "Admit Card" under SSC CGL 2026 and download the PDF. Print at least two copies on A4 white paper.
4. Carry the printed admit card and a valid government-issued photo ID (Aadhaar, voter ID, passport, or PAN card) to the exam centre. Both are mandatory for entry.

SSC CGL 2026 – Official Links & Notification PDF

SSC CGL 2026 – Frequently Asked Questions