SSC CGL Eligibility Criteria 2026:
Age Limit, Qualification & Nationality
Age Limit Brackets 2026
SSC CGL posts fall under four different age brackets (18-27, 20-30, 18-30, up to 32 years). Crucial dates are determined per official notice.
- Group C Auditor/Accountant posts: 18-27 years
- Inspectors / Assistant Section Officers: 20-30 years
- Tax Assistant / Executive Assistant: 18-30 years
- Junior Statistical Officer (JSO): Up to 32 years
This is the eligibility framework released with the SSC CGL 2026 notification (21 May 2026); candidates not meeting the criteria for their chosen post will have their candidature rejected at Document Verification even after clearing Tier 2, so post selection matters as much as preparation. Learn how to apply online for SSC CGL 2026 →
SSC CGL Eligibility 2026 — Quick Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian citizen (Nepal/Bhutan subjects, Tibetan refugees pre-1962, and specified PIO categories also eligible) |
| Minimum Age | 18 years (all posts) |
| Maximum Age | 27 to 32 years, depending on post |
| Age Reckoned As On | 1 August 2026 |
| Educational Qualification | Bachelor's degree from a recognized university (any stream) |
| Post-Specific Qualification | Required for JSO, Statistical Investigator Grade-II, and AAO/Assistant Accounts Officer |
| Physical Standards | Applicable only for Inspector (CBIC), Sub-Inspector (CBN/CBI/NIA) |
| Age Relaxation | Available for SC/ST, OBC-NCL, PwBD, Ex-servicemen, Central Govt employees |
SSC CGL Nationality Criteria
A candidate must be one of:
- A citizen of India, or
- A subject of Nepal, or
- A subject of Bhutan, or
- A Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1 January 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India, or
- A person of Indian origin who migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, or the East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, or Vietnam, with the intention of permanently settling in India
SSC CGL Educational Qualification 2026
General Posts (Majority of SSC CGL Posts)
Bachelor's degree from a recognized university or institute, in any discipline — Arts, Science, Commerce, Engineering, or any other stream. No minimum percentage required. Final-year/final-semester candidates can apply provisionally but must furnish proof of having passed (final marksheet/degree/provisional certificate) by the document verification cut-off date, or their candidature is cancelled.
Post-Specific Qualifications (Three Key Exceptions)
| Post | Essential Qualification |
|---|---|
| Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) | Bachelor's degree in any subject with at least 60% marks in Mathematics at Class 12 level, OR Bachelor's degree with Statistics as one of the subjects |
| Statistical Investigator Grade-II | Bachelor's degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Demography, Population Studies, Operations Research, IT, Computer Science/Engineering/Technology/Application, Data Science, or Artificial Intelligence (subject list expanded for 2026) |
| Assistant Audit Officer (AAO) / Assistant Accounts Officer | Essential: Bachelor's degree from a recognized university. Desirable: CA / CMA / CS, or a Master's in Commerce/Business Economics |
SSC CGL Age Limit 2026 (Post-Wise)
The "18–32 years" figure often quoted is the range across all SSC CGL posts combined — no single post spans that whole range. Check your specific post below.
| Post Category | Age Limit (General/UR) |
|---|---|
| Auditor, Accountant, Junior Accountant, Tax Assistant, Postal Assistant, UDC | 18–27 years |
| Inspector (Income Tax), Inspector (Central Excise), Assistant Section Officer, Assistant Enforcement Officer, Sub-Inspector (CBI/NIA/CBN) | 18–30 years |
| Assistant Audit Officer / Assistant Accounts Officer | 18–30 years |
| Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) | 18–32 years |
SSC CGL Age Relaxation 2026 (Category-Wise)
| Category | Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | +3 years |
| SC / ST | +5 years |
| PwBD (Unreserved) | +10 years |
| PwBD (OBC) | +13 years |
| PwBD (SC/ST) | +15 years |
| Ex-Servicemen | Length of service + 3 years (General), with additional relaxation for reserved categories |
| Central Govt. Group C employees with 3+ years continuous service | Up to 40 (General) / 43 (OBC) / 45 (SC/ST) |
| Defence personnel disabled in operations, discharged on that account | 3 years (General) / 8 years (SC/ST) |
SSC CGL Physical Standards 2026 (Applicable Posts Only)
Physical standards apply only to Inspector (Central Excise/Examiner/Preventive Officer) under CBIC and Sub-Inspector posts in CBN/CBI/NIA. Posts like Auditor, Tax Assistant, ASO, JSO, and AAO have no physical standard or physical test requirement.
| Standard | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 157.5 cm (relaxation of 5 cm for Garhwali, Assamese, Gorkha, and ST candidates) | 152 cm (relaxation of 2.5 cm for the same groups) |
| Weight | — | 48 kg (relaxation of 2 kg for the same groups) |
| Chest (fully expanded) | 81 cm | — |
| Walking Test | 1,600 metres in 15 minutes | 1 km in 20 minutes |
| Cycling Test | 8 km in 30 minutes | 3 km in 25 minutes |
SSC CGL Number of Attempts
There is no fixed limit on the number of attempts for SSC CGL. Candidates may keep applying every year as long as they remain within the age limit (including applicable relaxation) prescribed for the post they're targeting.
Other Eligibility Notes Worth Knowing
- BRO posts: Wherever Border Roads Organisation vacancies are reported under SSC CGL, only male candidates are eligible.
- Document Verification: Original certificates are mandatory; a degree not completed by the specified cut-off date leads to cancellation of candidature regardless of Tier 2 score.
- Multiple post preferences: If your age falls within more than one post's bracket, you remain eligible for all of them and can rank your preferences accordingly.
What Happens If You Don't Meet Eligibility
Applications not meeting age/qualification/nationality criteria are liable to rejection either at the application stage or, more commonly, during Document Verification after Tier 2 — meaning a candidate can clear the entire exam and still lose the seat over an eligibility mismatch. This is why checking the post-wise table above before choosing preferences matters more than most aspirants assume.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The SSC CGL 2026 age limit is a minimum of 18 years for all posts, with the maximum ranging from 27 to 32 years depending on the specific post.