SSC CGL Notification 2026
SSC CGL 2026 — Important Dates
Applications opened 21 May and closed 22 June 2026. The correction window ran 29 Jun–1 Jul. Tier-I is tentatively set for Aug–Sep 2026 with Tier-II in December 2026.
- Apply online: 21 May – 22 June 2026
- Fee payment deadline: 23 June 2026 (23:00 hrs)
- Correction window: 29 June – 01 July 2026
SSC CGL 2026 Notification — Key Details
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Staff Selection Commission (SSC) |
| Exam Name | Combined Graduate Level Examination (CGL) 2026 |
| Notification No. | F. No. HQ-C11018/1/2026-C-1 |
| Notification Release Date | 21 May 2026 |
| Total Vacancies | 12,256 (tentative) |
| Application Mode | Online only, via new SSC portal / MySSC app |
| Apply Online Start | 21 May 2026 |
| Apply Online Last Date | 22 June 2026 (23:00 hours) |
| Fee Payment Last Date | 23 June 2026 (23:00 hours) |
| Correction Window | 29 June – 01 July 2026 (23:00 hours) |
| Tier 1 Exam | August–September 2026 (tentative) |
| Tier 2 Exam | December 2026 (tentative) |
| Selection Stages | Tier 1 → Tier 2 → Document Verification (no interview) |
| Application Fee | ₹100 (Gen/OBC/EWS); exempted for women, SC, ST, PwBD, ESM |
| Official Site | ssc.gov.in |
| Helpline | 1800-309-3063 (toll-free) |
SSC CGL 2026 Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
Notification Released | 21 May 2026 |
Apply Online Starts | 21 May 2026 |
Original Last Date to Apply | 22 June 2026 |
Extended Last Date to Apply | 25 June 2026, 11:00 PM |
Last Date for Fee Payment | 26 June 2026, 11:00 PM |
Application Correction Window | 1–3 July 2026 |
City Intimation Slip | ~2–3 weeks before Tier 1 |
Tier 1 Admit Card | Late July / Early August 2026 |
Tier 1 Exam | August–September 2026 (tentative) |
Tier 1 Answer Key | ~15–30 days after Tier 1 |
Tier 1 Result | October–November 2026 (expected) |
Tier 2 Exam | December 2026 (tentative) |
What's New in SSC CGL 2026
2026 ChangesAAO / AAcO Posts Return
Assistant Audit Officer (Central & State Cadre) and Assistant Accounts Officer (State Cadre) are back at Pay Level 8 (₹47,600–₹1,51,100) — the highest-paid posts in CGL.
Sectional Timing in Both Tiers
Tier 1 now enforces a fixed 15-minute lock per section — once time's up, you cannot revisit that section. Tier 2 Paper 1 also introduces sectional timing for the first time.
New Paper 3 in Tier 2 (AAO/AAcO only)
A new General Studies (Finance & Economics) paper has been added in Tier 2, exclusively for candidates targeting AAO and AAcO posts.
Live Photograph Mandatory
Pre-saved photographs are rejected outright. Candidates must capture a live photo during the application via webcam or smartphone, as prompted by the application module.
OTR Must Be Done on New SSC Portal
Old One-Time Registration IDs from the previous SSC website (ssc.nic.in) do not carry over. All candidates must re-register on the new portal (ssc.gov.in).
Local Language Clause for AAO State Cadre
Selected candidates for AAO/AAcO State Cadre posts must be proficient in the regional/official language of their allotted state at matriculation level.
Wider Eligibility for Statistical Investigator Grade II
AI, Data Science, and IT graduates are now explicitly eligible for Statistical Investigator Grade II, alongside Economics, Statistics, Mathematics, and Computer Science graduates.
SSC CGL 2026 Vacancy
A total of 12,256 tentative vacancies have been announced across roughly 40 Group B and Group C posts. SSC publishes category-wise and post-wise vacancy breakups separately, and the number is typically revised upward or downward before the final result — treat it as provisional.
Vacancy Trend (Last 10 Years)
Eligibility Snapshot
The minimum qualification is a bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university. Certain posts (such as JSO, Statistical Investigator, and AAO) require specific academic subjects or minimum percentages. The age limit generally ranges from 18 to 32 years depending on the post (calculated as on 1 August 2026), with standard upper-age relaxation available for SC, ST, OBC, PwBD, and Ex-Servicemen.
Application Fee
The application fee is ₹100 for General, OBC, and EWS male candidates. Application is fully exempted for women candidates, as well as SC, ST, PwBD, and Ex-Servicemen.
Payment Modes
Payable online via BHIM UPI, Net Banking, or Debit Cards (Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, RuPay).
Refund Policy
The application fee is non-refundable once paid and will not be adjusted for any other examination.
How to Apply for SSC CGL 2026
Visit ssc.gov.in and complete One-Time Registration (OTR) on the new portal — old OTR IDs won't work.
Log in and select "Combined Graduate Level Examination, 2026."
Fill personal, educational, and category details.
Capture a live photograph (pre-saved uploads are rejected) and upload your signature.
Choose your exam centre preferences carefully — SSC does not entertain centre-change requests later.
Pay the application fee, if applicable.
Submit and download the final application printout for your records.
Selection Process
The selection process consists of two computer-based tiers: Tier 1 (qualifying) and Tier 2 (Paper 1 is compulsory for all posts; Paper 2 is for JSO applicants; the new Paper 3 is for AAO/AAcO applicants). This is followed by document verification. Note that there is no interview round.
Exam Pattern at a Glance
Tier 1: Consists of 100 questions carrying 200 marks, with an overall duration of 60 minutes. Crucially, a new 15-minute sectional lock applies to each of the 4 sections (Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, and English). There is a negative marking of −0.50 marks for each incorrect response.
Official Notification PDF & Verification Links
To ensure accuracy and guard against outdated or incorrect information, we advise verifying all details directly on the official Staff Selection Commission website.
Why Prepare with Prepgrind
Sectional timing is the single biggest format change this cycle — a mock that doesn't lock sections the way the real exam does will teach you the wrong habits. Prepgrind's SSC CGL Tier 1 mock tests, sectional tests, and daily practice papers (DPPs) replicate the exact 2026 sectional-timing format, so your practice conditions match exam-day conditions from day one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — SSC released the SSC CGL 2026 notification on 21 May 2026 for 12,256 tentative vacancies.
The notification sets the stage for registrations, eligibility, dates, and exam syllabus changes.
SSC has announced 12,256 tentative vacancies across roughly 40 Group B and Group C posts for 2026.
This number is provisional and may be revised upward or downward by the commission before final result declaration.
The extended last date to apply online was 25 June 2026, after the original deadline of 22 June 2026 was pushed back.
The online fee payment deadline was extended to 26 June 2026.
The SSC CGL Tier 1 exam is tentatively scheduled for August–September 2026; SSC has not yet confirmed exact shift-wise dates.
Admit cards and city slips will be released about 2 to 3 weeks before the start of the exams.
Tier 2 is tentatively scheduled for December 2026, to be confirmed after Tier 1 results are processed.
Candidates qualifying Tier 1 will be eligible to sit for Tier 2.
The 2026 cycle brings back AAO/AAcO posts, introduces sectional timing in both Tier 1 and Tier 2 Paper 1, adds a new Paper 3 for AAO aspirants, and makes a live photograph mandatory during application.
Additionally, all candidates must register on the new portal as old OTR IDs do not work.
The application fee is ₹100 for General/OBC/EWS candidates; women, SC, ST, PwBD, and Ex-Servicemen candidates are exempted.
The fee can be paid online via UPI, net banking, or debit card.
The age limit ranges from 18 to 32 years depending on the post, calculated as on 1 August 2026, with standard category-wise relaxation.
Concessions are granted to OBC, SC/ST, PwBD, and other categories per Government guidelines.
Yes — for the first time, SSC has introduced a fixed 15-minute timer per section in Tier 1, and also added sectional timing to Tier 2 Paper 1.
Once the 15-minute section time runs out, candidates cannot revisit those questions.
Yes — SSC deducts 0.50 marks for every wrong answer in Tier 1.
Each correct answer awards 2 marks, and unattempted questions attract no penalty.
No — SSC CGL selection has no interview; final selection is based on Tier 1, Tier 2, and document verification only.
This ensures a merit-based, objective selection process.
Yes — final-year students can apply, provided they can furnish their degree certificate or proof of passing by the cut-off date of 1 August 2026.
Candidates who do not meet this educational cut-off will be disqualified during verification.
The Tier 1 admit card is expected in late July or early August 2026, released through SSC's regional websites, not the central portal.
The regional websites host download links sorted by candidate registration and roll number.
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