Verified against Official Staff Selection Commission (SSC) Scheme
SSC CGL 2026 Examination Anatomy & Key Highlights
The Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level (SSC CGL) Examination is conducted annually for recruitment to Group B and Group C Gazetted and Non-Gazetted posts in Central Government Ministries, Departments, and Organisations (such as Assistant Audit Officer, Assistant Section Officer, Inspector of Income Tax, Central Excise Inspector, Assistant Enforcement Officer, Executive Assistant, and Statistical Investigator). Selection is based on Tier-I (Computer Based Test, 100 Qs / 200 Marks / 60 min composite time) and Tier-II (Paper-I: Mathematical Abilities, Reasoning, English, GA, Computer Knowledge & DEST).
Conducting Body
Staff Selection Commission (SSC), New Delhi
Exam Frequency
Annual (Published in SSC Examination Calendar)
Total Questions & Marks
Tier-I: 100 MCQs (200 Marks) • Tier-II Paper-I: 150 MCQs (450 Marks) + Computer (20 Qs) + DEST
Exam Duration
Tier-I: 60 Minutes (Composite, no section timers) • Tier-II Paper-I: 2 Hours 15 Min + DEST (15 min)
Marking Scheme
Tier-I: +2.0 Marks (-0.50 negative) • Tier-II Paper-I: +3.0 Marks (-1.00 negative)
Cutoff / Standards
Tier-I is qualifying to shortlist for Tier-II • Final merit based on Tier-II Paper-I marks
Score Validity
Valid for Specified SSC CGL Recruitment Batch
Attempt Limit
No limit on number of attempts within prescribed post-specific age boundaries
Minimum Educational Qualifications & Eligibility Norms
SSC CGL 2026 Official Eligibility Criteria & Educational Qualifications
Candidates applying for SSC CGL must hold a Bachelor's Degree from a recognised University or equivalent. Additional post-specific essential qualifications apply for specific technical posts:
Educational Qualification
Bachelor's Degree (Graduation)
- All Posts (General): Bachelor's Degree in any discipline from a recognised University or equivalent.
- Junior Statistical Officer (JSO): Bachelor's Degree in any subject with at least 60% Marks in Mathematics at 12th standard level, OR Bachelor's Degree with Statistics as a subject in all three years.
- Statistical Investigator Grade II: Bachelor's Degree in any subject with Statistics as one of the subjects.
- Assistant Audit Officer / Assistant Accounts Officer: Essential: Bachelor's Degree. Desirable: Chartered Accountant (CA) / Cost & Management Accountant (CMA) / Company Secretary (CS) / M.Com.
Age Limit & Post-Specific Ranges
Age Criteria (Post-Specific)
- 18 to 27 Years: Auditor, Accountant, Postal Assistant, Sorting Assistant, Senior Secretariat Assistant, Tax Assistant.
- 18 to 30 Years: Assistant Section Officer (CSS, MEA, IB, AFHQ), Inspector of Income Tax, Central Excise Inspector, Preventive Officer, Examiner, Assistant Enforcement Officer.
- 18 to 32 Years: Junior Statistical Officer (JSO).
- OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): 3 Years Upper Age Relaxation • SC / ST: 5 Years Upper Age Relaxation • PwBD: 10 to 15 Years Relaxation.
Tier-Wise Marking & Scheme
Tier-I & Tier-II Negative Marking
- Tier-I (Computer Based Test): 100 Questions, 200 Marks, 60 Minutes composite duration. Penalty of 0.50 marks for each wrong answer.
- Tier-II Paper-I (Section-I & II): 150 Questions, 450 Marks (+3 for correct, -1.00 for incorrect answer).
- Tier-II Module-I (Computer Knowledge Test): 20 Questions, 60 Marks, 15 Minutes (-1.00 negative, qualifying in nature).
- Tier-II Module-II (Data Entry Speed Test): Typing 2,000 key depressions in 15 minutes (qualifying in nature).
Important: Nationality: Candidate must be a Citizen of India, a subject of Nepal/Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee settled in India prior to 1st January 1962.
Official Exam Structure & Marking Scheme
SSC CGL Paper Structure & Marks Distribution
Section-by-section breakdown of total questions, maximum marks, and time duration verified against the official SSC CGL scheme.
Tier-I (Computer Based Test)
| Subject / Section |
Questions |
Marks |
Duration |
| General Intelligence and Reasoning |
25 MCQs |
50 Marks |
60 Minutes |
| General Awareness |
25 MCQs |
50 Marks |
60 Minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude |
25 MCQs |
50 Marks |
60 Minutes |
| English Comprehension |
25 MCQs |
50 Marks |
60 Minutes |
| Total (Tier-I (Computer Based Test)) |
100 Questions |
200 Marks |
240 Minutes |
Tier-II (Main Examination)
| Subject / Section |
Questions |
Marks |
Duration |
| Mathematical Abilities |
30 MCQs |
90 Marks |
60 Minutes |
| Reasoning & General Intelligence |
30 MCQs |
90 Marks |
60 Minutes |
| English Language & Comprehension |
45 MCQs |
135 Marks |
60 Minutes |
| General Awareness |
25 MCQs |
75 Marks |
60 Minutes |
| Computer Knowledge Test |
20 MCQs |
60 Marks |
15 Minutes |
| Total (Tier-II (Main Examination)) |
150 Questions |
450 Marks |
255 Minutes |
Step-by-Step Preparation Roadmap
SSC CGL 2026 Step-by-Step Preparation Strategy
SSC CGL Tier-I tests 4 subjects in 60 minutes composite time (no section timers). Tier-II Paper-I tests Mathematical Abilities, Reasoning, English, General Awareness, Computer Knowledge and DEST. Follow this structured roadmap:
1
Build Speed in Quantitative Aptitude & Reasoning
Master arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and mensuration shortcuts. Solve daily reasoning puzzles, coding-decoding, and matrix sets to solve Tier-I Quant and Reasoning in under 35 minutes.
2
Master English Language & Comprehension (High Tier-II Weightage)
English carries 135 marks in Tier-II Paper-I (45 questions, 3 marks each). Focus heavily on reading comprehension, active/passive voice, direct/indirect speech, cloze test, and vocabulary (synonyms, antonyms, idioms, one-word substitutions).
3
Target General Awareness & Science
Revise Indian History, Geography, Polity (Articles & Amendments), Economics, General Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology), and 6 months of Current Affairs for Tier-I and Tier-II General Awareness.
4
Prepare Computer Knowledge Test & DEST Typing
Computer Knowledge carries 20 questions (60 marks) in Tier-II and is mandatory qualifying. Practise daily computer basics and typing to achieve 2,000 key depressions in 15 minutes for DEST.
