Notification Highlights
Important Examination & Application Dates
| Recruitment Event / Milestone | Official Date / Schedule |
|---|---|
| Official Gazette Notification Issued | 24 September 2026 |
| Online Application Portal Opens | 24 September 2026 |
| Last Date for Online Submission | 24 October 2026 (23:00 Hrs IST) |
| Last Date for Online Fee Payment | 25 October 2026 (23:00 Hrs IST) |
| Application Form Correction Window | 28 October to 30 October 2026 |
| Tier-1 CBT All-India Exam Window | December 2026 (Multiple Shifts) |
| Tier-2 CBT Mains Exam Window | February – March 2027 |
Application Fee by Reservation Category
| Candidate Category | Prescribed Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS Male Candidates | ₹100 (Non-refundable) |
| All Female Candidates (All Categories) | Exempted (Nil / ₹0) |
| SC / ST / PwBD / Ex-Servicemen (ESM) | Exempted (Nil / ₹0) |
| Permitted Payment Modes | BHIM UPI, Net Banking, Visa, MasterCard, RuPay Card |
Post-Wise Vacancy & Pay Scale Breakdown
| Post Name | Department | Pay Scale | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assistant Section Officer (ASO) | Central Secretariat Service (CSS) / Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) / IB | Level 7 (₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400) | 2,840 |
| Inspector of Income Tax (CBDT) | Central Board of Direct Taxes, Ministry of Finance | Level 7 (₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400) | 1,420 |
| Inspector (Central Excise, GST & Preventive) | Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC) | Level 7 (₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400) | 3,110 |
| Sub-Inspector (CBI) | Central Bureau of Investigation (Department of Personnel & Training) | Level 7 (₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400) | 420 |
| Tax Assistant & Auditor | CBDT, CBIC & Offices under C&AG | Level 4 & Level 5 (₹25,500 – ₹92,300) | 9,937 |
Selection Process & Stages
Objective multiple-choice screening exam covering Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, and English (100 questions, 200 marks, 60 minutes).
Session I (Mathematical Abilities, Reasoning, English Language, General Awareness, Computer Knowledge) + Session II (Data Entry Speed Test).
Walking and cycling tests for Central Excise Inspector, Sub-Inspector in CBI, and NIA officers.
Scrutiny of original graduation certificates, caste certificates (OBC-NCL / EWS), and biometric identity verification.
Examination Pattern, Subjects & Negative Marking
Detailed section-wise question distribution, marks allocation, and penalty rules:
| Subject / Test Module | Questions | Max Marks | Duration | Negative Marking Penalty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 25 | 50 | Combined 60 Minutes | -0.50 Marks per wrong response |
| General Awareness & Current Affairs | 25 | 50 | Combined 60 Minutes | -0.50 Marks per wrong response |
| Quantitative Aptitude (Mathematics) | 25 | 50 | Combined 60 Minutes | -0.50 Marks per wrong response |
| English Comprehension | 25 | 50 | Combined 60 Minutes | -0.50 Marks per wrong response |
Official Examination Syllabus & Section-Wise Topics
Curated subject topics based on official recruitment notifications and past pattern distribution:
- Analogies & Similarities
- Blood Relations & Direction Sense
- Venn Diagrams & Syllogism
- Matrix & Number Series
- Coding-Decoding & Paper Folding
- Indian Constitution & Polity
- Modern History & National Movements
- Macro Economics & Union Budget
- Physical & Indian Geography
- General Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology)
- Number Systems & Divisibility
- Percentages, Profit & Loss, Discount
- Time, Work & Distance
- Algebra & Linear Equations
- Trigonometry, Heights & Distances
- Geometry & Menstruation 2D/3D
- Reading Comprehension & Cloze Test
- Spotting Errors & Sentence Correction
- Idioms, Phrases & One Word Substitutions
- Active-Passive Voice & Direct-Indirect Speech
Previous Cycle Qualifying Cut-Off Benchmarks
Historical normalized qualifying marks across reservation categories to gauge target scores and safe attempt targets:
| Cycle / Exam Stage | General (UR) | OBC-NCL | EWS | SC | ST | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Tier-1 | 153.25 | 148.50 | 145.20 | 128.75 | 119.50 | 200 |
| 2024 Tier-1 | 150.05 | 145.90 | 143.40 | 126.68 | 118.16 | 200 |
| 2023 Tier-1 | 149.63 | 145.93 | 143.44 | 126.69 | 118.16 | 200 |
Profile Match & Application Advisory
- Graduates in any discipline from a recognized university seeking prestigious Group B and C positions across central ministries and departments (Income Tax Inspector, ASO in CSS/MEA, Excise Inspector, Sub-Inspector in CBI).
- Candidates aged 18 to 30/32 years (post-wise) as on 01-08-2026 (eligible for statutory relaxations: up to 33/35 for OBC, 35/37 for SC/ST, and 40+ for PwBD).
- Aspirants with strong aptitude across General Intelligence, Quantitative Aptitude, English Comprehension, and General Awareness preparing for single-day Tier-1 qualifying and Tier-2 decisive stages.
- Candidates with foundational computer operations knowledge seeking 7th CPC Level 4 to Level 8 salaries (Gross ₹45,000 to ₹1,15,000/mo).
- Candidates awaiting final year graduation results whose qualifying degree will not be awarded on or before the crucial cutoff date (01-08-2026).
- Candidates exceeding 30 or 32 years of age without eligible category relaxation.
- Candidates seeking uniformed posts (Central Excise Inspector, CBI SI, NIA SI) who do not meet physical measurement standards (157.5 cm height for males, 152 cm for females) or physical walking endurance tests.
- Candidates unwilling to serve anywhere in India or relocate across central administrative cadres.
Common Application Mistakes & Scrutiny Pitfalls
- Live photo webcam non-compliance: Uploading pictures wearing spectacles, caps, or having shadows on the face; SSC OTR uses AI face-matching that rejects improper lighting and glare.
- Signature uploaded in capital letters: Signatures must be executed in running handwriting with black/blue ink on white paper.
- Wrong post preferences during Tier-2 option-cum-preference: Submitting post choices without verifying physical standards for specific inspector cadres.
- Ignoring the Computer Knowledge Module (CKM) qualifying cutoff: Failing CKM invalidates candidates from consideration even with top Tier-2 paper scores.
Documents to Keep Ready Before Applying
- Matriculation (10th) Certificate & Mark Sheet (crucial for exact name, father’s name, and date of birth).
- Graduation Degree Certificate / Provisional Passing Certificate from recognized University.
- Live Webcam Photograph captured on SSC portal (plain background, ears visible, neutral expression).
- Scanned Signature in running handwriting (10 KB to 20 KB, JPEG/JPG format).
- Central Format Category Certificate (OBC-NCL / EWS / SC / ST) valid for the active financial year.
- Valid Government Photo ID (Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, Passport, Driving License, PAN Card).
Strategic Examination Preparation Blueprint
Actionable study guidelines, speed drills, and score defense tactics curated by GovIndiaNews editorial board:
Complete at least 25 full-length Tier-1 CBT mock tests under strict 60-minute countdown constraints to develop cognitive stamina.
Maintain an error log detailing calculation slips in Quantitative Aptitude and misread grammar rules in General English.
Focus on high-yield General Awareness topics including 7th Schedule constitutional articles, 5-Year Plans, and current economic budget highlights.
Avoid blind guessing: under a 0.50 negative penalty, 2 incorrect guesses erase the net credit earned by 1 correct answer.
Practice daily 15-minute mental arithmetic drills (tables up to 30, squares up to 50, cubes up to 25) to save scratchpad time.
Interactive Candidate Utilities Suite
Statutory software calculators and document specification checkers for this notification
Frequently Asked Questions (Staff Selection Commission (SSC))
What is the crucial cut-off date for age calculation in SSC CGL 2026?
As per the official SSC gazette notification, the crucial date for determining the age limit is 01-08-2026. Candidates must have been born between 02-08-1994 and 01-08-2008 for posts having an age limit of 18–32 years (General category). Official category relaxations apply: 3 years for OBC and 5 years for SC/ST.
Are final year college students eligible to apply for SSC CGL 2026?
Yes, candidates appearing in their final year of graduation may apply, provided they acquire the essential educational qualification degree certificate or provisional degree on or before the crucial cut-off date specified in the notification.
Are Tier-1 marks counted in the final merit list for SSC CGL?
No. Following the revised examination scheme, Tier-1 CBT is purely qualifying in nature. The final merit list for post allocation is prepared strictly based on normalized marks scored by candidates in Tier-2 (Paper-I Sections 1 and 2).
Is Computer Knowledge Test and Typing Test mandatory for all posts?
Computer Knowledge Module and Data Entry Speed Test (DEST) are qualifying in nature for all posts. However, higher qualifying benchmark standards are set for posts like Assistant Section Officer, Assistant in MEA, and Tax Assistant.
Primary Gazette Source Notice
Notice Title: Staff Selection Commission (SSC CGL Notice)
Verified on: 02 Oct 2026
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