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SSC CGL 2026 Notification Delays, Exam Likely From August to September
According to the 2026–27 SSC Calendar, we expected the CGL 2026 notification in March 2026. That notification was not released. Although no formal statement was made, based on information gathered from various platforms, it was expected to be released in May or June 2026. The Tier 1 CBE, scheduled for May or June 2026, is now expected to be conducted in August or September 2026, two months after the notification is released. The SSC portal (ssc.gov.in) should have priority for all aspirants and be monitored, along with OTR (One-Time Registration), for completion before the Application form window opens. Application fees are Rs 100 and may be paid through BHIM UPI, Net banking, and Debit/Credit Card. All other category applicants are exempt from the Application fee.
Who Can Apply: Eligibility Criteria for SSC CGL 2026
Being a graduate alone doesn’t qualify one to apply for all SSC CGL posts. SSC CGL applicants need to be Indian citizens with a degree from a recognised university. Age criteria are within 18 to 32 for almost all posts, with the age cutoff being 1st August of the year of the SSC CGL examination. The age relaxations are 3 years for OBC, 5 years for SC/ST, and 10 years for Persons with Disabilities (PwD). For the Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) post (Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation), graduation with Statistics as one of the subjects is mandatory.
Candidates in their last year of graduation are eligible to apply, provided they graduate before the document verification process. Candidates are eligible to attempt this examination as many times as they want, as long as they satisfy the age criteria for eligibility. It is highly advisable to review each post’s eligibility criteria, as there may be specific changes from the official general norms.
Pattern of Tier 1 Exam
The marking from the first stage, Tier 1, of the SSC CGL is not used in the calculation of the final merit rank. However, to gain admission to Tier 2, candidates must meet the minimum qualifying marks for Tier 1. The Tier 1 exam is conducted as a computer-based test (CBT) with a duration of one hour (60 minutes). Overall, the Tier 1 exam has 100 questions, divided into four sections of 25 questions each. The sections include General Intelligence and Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, and English Comprehension. Each question is worth 2 marks, for a total of 200 marks.
There is negative marking, with a deduction of 0.50 marks for each incorrect response. Thus, respondents are advised to avoid random guessing. Candidates requiring a scribe are also provided extra time, up to 20 minutes. The exam is conducted in shifts across a large number of centres. The timings for the shifts and centres are published only when admission tickets are issued, usually between four and seven days prior to the examination date.
Tips on How to Tackle the Syllabus
There are 4 subjects in the Tier 1 syllabus, each presenting a variety of challenges. Quantitative Aptitude covers multiple aspects of mathematics, such as arithmetic, algebra, mensuration, geometry, trigonometry, ratios and proportions, and data interpretation. While the Quantitative Aptitude section is the most time-consuming, practice is most effective. General Intelligence and Reasoning includes testing your reasoning skills with analogies, blood relations, and Venn diagrams, as well as testing your non-verbal reasoning. The English Comprehension section includes reading comprehension passages, error detection, fill-in-the-blank, and word-definition questions.
The General Awareness section includes questions related to current events, history, geography, and the sciences and technology of India. This section also includes questions related to static GK. This section is the most time-consuming, as you have to combine multiple areas of knowledge to answer. Answers for five to seven questions come from current affairs; this is why consistent newspaper reading is important. Micro-topic breakdowns are not published in the SSC syllabus, so to get a breakdown of the most significant topics, it is helpful to refer to question papers from 2020 and beyond.
Vacancies, Salary and SSC CGL Insights
SSC CGL is responsible for recruiting candidates for Group B and Group C positions across various central government ministries and departments. Prestigious positions like Assistant Section Officer in the Ministry of External Affairs, Sub Inspector of Income Tax under CBDT, Customs and Central Excise Inspector, Assistant Enforcement Officer in the Enforcement Directorate, CBI Sub Inspector, and Statistical Investigator Grade-2 are included in the recruitment.
This year, approximately 15,000 vacancies are anticipated. In the previous recruitment cycle in 2025, 15,118 positions were filled. The Salary ranges from Pay Level 4 (basic salary of Rs 25,500) to Pay Level 7 (basic salary of Rs 44,900), with a monthly in-hand salary being between Rs 30,000 and Rs 65,000 (approximately), based on the position and place of posting, after the standard allowances (DA, HRA, and TA) are applied. For graduates wanting to enter government service and do not want to appear for UPSC, do SSC CGL. It is the easiest and most lucrative exam.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q1. When will the notification for SSC CGL 2026 be released?
As of May 2026, the SSC CGL notification has not been released. The announcement is expected to be made in May – June 2026 at ssc.gov.in. The notification was not released in the expected March 2026 timeframe due to administrative delays.
Q2. What will be the exam date for SSC CGL Tier 1 2026?
Due to the delays, Tier 1 of SSC CGL 2026 is now expected to be held in August – September 2026, which is roughly two months after the notification is released.
Q3. What is the expected number of vacancies for SSC CGL 2026?
Historical trends and the previous 2025 cycle, which had 15,118 vacancies, suggest that the 2026 cycle will have around 15,000 vacancies. The official number will be stated in the official notification.
Q4. Will Tier 1 marks be included in the final merit list of SSC CGL?
Tier 1 is a qualifying exam. Only Tier 2 marks will determine the final rank and the post to which a candidate is allocated.
Q5. What will be the application fee of SSC CGL 2026?
The application fee will be Rs 100. Women and candidates belonging to SC, ST, and PwD, and ex-servicemen are not required to pay the application fee.
Q6. What is the number of permitted attempts for SSC CGL?
There is no cap on the number of attempts. Candidates can take the examination multiple times as long as they satisfy the age and educational criteria.
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