The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) runs the Combined Graduate Level (CGL) exam — the single biggest gateway to central government office jobs for graduates. This year’s cycle, SSC CGL 2026, is recruiting for 12,256 posts, and it has now moved into the phase every candidate is watching: the exam.
The Tier 1 computer-based test is scheduled for August–September 2026. With the exam this close, lakhs of aspirants are refreshing the SSC site for two documents — the city slip and the admit card. Here is exactly what is coming, when, and where to get it.
The timeline you’re waiting on
- City intimation slip — comes first, usually about 2–3 weeks before your exam. It tells you only the city of your centre, so you can book train or bus tickets and arrange a stay in time.
- Admit card (hall ticket) — comes a few days before your exam. This is the full document: your exact date, shift timing and centre address. No admit card, no entry — so download and print it as soon as it is out.
Because SSC holds Tier 1 over several days in multiple shifts, candidates get different dates and slots. Do not assume a friend’s date is yours — go by what your own admit card says.
Where to download — read this carefully
A common mistake trips people up every year: you cannot download the admit card from the main SSC website. You get it from your regional SSC website — the Northern, Central, Eastern (and so on) region that matches where you applied.
- Go to your regional SSC site.
- Log in with your registration number and date of birth.
- Download and print the admit card.
- Carry it to the centre with a valid photo ID (like Aadhaar, PAN or a driving licence).
What the job is worth
SSC CGL 2026 fills 12,256 posts across central government departments — familiar roles like Income Tax Inspector, Assistant Section Officer and Auditor, among others. The pay depends on each post’s level in the 7th Pay Commission pay matrix — broadly Level 4 to Level 8. To see what a given level actually pays in hand, use our SSC CGL Level-7 salary calculator and change the level to match the post you want.
What to do while you wait
- Keep your login details handy — registration number and date of birth — so you can grab the admit card the moment it drops.
- Watch your regional SSC site through late July and August, not just the main page.
- Revise, don’t cram — Tier 1 is a speed-and-accuracy test; steady practice of quant, reasoning, English and general awareness beats last-minute panic.
- Plan travel early once the city slip is out, so exam day is about the paper, not the platform.
Clear Tier 1 and the next gate is Tier 2, expected in December 2026 — the stage that decides the final merit list. Get through the door first; then win the room.