The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has released the SSC CGL Notification 2026 on its official website for 12,256 vacancies for various Group B and Group C posts in Central Government Ministries, Departments, Constitutional Bodies, Statutory Bodies, and Tribunals. The application process is now over and the Tier 1 exam dates will be announced soon. Check out what’s new this year in the SSC CGL 2026 Exam and how to prepare.
SSC CGL Notification 2026
The detailed notification contains information regarding vacancies, eligibility criteria, exam pattern, selection process, salary structure, reservation policy, and application instructions. Candidates are advised to read the notification carefully before submitting their application forms.
Download SSC CGL Notification 2026 PDF
What’s New in SSC CGL in 2026?
The two major changes made by SSC that have attracted widespread attention are: reintroduction of AAO post after a few years, and introduction of sectional timing; other than that, the selection process, salary, and exam pattern remain the same.
New Changes Introduced by SSC for CGL 2026 Exam:
| Change | Details |
| AAO Posts Added |
SSC has reintroduced the posts of Assistant Audit Officer (AAO) and Assistant Accounts Officer (AAO) under the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (C&AG). These posts fall under Pay Level 8, offering a higher salary. |
| Sectional Timing in Tier 1 |
Each section in Tier 1 has separate sectional timing of 15 minutes (total 60 mins) |
| Sectional Timing in Tier 2 | Like Tier 1, Tier 2 also has sectional timings. |
| Paper III for AAO Posts |
Candidates applying for AAO and Assistant Accounts Officer posts must appear for Paper III (General Studies – Finance & Economics) in Tier 2. |
| New Streams for Statistical Investigator |
SSC has expanded eligibility for the Statistical Investigator Grade-II post by including candidates from Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data Science, Information Technology (IT), Computer Science, and related streams. |
SSC CGL 2026 – Highlights
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam Name | SSC CGL 2026 |
| Conducting Body |
Staff Selection Commission |
| Vacancy | 12,256 |
| Posts | |
| Qualification | Graduation |
| Age Limit |
18 to 32 Years (Post-wise) |
| Application Dates |
21 May to 25 June 2026 (extended) |
| Selection Process | |
| Tier 1 Exam | |
| Tier 2 Exam | December 2026 |
| Official Website | ssc.gov.in |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
| Online Application Start Date | 21 May 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | |
| Application Correction Window |
1st to 3rd July 2026 (11:00 PM) |
| City Intimation | |
| Admit Card | |
| SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam | |
| SSC CGL Tier 2 Exam | December 2026 |
SSC CGL Selection Process
The Selection Process consists of two examination stages: Tier 1 and Tier 2. There is no Interview in the process.
Stage 1: Tier 1/Prelims Exam
- The Tier 1 exam is a computer-based test.
- This stage is qualifying in nature, and marks are not added to the final list.
- Only those who qualify in Tier 1, will be called for Tier 2.
Stage 2: Tier 2/Mains Exam
- Like Tier 1, this is also a CBT mode test, and candidates who pass Tier 1, will be eligible for Tier 2.
- It consists of both an Objective paper and a Typing/Skill Test.
- Tier 2 consists of Papers I, II, and III. Paper I is compulsory for all posts, and others are post-specific.
- This stage decides the final merit list.
Stage 3: Answer Key & Objection Process
- SSC will release provisional answer keys and response sheet for both Tier 1 and Tier 2.
- Candidates can check official answers to the questions asked in the exam.
- An objection window will opened and after considering the answer key objections, a final answer key will be released by SSC.
Stage 4: Document Verification (DV)
- SSC will verify educational certificates, category certificates, ID proof, and other required documents.
SSC CGL Exam Pattern
The tier 1 and tier 2 exam patterns have been discussed in detail below. Candidates are advised to go through the latest pattern and start preparing accordingly.
Tier 1 Exam Pattern
|
Sections |
Sectional Timing |
No. of Questions |
Marks |
Remarks |
|
English Comprehension |
15 Mins |
25 |
50 |
|
|
General Awareness |
15 Mins |
25 |
50 |
|
|
General Intelligence and Reasoning |
15 Mins |
25 |
50 |
|
|
Quantitative Aptitude |
15 Mins |
25 |
50 |
|
|
Total |
60 Mins |
100 |
200 |
Tier 2 Exam Pattern
| Paper | Session | Section | Subject | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration | Weightage |
| Paper I | Session I | Section I | Mathematical Abilities | 30 | 90 | 30 minutes | 23% |
| Reasoning and General Intelligence | 30 | 90 | 30 minutes | 23% | |||
| Section II | English Language and Comprehension | 45 | 135 | 40 minutes | 35% | ||
| General Awareness | 25 | 75 | 20 minutes | 19% | |||
| Section III | Computer Knowledge Test | 20 | 60 | 15 minutes | – | ||
| Session II | Data Entry Speed Test | One Data Entry Task | Qualifying | 15 minutes | – | ||
|
Paper II |
For JSO only | Statistics | Statistics | 100 | 200 | 2 hours | – |
| Paper III | for AAO only | General Studies | General Studies (Finance and Economics) | 100 | 200 | 2 hours | – |
How Sectional Timing Will Impact SSC CGL Preparation?
For the first time, SSC has introduced sectional timing in both Tier 1 and Tier 2 examinations. In Tier 1, candidates will get 15 minutes for each section. Once the allotted time for a section ends, the system will automatically move to the next section.
This change makes balanced preparation more important, as candidates will no longer be able to spend extra time on stronger sections to compensate for weaker ones
How to Prepare for the SSC CGL Exam in 2026?
With new changes now introduced by the Commission, candidates must revise their strategy as well. Here, are some tips that will help you get ahead of the competition.
Practice Strict Sectional Timing: With sectional timing, you can no longer borrow time from other subjects, so focus on solving all questions in a strict time limit environment.
Target AAO If You Have a Finance Background: The reintroduced AAO posts sit at Pay Level 8 (highest in CGL) but require an additional Paper III on Finance & Economics. If commerce is your strength, prioritise this post.
Solve Previous Year Papers: SSC CGL has a consistent question style. Solving the last 5 years’ papers helps you identify high-weightage topics and manage exam-day time better.
Take Regular Mock Tests: Attempt full-length mocks with sectional timing and review your performance section-by-section after every test.
SSC CGL Mock Test 2026
SSC CGL Online Coaching 2026