SSC CGL 2026 Notification
Official notification released on 21 May 2026. Applications open until 22 June 2026 (23:00 hrs). Below: confirmed timeline, ~12,256 tentative vacancies, fee details, eligibility highlights, and the step-by-step application process — sourced directly from the SSC CGL 2026 notification on ssc.gov.in.
Notification Live: SSC CGL 2026 official notification has been released. Apply on ssc.gov.in or download the my SSC mobile app. Last date — 22 June 2026 (23:00 hrs).
Key Facts at a Glance
Tentative vacancies
~ 12,256
Application fee
₹100
Fee exemption
Women, SC, ST, PwBD, ESM
Age reference date
01 August 2026
Mode of exam
Computer-Based (CBT)
Tiers
Tier-I + Tier-II
Confirmed Timeline
Dates are taken directly from the official notification dated 21 May 2026.
Notification release
21 May 2026
Online application opens
21 May 2026
Last date to apply
22 Jun 2026 (23:00 hrs)
Last date for fee payment
23 Jun 2026 (23:00 hrs)
Application correction window
29 Jun – 1 Jul 2026 (23:00 hrs)
Tier-I admit card
~10 days before exam
Tier-I exam (CBT)
August – September 2026
Tier-II exam (CBT)
December 2026
How to Apply — Step-by-Step
Submit by 22 June 2026 (23:00 hrs). Don't wait for the last day — the SSC portal sees heavy load near the deadline, and SSC won't entertain login-failure complaints.
Generate One-Time Registration (OTR) on the new SSC portal
The OTR from the old website (ssc.nic.in) does not work. Create a fresh OTR on https://ssc.gov.in — Aadhaar-based authentication is strongly recommended to avoid photo/signature rejections.
Fill the SSC CGL 2026 application
Log in with your OTR credentials, select SSC CGL 2026, fill personal/educational details, and choose three exam-centre preferences within the same region (in priority order).
Pay the application fee by 23 Jun 2026
₹100 for General/OBC/EWS via BHIM UPI, net banking, or Visa/Mastercard/Maestro/RuPay debit cards. Women candidates and SC/ST/PwBD/Ex-Servicemen are exempt. Fee deadline is one day after the application close.
Submit before 22 Jun 2026, 23:00 hrs
Review every field via Preview/Print before submitting. SSC will not entertain post-deadline change requests via post/email/in person.
Use the correction window if needed (29 Jun – 1 Jul 2026)
You can re-submit a corrected application up to two times. First correction: ₹200. Second correction: ₹500. Same for everyone — no gender/category waiver here.
Download admit card ~10 days before Tier-I
Admit cards are released from the regional SSC website (e.g., sscnr.nic.in for North Region). Log in with your OTR credentials.
Need help filling the form? SSC's toll-free helpline is 1800 309 3063. Useful for OTR issues, fee payment failures, or photo/signature problems.
Documents You'll Need
Keep these ready before opening the application — losing time hunting for documents is the main reason last-minute applications fail.
- Class 10 / Matriculation certificate (for date of birth proof)
- Class 12 mark sheet (60% Math required for JSO; specific subjects for SI Gr-II)
- Bachelor's degree mark sheet and certificate (final-year candidates can apply with proof of qualification by 01-08-2026)
- Photo ID (Aadhaar / PAN / Voter ID / Passport / Driving Licence)
- Recent photograph (captured live during application — no pre-existing photos)
- Signature (JPEG/JPG, 10-20 KB, ~6 × 2 cm)
- Caste certificate for SC / ST / OBC (central government format) — EWS in Form-XI
- PwBD certificate (Annexure-I / IA) if applicable
- Ex-Servicemen / Departmental candidate certificate (if applicable)
- Regional language certificate (matriculation level) — only for AAO/AAO State Cadre posts
Eligibility — Quick Reference
Age (01-08-2026)
18 – 32 years
Most posts: 18-30. ASO (CSS/Railways/MEA/AFHQ) and SI-CBI: 20-30. Group C posts: 18-27. JSO: 18-32. Standard relaxations for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD/ESM apply.
Education
Bachelor's degree
Any discipline for most posts. JSO needs 60% Math in Class 12 OR Statistics at graduation. SI Grade-II needs Stats/Maths/Economics/CS/Data Science/AI etc. at graduation.
Nationality
Indian + select foreign
Indian citizens, subjects of Nepal/Bhutan, or Indian-origin migrants from specified countries with a Government of India eligibility certificate.
Full breakdown on the eligibility page, and post-wise pay levels on the posts page.
Scheme of Examination
Tier-I (Computer-Based, 60 minutes)
Objective MCQs. Sectional timer of 15 minutes per subject. Negative marking: 0.50 per wrong answer.
Tier-II (Computer-Based)
Paper-I is for everyone. Paper-II Statistics is only for Junior Statistical Officer applicants. Paper-III is only for Assistant Audit / Accounts Officer applicants. Negative marking: 1.00 in Paper-I (Sections I, II & III), 0.50 in Paper-II and Paper-III.
Paper-I (all candidates)
Section-I: Math (30 Q × 3 = 90) + Reasoning (30 Q × 3 = 90). Section-II: English Comprehension (45 Q × 3 = 135) + General Awareness (25 Q × 3 = 75). Section-III: Computer Knowledge (20 Q × 3 = 60, qualifying). Section-IV: Data Entry Speed Test (qualifying).
Paper-II (only for JSO applicants)
Statistics — 100 questions × 2 marks = 200 marks. 2 hours.
Paper-III (only for AAO / Assistant Accounts Officer applicants)
General Studies (Finance & Economics) — 100 questions × 2 marks = 200 marks. 2 hours.
Final merit for most posts is calculated from Tier-II Paper-I Sections I and II (combined 390 marks). Section-III (Computer Knowledge) and Section-IV (Data Entry Speed Test) are qualifying only.
Things Worth Knowing
- ~12,256 tentative vacancies — final post-wise and category-wise allocations will be published on ssc.gov.in > For Candidates > Tentative Vacancy.
- New SSC portal: applications are accepted only at https://ssc.gov.in. The earlier OTR on ssc.nic.in is not valid; a fresh OTR is mandatory.
- Tier-I has sectional timers (15 minutes per subject). You cannot move freely between sections.
- Negative marking: 0.50 in Tier-I; 1.00 in Tier-II Paper-I (Sections I, II & III); 0.50 in Tier-II Paper-II and Paper-III.
- Application fee waived for women and SC/ST/PwBD/Ex-Servicemen. Correction window charges (₹200/₹500) apply to everyone equally.
- Tier-II Paper-I scores (Sections I + II = 390 marks) decide final merit for most posts. Section-III (Computer) and DEST are qualifying only.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the SSC CGL 2026 application window?
Applications are open from 21 May 2026 to 22 June 2026 (23:00 hrs). Fee payment closes one day later on 23 June 2026 (23:00 hrs). Applications must be submitted online at ssc.gov.in or via the my SSC mobile app.
How many vacancies are there in SSC CGL 2026?
SSC has notified approximately 12,256 tentative vacancies. Final post-wise and category-wise vacancies will be updated on ssc.gov.in. State-wise/zone-wise vacancies are not maintained by SSC — contact the user departments for that.
When will the SSC CGL 2026 Tier-I and Tier-II exams be held?
Tier-I (Computer-Based) is scheduled for August – September 2026 and Tier-II for December 2026 as per the official notification. The exact dates will be communicated through the admit card on the SSC website roughly 10 days before the exam.
What is the SSC CGL 2026 application fee?
The application fee is ₹100. Women candidates and candidates from SC, ST, PwBD, and Ex-Servicemen categories are fully exempt. Fee is paid online via BHIM UPI, net banking, or Visa/Mastercard/Maestro/RuPay debit cards by 23 June 2026 (23:00 hrs).
Where can I apply for SSC CGL 2026?
Apply only at https://ssc.gov.in or through the my SSC mobile app. Note: the old SSC portal (ssc.nic.in) is no longer used — even if you had an OTR there, you must create a fresh OTR on the new site before applying.
Can I correct mistakes in my SSC CGL 2026 application?
Yes. SSC has a 3-day correction window from 29 June to 1 July 2026 (23:00 hrs). You can re-submit up to two times — ₹200 for the first correction and ₹500 for the second. After 1 July 2026, no changes are permitted in any form (post, email, in-person).
What is the selection process for SSC CGL 2026?
Selection is via a two-tier Computer-Based Examination. Tier-I has 4 sections (100 questions, 200 marks, 60 minutes with sectional timers, 0.50 negative marking) and is qualifying. Tier-II has Paper-I (compulsory, includes a Data Entry Speed Test), Paper-II Statistics (only for JSO), and Paper-III General Studies/Finance & Economics (only for AAO). Final merit is based on Tier-II Paper-I Sections I and II (390 marks).
Where is the official SSC CGL 2026 notification PDF?
The complete 132-page notification is available at ssc.gov.in under "Latest Notifications" — direct link: ssc.gov.in/api/attachment/uploads/masterData/NoticeBoards/Notice_of_adv_cgl_2026.pdf. It contains the full post list, eligibility, age limits, fee, exam pattern, syllabus, and annexures.
I am stuck filling the form — is there a helpline?
Yes. SSC has provided a toll-free helpline for application-related queries: 1800 309 3063. Use this for technical issues with OTR, fee payment, or the application form.
Applied? Now start preparing.
Tier-I is in August-September 2026 — roughly 90 days from the application close. The 24-week preparation guide and a free benchmark mock are the right starting points.