Overview
SSC CGL is the Staff Selection Commission's flagship exam for recruiting graduates to Group B and Group C posts across central government ministries, departments and organisations — including Assistant Section Officer, Income Tax Inspector, Sub-Inspector (CBI/NIA), Assistant Audit Officer, Junior Statistical Officer and Auditor. The 2026 cycle has 12,256 vacancies and follows a two-tier, fully computer-based selection process: a qualifying Tier I screening test, followed by a merit-deciding Tier II. There is no interview — final selection depends entirely on Tier II performance and document verification. SSC has introduced sectional timing in both tiers this year, meaning candidates must clear each section within its own fixed window rather than manage time freely across the full paper, which puts a premium on consistent section-wise practice rather than lopsided preparation.
What's New in the 2026 Cycle
What changed in the 2026 cycle
- Sectional timing introduced in Tier I — 15 minutes fixed per section, no moving time between sections.
- Paper III (Finance & Economics / General Studies) reintroduced in Tier II for AAO & Assistant Accounts Officer posts.
- Total vacancies: 12,256 posts across Group B and Group C — down from ~14,582 last cycle, so competition is higher.
- Statistical Investigator Grade-II eligibility widened to include AI, Data Science, CS and IT graduates.
- Tier I exam window: August–September 2026. Tier II: tentatively December 2026.
Eligibility Criteria
| Criterion | Details |
|---|---|
| Age Limit | 18–32 years (varies by post; relaxation as per government norms for SC/ST/OBC/PwD/ESM) |
| Educational Qualification | Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university (specific posts need a relevant subject, e.g. Statistics for JSO, Commerce/Economics for AAO) |
| Nationality | Indian citizen (subject to standard SSC nationality/domicile clauses for defence and specific posts) |
| Application Fee | ₹100 (General/OBC/EWS male candidates). Women candidates and SC/ST/PwD/Ex-Servicemen are exempted from the fee. |
SSC CGL Exam Pattern
The SSC CGL selection process runs through tier i + tier ii. Each stage has its own timing, marking scheme and qualifying rules, detailed below.
Tier I (Computer-Based Test)
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 25 | 50 |
| General Awareness | 25 | 50 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 |
| English Comprehension | 25 | 50 |
Tier II — Paper I (compulsory for all posts)
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematical Abilities | 30 | 90 |
| Reasoning & General Intelligence | 30 | 90 |
| English Language & Comprehension | 45 | 135 |
| General Awareness | 25 | 75 |
| Computer Knowledge (qualifying) | 20 | 60 |
| Data Entry Speed Test (qualifying) | 1 | Qualifying |
Tier II — Paper II (JSO & Statistical Investigator Gr-II only)
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Statistics | 100 | 200 |
Tier II — Paper III (AAO / Assistant Accounts Officer only)
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Finance & Accounting | 40 | 80 |
| Economics & Governance | 60 | 120 |
SSC CGL Detailed Subject-Wise Syllabus
Below is the complete topic-wise SSC CGL syllabus for every subject tested across all stages, with a short note on what each section actually rewards — use this to build a section-wise study plan rather than relying on generic topic summaries.
General Intelligence & Reasoning
Tests your ability to spot patterns and think logically under time pressure — usually the fastest-scoring section once practised.
- Analogies, similarities and differences
- Classification (odd-one-out)
- Coding-decoding
- Series completion (number, alphabet, mixed)
- Blood relations & direction sense
- Syllogism and logical Venn diagrams
- Verbal and non-verbal reasoning
- Statement–conclusion and statement–assumption
- Puzzle, seating arrangement & matrix
- Mirror images and water images
- Paper folding & cutting
- Embedded figures & figure completion
- Counting of figures
- Word formation
- Non-verbal series & pattern recognition
Quantitative Aptitude / Mathematical Abilities
Covers Class 10–12 level maths; strong fundamentals here directly translate into speed across both tiers.
- Number system, HCF & LCM
- Percentage, ratio & proportion
- Average, mixture & alligation
- Profit, loss and discount
- Simple & compound interest
- Time, speed and distance
- Time and work
- Algebra — basic identities, linear & quadratic equations, elementary surds
- Geometry — triangles, circles, chords, tangents, common tangents to circles
- Mensuration — 2D & 3D figures (prism, cone, cylinder, sphere, hemisphere, pyramid)
- Trigonometry — ratios, heights & distances
- Data interpretation — tables, bar/pie/line graphs
- Standard deviation, statistical charts (Tier II Paper I)
English Comprehension / Language
Focuses on practical grammar and comprehension rather than literary English — accuracy matters more than vocabulary breadth.
- Noun, pronoun, verb forms, tenses & modals
- Adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, articles
- Error detection & sentence correction
- Fill in the blanks
- Synonyms, antonyms & homonyms
- One-word substitution
- Idioms and phrases
- Active/passive voice, direct/indirect speech
- Cloze passage & spotting errors
- Spelling/misspelt words
- Sentence rearrangement (para jumbles)
- Reading comprehension passages
General Awareness
The single hardest section to 'complete' since it has no fixed boundary — consistent daily current-affairs habits beat last-minute cramming.
- Current affairs — national & international, last 6–12 months
- India and neighbouring countries
- Indian history & freedom movement
- Indian polity & the Constitution
- Geography — Indian & world
- Economic scene & government schemes
- General science — physics, chemistry, biology basics
- Sports, awards & honours, books & authors
- Important days, appointments & obituaries
- Static GK — capitals, currencies, national symbols
Computer Knowledge (Tier II, qualifying)
A qualifying-only module, but skipping it is risky — basic MS Office and internet literacy questions are usually straightforward.
- Computer basics, hardware & software
- Operating system fundamentals & MS Office
- Internet, email & networking basics
- Computer security & shortcuts
- Number system & memory units
Statistics (Paper II — JSO/SI-II posts)
Postgraduate-level statistics is expected here — this paper alone often decides selection for Statistics-stream posts.
- Collection, classification & presentation of data
- Measures of central tendency & dispersion
- Correlation and regression
- Probability theory & distributions
- Sampling theory
- Statistical inference — testing of hypotheses
- Analysis of variance
- Time series analysis & index numbers
Finance & Economics (Paper III — AAO posts)
Rewards familiarity with actual government accounting and budgeting processes, not just theoretical economics.
- Financial accounting — basic concepts, accounting standards
- Basic concepts of economics & Indian economy
- Comptroller & Auditor General role
- Finance Commission and fiscal federalism
- Government budgeting & the Union Budget
- Money & banking, financial markets
Selection Process
- Tier I — Computer-Based Test (screening/qualifying stage).
- Tier II — Computer-Based Test: Paper I for all posts, Paper II for Statistics posts, Paper III for AAO posts.
- Document Verification of educational, age and category certificates.
- Post allotment based on Tier II merit-cum-preference; medical examination for specific posts.
Salary & Job Profile
Pay scales span Pay Level 4 to Pay Level 8 of the 7th CPC matrix depending on the post — for example, Pay Level 7 (₹44,900–₹1,42,400) for Inspector-cadre posts and Pay Level 8 (₹47,600–₹1,51,100) for Assistant Section Officer and Assistant Audit Officer — plus Dearness Allowance, HRA and Transport Allowance as applicable to the posting city.
Best Books for SSC CGL Preparation
- Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations — R.S. Aggarwal
- A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning — R.S. Aggarwal
- Objective General English — S.P. Bakshi (Arihant)
- Lucent's General Knowledge
Previous Cut-off Trends
Approximate — always verify officially
SSC CGL Tier I cut-offs have typically ranged from the low 100s for OBC/EWS to the mid-140s–150s for unreserved candidates in recent cycles, out of 200 marks, while Tier II cut-offs vary sharply by post given the post-preference-based allotment. Since the exam moved to sectional timing and a restructured Tier II in 2025–26, treat prior-year cut-offs as a rough directional guide only, not a hard benchmark — always check the official SSC cut-off notification for the exact figures.
Preparation Tips
- Build your timetable around the actual sectional weightage, not a generic topic list — Quant and GA carry the most scoring potential per minute invested.
- Practise strictly within the 15-minute sectional windows from day one so exam-day timing pressure doesn't cost you easy marks.
- Since Tier I is only qualifying, don't over-invest revision time there once you're comfortably past the expected cut-off — shift focus to Tier II early.
- In Tier II Paper I you must clear every section individually, so never skip a weak section entirely, even if it's not your strongest.
- Revise current affairs of the last 6–12 months weekly rather than cramming close to the exam.
Exam Day Guidelines
- Carry your Document Checker printout along with one valid original photo ID (Aadhaar, PAN, passport, driving licence or voter ID) — photocopies are not accepted.
- Reach the exam centre at least 60–90 minutes before the reporting time; late entry is not permitted once the gate closes.
- Electronic devices, smartwatches, calculators and any written material are prohibited inside the exam hall.
- Rough sheets for calculation are provided at the centre and must be submitted before leaving — carrying them out can be treated as a malpractice violation.
- Biometric verification and photo capture are mandatory at every stage, so ensure your appearance roughly matches your uploaded application photo.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Tier I deducts 0.50 marks per wrong answer, while Tier II Paper I (Sections I–III) and Papers II & III deduct 1 mark per wrong answer. Computer Knowledge and the Data Entry Speed Test are qualifying, with no negative marking.
No. Tier I is purely a qualifying/screening stage. The final merit list is prepared entirely from Tier II marks (Paper I plus Paper II or III where applicable).
There's no fixed cap on attempts — candidates may apply every year until they cross the upper age limit for their category, subject to the post-wise age criteria in the notification.
Paper I is common to all posts, but Paper II (Statistics) applies only to JSO/Statistical Investigator Grade-II applicants, and Paper III (Finance & Economics) applies only to AAO/Assistant Accounts Officer applicants.
Both Tier I and Tier II now allocate a fixed number of minutes to each section (e.g. 15 minutes per Tier I section), and time cannot be transferred between sections — once a section's timer ends, it locks automatically.
No. SSC discontinued the interview for CGL; final selection is based purely on Tier II marks followed by document verification.
Related Exams
Back to Syllabus Hub — browse all government exam syllabus pagesSyllabus content on this page is compiled and reviewed against the official Staff Selection Commission notification as of 14 Jul 2026. Exam patterns, vacancies, salary figures and cut-offs are subject to change — always cross-check with the official notification at ssc.gov.in before applying.