 has officially released the highly anticipated Combined Graduate Level (CGL) 2026 examination){kind=link}
The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has officially released the highly anticipated Combined Graduate Level (CGL) 2026 examination notification. This recruitment drive aims to fill an estimated 12,256 tentative vacancies for coveted Group ‘B’ and Group ‘C’ posts across various ministries, departments, and organizations within the Government of India. With thousands of administrative, inspector, and auditor roles on the line, the online application window opened on May 21, 2026, kicking off one of the country’s largest competitive recruitment cycles.
Aspirants looking to secure a central government job must submit their forms through the commission’s official website at ssc.gov.in. The deadline for online application submission is June 22, 2026, by 11:00 PM, while the last date to complete online fee payments is June 23, 2026. For applicants who make formatting errors or mistakes during submission, the SSC will provide a correction window from June 29 to July 1, 2026, allowing them to edit their details after paying a nominal correction fee.
Core Eligibility Criteria & Important Changes
To apply for the CGL 2026 exam, candidates must understand the multi-layered eligibility framework baseline set by the commission:
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Educational Qualifications: A Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized university or institute is the fundamental requirement. Final-year graduation students are permitted to apply provisionally, provided they successfully obtain their qualifying degrees before the crucial cutoff date of August 1, 2026. Notable structural updates this year include expanded eligibility for Statistical Investigator roles, which now includes graduates with backgrounds in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data Science, Computer Science, and Information Technology (IT).
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Age Limits & Cutoff: The age requirements range between 18 to 32 years, scaling based on the specific designation of the post. The definitive reference date for calculating a candidate’s age is fixed as August 1, 2026. Government-mandated age relaxations remain active for reserved categories, offering a 5-year relaxation for SC/ST and a 3-year relaxation for OBC candidates.
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Application Fees: The processing fee remains a nominal ₹100 for General, OBC, and EWS male candidates. Conversely, all female applicants along with candidates belonging to SC, ST, PwBD, and Ex-Servicemen (ESM) categories are completely exempted from payment.
Examination Structure and Strategy
The SSC CGL selection process continues to heavily rely on its structured two-tier system, though candidates should note a few subtle administrative adjustments this year. The Tier-I computer-based test, acting as a qualifying gateway, is slated for August–September 2026. This stage features 100 multiple-choice questions spread equally across General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, and English Comprehension. Success in this preliminary stage is critical, as it unlocks access to the high-stakes Tier-II exam in December 2026, which serves as the ultimate benchmark for creating the final merit rank and bringing you one step closer to your desired government career.