SSC CGL 2026: Tier-1 exam from September 30, 12,256 posts, pattern overhauled
SSC CGL 2026 Tier-1 exam runs September 30 to October 30 with 12,256 vacancies and a new sectional time limit.
The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has released the schedule for the CGL 2026 exam. According to the Commission, the SSC CGL Tier-1 exam will begin on September 30 and continue till October 30. The exam will be held in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode across multiple shifts at various exam centres nationwide. Through this recruitment, a total of 12,256 posts will be filled in various ministries and government offices of the central government. These include key posts such as Assistant Section Officer, Income Tax Inspector, Central Excise Inspector, Sub-Inspector, Junior Statistical Officer and Auditor.
The Tier-1 exam will have a total of 100 multiple-choice questions and the paper will carry 200 marks in all. Each section will have 25 questions. The first section is General Intelligence and Reasoning, with 25 questions worth 50 marks, covering topics such as verbal and non-verbal reasoning, coding-decoding, number series, Venn diagrams and logical reasoning. The second section is General Awareness, also with 25 questions worth 50 marks, covering current affairs, history, culture, geography, economics and scientific research. The third section is Quantitative Aptitude, with 25 questions worth 50 marks testing mathematical ability and number-based problems. The fourth and final section is English Comprehension, also with 25 questions worth 50 marks, testing basic language understanding and writing skills.
The biggest change in the SSC CGL 2026 pattern this time concerns timing. Candidates will get a total of 60 minutes for the Tier-1 exam, but 15 minutes have been fixed separately for each section. As soon as 15 minutes are up, that section will automatically be submitted and locked, and the next section will begin immediately after. This means candidates will not be able to go back to a section they have already completed to reattempt questions. Except for the English section, questions in all other sections will be available in both Hindi and English. Negative marking will also apply, with 0.50 marks deducted for every wrong answer.
Candidates will be informed of their exam city and application status about 9 to 12 days before the exam. The admit card will be available for download on the official website 2 to 3 days before the exam.
The SSC CGL selection process will be completed in two stages. Candidates who pass the Tier-1 exam will be eligible for Tier-2. The Tier-2 exam is proposed for December 2026. Final selection will be based on candidates' performance in both Tier-1 and Tier-2.
