The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has officially released the notification for the Combined Graduate Level (CGL) Examination-2026, initiating the recruitment process for approximately 12,256 vacancies in Group B and Group C posts across various ministries, departments, and tribunals of the central government. The online application process has commenced, and candidates can submit their applications until 11 PM on June 22.
Key Dates and Application Fee
According to the notification, the last date for online fee payment is June 23. Candidates who make errors in their application forms will have the opportunity to rectify them during the 'Window for Application Form Correction', which will remain open from June 29 to July 1. The application fee is set at Rs 100 for general and OBC category candidates, while women, Scheduled Tribe, Scheduled Caste, differently abled candidates, and ex-servicemen are exempted from paying the fee.
Exam Pattern and Schedule
The CGL-2026 examination will be conducted in two computer-based tiers. The Tier-I examination is scheduled to be held between August and September, while candidates who qualify in the first stage will appear for the Tier-II examination in December. The commission has also stated that if the exam is conducted in multiple shifts, marks will be normalised to ensure fairness. A negative marking system will be applicable in Tier-I, with 0.5 marks deducted for every incorrect answer.
Eligibility Criteria
For most posts, the minimum eligibility requirement is graduation from a recognised university. However, candidates applying for the Junior Statistical Officer post must either have secured at least 60% marks in mathematics at the Class 12 level or studied statistics as a subject during graduation.
Revised Constable Exam Date
The commission has also revised the date of the Constable Recruitment Examination-2026. The examination, earlier scheduled for May 28, will now be conducted on May 27 due to the Bakrid festival holiday. The all-India computer-based examination admit cards will be made available on the commission's official website two to three days before the examination.
Candidates are advised to regularly check the official SSC website for updates and to ensure they meet all eligibility criteria before applying. With a large number of vacancies, this recruitment drive presents a significant opportunity for graduate-level job seekers in the central government sector.
