SSC CGL 2026 Tier-1 Exam Schedule Announced
Overview of SSC CGL 2026 Tier-1 Exam
Exam Date Announcement: The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has unveiled the timetable for the Tier-1 phase of the Combined Graduate Level (CGL) Examination 2026. As per the official notice released on September 12, 2026, the Tier-1 exam is scheduled to take place from September 30 to October 30, 2026, utilizing a computer-based testing format.
Exam Details
Exam Information:
Here are the key details regarding the SSC CGL 2026 Tier-1 exam:
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Name of Exam | Combined Graduate Level Examination 2026 |
| Exam Stage | Tier-1 |
| Mode of Exam | Computer-Based Examination |
| Exam Start Date | September 30, 2026 |
| Exam End Date | October 30, 2026 |
| Date of Notice Issuance | September 12, 2026 |
Admit Card Release Date
Admit Card Information:
The recent notice does not specify when the admit cards for the Tier-1 exam will be available.
Understanding SSC CGL
What is SSC CGL?
The Combined Graduate Level (CGL) Examination is a national-level assessment conducted by the SSC for recruiting candidates to Group 'B' and Group 'C' positions, including roles such as Inspector, ASO, Tax Assistant, and Auditor, across various government ministries and departments. Below are the significant timelines for CGL 2026:
| Event | Timeline / Date |
|---|---|
| Notification & Application Start | May 21, 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | June 22, 2026 (up to 11:00 PM) |
| Application Correction Window | June 29 to July 1, 2026 |
| Tier-I Exam (Tier-1 CBT) | September 30 – October 30, 2026 |
| Tier-II Exam (Tier-2 CBT) | December 2026 (Tentative) |
Selection Process and Exam Structure
Selection Process:
The selection is divided into two main stages:
1. Tier-I (Screening/Qualifying Exam)
This computer-based exam consists of 100 questions worth a total of 200 marks, with a duration of 1 hour (60 minutes):
- Reasoning (General Intelligence & Reasoning): 25 questions (50 marks)
- General Awareness: 25 questions (50 marks)
- Mathematics (Quantitative Aptitude): 25 questions (50 marks)
- English (English Comprehension): 25 questions (50 marks)
2. Tier-II (Main Exam – for Merit Determination)
The final merit list is based on the scores from Tier-II:
- Paper-I: Mandatory for all posts
- Paper-II: Statistics (only for the JSO post)
Changes in CGL Exam Pattern
Exam Pattern Updates:
Significant modifications have been introduced in the exam pattern, timeline, and selection process for SSC CGL 2026. Candidates should familiarize themselves with these changes:
- Sectional timing in Tier-1: A sectional timer of 15 minutes is now implemented for each section within the total 60-minute duration.
- Paper-III in Tier-2 for Assistant Audit Officer posts: Paper-III (Finance & Economics) has been added for the selection of Assistant Audit Officer (AAO) and Assistant Accounts Officer posts.
- Strict scribe verification: Aadhaar-based OTR and OTP verification is now mandatory for scribes assisting differently-abled candidates.
- Age limit cut-off date: The eligibility age reference date is set as August 1, 2026.