The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) is preparing to release the official date-wise and shift-wise examination schedule for the Combined Graduate Level (SSC CGL Tier 1 2026) examination across central government departments. Candidates who submitted their online applications for 12,256 Group B and Group C posts can track exam city allotment status and hall ticket updates on the new official portal at ssc.gov.in.
SSC CGL 2026 Recruitment Highlights & Exam Schedule
The SSC CGL Tier 1 examination will be conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode across multiple shifts in cities nationwide. Key details are outlined below:
- Exam Conducting Body: Staff Selection Commission (SSC)
- Official Website: ssc.gov.in
- Total Vacancies Notified: 12,256 Group B & Group C Posts
- Tier 1 Exam Window: August – September 2026 (Expected)
- Exam City Intimation Slip Date: 7 to 10 days prior to exam start date
- Admit Card Release Window: 3 to 7 days prior to candidate's shift date
- Tier 2 Exam Window: December 2026 (Tentative)
Expected SSC CGL Tier 1 Shift Timings
The Tier 1 exam will be conducted in 60-minute duration computer-based shifts. As per standard commission schedules, the expected daily shift timings are as follows:
- Shift 1: Reporting Time: 7:45 AM | Exam Window: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
- Shift 2: Reporting Time: 10:30 AM | Exam Window: 11:45 AM – 12:45 PM
- Shift 3: Reporting Time: 1:15 PM | Exam Window: 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
- Shift 4 (If Applicable): Reporting Time: 4:00 PM | Exam Window: 5:15 PM – 6:15 PM
SSC CGL 2026 Tier 1 Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme
The Tier 1 paper consists of 100 objective-type multiple-choice questions carrying a total of 200 marks:
- General Intelligence & Reasoning: 25 Questions (50 Marks)
- General Awareness: 25 Questions (50 Marks)
- Quantitative Aptitude: 25 Questions (50 Marks)
- English Comprehension: 25 Questions (50 Marks)
- Negative Marking: 0.50 marks deducted for each incorrect answer
- Exam Duration: 60 minutes (80 minutes for eligible PwD candidates with scribe)
Step-by-Step Guide to Download Exam City Slip & Admit Card
Once activated, candidates can access their login dashboard on the official SSC portal to download their status:
- Visit the official Staff Selection Commission website at ssc.gov.in.
- Click on the "Login" tab on the homepage header and enter your OTR (One Time Registration) Number and Password.
- Navigate to the "Admit Card / Application Status" section on the candidate dashboard.
- Click on "STATUS / DOWNLOAD ADMIT CARD FOR TIER 1 COMBINED GRADUATE LEVEL EXAM – 2026".
- Verify your allotted Exam City, Exam Date, Shift Timing, and Reporting Time.
- Download the Hall Ticket PDF and print multiple clear copies on A4 paper to bring to the test center along with a valid original Photo ID.