The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has officially announced the examination schedule for the Combined Graduate Level Examination (SSC CGL 2026) Tier 1 today, Saturday, September 12, 2026. The nationwide computer-based recruitment examination will be conducted from September 30 to October 10, 2026, across designated examination centres to fill 12,256 Group 'B' and Group 'C' vacancies in ministries, departments, and statutory bodies of the Government of India. The official notice is available on the commission's portal at ssc.gov.in.
SSC CGL 2026 Tier 1 Official Exam Schedule & Timelines
Candidates can review the critical examination milestones released by the Commission:
- Conducting Authority: Staff Selection Commission (SSC)
- Official Website: ssc.gov.in
- Total Vacancies: 12,256 Group 'B' and Group 'C' Posts
- Release Date of Exam City Intimation Slip: September 22, 2026
- Admit Card / Hall Ticket Release Date: September 27, 2026
- Tier 1 Computer-Based Examination Dates: September 30 to October 10, 2026
- Examination Mode: Multi-Shift Computer-Based Test (Objective MCQ Type)
- Subsequent Stage: Tier 2 Examination scheduled for December 2026
Overview of 12,256 Vacancies & Prominent Posts
The CGL 2026 recruitment drive fills premier executive and administrative positions across central ministries:
- Assistant Section Officer (ASO): Central Secretariat Service (CSS), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Ministry of Defence (AFHQ), and Intelligence Bureau (IB).
- Inspectors & Enforcement Officers: Inspector of Central Excise (CBIC), Preventive Officer, Examiner, Income Tax Inspector (CBDT), and Assistant Enforcement Officer (ED).
- Investigative Posts: Sub-Inspector in Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and National Investigation Agency (NIA).
- Auditor & Accountant Cadres: Offices under CAG, CGA, and Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA).
- Executive Assistants & Tax Assistants: Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) and CBDT.
SSC CGL Tier 1 Comprehensive Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme
The Tier 1 exam serves as a qualifying screening test consisting of 100 objective questions carrying a total of 200 marks over a duration of 60 minutes (1 hour):
- General Intelligence and Reasoning: 25 Questions (50 Marks). Tests verbal and non-verbal logic, analogy, series, classification, blood relations, and coding-decoding.
- General Awareness: 25 Questions (50 Marks). Covers current events, Indian history, geography, polity, economics, general science, and national schemes.
- Quantitative Aptitude: 25 Questions (50 Marks). Evaluates number systems, percentage, ratio-proportion, profit-loss, algebra, geometry, mensuration, and trigonometry.
- English Comprehension: 25 Questions (50 Marks). Focuses on reading comprehension passages, vocabulary, grammar rules, sentence rearrangement, idioms, and voice/narration.
- Negative Marking: Each correct answer earns +2 marks. A penalty of 0.50 marks will be deducted for every incorrect response. Unattempted questions carry zero penalty.
- Qualifying Nature: Tier 1 marks are normalized using the equipercentile method for multi-shift balancing, and shortlisted candidates advance to Tier 2 based on category cut-offs.
Step-by-Step Guide to Check City Slip & Download Hall Ticket
Follow these instructions on the official SSC portal once the links are activated:
- Visit the official portal at ssc.gov.in.
- Click on the 'Login or Register' button on the homepage.
- Enter your Registration Number and Password created during the One-Time Registration (OTR) process.
- From September 22, click on 'Check Exam City Intimation Slip' to know your assigned test city, date, and shift.
- From September 27, access the 'Download Admit Card' tab to generate your final call letter showing your exact exam centre venue.
- Download the PDF and take multiple colour printouts for the examination day.
Mandatory Exam-Day Instructions & Photo ID Guidelines
Candidates must strictly adhere to the following rules when reporting to their designated test centres:
- Printed clear copy of the SSC CGL Tier 1 Admit Card.
- Two (2) recent passport-sized colour photographs (matching the photograph uploaded during application).
- Original valid Government Photo Identity Proof (Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, Driving License, Passport, or PAN Card).
- Date of Birth Proof: If the Government Photo ID does not reflect the complete date of birth (DD/MM/YYYY), candidates must carry an additional original certificate (such as Class 10 Matriculation Certificate).
- Prohibited Items: Smartwatches, Bluetooth devices, earphones, mobile phones, bags, calculators, and metallic accessories are strictly banned inside examination premises.