SSC CGL Eligibility 2026: Qualification, Age Limit & Relaxation Rules

For the upcoming recruitment cycle, the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) will conduct the CGL exam to fill 12,256 Group B and C vacancies. Candidates must navigate a two-tier selection process and satisfy the official SSC CGL Eligibility 2026 criteria outlined in the notification. These prerequisites encompass age limits, educational qualifications, nationality, and physical standards. Review this comprehensive guide to ensure you meet all requirements before submitting your application.

SSC CGL Eligibility 2026

To apply for the 12,256 vacancies across various government departments, applicants must strictly adhere to the mandatory standards set for SSC CGL 2026. These eligibility parameters are categorized as follows:

1. Educational Qualification
2. Nationality/Citizenship
3. Age Limit
4. Physical Standards

Official SSC CGL 2026 Notification: 12,256 Vacancies Released – Click to Check

SSC CGL Education Qualification (as on 01/08/2026)

Beyond age requirements, candidates must hold the minimum educational qualifications prescribed for specific posts. Refer to the table below for a detailed breakdown of the post-wise academic requirements for SSC CGL 2026.

SSC CGL Education Qualification
Posts Name	Educational Qualification
Junior Statistical Officer (JSO)	A Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university with a minimum of 60% in mathematics at the 12th-grade level or A bachelor's degree in statistics is one of the degree-level studies in any field.
Assistant Audit Officer/ Assistant Accounts Officer (AAO)	Desirable Qualification: Candidates are encouraged to possess one of the following: Chartered Accountant Cost & Management Accountant Company Secretary Masters in Commerce Masters in Business Studies Masters in Business Administration (Finance) Masters in Business Economics. Essential Qualifications: A Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized university or equivalent institution.
Statistical Investigator Grade-II	A bachelor's degree from an approved institution or institute in any field, including statistics. Statistics must have been a subject for the candidates during the three years of their graduate course.
Assistant in National Company Law Appellate Tribunal	Requires a bachelor's degree from a recognised university or institute. Candidates must have completed Law degree from a recognised university.
Research Assistant in National Human Rights Commission	Essential Qualification: Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university or government-approved institute. Desirable: At least one year of research experience at a reputable university or specialized research institution. A recognized degree in Law or Human Rights from an accredited university is required for specific specialized roles.
Other Post	A Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university in any field, or an equivalent qualification

SSC CGL Age Limit (as on 01/08/2026)

Candidates must align with the specific age limits prescribed for their desired posts. These limits vary significantly, and failure to comply often results in immediate application rejection. Review the guidelines and age-limit table below to ensure your eligibility.

Post-wise SSC CGL Age Limit

SSC CGL Age Limit- Post-wise
Name of Posts	Ministry/ Department/Office/ Cadre	Age Limit
Assistant Account Officer	Indian Audit & Accounts Dept. under C&AG	18 to 30 years
Assistant Audit Officer	Indian Audit & Accounts Department under O/o Comptroller and  Auditor General of India (C&AG)	18 to 30 years
Junior Statistical Officer	M/o Statistics & Programme Implementation	Up to 32 years
Inspector of Income Tax	CBDT	Not exceeding 30 years
Inspector (Central Excise)	CBIC	Not exceeding 30 years
Inspector (Preventive Officer)
Inspector (Examiner)
Inspector	Central Bureau of Narcotics	Not exceeding 30 years
Assistant	Other Ministries/Departments/Organizations	Not exceeding 30 years
Assistant/ Superintendent	Other Ministries/Departments/Organizations	Not exceeding 30 years
Divisional Accountant	Offices under C&AG	Not exceeding 30 years
Sub-Inspector/ Junior Intelligence Officer	Narcotics Control Bureau (MHA)	Not exceeding 30 years
Assistant Enforcement Officer	Directorate of Enforcement, Department of Revenue	Up to 30 years
Sub Inspector	National Investigation Agency (NIA)	Up to 30 years
Office Superintendent	CBDT	Not exceeding 30 years
Section Head	Director General of Foreign Trade	Not exceeding 30 years
Assistant Section Officer	Central Secretariat Service Intelligence Bureau Ministry of Railway Ministry of External Affairs AFHQ	20-30 years
Sub Inspector	Central Bureau of Investigation	20-30 years
Auditor	Offices under C&AG Other Ministry/ Departments Offices under CGDA	18-27 years
Accountant	Offices under C&AG	18-27 years
Accountant/ Junior Accountant	Other Ministry/ Departments	18-27 years
Postal Assistant/ Sorting Assistant	Department of Post, Ministry of Communication	18-27 years
Senior Secretariat Assistant/ Upper Division Clerks	Central Govt.	18-27 years
Senior Administrative Assistant	Military Engineering Services, Ministry of Defence	18-27 years
Tax Assistant	CBDT CBIC	18-27 years
Sub-Inspector	Central Bureau of Narcotics	18-27 years
Upper Division Clerks	Dte. Gen Border Road Organisation (MoD)	18-27 years
Assistant Audit Officer	Indian Audit & Accounts Department under C&AG	Not exceeding 30 years
Assistant Accounts Officer	Indian Audit & Accounts Department under C&AG	Not exceeding 30 years

SSC CGL Age Relaxation

The SSC provides specific age relaxations for reserved categories to ensure inclusive recruitment. If you belong to a protected category, refer to the relaxation table below to verify your eligibility status.

Category	Age Relaxation
OBC	3 years
SC/ST	5 years
Physically Handicapped (General)	10 years
Physically Handicapped (OBC)	13 years
Physically Handicapped (SC/ST)	15 years
Ex-Servicemen (General)	3 years
Ex-Servicemen (OBC)	6 years
Ex-Servicemen (SC/ST)	8 years
Central Govt. Civilian Employees (General-Group B)	5 years
Central Govt. Civilian Employees (OBC-Group B)	8 years
Central Govt. Civilian Employees (SC/ST-Group B)	10 years
Central Govt. Civilian Employees (General Group C)	Up to 40 years of age
Central Govt. Civilian Employees (OBC-Group C)	Up to 43 years of age
Central Govt. Civilian Employees (St/SC-Group C)	Up to 45 years of age
Candidates domiciled in the State of Jammu & Kashmir (SC/ST)	5 years
Candidates domiciled in the State of Jammu & Kashmir (OBC)	8 years
Candidates domiciled in the State of Jammu & Kashmir (SC/ST)	10 years
Widows/Divorced Women/Women Judicially separated and who are not remarried-Group C/General	Up to 35 years of age
Widows/Divorced Women/Women Judicially separated and who are not remarried-Group C/OBC	Up to 38 years of age
Widows/Divorced Women/Women Judicially separated and who are not remarried-Group C/SC&ST	Up to 40 years of age
Defence Personnel Disabled in hostilities-General	5 years
Defence Personnel Disabled in hostilities-OBC	8 years
Defence Personnel Disabled in hostilities-SC/ST	10 years

SSC CGL 2026 Age Relaxation For Posts of Group ‘C’ 

The commission grants age concessions for various Group ‘C’ positions to candidates from specific categories. Refer to the table below for detailed age relaxation norms applicable to Group ‘C’ recruitment.

Age Relaxation For Posts of Group ‘C’
Employee	Category	Service Duration	Maximum age limit
Central Govt. Civilian Employees	-	Less than three years of regular, continuous service	40 years
	SC/ST		45 years
Widows, divorced women, and women who have been legally separated but have not remarried.	-	-	35 years
	SC/ST	-	40 years

SSC CGL 2026 Age Relaxation For Posts of Group ‘B’ 

Candidates targeting Group ‘B’ roles must be fully aware of the permissible age relaxations for their respective categories. Check the following table for the current relaxation policies.

SSC CGL 2026 Age Relaxation For Posts of Group ‘B’
Category	Age Relaxation
Ex-servicemen, including commissioned Officers and ECOs/SSCOs, must have at least 5 years of Military Service as on the latest date of receipt of the SSC CGL application and must have been released on the following grounds: completion of the assignment, physical impairment related to Military Service, invalided.	5 years
ECOs and SSCOs whose assignments have been extended beyond five years. In this scenario, the Ministry of Defence issues a certificate stating they can seek for civil employment and that they will be discharged on three months notice from the date you received the appointment offer.	5 years

SSC CGL Nationality 

Fulfilling the nationality criteria is a mandatory prerequisite for the SSC CGL 2026 selection process. Candidates must meet the specific citizenship requirements as outlined by the Government of India, detailed below:

1. Indian Citizenship: Applicants must be citizens of India, verified by a valid passport or relevant government-issued identity proof.

2. Subjects of Nepal/Bhutan: Citizens of Nepal or Bhutan are eligible to apply, provided they hold the necessary legal documentation and authorization to work within India.

3. Tibetan Refugees: Tibetan refugees who arrived in India before January 1, 1962, with the intent of permanent settlement, are eligible upon presentation of valid government-issued refugee certification.

4. Individuals of Indian Origin: Persons of Indian origin who have migrated from specific countries to reside in India permanently may apply, provided they hold an eligibility certificate from the Government of India.

SSC CGL Physical Standards

Specific posts require candidates to meet physical and medical standards announced in the official notification. These include specific benchmarks for height, weight, and chest measurements, with regional exemptions available. Please consult the table below for the complete physical standard requirements.

SSC CGL Physical Standards
Criteria	Male Candidates	Female Candidates
Height	157.5 cms	152 cms
Chest	81 cm (completely expanded, with a minimum expansion of 5 cm)	–
Weight	–	48 Kgs
Exemptions	Garwalis, Assamese, Gorkhas, and Scheduled Tribe members might have their height relaxed by 5 cm	Height relaxable by 2.5 cm Weight relaxable by 2 Kg. for Gorkhas, Garwalis, Assamese and members of Scheduled Tribes

Certain positions necessitate qualifying in physical endurance tests, such as walking or cycling. Refer to the table below for a comprehensive breakdown of the physical test protocols.

SSC CGL Physical Test
Parameters	Duration for Male Candidates	Duration for Female Candidates
Walking	1600 metres in 15 minutes	1 km in 20 minutes
Cycling	8 kms. in 30 minutes	3 km in 25 minutes