SSC CGL

📌 Overview

SSC CGL is the flagship graduate-level recruitment examination of the Staff Selection Commission. It fills Group B and Group C posts in central ministries, departments and organisations – including Income Tax Inspector, Assistant Section Officer (ASO) in CSS and MEA, Assistant Audit / Accounts Officer, Sub-Inspector in CBI / NIA, Examiner, Preventive Officer, Inspector (Central Excise / Examiner / Preventive Officer), Statistical Investigator and many more.

Selection is through two computer-based tiers. Tier 1 is qualifying. Final merit and post allocation are based on Tier 2 performance (plus post-specific modules such as DEST / Computer Knowledge as applicable). For the 2026 cycle, notifications indicated a large vacancy count (over 12,000 posts were reported in coverage of that advertisement – always use the official PDF).

🎯 Popular Posts Recruited

• Assistant Section Officer – Central Secretariat Service, MEA, AFHQ, Railways, Intelligence Bureau (as notified)
• Inspector of Income Tax; Inspector (Central Excise / Preventive Officer / Examiner) – CBIC / CBDT
• Assistant Audit Officer / Assistant Accounts Officer – CAG (requires additional Paper II in some cycles for JSO; AAO has its own module rules)
• Sub-Inspector – CBI, NIA (physical standards may apply)
• Assistant / Superintendent in various departments
• Senior Secretariat Assistant / Upper Division Clerk
• Tax Assistant – CBDT / CBIC
• Statistical Investigator Grade II (requires statistics papers / qualifications as notified)

Post-wise age limits, physical standards and essential qualifications differ. Read Annexure tables in the official notice.

📋 Eligibility

• Nationality: Indian citizen, or subject of Nepal / Bhutan, or specified Tibetan / PIO categories with eligibility certificate (as in the notice).
• Education: Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university. Some posts require specific subjects (e.g. Statistics for Statistical Investigator).
• Age: Post-wise. Common bands are 18–27, 18–30 and 18–32 years as on the crucial date in the notice. OBC / SC / ST / PwBD / Ex-servicemen receive notified relaxations.
• There is no fixed national “number of attempts” cap like UPSC; age limit is the main constraint.

📝 Exam Pattern (2026 framework)

Tier 1 – Qualifying CBT

100 questions, 200 marks, 60 minutes. Sectional timer of 15 minutes per section (you cannot return to a finished section).

• General Intelligence & Reasoning – 25 Q – 50 marks
• General Awareness – 25 Q – 50 marks
• Quantitative Aptitude – 25 Q – 50 marks
• English Comprehension – 25 Q – 50 marks

Negative marking: 0.50 mark per wrong answer. Questions in English and Hindi except the English section.

Tier 2 – Merit CBT

Paper I is mandatory for all posts. Additional papers apply to specific posts (e.g. JSO).

Paper I (illustrative latest structure – confirm notice):

• Section I: Mathematical Abilities (30 Q) + Reasoning & General Intelligence (30 Q)
• Section II: English Language & Comprehension (45 Q) + General Awareness (25 Q)
• Section III: Computer Knowledge Module (20 Q, scoring) + Data Entry Speed Test (DEST, qualifying) as applicable

Sectional timings apply. Negative marking is typically 1 mark per wrong answer in the main scored sections and 0.50 in Computer Knowledge (confirm the year’s scheme). DEST is a qualifying typing / data-entry test on computer.

Minimum qualifying marks in Tier 2 modules are prescribed category-wise (for example around 30% UR, 25% OBC, 20% SC/ST/PwD – use the notice).

📚 Syllabus Snapshot

Reasoning

• Analogies, classification, series, coding-decoding, blood relations, directions, syllogism, Venn diagrams
• Non-verbal: figure series, embedded figures, paper folding, mirror / water images
• Puzzles, seating arrangement, critical reasoning (more in Tier 2)

Quantitative Aptitude

• Number system, simplification, ratio, percentage, profit-loss, SI-CI, time-work, time-speed-distance
• Averages, mixtures, algebra, geometry, mensuration, trigonometry
• Data interpretation (tables, bar/line/pie), statistics basics

English

• Reading comprehension, cloze test, para jumbles, fill in the blanks
• Error spotting, sentence improvement, active-passive, direct-indirect
• Vocabulary: synonyms, antonyms, idioms, one-word substitution, spelling

General Awareness

• Static GK: Indian polity, history, geography, economy, science (everyday + basics)
• Current affairs (national, international, awards, sports, appointments, schemes)
• Computer awareness for the Tier 2 module: hardware, software, MS Office, internet, shortcuts, basics of networking and cyber security

📅 Important Dates (2026 cycle – indicative)

• Notification / application: May–June 2026 window in that cycle
• Tier 1: August–September 2026 (multi-shift)
• Tier 2: December 2026 (tentative as per notices)

SSC publishes an annual calendar on ssc.gov.in. Shift-wise normalisation is used when an exam is held in many shifts.

💻 Application

1. Complete One Time Registration (OTR) on ssc.gov.in if not already done.
2. Fill the CGL form, upload live photograph / signature as per the latest photo rules (SSC has used live capture / specified backgrounds in recent cycles).
3. Pay the fee online (women / SC / ST / PwBD / ESM usually exempt – confirm notice).
4. Use the correction window if opened.
5. Download admit cards from the regional SSC websites / new SSC portal as instructed.

💼 Salary & Career

Pay levels typically range from Level 4 to Level 8 of the 7th CPC depending on the post (Tax Assistant vs AAO / ASO / Inspector). In-hand salary in metro cities is attractive after allowances. Inspectors and ASOs have strong promotion channels into Group A over a career. Posting may be all-India or department-specific.

🔗 Official Resources

• SSC Official Website
• Regional SSC websites for admit cards (NR, ER, WR, SR, KKR, CR, MPR, NER, NWR)
• Official notice PDF, vacancy annexure, syllabus annexure and previous papers on ssc.gov.in

💡 Preparation Tips

• Tier 1 sectional timing means you must be exam-ready in 15-minute bursts. Practise with a timer per section.
• Quant and English decide most ranks. Build calculation speed (tables, squares, percentage conversions) and daily reading.
• GA is vast – focus on last 8–12 months current affairs plus Lucent-level static and NCERT science.
• Computer module in Tier 2 is scoring; do not leave it for the last week.
• DEST requires accurate typing. Practise data entry if you are targeting posts that mandate it.
• Solve previous SSC CGL papers and full mocks. Normalisation rewards consistent accuracy across shifts.

🗂️ SSC CGL topic drill list

Quantitative Aptitude

• Number system, HCF-LCM, simplification, squares-cubes, approximation
• Percentage, ratio, average, partnership, mixture
• Profit-loss-discount, SI-CI
• Time & work, pipes, time-speed-distance, boats, trains
• Algebra identities, linear/quadratic equations
• Geometry (triangles, circles, quadrilaterals), mensuration 2D/3D
• Trigonometry, heights & distances
• Data interpretation (table, bar, pie, line)

Reasoning

• Analogy, classification, series (number / letter / figure)
• Coding-decoding, blood relation, direction, ranking
• Syllogism, Venn, statement-conclusion
• Mirror/water image, paper folding, embedded figures, pattern completion
• Calendar, clock, missing number

English

• Reading comprehension, cloze, para jumbles
• Error spotting, sentence improvement, fill-ups
• Voice, narration, tense, subject-verb, article, preposition
• Synonym, antonym, idiom, one-word, spelling

GA

• Polity articles & offices, modern history dates/acts, physical + Indian geography
• Biology/physics/chemistry everyday science (NCERT 6–10)
• Economy basics + budget/schemes, awards, sports, books, CA of last 8–12 months
• Computers for Tier-2 module: hardware, OS, MS Office, internet, shortcut keys, cyber basics

🗂️ How to build your personal syllabus sheet

1. Download the official syllabus / information handout PDF tonight.
2. Copy every heading into a notebook page or spreadsheet.
3. Against each heading write: Book chapter / NCERT unit / YouTube playlist name / last PYQ year you solved.
4. Mark High / Medium / Low after you solve 3 years of PYQs — not before.
5. Revise High topics four times, Medium twice, Low once, all with PYQs.

Current affairs — one method for every exam on this site

• Read (do not only watch): one newspaper or PIB daily digest.
• Make 5–10 lines per important scheme, report, judgment, RBI decision or science mission.
• Revise a 30-day file every Sunday and a 6-month file before Prelims / Mains.
• Link every CA note to a static syllabus heading (polity, economy, environment, banking, defence).

PYQ rule

• If a topic has not appeared in 8–10 years and is tiny in the official syllabus, keep it low priority.
• If a topic appears every year (polity articles, percentage, RC, banking rates, NCERT biology lines), it is High regardless of coaching “new pattern” videos.

📊 Exam Trend & Highest-Weightage Areas

Commissions do not publish an official chapter-wise weightage table. The points below come from public previous-year papers and widely used coaching analyses. Use them to decide revision order, not to skip a listed syllabus topic.

SSC CGL — estimated Tier-1 load (analysis of recent papers, not official)

• Quant (25 Q): Arithmetic (percentage, ratio, profit-loss, SI-CI, time-work, TSD) often 8–12 Q; Geometry + Mensuration 4–6; Algebra + Trigo 3–5; DI 1–3.
• Reasoning (25 Q): Analogy, series, coding-decoding, classification, paper-fold, figure series — mostly easy-moderate; puzzles fewer than banking exams.
• English (25 Q): Error spotting, cloze, synonyms/antonyms, idiom, one-word, voice/narration, comprehension.
• GA (25 Q): Static polity/history/geography/science + 3–6 current affairs. Science from NCERT 6–10 is a regular scorer.
• 2026 change: 15-minute sectional timer. You cannot park GA for the end.
• Tier-2 Quant and English carry the real rank. Computer module is scoring if prepared.

📚 What Content You Should Actually Follow

1. Official syllabus PDF of the current year — print it and tick topics.
2. Official previous year papers (last 8–10 years) from the commission / NTA / IBPS / SSC website.
3. One primary book per subject (listed below). Do not collect 10 PDFs of the same chapter.
4. NCERT Class 6–12 where the exam is GS / science / maths based — free on ncert.nic.in.
5. Current affairs only from a newspaper + one monthly compilation + the official PIB / ministry sites.
6. Mocks that copy the live interface (sectional timer, NAT, descriptive box).

📖 Standard Books (widely used by serious aspirants)

• Polity: Indian Polity — M. Laxmikanth; NCERT Class 11 Indian Constitution at Work
• Modern History: Spectrum (Rajiv Ahir); NCERT Themes in Indian History Part III
• Geography: NCERT Class 11–12; Certificate Physical and Human Geography — G.C. Leong (selective)
• Economy: NCERT Class 11–12; Indian Economy — Ramesh Singh or Sanjiv Verma (selective); Economic Survey highlights; Union Budget summary
• Environment: NCERT biology ecology units; Shankar IAS Environment (selective)
• Science (SSC / RRB / GD): Lucent GK science + NCERT 6–10
• Quant / Maths (SSC): SSC previous papers + Rakesh Yadav / Kiran PYQ or equivalent type-wise book; NCERT 8–10 for basics
• Quant (Bank / CAT): Arun Sharma or Sarvesh Verma selectively; daily DI sets
• English grammar: Wren & Martin (selective) + Neetu Singh (KD Campus) Plinth to Paramount / SP Bakshi Objective General English
• Reasoning: R.S. Aggarwal (foundation) + exam-specific PYQ book (Kiran / Adda / Oliveboard)
• Static GK: Lucent General Knowledge; one atlas (Oxford / Orient Blackswan)
• JEE / NEET Physics: H.C. Verma; D.C. Pandey or Physics Galaxy; NCERT exemplar
• JEE / NEET Chemistry: NCERT first; N. Awasthi / M.S. Chauhan / V.K. Jaiswal as level demands
• JEE Maths: Cengage or Arihant series + previous JEE Main / Advanced papers
• NEET Biology: NCERT Class 11–12 line by line; MTG / All-in-one only after NCERT
• CAT VARC: past CAT RCs; a good newspaper editorial habit
• GATE: standard UG textbooks of the branch + made-easy / ACE previous paper books + official GATE papers on the organising IIT site

Buy the latest edition. Second-hand previous-year paper books are enough for practice. Coaching photocopies are optional.

🌐 Official & Open / Free Content (use these first)

• NCERT textbooks (free PDF)
• ePathshala
• NPTEL — free engineering / science lectures by IIT faculty
• DIKSHA
• Press Information Bureau — authentic government news
• Union Budget & Economic Survey
• RBI — monetary policy, bulletin (banking / RBI / NABARD / SEBI)
• UPSC previous papers and cut-offs
• SSC notices and some paper archives
• IBPS information handouts
• NTA — JEE, NEET, CUET, UGC NET, CSIR NET mocks and keys
• SWAYAM — free university courses
• Khan Academy (free world-class maths / science videos mapped to school level)
• Official mock / practice portals of NTA, IBPS (when opened) and JoSAA / MCC counselling brochures

Prefer a government PDF over a random Telegram file. Fake “memory-based papers” with wrong keys waste months.

▶️ YouTube Channels & Teachers (free classes — pick ONE per subject)

These are well-known public education channels. They are not official partners of this website. Watch playlists, not 10 live classes a day. Pause and solve; do not only listen.

School / JEE / NEET foundation

• Physics Wallah (Alakh Pandey) — Physics and complete JEE / NEET boards-to-entrance path; also Defence / SSC verticals under PW
• Khan Academy India — calm concept videos for Maths and Science
• ExamFear / LearnoHub — chapter-wise school Science and Maths
• Physics Galaxy (Ashish Arora) — JEE Physics depth
• Mohit Tyagi — JEE Mathematics (long but thorough playlists)
• Unacademy JEE / NEET and Vedantu JEE — free live plus recorded batches

UPSC / State PSC

• Mrunal Patel — Economy, Budget, Economic Survey (also useful for RBI / NABARD)
• Drishti IAS — Hindi + English current affairs and GS
• StudyIQ IAS — daily CA and subject crash courses
• Vision IAS — current affairs and strategy videos
• ForumIAS / OnlyIAS / Sleepy Classes — optional and GS answer writing samples
• Unacademy UPSC — free editorial and GS sessions

SSC / Railway

• Gagan Pratap Maths — type-wise SSC Maths
• Rankers Gurukul (Aditya Ranjan) — arithmetic for beginners
• English with Rani Ma’am and KD Live (Neetu Singh Ma’am) — SSC English
• Parmar SSC — exam-oriented GA / GS
• Adda247 SSC, Wifistudy, Testbook SSC — live practice

Banking / Insurance / RBI / SEBI / NABARD

• Adda247 Bankers — full IBPS / SBI path, daily CA
• Banking Wallah (Physics Wallah) — puzzles and bank syllabus classes
• Oliveboard and Guidely — mock discussion and mains DI / puzzles
• AffairsCloud / BankersAdda written CA — monthly PDFs (website + YT recap)
• Mrunal again for RBI Grade B ESI / economy

CAT / Management

• Rodha — CAT Quant
• 2IIM CAT — VARC and strategy
• Anastasis Academy / Elites Grid — DILR sets (use free videos + official CAT papers)

GATE / ESE / CSIR

• NPTEL — first choice (IIT faculty, free)
• GATE Academy / Made Easy / ACE YouTube — previous paper discussions
• Unacademy GATE — free plus structured batches

Law / CUET / NET

• LegalEdge / LawSikho free CLAT sets and consortium sample papers
• CUET Adda / PW CUET — domain NCERT walk-throughs
• Let’s Crack UGC NET / Unacademy NTA-UGC — Paper 1 playlists

How to watch: one teacher per subject, 1.25× speed, notebook open, 30-minute video + 30-minute self-practice. Unfollow extra channels.

🗓️ A Simple Content Routine (works for almost every exam on this site)

• Morning (60–90 min): newspaper or PIB + 10 MCQs of yesterday’s CA
• Mid-day (2–3 hrs): one static / core subject from the official syllabus with a standard book
• Evening (90 min): PYQs of that chapter + error log
• Night (45 min): weak-area drill (CSAT / English / formulae)
• Weekly: one full mock in exam conditions + 2-hour analysis
• Monthly: revise the error log, not the whole bookshelf

✅ Open-source & low-cost practice platforms

• Official PYQ PDFs (UPSC, NTA keys, IBPS memory-based after official handout)
• NTA Abhyas / practice tests when the exam window opens
• Free weekly mocks: Oliveboard, Testbook, Adda247, Gradeup/BYJU’S Exam Prep (limited free tier)
• Anki / any free flashcard app for formulae and polity articles
• Google Arts & Culture / Survey of India maps for geography outline practice

⚠️ How to treat coaching names on this page

Book names and YouTube teachers are listed because lakhs of students already use them in public. This site does not sell their courses and does not guarantee a rank if you watch them. Always cross-check facts with the official syllabus and previous papers. If a video contradicts the official notification, trust the notification.

⚠️ Disclaimer

SSC has changed CGL structure more than once (removal of Tier 3 descriptive, introduction of sectional timers, DEST / computer module). Always download the latest notice from ssc.gov.in.