SSC CGL 2026: Major change in SSC CGL exam pattern; over 30 lakh applications for 12,256 posts..

SSC CGL 2026: The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) Combined Graduate Level (CGL) Examination 2026 has become more competitive than ever. Over 30.66 lakh candidates from across the country have applied for 12,256 posts across various central government ministries and departments. Bihar alone accounted for more than 7 lakh applications, meaning there are, on average, about 250 candidates vying for a single post. Meanwhile, the Commission has also introduced significant changes to the exam pattern; sectional timing has been implemented for the first time, and the application correction window is set to open on July 1.

Over 30 Lakh Applications; Bihar Leads the Way
The online application process for the SSC CGL 2026 recruitment ran from May 21 to June 22, 2026. During this period, more than 30.66 lakh candidates applied nationwide. The highest number of applications came from Bihar, where over 7 lakh aspirants submitted forms. For comparison, approximately 28.15 lakh applications were received for SSC CGL 2025, and about 36.73 lakh for the 2024 recruitment. Given the number of applications against the 12,256 vacancies, the competition this time is expected to be extremely fierce.

Which Posts Are Being Filled?
SSC CGL facilitates appointments to key positions across various central government ministries, departments, and institutions. These include roles such as Assistant Section Officer (ASO), Income Tax Inspector, GST Inspector, Assistant Enforcement Officer, posts in the Department of Statistics, and various other Group-B and Group-C positions.

Correction Window Opens on July 1
Candidates who made errors while filling out their applications will get another opportunity to rectify them. The SSC has decided to open a correction window from July 1 to July 7, 2026, during which candidates can make necessary changes to their applications. The Commission has advised candidates to thoroughly verify all details before making any corrections, as there will be no opportunity for further amendments later.

**Major Change in Exam Pattern**

A key feature of the SSC CGL 2026 is its new exam pattern. For the first time, the Commission has introduced sectional timing. Candidates will no longer be able to allocate extra time to any specific section at their own convenience. The Tier-1 exam will consist of a total of 100 questions, with a duration of 60 minutes. There will be 25 questions in each of the four sections, and candidates will have exactly 15 minutes for each section. Once the allotted time expires, the screen will automatically switch to the next section. The objective of this change is to evaluate the candidates' preparedness and proficiency across all subjects equally.

**Which subjects will be covered in Tier-1?**
The Tier-1 exam will be entirely Computer-Based (CBT). It will comprise a total of 100 questions covering General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude (Mathematics), and English Comprehension. Candidates will be allotted 15 minutes for each section. Negative marking of half a mark (0.50) will apply for every incorrect answer.

**Sectional Timing to Apply in Tier-2 as Well**
SSC has fixed time limits not only for the preliminary exam but also for the Tier-2 exam. In Section-1 of Paper-1, candidates will get 30 minutes to solve 30 Mathematics questions and a separate 30 minutes for 30 Reasoning questions. Forty minutes have been allocated for 45 questions on English Language & Comprehension. Meanwhile, 20 minutes will be provided to solve 25 General Awareness questions, and 15 minutes will be given for 20 questions in the Computer Knowledge section. Previously, candidates could allocate time to any section as they pleased, but this will no longer be possible.

**When will the exam be held?**
According to the tentative schedule released by the SSC, the Tier-1 Computer-Based Exam is scheduled to be conducted in August-September 2026. Subsequently, the Tier-2 examination for successful candidates will be conducted in December 2026.

What is the selection process?
The recruitment process will be completed in two stages. First, candidates must appear for the Tier-1 examination. Based on the marks obtained in this stage, candidates will be shortlisted category-wise for Tier-2. The final merit list will be prepared based on the candidates' performance in the Tier-2 examination.

How will the final merit list be prepared?
The SSC has clarified that the final selection will be based solely on performance in the Tier-2 examination. For general posts, marks obtained in Section-1 and Section-2 of Paper-1 will form the basis of the merit list; however, qualifying the Computer Knowledge Test and Data Entry Speed ​​Test will be mandatory. For posts such as Junior Statistical Assistant (JSA) and Statistical Inspector, marks from Paper-2 (Statistics) will also be included. Similarly, for the posts of Assistant Audit Officer (AAO) and Assistant Accounts Officer (AAO), marks from Paper-3 (General Accounts, Finance, and Accounting) will also be factored into the final merit list.

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from News18 Hindi. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.