SSC CGL Eligibility and Age Limit 2026: Quick Answer
For SSC CGL 2026 you need a Bachelor's degree from a recognised university by 01.08.2026, and your age on 01.08.2026 must fit the post: 18-27 years for most Group C posts, 18-30 or 20-30 years for most Group B posts, and 18-32 years for Junior Statistical Officer. SC/ST candidates get 5 years of upper age relaxation, OBC 3 years and PwBD 10 years (13 for PwBD-OBC, 15 for PwBD-SC/ST). JSO and Statistical Investigator Grade-II need specific subjects.
Everything below is taken from the official SSC CGL 2026 notice (F. No. HQ-C11018/1/2026-C-1), with paragraph numbers so you can check.
Key takeaway: Age is counted on one fixed date, 1 August 2026, and SSC uses only the date of birth in your Class 10 (matriculation) certificate (Para 5.3). Final-year students could apply, but they must have the degree result declared by 01.08.2026 (Para 8.5 and 8.8).
SSC CGL Age Limit 2026 (Date of Birth Ranges)
Para 5.1 of the notice gives four age bands and the exact dates of birth that fit each one.
| Age limit | Born not earlier than | Born not later than |
|---|---|---|
| 18-27 years | 02-08-1999 | 01-08-2008 |
| 20-30 years | 02-08-1996 | 01-08-2006 |
| 18-30 years | 02-08-1996 | 01-08-2008 |
| 18-32 years | 02-08-1994 | 01-08-2008 |
Example: if you were born on 15-06-1998, you are within 18-30 and 20-30 (born after 02-08-1996), but over the limit for 18-27 posts (born before 02-08-1999) unless a relaxation applies.
SSC CGL Age Limit Post-Wise 2026
| Post (department) | Pay Level | Age limit |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant Audit Officer (Central / State cadre), Assistant Accounts Officer (State cadre), C&AG | 8 | 18-30 |
| ASO, Central Secretariat Service | 7 | 20-30 |
| ASO, Intelligence Bureau | 7 | 18-30 |
| ASO, Ministry of Railways | 7 | 20-30 |
| ASO, Ministry of External Affairs | 7 | 20-30 |
| ASO, AFHQ | 7 | 20-30 |
| ASO, MeitY; Assistant/ASO in other ministries | 7 | 18-30 |
| Inspector of Income Tax (CBDT) | 7 | 18-30 |
| Inspector (Central Excise), CBIC | 7 | 18-30 |
| Assistant Enforcement Officer (ED) | 7 | 18-30 |
| Sub Inspector, CBI | 7 | 20-30 |
| Inspector Posts (Department of Posts) | 7 | 18-30 |
| Inspector, Central Bureau of Narcotics | 7 | 18-30 |
| Assistant/ASO (other ministries), Executive Assistant (CBIC), Research Assistant (NHRC), Divisional Accountant, SI (NIA), SI/JIO (NCB), Statistical Investigator Gr-II, Office Superintendent (CBDT), Section Head (DGFT) | 6 | 18-30 |
| Junior Statistical Officer (MoSPI) | 6 | 18-32 |
| Auditor, Accountant, Accountant/Junior Accountant | 5 | 18-27 |
| Postal/Sorting Assistant, SSA/UDC, Senior Administrative Assistant (MES), Tax Assistant (CBDT, CBIC), Sub-Inspector (CBN) | 4 | 18-27 |
Source: Para 2.1 to 2.5 of the notice. For the Level 7 Inspector (Preventive Officer) and Inspector (Examiner) rows, the notice prints them in the same table as the other CBIC Inspector post; check the PDF for the age printed against your exact post before filling preferences.
SSC CGL Age Relaxation 2026 (Category-Wise)
Para 5.2 of the notice lists the relaxation in the upper age limit. The lower limit never changes.
| Code | Category | Relaxation beyond upper age limit |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | SC/ST | 5 years |
| 02 | OBC | 3 years |
| 03 | PwBD | 10 years |
| 04 | PwBD (OBC) | 13 years |
| 05 | PwBD (SC/ST) | 15 years |
| 06 | Ex-Servicemen (ESM) | 3 years after deducting military service from actual age on 01.08.2026 |
| 08 | Defence personnel disabled in operations during hostilities with a foreign country or in a disturbed area, and released because of it | 3 years |
| 09 | Same as code 08, SC/ST | 8 years |
Extra age relaxation for Group C posts only
| Code | Category | Upper age allowed |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Central Govt. civilian employees with at least 3 years regular and continuous service on the closing date | Up to 40 years |
| 11 | Same as code 10, SC/ST | Up to 45 years |
| 12 | Widows, divorced women and women judicially separated who have not remarried | Up to 35 years |
| 13 | Same as code 12, SC/ST | Up to 40 years |
These codes 10 to 13 apply only to Group C posts (Auditor, Accountant, PA/SA, SSA/UDC, Tax Assistant, SI in CBN and the like).
SSC CGL age limit for general, OBC, SC and ST (worked out)
| Post age band | UR / EWS | OBC | SC / ST | PwBD (UR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18-27 | 27 | 30 | 32 | 37 |
| 18-30 / 20-30 | 30 | 33 | 35 | 40 |
| 18-32 (JSO) | 32 | 35 | 37 | 42 |
The notice gives no age relaxation code for EWS, so EWS candidates use the UR upper limit. "Upper limit" means you must not have crossed it on 01.08.2026.
SSC CGL Educational Qualification 2026 (Post-Wise)
Para 8 of the notice (qualification as on 01.08.2026):
| Post | Essential qualification |
|---|---|
| Assistant Audit Officer (Central cadre) | Bachelor's degree from a recognised university or institute. Desirable: CA, CMA, CS, M.Com, Masters in Business Studies, MBA (Finance) or Masters in Business Economics |
| AAO (State cadre) and Assistant Accounts Officer (State cadre) | Bachelor's degree, plus proficiency in the state's regional/official language at matriculation level with a certificate from a recognised board |
| Junior Statistical Officer | Bachelor's degree in any subject with at least 60% marks in Mathematics in Class 12, OR a Bachelor's degree with Statistics as one of the subjects |
| Statistical Investigator Grade-II | Bachelor's degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Demography, Population Studies, Operation Research, Information Technology, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Computer Technology, Computer Application, Data Science or Artificial Intelligence |
| All other posts | Bachelor's degree from a recognised university or equivalent |
Rules students ask about most
- Final-year students: could apply, but must have the essential qualification on 01.08.2026 (Para 8.5). SSC says the result must actually be declared by that date; "mere processing of the result" does not count (Para 8.8).
- Graduation percentage: the notice sets no minimum graduation percentage for any post. Only JSO has a percentage rule, and it is about Class 12 Mathematics (60%).
- Distance / open learning degrees: accepted if the university was approved by the UGC Distance Education Bureau for the relevant period; you must show that approval at document verification (Para 8.6).
- Equivalent qualifications: you need an equivalence certificate, and the final call is the user department's (Para 8.9).
- AAO probation: direct recruits must pass the Subordinate Audit/Accounts Service Examination during probation (Para 8.1.1.3).
SSC CGL Eligibility: Physical Standards and Other Conditions
Some posts have physical standards, physical tests and medical standards, which the user department checks after selection: Inspector (Central Excise / Examiner / Preventive Officer), Inspector and Sub-Inspector in CBN, Sub-Inspector/JIO in NCB, Sub-Inspector in CBI and NIA, and UDC/SSA in BRO (Note-II under Para 2; details in Annexures XV and XVI of the notice). SSC warns that if you are allotted a post and fail its physical or medical standard, your candidature is rejected, and SSC will not change your post. Choose post preferences with this in mind.
Ex-Servicemen: a matriculate ESM with at least 15 years of service can be considered for ESM-reserved Group C vacancies; ESM reservation is not given for Group B posts in this exam (Para 3.3 and 5.8). Age relaxation and ESM reservation are not available to children or dependants of ex-servicemen (Para 5.9).
Category certificates: the crucial date for claiming SC/ST/OBC/PwBD/ESM status is the closing date of applications (Para 6.4), and OBC candidates must not be in the creamy layer on that date.
SSC CGL 2026 Eligibility: Where the Exam Stands Now
Applications are closed. The Tier 1 exam is being held from 30 September to 30 October 2026 (SSC Important Notice, 12.09.2026), and SSC's tentative vacancy list of 24.09.2026 shows 10,731 vacancies. Eligibility (age, degree, category) is checked at document verification by the user department, not at the time of the exam (Para 14.2), so keep your Class 10 certificate, degree marksheets and category certificates ready.
SSC CGL Eligibility and Age Limit FAQs
What is the SSC CGL age limit for general category in 2026?
18-27 years for Group C posts (Auditor, Accountant, Tax Assistant, PA/SA, UDC), 18-30 or 20-30 years for most Group B posts, and 18-32 years for JSO, all counted on 01.08.2026.
What is the SSC CGL age limit for OBC?
OBC gets 3 years over the post's upper limit, so 30 (for 18-27 posts), 33 (for 18-30 and 20-30 posts) and 35 (for JSO).
What is the SSC CGL age limit for SC and ST?
5 years of relaxation: 32, 35 and 37 for the three upper limits.
Is there age relaxation for women in SSC CGL?
Only for widows, divorced women and women judicially separated who have not remarried, and only for Group C posts: up to 35 years (UR) or 40 years (SC/ST).
Can a final-year student apply for SSC CGL?
Yes, but the degree result must be declared on or before 01.08.2026. If it comes later, the candidature is cancelled at document verification.
Is 60% in graduation required for SSC CGL?
No. There is no minimum graduation percentage. Only JSO needs 60% in Class 12 Mathematics (or Statistics as a degree subject).
Which SSC CGL posts have a minimum age of 20?
ASO in CSS, Railways, MEA and AFHQ, and Sub Inspector in CBI have an age limit of 20-30 years.
Practice Next for SSC CGL
- Full mocks: SSC CGL Full Length Mock Test 11 and SSC CGL Full Length Mock Test 13.
- Real papers: SSC CGL 2025 Tier 1 Question Paper, 12 September Shift 3.
- Sectional: SSC CGL English Comprehension Sectional Mock Test 11.
- Exam details: SSC CGL 2026 recruitment notice and dates.
- Related notes: SSC CGL salary 2026, SSC CGL cut off (year-wise official) and SSC CGL expected cut off 2026.
- Free tools: exam eligibility checker and government salary calculator.
- Attempts: SSC CGL kitne attempt de sakte hain (no attempt limit) and SSC CGL vacancy 2026, post-wise.
- Browse all study notes.