SSC CGL vs CHSL: Quick Answer
SSC CGL is for graduates and recruits Group B and Group C officers in Pay Level 4 to Level 8 (starting basic ₹25,500 to ₹47,600). SSC CHSL is for 12th pass candidates and recruits LDC/JSA and Data Entry Operators in Pay Level 2, 4 and 5 (starting basic ₹19,900 to ₹29,200). Both have the same Tier 1 shape (100 questions, 200 marks, 60 minutes), but CGL Tier 2 is longer and its posts pay more.
Every rule below is from the two official 2026 notices: the SSC CGL 2026 notice and the SSC CHSL 2026 notice. Salary figures marked "approx" are our calculations from official DA and HRA rates.
Key takeaway: If you are a graduate, you can write both (CHSL only needs 12th pass). CGL gives higher posts (Inspector, ASO, Auditor) and more vacancies; CHSL is a good second exam because its Tier 1 syllabus overlaps almost completely with CGL Tier 1.
SSC CGL vs CHSL 2026: Comparison Table
| Point | SSC CGL 2026 | SSC CHSL 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Combined Graduate Level Examination | Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination |
| Minimum qualification | Bachelor's degree by 01.08.2026 | 12th pass (result declared by 07.10.2026) |
| Age limit (on 01.08.2026) | 18-27, 18-30, 20-30 or 18-32 years, post-wise | 18-27 years for all posts |
| Posts | ASO, Inspector (Income Tax, Central Excise, Posts), SI (CBI, NIA), AAO, JSO, Auditor, Accountant, Tax Assistant, UDC and more | LDC / JSA, Data Entry Operator, DEO Grade 'A' |
| Group | Group B (gazetted and non-gazetted) and Group C | Group C |
| Pay levels | Level 4 to Level 8 | Level 2, 4 and 5 |
| Starting basic pay | ₹25,500 to ₹47,600 | ₹19,900 to ₹29,200 |
| Tentative vacancies 2026 | 10,731 (revised list, 24.09.2026) | about 2,536 (notice) |
| Tier 1 | 100 Q, 200 marks, 60 min, −0.50 | 100 Q, 200 marks, 60 min, −0.50 |
| Tier 2 merit marks | 390 (Section I 180 + Section II 210) | 360 (Section I 180 + Section II 180) |
| Extra papers | Statistics (JSO/SI Gr-II), Finance & Economics (AAO) | None |
| Skill test | DEST (qualifying), CKT 60 marks (qualifying) | Typing test (LDC/JSA) or Skill test (DEO), CKT 45 marks (qualifying) |
| Application fee | ₹100; nil for women, SC, ST, PwBD, ESM | ₹100; nil for women, SC, ST, PwBD, ESM |
| Tier 1 exam 2026 | 30 September to 30 October 2026 | 30 November to 31 December 2026 |
Sources: CGL notice Para 2, 5, 8 and 13; SSC tentative vacancy list of 24.09.2026; CHSL notice Para 1, 5, 8, 10 and 13; SSC schedule notices. Our detailed notes: CGL eligibility and CHSL eligibility.
Eligibility: SSC CGL vs CHSL Qualification and Age Limit
Qualification
- CGL: a Bachelor's degree from a recognised university. A few posts need more: JSO needs Maths at 12th level with 60% or Statistics in graduation, and Statistical Investigator Grade-II needs a degree in subjects such as Statistics, Mathematics, Economics or Computer Science (see the CGL eligibility note).
- CHSL: 12th pass from a recognised board. DEO posts in a few offices need 12th with Science and Mathematics.
So a 12th-pass student can only write CHSL, while a graduate can write both.
Age limit
| Category | CGL (most posts 18-27; many Group B posts up to 30) | CHSL (18-27) |
|---|---|---|
| General / EWS | up to 27, 30 or 32 depending on post | up to 27 |
| OBC | +3 years | +3 years |
| SC / ST | +5 years | +5 years |
| PwBD | +10 years (+13 OBC, +15 SC/ST) | +10 years (+13 OBC, +15 SC/ST) |
The relaxation rules are the same because both follow DoPT rules; only the base age differs.
Exam Pattern: SSC CGL vs CHSL Tier 1
| Subject | CGL Tier 1 | CHSL Tier 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 25 Q / 50 marks | 25 Q / 50 marks |
| General Awareness | 25 Q / 50 marks | 25 Q / 50 marks |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 Q / 50 marks | 25 Q / 50 marks |
| English | 25 Q / 50 marks | 25 Q / 50 marks |
| Total | 100 Q / 200 marks / 60 min | 100 Q / 200 marks / 60 min |
| Negative marking | 0.50 | 0.50 |
| Sectional timer | 15 min each | 15 min each |
The real difference is the level. CGL Quant goes deeper into algebra, geometry, trigonometry and data interpretation; CHSL Quant is called "Basic Arithmetic Skill" in the notice. Tier 1 is qualifying in both exams; its marks are not added to the final merit.
Exam Pattern: SSC CGL vs CHSL Tier 2
| Section | CGL Tier 2 Paper-I | CHSL Tier 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Section I: Maths + Reasoning | 60 Q, 180 marks, 60 min | 60 Q, 180 marks, 60 min |
| Section II: English + GA | 70 Q (45 + 25), 210 marks, 60 min | 60 Q (40 + 20), 180 marks, 60 min |
| Section III: Computer Knowledge | 20 Q, 60 marks, 15 min (qualifying) | 15 Q, 45 marks, 15 min (qualifying) |
| Section IV | Data Entry Speed Test (qualifying) | Typing / Skill test (qualifying) |
| Marking | +3, −1 | +3, −1 |
| Merit total | 390 | 360 |
CGL also has Paper-II (Statistics, 200 marks) for JSO and Statistical Investigator posts and Paper-III (General Studies – Finance and Economics, 200 marks) for Assistant Audit/Accounts Officer. Full tables: SSC CGL exam pattern 2026 and SSC CHSL syllabus 2026.
Salary: SSC CGL vs CHSL Pay Level and In-Hand
| Pay Level | Starting basic | CGL posts | CHSL posts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 2 | ₹19,900 | — | LDC / JSA |
| Level 4 | ₹25,500 | Tax Assistant, Postal/Sorting Assistant, UDC, SI (CBN) | DEO, DEO Grade 'A' |
| Level 5 | ₹29,200 | Auditor, Accountant, Junior Accountant | DEO (some offices) |
| Level 6 | ₹35,400 | JSO, Divisional Accountant, SI (NIA), Executive Assistant | — |
| Level 7 | ₹44,900 | ASO, Inspector (Income Tax / Central Excise / Posts), SI (CBI), AEO (ED) | — |
| Level 8 | ₹47,600 | Assistant Audit Officer, Assistant Accounts Officer | — |
Approximate in-hand (before income tax), X-class city, October 2026: a CHSL LDC (Level 2) gets about ₹36,800 a month, while a CGL Inspector or ASO (Level 7) gets about ₹83,900. These are our calculations with DA 60% (from 01.01.2026), HRA 30% and Transport Allowance, minus NPS 10%; see SSC CGL salary 2026 and SSC CHSL salary 2026 for the full working.
Posts and Career Growth: CGL vs CHSL
- CGL posts start you as an officer or senior assistant in ministries and central departments: ASO in the Central Secretariat, Inspector in CBDT/CBIC, Sub-Inspector in CBI/NIA, Auditor in C&AG/CGDA. Group B posts lead to Section Officer, Superintendent and Assistant Commissioner level over time.
- CHSL posts are clerical (LDC/JSA) or data-entry jobs. Promotion goes to UDC and Assistant through departmental exams and seniority, which is slower.
- Many CHSL selectees keep preparing for CGL. Being a central government employee does not stop you from writing CGL, provided you meet age and qualification rules (with ex-departmental relaxation where allowed).
Difficulty and Competition: Which Is Easier?
- Syllabus: CHSL is a subset of CGL in Quant and English. CGL GA and English sections in Tier 2 are longer.
- Cut-offs: CGL Tier 2 final cut-offs are high because the merit total is 390; the CGL 2024 Tier 2 cut-off for UR was 322.77 (official write-up). CHSL cut-offs are on a 360-mark total. See SSC CGL cut-off and SSC CHSL cut-off.
- Vacancies: CGL 2026 has about 4 times as many tentative vacancies as CHSL 2026 (10,731 vs about 2,536).
SSC CGL or CHSL: Which Should You Choose?
| If you are... | Our suggestion |
|---|---|
| 12th pass, not yet a graduate | CHSL now; CGL once you graduate |
| A graduate aged under 27 | Write both. Prepare for CGL; CHSL Tier 1 comes free with that preparation |
| A graduate aged 27-30 (General) | CGL only (many Group B posts allow up to 30); you are over the CHSL limit |
| Weak in advanced maths | Start with CHSL-level arithmetic, then add CGL algebra, geometry and trigonometry |
SSC CGL vs CHSL MCQs (Quick Check)
- What is the minimum qualification for SSC CHSL? Answer: 12th pass.
- What is the starting basic pay of a CHSL LDC? Answer: ₹19,900 (Pay Level 2).
- Which pay levels do SSC CGL posts fall in? Answer: Level 4 to Level 8.
- How many marks is the CGL Tier 2 Paper-I merit total (Sections I + II)? Answer: 390.
- How many marks is the CHSL Tier 2 merit total? Answer: 360.
- Negative marking in Tier 1 of both exams? Answer: 0.50 per wrong answer.
- Which CGL paper is only for JSO and Statistical Investigator? Answer: Paper-II (Statistics).
- What is the upper age limit for SSC CHSL (General)? Answer: 27 years.
SSC CGL vs CHSL FAQs
Can a graduate apply for SSC CHSL?
Yes. CHSL needs a minimum of 12th pass, so graduates are also eligible, subject to the 18-27 age limit.
Which is better, SSC CGL or CHSL?
For pay and post level, CGL is better: its lowest pay level (Level 4) is the same as CHSL's DEO and higher than LDC (Level 2), and it goes up to Level 8. CHSL is easier and is the only option for candidates without a degree.
Is the syllabus of SSC CGL and CHSL the same?
The Tier 1 subjects and pattern are the same (100 questions, 200 marks, 60 minutes), but CGL questions are of graduate level. Tier 2 differs: CGL has more English questions, a longer GA section and extra Statistics/Finance papers.
Is there an interview in SSC CGL or CHSL?
No. Neither exam has an interview; selection is on Tier 2 marks plus qualifying skill tests and document verification.
What is the salary of SSC CGL vs CHSL in hand?
Approximately ₹36,800 for a CHSL LDC and about ₹83,900 for a CGL Level 7 post in an X-class city before income tax (our calculation at 60% DA). Actual pay depends on city and department.
Practice Next
- Mocks: SSC CGL Full Length Mock Test 10, SSC CGL Full Length Mock Test 11, SSC CHSL Full Length Mock Test 07 and SSC CHSL Full Length Mock Test 08.
- Jobs: SSC CGL 2026 and SSC CHSL 2026.
- Tools: SSC CGL typing test (DEST), SSC CHSL typing test (LDC/JSA and DEO) and all SSC typing tests.
- Related comparisons: SSC CGL vs IBPS PO and IBPS PO vs SBI PO.
- Browse all study notes.