SSC CGL vs IBPS PO: Quick Answer
Both exams are for graduates. SSC CGL fills central government Group B and C posts (ASO, Income Tax and Central Excise Inspector, Auditor and more) in Pay Level 4 to 8, with no interview and 10,731 tentative vacancies in 2026. IBPS PO fills Probationary Officer posts in public sector banks at a starting basic of ₹48,480 (JMGS-I), with Prelims, Mains and an interview, and 6,715 indicative vacancies. CGL's top posts give a central government career with fixed working hours; IBPS PO gives a faster-moving banking career with sales and branch targets.
All rules below come from the SSC CGL 2026 notice and the IBPS CRP PO/MT-XVI notification. In-hand figures marked "approx" are our calculations.
Key takeaway: The syllabus overlap is large (Quant, Reasoning, English, GA), so many aspirants prepare for both. CGL tests speed with 2 tiers and no interview; IBPS PO tests puzzles, DI and banking awareness and adds a 100-mark interview worth 20% of the final merit.
SSC CGL vs IBPS PO 2026: Comparison Table
| Point | SSC CGL 2026 | IBPS PO 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiter | Staff Selection Commission (central ministries and departments) | IBPS, for participating public sector banks |
| Post type | Group B and Group C central government posts | Probationary Officer / Management Trainee (JMGS-I) |
| Vacancies | 10,731 tentative (SSC list, 24.09.2026) | 6,715 indicative (2027-28) |
| Qualification | Bachelor's degree by 01.08.2026 | Graduate, result declared by 21.07.2026 |
| Age limit | 18-27, 18-30, 20-30 or 18-32 on 01.08.2026 (post-wise) | 20-30 on 01.07.2026 |
| Fee | ₹100; nil for women, SC, ST, PwBD, ESM | ₹850; ₹175 for SC/ST/PwBD |
| Stages | Tier 1 (qualifying) + Tier 2 + skill tests | Prelims (qualifying) + Mains + Personality Test + Interview |
| Interview | No | Yes (100 marks, 20% weight) |
| Descriptive paper | No | Yes (25 marks, English) |
| Negative marking | Tier 1: 0.50 of 2 marks; Tier 2: 1 of 3 marks | 1/4 of the question's marks |
| Starting basic pay | ₹25,500 (Level 4) to ₹47,600 (Level 8) | ₹48,480 |
| Allowances | Central government DA (60% from 01.01.2026), HRA, TA | As per the allotted bank's rules |
| Pension | NPS (central government) | NPS (public sector banks) |
Eligibility: SSC CGL vs IBPS PO
- Qualification: any graduate can apply to both. A few CGL posts need specific subjects (JSO needs 60% in Class 12 Maths or Statistics in the degree). IBPS PO has no minimum percentage.
- Age: CGL lets you apply from 18, IBPS PO from 20. For General candidates, both allow up to 30 (CGL for most Group B posts; Group C posts in CGL stop at 27). OBC +3, SC/ST +5 and PwBD +10 years in both.
- Final-year students: CGL accepted them if the result was declared by 01.08.2026; IBPS PO 2026 does not accept final-year students.
Details: SSC CGL eligibility 2026 and IBPS PO eligibility 2026.
Exam Pattern: SSC CGL vs IBPS PO
Stage 1: CGL Tier 1 vs IBPS PO Prelims
| Section | CGL Tier 1 | IBPS PO Prelims |
|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 25 Q / 50 marks | 35 Q / 40 marks |
| Quant | 25 Q / 50 marks | 35 Q / 30 marks |
| English | 25 Q / 50 marks | 30 Q / 30 marks |
| General Awareness | 25 Q / 50 marks | — |
| Total | 100 Q, 200 marks, 60 min | 100 Q, 100 marks, 60 min |
GA is in CGL Tier 1 but not in IBPS Prelims. Both stage-1 tests are only for shortlisting.
Stage 2: CGL Tier 2 vs IBPS PO Mains
| Section | CGL Tier 2 Paper-I | IBPS PO Mains |
|---|---|---|
| Maths / DI | 30 Q, 90 marks | Data Analysis & Interpretation 40 Q, 60 marks |
| Reasoning | 30 Q, 90 marks | 40 Q, 60 marks |
| English | 45 Q, 135 marks | 40 Q, 20 marks |
| General / Banking Awareness | 25 Q, 75 marks | 50 Q, 60 marks (economy, banking, RBI circulars, digital and financial awareness) |
| Computer | CKT 20 Q, 60 marks (qualifying) | — |
| Skill / descriptive | DEST (qualifying) | Descriptive: essay + comprehension, 25 marks |
| Time | 2 h 15 min (Session I) | 160 min objective + 30 min descriptive |
What this means for preparation: CGL rewards English vocabulary and grammar (135 of 390 merit marks) and static GK; IBPS PO rewards high-level puzzles, seating arrangement, caselet DI and banking/economy current affairs. See SSC CGL exam pattern 2026 and IBPS PO exam pattern 2026.
Final selection
- CGL: merit on Tier 2 marks (Paper-I Sections I and II; plus Paper-II or III for JSO/SI and AAO). Post preference decides which department you get.
- IBPS PO: Mains and interview combined in the ratio 80:20, then provisional allotment to a bank.
Salary: SSC CGL vs IBPS PO
| Post | Starting basic | Approx in-hand before tax (X-class city) |
|---|---|---|
| CGL Level 8 (AAO) | ₹47,600 | about ₹88,600 |
| CGL Level 7 (ASO, Inspector) | ₹44,900 | about ₹83,900 |
| CGL Level 6 (JSO, Divisional Accountant) | ₹35,400 | see CGL salary |
| CGL Level 4 (Tax Assistant, UDC) | ₹25,500 | see CGL salary |
| IBPS PO (JMGS-I) | ₹48,480 | Not published; depends on bank's DA, HRA/lease and CCA |
CGL in-hand figures are our calculations using DA 60%, HRA 30% and TA, minus NPS 10% (CGL salary note). IBPS prints only the pay scale (₹48,480-2,000/7-62,480-2,340/2-67,160-2,680/7-85,920) and says allowances follow the allotted bank's rules, so we do not print an IBPS in-hand number (IBPS PO salary note).
In simple terms: an IBPS PO's starting basic is a little higher than CGL Level 8 and clearly higher than the most common CGL posts (Level 4 to 7). CGL Group B officers, however, get central government perks such as fixed hours, LTC and, for many posts, government housing.
Job Profile and Work-Life: CGL vs IBPS PO
| Point | SSC CGL (typical Level 6-7 post) | IBPS PO |
|---|---|---|
| Work | Desk, audit, tax or enforcement work in a ministry or department | Branch banking, loans, customer service, cross-selling, targets |
| Hours | Mostly fixed office hours | Often long hours, especially at month and year end |
| Transfers | Depends on department; Inspector posts move within a zone, CSS ASOs are in Delhi | Anywhere in the bank's all-India network |
| Promotion | Time-bound, through DPCs (for example ASO → Section Officer) | Through internal exams and interviews (Scale I → II → III), often faster |
| Probation | As per department rules | Usually 2 years, as per bank rules |
Difficulty: Which Is Easier, SSC CGL or IBPS PO?
Neither is easy, and the difficulty is of a different kind:
- CGL has more vacancies and no interview, but a very large number of applicants and high Tier 2 cut-offs (CGL 2024 UR Tier 2 cut-off: 322.77 out of 390, official write-up).
- IBPS PO has a sectional cut-off in Prelims, a descriptive paper and an interview, so you need communication skills as well as speed.
If English and static GK are your strengths, CGL may suit you better; if puzzles and DI are your strengths, IBPS PO may.
SSC CGL vs IBPS PO MCQs (Quick Check)
- Which of the two exams has an interview? Answer: IBPS PO.
- What is the starting basic pay of an IBPS PO? Answer: ₹48,480.
- What is the highest pay level among SSC CGL 2026 posts? Answer: Level 8 (₹47,600 basic).
- What is the minimum age for IBPS PO 2026? Answer: 20 years.
- Is General Awareness part of IBPS PO Prelims? Answer: No.
- What is the IBPS PO final merit ratio of Mains to interview? Answer: 80:20.
- How many tentative vacancies are in SSC CGL 2026 (revised list)? Answer: 10,731.
- How many marks is the English section of CGL Tier 2 Paper-I? Answer: 135 (45 questions).
SSC CGL vs IBPS PO FAQs
Which is better, SSC CGL or IBPS PO?
It depends on the job you want. IBPS PO has a higher starting basic (₹48,480) and faster promotions, with longer hours and targets. SSC CGL Level 7 posts (₹44,900 basic) give central government job security, fixed hours and time-bound promotions.
Can I prepare for SSC CGL and IBPS PO together?
Yes. Quant, Reasoning and English overlap a lot. Add static GK for CGL and banking/economy awareness plus high-level puzzles for IBPS PO.
Is IBPS PO a government job?
IBPS PO is a job in a public sector bank, which is government-owned, but PSB officers are bank employees, not central government employees. SSC CGL posts are central government posts.
Does SSC CGL have an interview?
No. Selection is based on Tier 2 marks, qualifying skill tests (CKT and DEST where required) and document verification.
What is the age limit for SSC CGL and IBPS PO?
CGL: 18 to 27, 30 or 32 depending on the post (on 01.08.2026). IBPS PO: 20 to 30 (on 01.07.2026). Both give OBC 3, SC/ST 5 and PwBD 10 years of relaxation.
Practice Next
- Mocks: SSC CGL Full Length Mock Test 11, SSC CGL Quantitative Aptitude Sectional Mock Test 10, IBPS PO Prelims Full Mock Test 13 and IBPS PO Prelims Full Mock Test 14.
- Jobs: SSC CGL 2026.
- Related comparisons: SSC CGL vs CHSL and IBPS PO vs SBI PO; cut-offs: SSC CGL cut-off year-wise.
- Browse all study notes.