SSC CGL Eligibility Criteria 2026, Age Limit, Qualification, Nationality & Posts-Wise Requirements

SSC CGL Eligibility Criteria 2026 outlines the basic requirements for candidates applying for Group B and Group C posts under various ministries and departments of the Government of India. Candidates must meet the prescribed age limit (18–32 years, depending on the post, with category-wise relaxations), hold a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university (with specific qualifications required for certain posts like JSO and AAO), and fulfil the nationality criteria set by SSC. As per the official notification, the Staff Selection Commission SSC CGL 2026 notification was released on 21 May 2026, with online applications open from 21 May to 22 June 2026, Tier 1 scheduled for August–September 2026, and Tier 2 in December 2026.

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SSC CGL Eligibility Criteria 2026 Overview

Before going forward with the details of the SSC CGL Eligibility Criteria 2026, candidates can go through the overview from the table given below.

SSC CGL Nationality 2026

To meet the SSC CGL Eligibility Criteria 2026, candidates must fulfill any one of the following nationality conditions:

• A citizen of India, or
• A subject of Nepal, or
• A subject of Bhutan, or
• A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, and Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.

Note: Candidates belonging to categories other than Indian citizens must produce a Certificate of Eligibility issued by the Government of India.

SSC CGL Age Limit 2026

The age requirements for different posts in SSC CGL 2026 vary according to the post applied for. As per the official notice, the age limit will be calculated as on 01 August 2026. The minimum age is 18 years, while the maximum age ranges up to 32 years depending on the post.

SSC CGL Age Relaxation 2026

The SSC (Staff Selection Commission) has granted age relaxation to specific groups, like OBC, SC, ST, PH, etc., as stated in the SSC CGL 2026 announcement. This concession allows them to engage in the recruitment procedure.  The candidates can locate the extent of years by which the upper age limit is extended for distinct categories within the SSC CGL 2026 notice from the table mentioned below. This provision assures that candidates from these categories, who fulfil the SSC CGL Eligibility Criteria 2026, are eligible to apply for the SSC CGL examination.

SSC CGL Qualification 2026 

The SSC CGL Educational Qualification 2026 for all roles associated with SSC CGL 2026 has been mentioned in the table given below. Candidates must verify that they satisfy the minimal educational qualification to qualify for the SSC CGL 2026.

SSC CGL Physical Eligibility

Candidates must review the physical and medical standards outlined in the SSC CGL Eligibility Criteria 2026. Refer to the table below for detailed SSC CGL physical standards required for some posts only.

SSC CGL Physical Efficiency Test for Group C Post

For Group ‘C’ posts, the Physical Efficiency Test includes a mandatory one-mile run. Candidates must complete this run within a maximum of 10 minutes, although no specific marks are awarded—only passing is required. It is important to note that candidates selected through the Staff Selection Commission must compulsorily clear this one-mile run at the GREF Centre in Pune. Only after successfully passing this physical test will they be allowed to proceed to the next stage, which is the medical examination.

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