SSC CGL 2026 Eligibility Criteria: Age Limit, Qualifications & Post-wise Details
The Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level (SSC CGL) exam is one of the most competitive recruiting drives in India. Qualifying this exam offers prestigious positions like Assistant Section Officer (ASO), Income Tax Inspector, Excise Inspector, Assistant Enforcement Officer (AEO), and Sub-Inspector in CBI.
Before beginning your exam preparation, it is critical to understand the detailed eligibility criteria. Meeting these requirements is mandatory, and any discrepancy found during Document Verification (DV) will lead to immediate disqualification. In this guide, we break down the post-wise educational qualifications, age limits, relaxations, and physical standards for SSC CGL 2026.
1. Nationality / Citizenship
A candidate must be either:
- A citizen of India, or
- A subject of Nepal, or
- A subject of Bhutan, or
- A Tibetan refugee who came over to India before January 1, 1962, with the intention of permanently settling.
2. Educational Qualification (Post-wise)
The minimum educational qualification required for SSC CGL is a Bachelor's degree from a recognized university. However, specific posts require specialized qualifications:
| Post Name | Department / Ministry | Required Educational Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant Audit Officer / Assistant Accounts Officer (AAO) | Indian Audit & Accounts Department under CAG | Essential: Bachelor’s Degree in any stream. Desirable: Chartered Accountant (CA) / Cost & Management Accountant / Company Secretary / M.Com / MBA (Finance). |
| Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) | Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation | Bachelor’s Degree in any stream with at least 60% Marks in Mathematics at 12th standard level OR Bachelor’s Degree in any stream with Statistics as one of the subjects at graduation level. |
| Statistical Investigator Grade-II | Registrar General of India | Bachelor’s Degree in any stream with Statistics as one of the subjects. The candidate must have studied Statistics as a subject in all three years of the graduation course. |
| All Other Posts (Inspector, ASO, Assistant, Auditor, Tax Assistant) | CSS, IB, Railway, External Affairs, CBDT, CBIC, Enforcement Directorate, CBI, etc. | Bachelor’s Degree in any stream (Arts, Science, Commerce, Engineering, etc.) from a recognized university. No minimum percentage required. |
3. Age Limit & Post-wise Grouping
The age limit varies from post to post. The crucial date for age calculation is typically determined by the official notification. Here is the age classification for major posts:
- Assistant Section Officer (CSS, MEA, Railways): 20 to 30 Years
- Inspector of Income Tax / Central Excise / Preventive Officer (CBDT/CBIC): 18 to 30 Years
- Assistant Enforcement Officer (AEO): Up to 30 Years
- Sub-Inspector (CBI): 20 to 30 Years
- Junior Statistical Officer (JSO): Up to 32 Years
- Auditor, Accountant, Tax Assistant, Upper Division Clerk (UDC): 18 to 27 Years
4. Age Relaxation Criteria
Candidates belonging to reserved categories are eligible for age relaxation in the upper limit as per government norms:
| Category | Age Relaxation Allowed |
|---|---|
| OBC (Other Backward Classes) | 3 Years |
| SC / ST (Scheduled Caste / Scheduled Tribe) | 5 Years |
| PwBD (Unreserved) | 10 Years |
| PwBD (OBC) | 13 Years |
| PwBD (SC/ST) | 15 Years |
| Ex-Servicemen (ESM) | 3 Years after deduction of military service rendered from actual age |
5. Physical & Medical Standards
For certain executive posts like Inspector (Central Excise, Preventive Officer, Examiner), Sub-Inspector in CBI, and Sub-Inspector in NIA, candidates must fulfill specific physical measurements and pass a medical test:
For Male Candidates (Excise/Preventive Officer/Examiner):
- Height: 157.5 cm (relaxed by 5 cm for Garhwalis, Assamese, Gorkhas, and ST)
- Chest: 81 cm (fully expanded with a minimum expansion of 5 cm)
- Physical Test: Walking: 1600 meters in 15 minutes. Cycling: 8 km in 30 minutes.
For Female Candidates (Excise/Preventive Officer/Examiner):
- Height: 152 cm (relaxed by 2.5 cm for Gorkhas, Assamese, ST)
- Weight: 48 kg (relaxed by 2 kg for Gorkhas, Assamese, ST)
- Physical Test: Walking: 1 km in 20 minutes. Running: 1 km in 20 minutes (or cycling 3 km in 25 minutes).
Want to check if you are fully prepared for the upcoming exam? Prepare and evaluate yourself with our free syllabus-oriented **SSC CGL Test Series** on WeeklyNaukri.com!