SSC CGL 2026 Last Date to Apply (25 June) + Tier-1 Schedule

The SSC CGL 2026 last date to apply is 25 June 2026. If you are targeting one of the 12,256 vacancies in this year’s Combined Graduate Level recruitment, today is your final window to submit a completed application on the official Staff Selection Commission portal. This guide walks you through the SSC CGL 2026 last date, the full set of key dates, vacancy and eligibility details, the step-by-step application process, the Tier-1 and Tier-2 exam pattern, and a focused last-mile prep plan so nothing slips through the cracks in these final hours.

Deadline & Key Dates

Missing the SSC CGL 2026 last date means waiting an entire cycle, so lock these dates in now. All dates below follow the official SSC calendar published on ssc.gov.in.

Important: The online application closes on 25 June, but you get one extra day — until 26 June — only to complete the fee payment. Do not treat the fee date as the application date; the form itself must be submitted by the SSC CGL 2026 last date of 25 June.

Vacancies & Eligibility

SSC has notified 12,256 vacancies across Group B and Group C posts for the 2026 cycle — including Inspector (Income Tax), Assistant Section Officer, Auditor, Accountant, Tax Assistant, and Sub-Inspector roles in various ministries, departments, and organisations of the Government of India.

Educational qualification: A Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university in any discipline is the baseline requirement; certain posts (such as those requiring Statistical Investigator roles) carry additional subject-specific criteria as detailed in the official notification.

Age limit: Generally 18–32 years depending on the post, with standard age relaxations for SC/ST, OBC, PwD, ex-servicemen and other reserved categories as per Government of India rules. Always verify the exact band for your target post against the official notification on ssc.gov.in before applying.

How to Apply Before the SSC CGL 2026 Last Date

1. Register on the OTR portal: Log in to your One-Time Registration (OTR) account at ssc.gov.in. If you have not registered yet, complete OTR first — it captures your basic details, photo, and signature.
2. Fill the SSC CGL 2026 application form: Select the Combined Graduate Level Examination 2026 notification, enter your educational details, and choose your preferred post and examination centres.
3. Upload documents: Upload a recent passport-size photograph and signature in the exact dimensions and file format specified by SSC.
4. Pay the fee: Pay the application fee online (UPI, net banking, or card). Women candidates and SC/ST/PwD/ex-servicemen candidates are exempt from the fee as per SSC norms. The fee window stays open until 26 June 2026.
5. Submit and save: Review every field, submit the form before the 25 June deadline, and download the confirmation PDF for your records.

Avoid the last-hour server rush — the portal slows down close to any SSC deadline. Submit with a few hours of buffer rather than minutes.

Exam Pattern: Tier-1 and Tier-2

SSC CGL 2026 follows a two-tier structure. Both tiers are Computer Based Examinations (CBE).

Tier-1 (Preliminary)

Tier-1 is a 60-minute objective paper of 100 questions (200 marks) across four sections of 25 questions each:

• General Intelligence & Reasoning — 25 questions, 50 marks
• General Awareness — 25 questions, 50 marks
• Quantitative Aptitude — 25 questions, 50 marks
• English Comprehension — 25 questions, 50 marks

There is a negative marking of 0.50 marks for each wrong answer in Tier-1. As per the SSC calendar, the Tier-1 exam is scheduled for around August–September 2026.

Tier-2 (Mains)

Tier-2 is the deciding stage and consists of multiple papers — Paper-1 (compulsory for all posts) covering Mathematical Abilities, Reasoning & General Intelligence, English Language & Comprehension, General Awareness, plus a Computer Knowledge module and a Data Entry Speed Test. Paper-2 (Statistics) and Paper-3 (General Studies — Finance & Economics) apply only to specific posts. For the full breakdown of sections, marks, and timing, refer to our SSC CGL Syllabus 2026-27 guide.

Last-Mile Prep Plan

With Tier-1 roughly two months out (as per the SSC calendar), the smart play now is consolidation, not new material:

• Full-length mocks first: Sit at least two timed Tier-1 mocks per week. Replicate the 60-minute clock and the 0.50 negative-marking penalty so your accuracy instinct sharpens. Practise on our NTA-spec CBT mock engine.
• Lock down General Awareness: GA is the fastest-scoring section. Revise static GK, the polity and economy basics, and the last six months of current affairs.
• Speed-drill Quant and Reasoning: Build shortcut fluency in percentages, ratios, time-speed-distance, and the high-frequency reasoning sets.
• Analyse every mock: Track which topics bleed marks and run targeted revision the same day. Your error log matters more than your raw score.
• Get structured support: Explore our All-Access Pass for unlimited mocks, daily papers, and the full SSC CGL prep stack.

Frequently Asked Questions

Source: Staff Selection Commission — https://ssc.gov.in/. Always verify dates and details against the official SSC notification before applying.