SSC CGL ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
SSC CGL ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
The following article consists of a detailed account of the eligibility criteria for various SSC CGL posts as per the latest official notification issued by the SSC. Before applying for a post or final submission of the examination form one must go through the eligibility criteria for the respective post he/she is applying for. If a candidate fails to fulfill the eligibility criteria he/she cannot appear in the exam conducted for that particular post.
Let us first start with knowing about the examination, the exam conducting body and various posts for which the exam is conducted.
Combined Graduated Level Examination is conducted by the Staff Selection Commission to recruit Group B and C officers to various posts in top ministries, departments and organizations of the Government of India. The Staff Selection Commission was established in 1975.
| SSC CGL Post | Department/Ministry | Classification of Post |
| Assistant Audit Officer | Indian Audit & Accounts Department under C&AG | Group “B” Gazetted (Non-Ministerial) |
| Assistant Accounts Officer | Indian Audit & Accounts Department under C&AG | Group “B” Gazetted (Non-Ministerial) |
| Assistant Section Officer | Central Secretariat Service, Intelligence Bureau, Ministry of Railway, Ministry of External Affairs, AFHQ | Group “B” |
| Assistant | Other Ministries/ Departments/ Organizations | Group “B” |
| Inspector of Income Tax | CBDT | Group “C” |
| Inspector (Central Excise) | CBIC | Group “B” |
| Assistant Enforcement Officer | Directorate of Enforcement, Department of Revenue | Group “B” |
| Sub Inspector | Central Bureau of Investigation | Group “B” |
| Inspector | Central Bureau of Narcotics | Group “B” |
| Junior Statistical Officer | M/o Statistics & ProgrammeImplementation | Group “B” |
| Statistical Investigator Grade-II | Registrar General of India | Group “B” |
| Auditor | Offices under C&AG, CGDA | Group “C” |
| Accountant/ Junior Accountant | Other Ministry/ Departments | Group “C” |
| Senior Secretariat Assistant/ Upper Division Clerks | Central Govt. Offices/ Ministries other than CSCS cadres | Group “C” |
| Tax Assistant | CBDT/ CBIC | Group “C” |
| Upper Division Clerks | Government Departments | Group “C” |
Structure
The examination has four major tiers which are conducted over different days, with results posted after each tier. Previous exams also included an interview tier, but following a government order, interviews were removed for all non-gazetted posts in the central government as of 1 January 2016. A computer proficiency test or a skill test was also added as a tier for some posts.
Tier I: Preliminary
The Tier I exam consists of a written objective multiple-choice exam with four sections, covering the subjects of:
• General intelligence and reasoning
• General awareness
• Quantitative aptitude
• English comprehension
The exam is typically scored with a maximum of 50 marks per section, for a total of 200 marks. Based on results from Tier I, qualified candidates can then take the Tier II and Tier III exam.
Tier II: Mains Exam
Also known as the Mains Exam, the Tier II exam consists of a written multiple-choice exam, in three sections:
• Section 1
o Mathematical abilities
o Reasoning and general intelligence
• Section 2
o English language and comprehension
o General awareness
• Section 3
o Computer knowledge – covers the topics of word processing, spreadsheets, and making slides.
o Data entry speed test – candidates enter data at the rate of 2000 key presses in 15 minutes.
• Section 4
o Statistics
• Section 5
o General studies (finance and economics)
SSC CGL Eligibility Criteria-
Candidates applying for the exam need to fulfill the eligibility criteria. If the eligibility criteria are not fulfilled then the candidate will not be allowed to appear for the respective exam.
SSC CGL Age Limit
The Staff Selection Commission has made a change in the CGL Age Limit for a particular post ( Tax Assistant- Group C) from 2018-19 and so on.
As per the update, the Age Limit for the post of Tax Assistant is relaxed from 20 years to 18 years.
The SSC CGL age limit for different posts is a minimum of 18 and a maximum of 32 years. Apart from this, there are certain age relaxation criteria for the reserved group of candidates.
Candidate must comply with the age limit for the given posts below:
| SSC CGL Age limit | Post |
| 18-30 years | Assistant, Inspector |
| 18- 30 years | Assistant Section Officer, Assistant, Auditor, Sub-Inspector, Junior Accountant, Tax Assistant, Assistant Account Officer, Upper Division Clerk |
| Up to 30 years | Sub Inspector, Assistant Enforcement Officer |
| Up to 32 years | Junior Statistical Investigator |
| Not exceeding 30 years | Assistant Audit Officer, Assistant Account Officer, Inspector of Central Excise, Assistant Enforcement Officer, Assistant Section Officer, Inspector of Income Tax |
The SSC CGL Age limit to apply for various Departments is as follows:
| SSC CGL Age Limit | Department |
| 20-30 years | Central Secretariat Service |
| Not exceeding 30 years | Intelligence Bureau |
| 20-30 years | Ministry of Railway |
| 20-30 years | Ministry of External Affairs |
| 20-30 years | AFHQ |
| Not exceeding 30 years | CBDT |
| Up to 30 years | Directorate of Enforcement, Department of Revenue |
| 20-30 years | Central Bureau of Investigation |
| Not exceeding 30 years | Officers under CAG |
| Up to 30 years | National Investigation Agency |
| Up to 32 years | M/O Statistics of Prog. & Implementation |
SSC CGL Age Limit Relaxation
There are certain relaxations for the reserved categories, the table given below provides a detail on the age relaxation for the reserved category candidates in the SSC CGL exam-
| SSC CGL Age Limit relaxation | Category |
| 3 years | OBC |
| 5 years | SC/ST |
| 10 years | Physically handicapped( General) |
| 13 years | Physically handicapped (OBC) |
| 15years | Physically handicapped (SC/ST) |
| 3 years | Ex-Servicemen (General) |
| 6 years | Ex-Servicemen (OBC) |
| 8 years | Ex-Servicemen (SC/ST) |
| 5 years | Central Govt. Civilian Employees(General- Group B) |
| 8 years | Central Govt. Civilian Employees(OBC-Group B) |
| 10 years | Central Govt. Civilian Employees(SC/ST-Group B) |
| Up to 40 years of age | Central Govt. Civilian Employees(General- Group C) |
| Up to 43 years of age | Central Govt. Civilian Employees(OBC-Group C) |
| Up to 45 years of age | Central Govt. Civilian Employees(SC/ST-Group C) |
| 5 years | Candidates domiciled in the State of Jammu & Kashmir(General) |
| 8 years | Candidates domiciled in the State of Jammu & Kashmir(OBC) |
| 10 years | Candidates domiciled in the State of Jammu & Kashmir(SC/ST) |
| Up to 35 years of age | Widows/Divorced Women/Women judicially separated and who are not remarried- Group C/ General) |
| Up to 38 years of age | Widows/Divorced Women/Women judicially separated and who are not remarried- Group C/ OBC) |
| Up to 40 years of age | Widows/Divorced Women/Women judicially separated and who are not remarried- Group C/ SC & ST) |
| 5 years | Defence Personnel disabled in hostilities- General |
| 8 years | Defence Personnel disabled in hostilities- OBC |
| 10 years | Defense Personnel disabled in hostilities- SC/ST |
SSC CGL Nationality
Candidate must be:
• A citizen of India
• A citizen of Nepal
• A citizen of Bhutan
• A Tibetan refugee settled in India before 1st January 1962
• Indian by origin, who has migrated from the following countries- Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia and Vietnam with the intention of staying permanently in India.
SSC CGL Educational Qualification
To apply for the SSC CGL Exam, the candidate must be a graduate from a recognized University/ Institution.
| SSC CGL Post | Qualification |
| Statistical Investigator- Grade B | Bachelor’s Degree from any recognized University with a minimum of 60% in Mathematics in Class 12thORBachelor’s Degree in any discipline with Statistics as one of the subjects in graduation |
| Assistant Audit Officer | Bachelor’s Degree in any subject from a recognized University.ORCA/CS/MBA/Cost &Management Accountant/ Masters in Commerce/Masters in Business Studies |
| Compiler | Bachelor’s Degree from any recognized University or InstitutionAnd,Candidates must have studied either Economics/Statistics/Mathematics as a compulsory or as an elective subject. |
| Assistant Section Officer | Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized University/InstituteAnd,Candidates must also qualify in the Computer Proficiency Test. |
| All other posts | Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline from a recognized University or Institute |
SSC CGL Eligibility – Physical Fitness Standard
Physical fitness standards as issues by the SSC are mandatory for candidates applying for Inspector, Sub Inspector roles in Excise, Preventive Departments
Candidates applying for SSC CGL Post of Inspector or Sub Inspector in (Central Excise/ Examiner/ Preventive Officer) Or CBN must meet the Physical Fitness Standards as prescribed in the official SSC CGL notification.
For Male Candidates:
| Criteria | Requirements |
| Height | 157.5 cm. (Height relaxable by 5 cm in the case of Garwalis, Assamese, Gorkhas and members of Scheduled Tribes). |
| Chest | 81 cm (fully expanded with a minimum expansion of 5 cm.) |
| Physical Test | Walking – 1600 meters in 15 minutes. Cycling – 8 Kms. in 30 minutes. |
For Female Candidates–
| Criteria | Requirements |
| Height | 152 cms. Height relaxable by 2.5 cms. For certain categories. |
| Weight | 48 Kgs. Weight relaxable by 2 Kg. for Gorkhas, Garwalis, Assamese, and members of Scheduled Tribes. |
| Physical Test | Walking – 1 Km. in 20 minutes. Cycling – 3 Kms. in 25 minutes. |
NOTE: For the candidates applying for the post of Inspector (Central Excise/ Examiner/ Preventive Officer), people with disabilities will have to meet the physical standards i.e. height, chest, and weight as prescribed for the relevant post. However, for orthopedically disabled candidates, the following relaxation in Physical Test is allowed:
o (a) The test of “Walking” shall not be insisted in the case of OL and OAL categories.
o (b) The test of “Cycling” shall not be insisted in case of OA, OL and OAL categories.
o (OL – One Leg affected, OAL – One Arm and one Leg affected)
Physical Standard for SSC CGL Eligibility: Post of Sub-Inspector in the Central Bureau of Investigation:
The physical standards for SSC CGL eligibility for the post of Sub-Inspector in Central Bureau of Investigation are as follows:
| Physical Standards for Sub Inspector Post in CBI | |
| Height (Height relaxable for Hillsmen and Tribals: 5 cms) | For Men – 165 cm |
| For Women – 150 cm | |
| Chest | 76 cm with expansion (There shall be no such requirement in case of female candidates) |
| Vision: Eye-sight (with or without glasses) | Distant vision: 6/6 in one and 6/9 in the other eye. |
| Near vision: 0.6 in one eye and 0.8 in the other eye. | |
Physical Standard for SSC CGL Eligibility: Post of Sub-Inspector in the National Investigation Agency:
The physical standards for SSC CGL eligibility for the post of Sub-Inspector in the National Investigation Agency are as follows:
| Physical Standards for Sub Inspector Post in CBI | |
| Height (Height relaxable for Hillsmen and Tribals: 5 cm) | For Men – 170 cm |
| For Women – 150 cm | |
| Chest | 76 cm with expansion (There shall be no such requirement in case of female candidates) |
| Vision: Eye-sight (with or without glasses) | Distant vision: 6/6 in one and 6/9 in the other eye. |
| Near vision: 0.6 in one eye and 0.8 in the other eye. | |
SSC CGL Eligibility Criteria for People with Disabilities
Candidates must have 40% or more disability to be eligible to come under persons with disability. People with Disabilities (PwDs) are eligible to appear for the SSC CGL exam with special eligibility criteria.
SSC CGL Eligibility Criteria – Physical Disabilities
Comptroller & Auditor General C&AGAsstt.
Audit/ Accounts Officer (AAO)
o Deaf and Hard of Hearing
o Locomotor disability, Dwarfism, Leprosy cured, and Acid Attack Victims
o Multiple disabilities among persons come under (i) and (ii) above
Auditor
o Deaf and Hard of Hearing
o Leprosy cured, Locomotor disability, Dwarfism, and Acid Attack Victims
o Multiple disabilities among persons come under (i) and (ii) above
Accountant
o Deaf and Hard of Hearing
o Locomotor disability, Acid Attack Victims, Leprosy cured, and Dwarfism
o Multiple disabilities among people come under (i) and (ii) above
Central Secretariat Service (CSS)
Assistant Section Officer
o Locomotor disability includes leprosy cured, dwarfism, and acid attack victims and excludes muscular dystrophy and cerebral palsy.
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)
Assistant Section Officer
o Locomotor Disability (OAL, OL, OA, BL) including dwarfism, cerebral palsy, leprosy cured, acid attack victims and muscular dystrophy.
o Blind or low vision
o Deaf and Hard of hearing (HH)
o Specific learning disability
o Multiple Disabilities amongst (a) to (d) written above except deaf.
Armed Forces Headquarters (AFHQ)
Assistant Section Officer
o Cerebral Palsy, Deaf, Leprosy cured, Acid Attack Victims, Dwarfism, Muscular Dystrophy, Specific Learning Disability, and Multiple Disabilities amongst the above except Deaf.
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MoEIT)
Assistant Section Officer (ASO)
o Locomotor Disability (OAL, OL, OA, BLOA, BL) including Cerebral Palsy, Leprosy cured, Dwarfism, Acid attack victims and Muscular Dystrophy.
o Blind and low vision
o Deaf and Hard of hearing
o Intellectual Disability, Autism, Specific learning disability and Mental illness
o Multiple Disabilities amongst (a) to (d) except deaf.
Senior Section Assistant (SSA/ UDC)
o Locomotor Disability (OAL, OL, OA, BLOA, BL) including Leprosy cured, Cerebral Palsy, Dwarfism, Acid attack victims and Muscular Dystrophy.
o Blind or low vision
o Deaf and Hard of hearing (HH)
o Autism, Intellectual Disability, Mental illness, and Specific learning disability
o Multiple Disabilities amongst (a) to (d) except deaf.
Ministry of Home Affairs
Tax Assistant and Inspector of Income Tax
o Locomotor disability
o Visual Impairment
o Hearing Impairment
o Multiple disabilities
Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation (MoSP)
Junior Statistical Officer (JSO)
o Low Vision (Visually Impaired): Low Vision will be considered eligible if they can see properly with spectacles or any other aid.
o Hearing Impaired: These candidates should be able to communicate with the help of aids and appliances.
o Locomotor: OA (One Arm Affected), OL (One Leg Affected), OAL (One Arm and One leg Affected), BL (Both Legs Affected), and Mobility should not be affected.
Statistical Investigator
o Low Vision: Candidates with aids and appliances will be considered.
o Deaf and Hard of Hearing: Candidates with aids and appliances will be considered.
o Locomotor disabilities including leprosy cured, dwarfism, Cerebral Palsy, and acid attack victims having OA (One Arm Affected) OL (One Leg Affected) OAL (One Arm and One leg Affected) BL (Both Legs Affected), and Mobility should not be affected.
Auditor
o Deaf and Hard of hearing (HH)
o Locomotor Disability (OA, OL, BL) including leprosy cured, dwarfism, acid attack victims, cerebral palsy, and muscular dystrophy.
o Specific learning disability
o Multiple disabilities amongst (a) and (c)
Number of Attempts
There is no set number of attempts. The eligibility criteria are based upon the age and position of the candidate.
For a detailed eligibility structure one must go through the latest SSC CGL official notification.
