WHAT IS SSC CGL?

The Staff Selection Commission – Combined Graduate Level (SSC CGL) Exam is one of the most sought-after government exams in India. Conducted annually by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC), it is designed to recruit candidates for Group B and Group C posts in various ministries, departments, and organizations of the Government of India.

The exam offers prestigious positions such as Income Tax Inspector, Assistant Section Officer, Sub-Inspector (CBI), Auditor, Accountant, and many more. It is a great opportunity for graduates aspiring for a stable government job with excellent career growth, job security, and a respectable salary package.

• Nationality: Indian citizen, or subject of Nepal/Bhutan.
• Age limit: Varies from 18 to 32 years depending on the post (with age relaxations for reserved categories).
• Educational Qualification:
  • Assistant Audit Officer/Assistant Accounts Officer: Bachelor’s degree + Desirable qualification in Finance/Business/Economics.
  • Junior Statistical Officer (JSO): Bachelor’s degree with at least 60% in Mathematics in 12th OR Bachelor’s degree with Statistics as a subject.
  • Other Posts: Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university.

The SSC CGL selection process consists of four tiers:

Tier-I: Preliminary Exam (Online, Objective)

• Duration: 60 minutes
• Total Marks: 200 (50 marks per section)
• Subjects:
  • General Intelligence & Reasoning (25 questions)
  • General Awareness (25 questions)
  • Quantitative Aptitude (25 questions)
  • English Comprehension (25 questions)
• Negative marking:50 marks deducted for each wrong answer.
• Qualifying Nature: Scores are used to shortlist candidates for Tier-II.

Tier-II: Mains Exam (Online, Objective)

• Paper-I: Compulsory for all posts
• Paper-II: Only for Junior Statistical Officer (JSO)
• Paper-III: Only for Assistant Audit Officer/Assistant Accounts Officer (AAO)

Paper Structure:

• Paper-I: Quantitative Abilities & Reasoning + English (400 marks, 2 hours)
• Paper-II: Statistics (200 marks, 2 hours)
• Paper-III: General Studies – Finance and Economics (200 marks, 2 hours)

Negative marking:

• Paper-I: 1 mark per wrong answer
• Paper-II & III: 0.50 marks per wrong answer

Tier-III: Descriptive Test (Offline, Pen-and-paper mode)

• Language: English/Hindi
• Duration: 1 hour
• Marks: 100
• Type of Questions: Essay, Letter, Precis, and Application writing.
• This tests candidates’ writing skills, especially for posts like Assistant Audit Officer.

Tier-IV: Skill Test/Computer Proficiency Test (CPT) or Document Verification (DV)

• Data Entry Speed Test (DEST): Required for Tax Assistant posts (8000 key depressions/hour).
• CPT: Tests proficiency in Word Processing, Spreadsheets, and Slide Generation.
• Document Verification: For all posts, ensuring the authenticity of candidates’ qualifications and personal details.

suring the authenticity of candidates’ qualifications and personal details.

• Based on cumulative scores from Tier-I, Tier-II, and Tier-III (Tier-IV is qualifying in nature).
• Candidates are allotted posts based on merit, category, and preferences filled during application.

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• The SSC CGL recruits for various Group B and Group C posts in ministries, departments, and organizations of the Indian government, such as:
  • Assistant Audit Officer (AAO)
  • Income Tax Inspector (CBDT)
  • Assistant Section Officer (CSS)
  • Inspector (Central Excise, Preventive Officer, Examiner, etc.)
  • Junior Statistical Officer (JSO)
  • Auditor (CAG, CGDA)
  • Tax Assistant (CBDT, CBIC)

• Frequency: Conducted annually.
• Mode of exam: Online for Tier-I and Tier-II, offline for Tier-III.
• Application process: Done through the SSC’s official website ssc.nic.in.