SSC CGL Exam Dates 2026 Out for Tier 1 and 2 Exams
The SSC CGL Exam Date 2026 has been announced for the Tier 1 examination. The Staff Selection Commission will conduct the SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam 2026 from 30 September to 30 October 2026 in Computer-Based Examination (CBE) mode. Candidates will receive their individual exam date, shift, reporting time and examination centre details separately.
The SSC CGL recruitment process is being conducted for approximately 12,256 tentative Group B and Group C vacancies. With the Tier 1 examination approaching, candidates should now focus on revision, sectional practice, previous-year questions and full-length mock tests.
The SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam 2026 will be conducted from 30 September to 30 October 2026. Since the examination will take place across several days and shifts, candidates should not assume that 30 September is their individual exam date.
| SSC CGL Exam Date 2026 | Details |
| Exam Name | SSC Combined Graduate Level Examination 2026 |
| Conducting Body | Staff Selection Commission |
| Notification Release Date | 21 May 2026 |
| Vacancies | Approximately 12,256 |
| Application Process | May–June 2026 |
| Last Application/Reopened Window | Up to 25 June 2026 |
| Tier 1 Exam Date Notice | 12 September 2026 |
| SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam Date 2026 | 30 September to 30 October 2026 |
| City Intimation | Expected before the respective exam date |
| SSC CGL Admit Card | 2–3 days before respective exam date |
| Tier 1 Exam Mode | Computer-Based Examination |
| Tier 1 Shifts | Multiple shifts |
| Tier 2 Exam Date | December 2026, tentative |
| Official Website | ssc.gov.in |
Important: 30 September 2026 is the beginning of the Tier 1 examination window and is not necessarily the exam date allotted to every SSC CGL candidate.
The SSC CGL Exam Date 2026 for Tier 1 is from 30 September to 30 October 2026. SSC will conduct the examination over multiple days because a large number of candidates appear for the Combined Graduate Level Examination across examination centres throughout India.
Candidates will receive a specific exam date and shift within this examination window. Therefore, the individual date mentioned in the candidate’s SSC examination details and admit card should be treated as final.
The SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam Date 2026 is 30 September to 30 October 2026. Tier 1 will be conducted online in Computer-Based Examination mode.
| Detail | Date/Status |
| Tier 1 Examination Begins | 30 September 2026 |
| Tier 1 Examination Ends | 30 October 2026 |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Examination |
| Candidate-Specific Exam Date | Communicated separately |
| Candidate-Specific Shift | Communicated separately |
| Reporting Time | Mentioned in candidate-specific details/admit card |
Candidates should wait until their individual examination details are available before finalizing travel arrangements.
The Staff Selection Commission released the SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam Date 2026 notice on 12 September 2026. The examination-date announcement confirms that the Tier 1 examination will be conducted from 30 September to 30 October 2026.
The date notice provides the overall examination period. Candidate-specific information such as exact examination date, shift, reporting time and centre is communicated separately.
The major updates related to the SSC CGL Exam Date 2026 are summarized below.
| Question | Latest Status |
| When does SSC CGL Tier 1 begin? | 30 September 2026 |
| When does SSC CGL Tier 1 end? | 30 October 2026 |
| What is the exam mode? | Computer-Based Examination |
| Is 30 September the date for every candidate? | No |
| Are candidate-specific dates issued separately? | Yes |
| Are shifts the same for every candidate? | No |
| Is the reporting time the same for all candidates? | No |
| Will candidates receive exam-city information separately? | Yes |
| When is Tier 2 expected? | December 2026, tentative |
The latest announced SSC CGL Tier 1 examination window is 30 September to 30 October 2026. Candidates should follow this current schedule unless SSC subsequently releases another notice changing the examination dates.
Earlier recruitment schedules contained broader tentative examination periods. Therefore, candidates should always give priority to the latest examination communication available through SSC.
Candidates can check the important SSC CGL Exam Date 2026 events below.
| Event | Date/Status |
| SSC CGL Notification | 21 May 2026 |
| Application Process | May–June 2026 |
| Tier 1 Exam Date Notice | 12 September 2026 |
| City Intimation Details | Expected before respective exam date |
| Tier 1 Exam Begins | 30 September 2026 |
| Tier 1 Exam Ends | 30 October 2026 |
| Admit Card | 2–3 days before respective exam date |
| Tier 1 Answer Key | To be announced |
| Tier 1 Result | To be announced |
| Tier 2 Exam | December 2026, tentative |
The current SSC CGL examination timeline can be understood quickly as follows:
Candidates can also check the complete SSC CGL Notification for recruitment-related details.
The SSC CGL City Intimation Slip 2026 is expected to be issued before the candidate’s allotted Tier 1 examination date. Current reports indicate that city information may start becoming available from around 21 September 2026 onward, depending on the examination schedule.
The city intimation slip helps candidates know their allotted examination city in advance so that they can arrange travel and accommodation, if required.
Candidate-specific information may include:
The SSC CGL city intimation slip is not the same as the admit card. Candidates will still need to download their admission certificate before the examination.
The SSC CGL Admit Card 2026 is expected to be available approximately 2–3 days before the candidate’s respective Tier 1 exam date.
Since Tier 1 will run for approximately one month, SSC CGL admit cards may not become available for every candidate on the same date.
Candidates should check the following information carefully after downloading the admit card:
Candidates should immediately report any discrepancy in their examination details through the appropriate SSC channel.
The SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam 2026 will be conducted in multiple shifts. However, candidates should follow the exact shift and reporting time displayed in their individual examination details and admit card.
An expected shift structure based on currently available examination information is provided below.
| Shift | Expected Reporting Time | Expected Exam Time |
| Shift 1 | 7:45 AM | 9:00 AM–10:00 AM |
| Shift 2 | 10:30 AM | 11:45 AM–12:45 PM |
| Shift 3 | 1:45 PM | 2:30 PM–3:30 PM |
| Shift 4 | 4:00 PM | 5:15 PM–6:15 PM |
Note: These timings should be treated as expected until candidate-specific information is issued. The exam time and reporting instructions printed on the candidate’s official SSC admit card should always be followed.
The SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam Pattern 2026 consists of 100 objective-type questions for 200 marks. Candidates receive 60 minutes to complete the paper, with a 15-minute sectional timer for each of the four sections.
| Subject | Questions | Marks | Time |
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | 25 | 50 | 15 minutes |
| General Awareness | 25 | 50 | 15 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 | 15 minutes |
| English Comprehension | 25 | 50 | 15 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 200 | 60 minutes |
Each question carries 2 marks, while 0.50 mark is deducted for every incorrect answer.
Candidates can check the detailed SSC CGL Exam Pattern and SSC CGL Syllabus before beginning final revision.
The 15-minute sectional timer changes how candidates need to approach SSC CGL Tier 1 preparation.
Completing the entire paper within one hour is no longer the only time-management target. Candidates also need to solve each individual section within its prescribed time.
Candidates should practise:
The objective should be to improve speed without reducing accuracy.
The SSC CGL Tier 2 Exam 2026 is tentatively scheduled for December 2026. Candidates who qualify Tier 1 will proceed to the next stage according to the selection process and applicable post requirements.
Candidates should avoid waiting until the Tier 1 result before beginning Tier 2 preparation. The available period after Tier 1 can instead be used to strengthen Tier 2 topics.
Candidates can refer to the SSC CGL Exam Pattern for detailed information about Tier 2 papers and sections.
With the SSC CGL exam date confirmed, candidates should now move from broad syllabus completion toward exam-oriented preparation.
Do not assume that 30 September is your exam date.
Check:
Instead of repeatedly starting new chapters, candidates should prioritize areas that have already been studied and regularly appear in SSC CGL.
The SSC CGL Topic Wise Weightage and SSC CGL Most Scoring Topics can help candidates prioritize revision.
Previous-year questions help candidates understand:
Candidates can use the SSC CGL Previous Year Question Papers for practice.
Do not look only at the final mock-test score.
Analyse:
A mock test becomes more useful when its analysis tells you what needs to improve before the real examination.
Candidates approaching their SSC CGL Exam Date 2026 should focus on revision, accuracy and timed practice rather than trying to cover an excessive number of new topics.
Attempt each SSC CGL Tier 1 section within 15 minutes. This will help candidates become comfortable with the new examination-time structure.
Focus on:
Full-length tests help candidates combine sectional speed with overall examination stamina.
Attempt a Free SSC CGL Mock Test
SSC CGL Tier 1 carries 0.50 mark negative marking per incorrect response. Candidates should therefore balance attempts with accuracy.
For example, 10 incorrect answers can result in a deduction of 5 marks.
Record:
Review this notebook during the final days.
Candidates appearing early in the examination window can follow a more intensive revision schedule, while candidates allotted later dates should continue mock practice without drastically changing their strategy.
Check the SSC CGL Revision Plan for 15 Days and SSC CGL Preparation Strategy for structured preparation.
| Section | High-Priority Areas | Recommended Practice |
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | Series, analogy, classification, coding-decoding, non-verbal reasoning | Timed mixed sets |
| General Awareness | Current affairs, history, polity, geography, economics, science | Notes + MCQs |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, mensuration, trigonometry, DI | Formula revision + calculations |
| English Comprehension | Grammar, vocabulary, errors, cloze test, comprehension | Mixed English sets |
Candidates should learn not only how to solve questions but also which questions should be attempted first and which should be skipped when they consume excessive time.
The SSC CGL Tier 1 examination will be conducted at centres across India. Current reports indicate examination arrangements across 141 centres.
Candidates should avoid finalizing travel until their individual examination city information is available.
After receiving the exam-centre details:
Candidates travelling to another city should make arrangements as soon as their city information becomes available.
Candidates should follow the instructions given in their SSC CGL admission certificate.
Before leaving for the exam centre, check that you have:
Candidates should read the admit-card instructions carefully because document requirements can vary according to individual circumstances.
Candidates should avoid the following mistakes before Tier 1:
Before appearing for SSC CGL Tier 1:
The SSC CGL Exam Date 2026 is confirmed for Tier 1 from 30 September to 30 October 2026. Candidates will receive their individual examination date, city, shift, reporting time and centre information separately.
With the examination approaching, candidates should prioritize 15-minute sectional practice, previous-year questions, revision, accuracy and SSC CGL mock-test analysis. Candidates should also monitor their SSC examination details regularly so that they do not miss their city-intimation or admit-card updates.
The SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam 2026 will be conducted from 30 September to 30 October 2026 in Computer-Based Examination mode.
The SSC CGL Tier 1 examination window begins on 30 September and ends on 30 October 2026. Individual candidates will receive specific dates separately.
No. 30 September 2026 is the first day of the Tier 1 examination window, not the examination date for every candidate.
The current SSC CGL examination schedule places Tier 1 between 30 September and 30 October 2026. Candidates should follow the latest SSC communication for any subsequent changes.
City-intimation information is expected before the candidate’s respective examination date. Current reports indicate that information may begin becoming available around 21 September 2026 onward.
No. The city intimation slip provides advance examination-city information, while the admit card contains the final candidate-specific examination details required for appearing in the exam.
The SSC CGL Tier 1 admit card is expected 2–3 days before the candidate’s respective examination date.
SSC CGL Tier 1 will be conducted in multiple shifts. Candidates should follow the exact shift and reporting time mentioned in their individual examination details and admit card.
SSC CGL Tier 1 consists of 100 questions carrying 200 marks. There are four sections with 25 questions each, and each section has a 15-minute timer, making the total examination duration 60 minutes.
Yes. 0.50 mark is deducted for each incorrect answer in SSC CGL Tier 1.
Approximately 12,256 tentative vacancies have been announced for SSC CGL 2026. Vacancy figures may be updated as the recruitment process progresses.
The SSC CGL Tier 2 Exam is tentatively scheduled for December 2026.
SSC CGL Tier 1 is conducted in Computer-Based Examination (CBE) mode.
Candidates should check examination notices and candidate-specific updates through the official Staff Selection Commission website at ssc.gov.in.
Check real-time SBI Clerk Prelims Exam Analysis 2026 with shift-wise difficulty levels, good attempts, topic…
SBI Clerk Prelims 2026 expected cut-off marks by category & state. Check factors, trends &…
SSC CGL Admit Card 2026 download link for Tier 1: Check release date, exam city…
UIIC AO Recruitment 2026 is out for 225 vacancies. Check eligibility, apply online and exam…
IBPS RRB Apply Online 2026 deadline is extended to 27th September 2026. Check the updated…
Bank of Baroda LBO Admit Card 2026 is out. Download BOB LBO Call Letter, check…
Thousands of aspirants have cleared exams using PracticeMock’s exam-level mock tests.