SSC Exam 2026, Calendar, Notification, Exam Dates & Vacancy

SSC Exam 2026 is the gateway to Group B and Group C jobs in central government ministries, departments and the armed police forces. The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) runs more than ten recruitment exams every year, for candidates who have passed Class 10, Class 12, graduation or an engineering diploma. This year, SSC CGL Tier 1 runs from 30 September to 30 October 2026, the SSC CHSL application closes on 7 October 2026, and the SSC CPO and CHSL exams are planned for December 2026.

This page brings every SSC exam together in one place: the exam calendar, notification and last dates, vacancies, fees, eligibility, syllabus, salary, results and the best way to prepare. Use it as your starting point, then open the full guide for your exam.

SSC Exam Calendar 2026

The SSC Exam Calendar 2026-27 tells you when each notification comes out, the last date to apply and the month of the exam. The commission revised the calendar on 12 September 2026. Save this table and check it each month, because SSC sometimes shifts dates by a few weeks.

SSC exam	Notification date	Last date to apply	Exam date
SSC CGL 2026	21 May 2026	25 June 2026	30 Sep – 30 Oct 2026 (Tier 1)
SSC CHSL 2026	7 Sep 2026	7 Oct 2026	December 2026
SSC CPO 2026 (SI in Delhi Police and CAPFs)	10 Sep 2026	30 Sep 2026	December 2026 (Paper 1)
SSC JE 2026	2 Sep 2026	22 Sep 2026	October – November 2026
SSC MTS and Havaldar 2026	20 Aug 2026	20 Sep 2026	To be announced
SSC GD Constable 2027	October – November 2026	To be announced	January – March 2027
SSC Stenographer 2026	24 Apr 2026	15 May 2026	9 – 15 Sep 2026
SSC JHT 2026	23 Apr 2026	14 May 2026	8 Sep 2026
SSC Selection Post Phase 14	13 Apr 2026	4 May 2026	16 – 26 Sep 2026

For the full month-wise schedule, read the SSC Exam Calendar. For result dates, see the SSC Result Calendar.

List of Major SSC Exams 2026

SSC exams are grouped by the minimum qualification they need. Pick your exam by what you have passed today, not what you plan to pass, because eligibility is checked on the cut-off date in each notification.

SSC CGL (Combined Graduate Level)

For graduates. It fills Group B and C posts such as Assistant Section Officer, Income Tax Inspector, Assistant Audit Officer and Auditor. It is the most popular SSC exam because of its pay and posting options: an Assistant Section Officer's salary starts at Pay Level 7, and an Auditor works in central audit offices across India. Start with the complete SSC CGL exam guide.

SSC CHSL (Combined Higher Secondary Level)

For Class 12 pass candidates. Posts include Lower Division Clerk (LDC), Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA) and Data Entry Operator (DEO). If you are unsure which post suits you, read what an LDC does every day and the full list of posts in SSC CHSL, then open the SSC CHSL exam guide.

SSC MTS and Havaldar

For Class 10 pass candidates. MTS staff do office support work, while Havaldars in CBIC and CBN also take a physical test. Learn what MTS and Havaldar mean in SSC, then see the SSC MTS exam guide.

SSC GD Constable

For Class 10 pass candidates who want a uniformed job in BSF, CISF, CRPF, ITBP, SSB, Assam Rifles, SSF or NCB. Selection includes a written test, a physical test and a medical. The SSC GD Constable guide covers each stage in detail.

SSC CPO (Sub-Inspector)

For graduates who want to become a Sub-Inspector in Delhi Police or in the Central Armed Police Forces. The 2026 notice has 1,871 posts, including a new SI (Fire) post in CISF. Many candidates check whether SSC CPO is easier than CGL before choosing; the SSC CPO exam guide explains the full process.

SSC JE (Junior Engineer)

For diploma or degree holders in civil, mechanical or electrical engineering, for JE posts in CPWD, MES, BRO and other departments. Check who is eligible for SSC JE and read the SSC JE notification for this year's posts.

SSC Stenographer Grade C and D

For Class 12 pass candidates with shorthand skills. Grade C is a Group B post and Grade D is Group C. The SSC Stenographer notification explains the skill test speed for each grade, and the SSC Stenographer salary guide shows what each grade pays.

SSC JHT (Junior Hindi Translator)

For postgraduates in Hindi or English, for translator posts in central ministries. Check the qualification for Senior Hindi Translator and the age limit before you apply.

SSC Selection Post

A single notice for hundreds of department-specific posts at Class 10, Class 12 and graduate level. Phase 14 was held from 16 to 26 September 2026. The SSC Selection Post guide shows how to pick posts that match your qualification.

SSC Delhi Police exams

SSC also recruits Delhi Police Constable, Head Constable (Ministerial), Head Constable (AWO/TPO) and Constable Driver. Read the Delhi Police Head Constable notification and its syllabus and exam pattern.

SSC Notification 2026

Every SSC recruitment starts with a notification PDF on ssc.gov.in. It lists the posts, vacancies, eligibility, fee, exam pattern and important dates. Read it fully once, then keep it saved, because the answers to most doubts about age, category and documents are in it.

SSC notifications released so far in 2026-27:

• SSC CPO 2026: released 10 September 2026, 1,871 tentative vacancies.
• SSC CHSL 2026: released 7 September 2026.
• SSC JE 2026: released 2 September 2026.
• SSC MTS and Havaldar 2026: released 20 August 2026.
• SSC CGL 2026: released 21 May 2026.

Coming next: the SSC GD Constable 2027 notification is planned for October–November 2026.

How to Apply Online for SSC Exams 2026

All SSC forms are filled online on ssc.gov.in using a One-Time Registration (OTR). You register once and reuse the same login for every SSC exam.

• Go to ssc.gov.in and complete One-Time Registration with your mobile number, email and Aadhaar details.
• Log in and open the exam under "Latest Notifications".
• Fill in your personal, education and post-preference details.
• Upload a recent photo and your signature in the size the notice asks for. Use our SSC photo and signature resizer if needed.
• Pay the fee online and submit. Download the confirmation page.

SSC Application Dates and Last Date 2026

Apply at least three days before the last date. The website slows down near the deadline, and SSC rarely extends it.

SSC exam	Apply online starts	Last date	Correction window
SSC CHSL 2026	7 Sep 2026	7 Oct 2026	After the last date
SSC CPO 2026	10 Sep 2026	30 Sep 2026 (fee till 1 Oct)	8 – 10 Oct 2026
SSC JE 2026	2 Sep 2026	22 Sep 2026	Closed
SSC MTS and Havaldar 2026	20 Aug 2026	20 Sep 2026	Closed
SSC CGL 2026	21 May 2026	25 Jun 2026	Closed
SSC GD Constable 2027	October – November 2026	To be announced	To be announced

SSC Exam Dates 2026

SSC holds its exams as computer-based tests (CBT) in several shifts over a few days or weeks. Your own date, shift and city appear on the city slip about 10 days before the exam, followed by the admit card 2–4 days before. Reporting times differ by exam, so check the SSC CGL shift timings or SSC MTS shift timings, and the list of SSC CGL exam centres when you choose your city.

SSC exam	Exam date	Stage
SSC CGL 2026	30 Sep – 30 Oct 2026	Tier 1
SSC JE 2026	October – November 2026	Paper 1
SSC CHSL 2026	December 2026	Tier 1
SSC CPO 2026	December 2026	Paper 1
SSC GD Constable 2027	January – March 2027	CBT
SSC MTS and Havaldar 2026	To be announced	CBT
SSC Selection Post Phase 14	16 – 26 Sep 2026 (held)	CBT
SSC Stenographer 2026	9 – 15 Sep 2026 (held)	CBT
SSC JHT 2026	8 Sep 2026 (held)	Paper 1

Each exam has its own page with the shift-wise schedule. The SSC CGL exam date page tracks Tier 1 and Tier 2, the SSC CHSL exam date page will show the December schedule once it is out, and the SSC GD Constable exam date page covers the 2027 cycle. Candidates for other exams can follow the SSC MTS, SSC CPO and Selection Post exam date pages.

SSC Vacancy 2026

SSC releases tentative vacancies with each notification and revises them before the final result. The final number is often higher than the first figure, so apply even when the early count looks small.

• SSC CPO 2026: 1,871 tentative posts across Delhi Police, BSF, CISF, CRPF, ITBP and SSB, including 234 SI (Fire) posts in CISF.
• SSC CGL, CHSL, MTS and GD: post-wise and category-wise vacancies are on each exam's vacancy page.

Post-wise and category-wise counts are on each exam's vacancy page. Compare the SSC CGL vacancy with the SSC CHSL vacancy if you are eligible for both, and check the SSC MTS, SSC GD, SSC CPO and Selection Post vacancy pages for the rest.

SSC Application Fees 2026

SSC keeps its fee low and the same across most exams. The fee is paid online through UPI, net banking or a debit or credit card.

Category	Application fee
General, OBC, EWS (male)	Rs 100
Women (all categories)	No fee
SC, ST	No fee
PwBD (persons with disabilities)	No fee
Ex-servicemen eligible for reservation	No fee

The fee is not refunded, so check your eligibility before you pay. A few exams, such as the Stenographer skill test, have no separate fee.

SSC Eligibility and Age Limit 2026

Eligibility has two parts: the minimum qualification and the age on the cut-off date given in the notice. Reserved categories get extra years on the upper age limit.

SSC exam	Minimum qualification	Age limit (general)
SSC CGL	Graduation in any subject	18 – 32 years (varies by post)
SSC CHSL	Class 12 pass	18 – 27 years
SSC MTS	Class 10 pass	18 – 25 years (Havaldar and some posts up to 27)
SSC GD Constable	Class 10 pass	18 – 23 years
SSC CPO	Graduation in any subject	20 – 25 years (SI Fire: 18 – 30)
SSC JE	Diploma or degree in engineering	Up to 30 or 32 years (varies by department)
SSC Stenographer	Class 12 pass	Grade C: 18 – 30, Grade D: 18 – 27 years
SSC JHT	Master's degree in Hindi or English	18 – 30 years

Age relaxation: OBC 3 years, SC and ST 5 years, PwBD 10 years, with extra relaxation for ex-servicemen as per government rules. Physical standards (height, chest and running) apply to GD, CPO, Havaldar and Delhi Police posts. CPO aspirants should read the SSC CPO physical eligibility for males and how much high jump SSC CPO needs early, because the physical test needs months of practice.

Our SSC exam eligibility guide lists the cut-off dates and accepted degrees for every exam. For exam-specific rules, see the SSC MTS eligibility, SSC CPO eligibility and SSC GD Constable eligibility pages. OBC candidates can also check the SSC MTS age limit for OBC.

SSC Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026

Most SSC exams test the same four areas: Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, English and General Awareness. What changes from exam to exam is the level, the number of questions and the stages after the first test. Prepare these four well once and you can sit for several SSC exams in the same year.

SSC exam	First stage	Questions / marks / time	Negative marking	Later stages
SSC CGL	Tier 1	100 / 200 / 60 min	0.50 per wrong answer	Tier 2, DV
SSC CHSL	Tier 1	100 / 200 / 60 min	0.50	Tier 2 with skill or typing test
SSC MTS	CBT (2 sessions)	90 / 270 / 90 min	Session 2 only	PET/PST for Havaldar
SSC GD Constable	CBT	80 / 160 / 60 min	0.25	PET, PST, medical
SSC CPO	Paper 1	200 / 200 / 2 hours	0.25	PET/PST, Paper 2, medical
SSC JE	Paper 1	200 / 200 / 2 hours	0.25	Paper 2 (technical)
SSC Stenographer	CBT	200 / 200 / 2 hours	0.25	Shorthand skill test

The pattern above follows recent notifications; always confirm it in your exam's 2026 notice. Start with the common SSC exam syllabus, then go deeper with the SSC CGL syllabus and exam pattern, where the CGL topic-wise weightage shows which chapters carry the most marks. For other exams, use the CHSL, MTS, GD, CPO and Selection Post syllabus pages.

SSC Jobs Salary 2026

SSC posts are paid under the 7th Pay Commission. Your in-hand salary is the basic pay plus Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA) and Transport Allowance, minus NPS and other deductions. HRA depends on your posting city, so the same post pays more in Delhi than in a small town.

SSC exam	Pay level	Basic pay range
SSC CGL Salary	Level 4 – Level 8	Rs 25,500 – Rs 1,51,100
SSC CPO (Sub-Inspector)	Level 6	Rs 35,400 – Rs 1,12,400
SSC JE Salary	Level 6	Rs 35,400 – Rs 1,12,400
SSC JHT	Level 6	Rs 35,400 – Rs 1,12,400
SSC Stenographer	Grade C: Level 6, Grade D: Level 4	Rs 25,500 – Rs 1,12,400
SSC CHSL Salary	Level 2 – Level 5	Rs 19,900 – Rs 92,300
SSC GD Constable	Level 3	Rs 21,700 – Rs 69,100
SSC MTS and Havaldar Salary	Level 1	Rs 18,000 – Rs 56,900

For post-wise in-hand pay, allowances and promotions, read the SSC CGL salary guide and our answer to which SSC job has the highest salary. CHSL aspirants often ask about the SSC CHSL salary after 5 years; the SSC CHSL, SSC MTS, SSC JE and Selection Post salary pages cover the rest.

SSC Admit Card 2026

The SSC admit card is released on ssc.gov.in 2–4 days before your exam, after the city intimation slip (about 10 days before). Download it by logging in with your registration number and password. For SSC CGL 2026, the city slip came out on 21 September and the Tier 1 admit card from 27 September 2026.

Carry the printed admit card, one original photo ID (Aadhaar, PAN, voter ID or passport) and two passport-size photos. Check that your name, photo and category are correct, and report any mistake to the regional office before exam day.

Exam-wise download steps and the details printed on each hall ticket are on the SSC CGL admit card, SSC MTS admit card and Selection Post admit card pages.

SSC Answer Key, Result, Cut Off and Score Card

After each exam, SSC follows the same four steps. Knowing them helps you estimate your chances before the result.

SSC Answer Key and Response Sheet

The tentative answer key comes out within 1–3 weeks of the last shift, along with your response sheet. You can raise objections online for a fee of Rs 100 per question within the given window. Use the SSC CGL answer key or SSC MTS answer key to calculate your likely score, and GD candidates can match their responses with the SSC GD answer key.

SSC Exam Result

Results are published as PDF lists of qualified roll numbers on ssc.gov.in. The SSC GD Constable 2026 result is expected on or before 5 October 2026; follow the SSC GD result page and the steps on how to check the SSC GD result. Results for other exams are on the CGL, MTS, CPO and JE result pages.

SSC Cut Off Marks

The cut-off is the lowest score needed to move to the next stage. It is released category-wise with the result and depends on vacancies, paper difficulty and the number of candidates. Past cut-offs are the best guide to a safe target score, so compare the SSC CGL cut off and SSC CHSL cut off trends before you set your goal. Cut-off marks for MTS, GD, CPO and Selection Post are on their own pages.

SSC Score Card

The score card shows your normalised marks in each section. It is usually available for a few weeks after the result, so download it while the link is live from the CGL, CHSL, MTS or GD score card page.

SSC Previous Year Question Papers

Previous papers show which topics SSC repeats and how hard each section is. Solve at least the last three years' papers under a timer before you start full mock tests. Download the SSC CGL previous year papers, SSC CHSL previous year papers and Selection Post previous year papers, or attempt the SSC CGL previous year papers as online tests to practise in real exam conditions.

SSC Preparation Strategy for 2026

The candidates who clear SSC exams are rarely the ones who study the most hours. They are the ones who practise the most questions under exam conditions and review every mistake. A simple 90-day plan works for most SSC exams:

1. Days 1–30, build the base. Finish the basics of arithmetic (percentage, ratio, profit and loss, time and work), the main reasoning types (series, coding, analogy, blood relations) and English grammar rules. Spend 30 minutes a day on current affairs.
2. Days 31–60, practise by topic. Solve 50–100 questions per topic, then sectional tests. Note every question you got wrong in one notebook and revise it each week.
3. Days 61–90, test like the real exam. Take a full mock test every day in the same time slot as your shift. Analyse each test for twice as long as you took to write it.

Keep two habits throughout: learn 10 new English words a day, and read one static GK topic (history, polity, geography or science) each evening. For a day-by-day version of this plan, follow the SSC CGL study plan,SSC CHSL study plan or SSC MTS study plan. GD and CPO aspirants should also read how to prepare for SSC GD and how to crack SSC CPO in the first attempt.

Best Books and Study Material for SSC Exams

One good book per subject, finished twice, beats five books started once. Pair a standard book for each section with a fresh current affairs source for the last 6–8 months before your exam.

• Quantitative Aptitude: an arithmetic book with SSC previous-year questions solved topic by topic.
• Reasoning: a verbal and non-verbal reasoning book with SSC-pattern practice sets.
• English: a grammar book plus a vocabulary list of one-word substitutions, idioms and synonyms asked in SSC.
• General Awareness: a static GK book plus monthly current affairs PDFs.

Guidely's SSC study material and SSC eBooks follow this one-book approach. For exam-specific reading lists, see the SSC MTS books PDF and SSC CHSL books, or take the complete SSC CGL PDF course.

SSC Mock Tests and Practice Papers

Mock tests are where marks are actually won. A mock on the latest SSC pattern shows your speed, your accuracy and the sections that pull your score down. Guidely mock tests come with an all-India rank, detailed solutions and a section-wise report, so you know exactly what to fix before the next test.

Start with a free mock test, then follow a full test series for your exam:

• SSC Mock Test Series (all SSC exams)
• SSC CGL Mock Test Series
• SSC CHSL Mock Test Series
• SSC MTS Mock Test Series
• SSC GD Mock Test Series
• SSC CPO Mock Test Series
• SSC Selection Post Mock Test Series

Take at least 20 full mocks before your exam, and keep one previous-year paper for the last week as a final check.

SSC Exam 2026 FAQs

Q1. Which SSC exams are coming in 2026? 

SSC CGL Tier 1 runs from 30 September to 30 October 2026. SSC JE is planned for October–November 2026, SSC CHSL and SSC CPO for December 2026, and SSC GD Constable 2027 for January–March 2027.

Q2. What is the last date to apply for SSC CHSL 2026? 

The last date to apply online for SSC CHSL 2026 is 7 October 2026.

Q3. Which SSC exam can I write after Class 10? 

After Class 10 you can apply for SSC MTS and Havaldar, SSC GD Constable and the Class 10-level posts in SSC Selection Post.

Q4. Which SSC exam is best after Class 12?

SSC CHSL is the main exam after Class 12, for LDC, JSA and DEO posts. SSC Stenographer is another option if you can learn shorthand.

Q5. Which SSC job has the highest salary? 

SSC CGL posts at Pay Level 7 and 8, such as Assistant Audit Officer and Assistant Accounts Officer, pay the most. Their basic pay range goes up to Rs 1,51,100.

Q6. What is the SSC application fee? 

The fee is Rs 100 for General, OBC and EWS male candidates. Women, SC, ST, PwBD and eligible ex-servicemen pay no fee.

Q7. Is there negative marking in SSC exams? 

Yes. CGL and CHSL Tier 1 deduct 0.50 marks per wrong answer. GD, CPO, JE and Stenographer deduct 0.25 marks (negative marking in SSC GD explains how it adds up). In MTS, only Session 2 has negative marking.

Q8. Can I apply for more than one SSC exam? 

Yes. One SSC registration works for every exam, and you can apply to any exam you are eligible for. Many candidates prepare for CGL and CHSL together because the syllabus overlaps.

Q9. How many times is the SSC GD exam held in a year?

SSC GD is usually held once a year. The next cycle, GD Constable 2027, has its notification planned for October–November 2026.

Q10. Where can I practise SSC mock tests for free? Guidely offers free SSC mock tests on the latest pattern, with all-India rank and solutions. Start from the SSC mock test series.