SSC CGL Eligibility Criteria: Age Limit by Post, Qualification and Physical Standards

SSC CGL eligibility criteria in brief

• Nationality: Indian citizens qualify directly. Nepalese and Bhutanese nationals, Tibetans settled in India since before 1 January 1962, and migrants of Indian origin from the countries the notice names can also apply, but each of them must obtain the Union Government's eligibility certificate.
• Degree: graduation in any discipline, completed by the cut off date in the notification.
• Age: differs by post, counted on the age reference date stated in the notice (1 August of the exam year in recent cycles).
• Post specific rules: extra subject conditions for statistics posts and physical standards for some enforcement and police type posts.

Unlike UPSC, the Commission does not count CGL attempts. Once you cross the upper age of every post you want, your chances end there.

SSC CGL age eligibility by post

The list of posts and their bands can change in any cycle, and new departments are added or dropped. Read the post table in the current notification before you rely on a band.

Age relaxation by category

EWS candidates get no age relaxation. Other relaxations, such as for defence personnel disabled in operations, are listed in the notification with their own conditions.

Qualification rules for JSO, AAO and other posts

All posts (default)

Graduation in any subject, awarded by a university or institute that is properly recognised. There is no minimum graduation percentage for SSC CGL.

SSC CGL JSO eligibility

A bachelor's degree with at least 60% marks in Mathematics at Class 12, or a bachelor's degree with Statistics as one of the subjects. This is the only CGL post where your Class 12 percentage matters, so the common question about SSC CGL eligibility and 12th percentage applies to JSO alone.

Statistical Investigator Grade II

A degree with Statistics as a subject has been required, but the accepted subject list was revised in recent notices. Reports on the latest notification describe a wider list that includes fields such as data science, computer science, economics and mathematics, so check the exact wording before you apply.

SSC CGL AAO eligibility

For the two AAO posts (audit and accounts), the essential qualification is a bachelor's degree. A professional qualification such as CA, CMA or CS, or a master's degree in commerce or business studies or an MBA in finance, is listed as desirable but not required. For state cadre posts, reports on the latest notice add a regional language requirement.

Other posts

SSC CGL ASO eligibility is plain graduation. Inspector of Income Tax, Inspector posts in customs and central excise, and Auditor posts need only graduation. The Research Assistant post in the National Human Rights Commission lists research experience as desirable.

SSC CGL physical eligibility

Physical standards apply to a small set of posts with field duties: Inspector (Central Excise, Preventive Officer, Examiner) in CBIC, Inspector and Sub-Inspector in the Central Bureau of Narcotics, Sub-Inspector in CBI, and Sub-Inspector in NIA, along with some similar posts. Depending on the post, the checks include minimum height and chest, a walking test, a cycling test and vision standards.

Office based posts like ASO, Auditor and Tax Assistant carry no physical test. If you are not sure you meet the standards, leave those posts off your preference list rather than risk losing the allotment later.

Final year students, documents and registration

Final year students may apply if they will complete their degree by the cut off date in the notification. A result that arrives after that date can cost you the post at document verification, even after you clear Tier 2.

Gather these early: the matriculation certificate that proves your birth date, your degree and its marksheets, the Class 12 marksheet when JSO is among your choices, caste or OBC papers in the format the notice prescribes, a current year EWS certificate where relevant, any disability certificate, and identity proof with a photo. Applications go through the One Time Registration on the SSC website.

SSC CGL posts list and eligibility in practice

Before you fill the form, write down every post you are eligible for by age and degree, cut out posts with physical tests you cannot meet, and rank the rest by your real preference. The same Tier 2 score can win different posts, so careful ranking matters as much as marks. Then plan your study with the SSC CGL syllabus, read how Tier 1 shortlisting is decided in our SSC CGL cut off guide, and practise with previous papers. If you are under 27 and a 12th pass only, the SSC CHSL eligibility rules may suit you better, and the eligibility checker tool can help you compare.