SSC CGL
SSC CGL Comprehensive Guide
Introduction
The Staff Selection Commission - Combined Graduate Level (SSC CGL) Examination is a national-level recruitment test conducted annually for Group B and Group C posts in ministries, departments, and organizations under the Government of India. It provides stability, competitive salaries, and growth opportunities for aspirants.
Key Highlights
- Notification Release Date: June 24, 2024
- Application Window: June 24, 2024 - July 24, 2024
- Exam Schedule: Tier-I: Sep-Oct 2024; Tier-II: Dec 2024
- Total Vacancies: Approx. 17,727
- Mode of Examination: Computer-Based Test (CBT)
Eligibility Criteria
| Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Must be: - A citizen of India - A subject of Nepal/Bhutan or a PIO migrated from listed countries **Certificate of eligibility** may be required. |
| Age Limit | Depends on the post; usually ranges from 18 to 32 years. **Relaxations:** SC/ST: 5 years, OBC: 3 years, PwBD: up to 15 years. |
| Educational Qualification | Bachelor's Degree in relevant fields (Commerce, Statistics, etc. for some posts). Final-year students are eligible but must fulfill requirements by cutoff. |
Exam Pattern
Tier-I Examination
| Subject | Questions | Marks | Combined Duration: 1 Hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 25 | 50 | |
| General Awareness | 25 | 50 | |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 | |
| English Comprehension | 25 | 50 |
Negative Marking: Deduction of 0.50 marks for each wrong answer.
Tier-II Examination
The Tier-II exam consists of two papers:
- Paper-I: Compulsory for all candidates
- Paper-II: Required only for Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) and Statistical Investigator Grade-II posts
Detailed Structure of Paper-I:
| Section | Modules | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section-I | Module-I: Mathematical Abilities Module-II: Reasoning and General Intelligence |
60 | 180 | 1 hour |
| Section-II | Module-I: English Language and Comprehension Module-II: General Awareness |
70 | 210 | 1 hour |
| Section-III | Module-I: Computer Knowledge Test Module-II: Data Entry Speed Test (DEST) |
20 + DEST | 60 | 15 + 15 minutes |
Negative Marking: Deduction of 1 marks for each wrong answer.
Syllabus Highlights
Indicative Syllabus for Tier I
- General Intelligence & Reasoning:
- Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning
- Analogies
- Similarities and Differences
- Space Visualization
- Spatial Orientation
- Problem Solving
- Analysis
- Judgment
- Decision Making
- Visual Memory
- Discrimination
- Observation
- Relationship Concepts
- Arithmetical Reasoning
- Figural Classification
- Arithmetic Number Series
- Non-Verbal Series
- Coding and Decoding
- Statement Conclusion
- Syllogistic Reasoning
- Semantic Analogy
- Symbolic/Number Analogy
- Figural Analogy
- Semantic Classification
- Symbolic/Number Classification
- Figural Classification
- Semantic Series
- Number Series
- Figural Series
- Word Building
- Numerical Operations
- Symbolic Operations
- Trends
- Space Orientation
- Venn Diagrams
- Drawing Inferences
- Punched Hole/Pattern-Folding & Unfolding
- Figural Pattern-Folding and Completion
- Indexing
- Address Matching
- Date & City Matching
- Classification of Centre Codes/Roll Numbers
- Small & Capital Letters/Numbers Coding, Decoding, and Classification
- Embedded Figures
- Critical Thinking
- Emotional Intelligence
- Social Intelligence
- General Awareness:
- Environment and its Application to Society
- Knowledge of Current Events
- History (India and Neighboring Countries)
- Culture
- Geography
- Economic Scene
- General Policy
- Scientific Research
- Quantitative Aptitude:
- Whole Numbers, Decimals, Fractions, and Relationships Between Numbers
- Percentage
- Ratio & Proportion
- Square Roots
- Averages
- Interest (Simple and Compound)
- Profit and Loss
- Discount
- Partnership Business
- Mixture and Alligation
- Time and Distance
- Time and Work
- Basic Algebraic Identities of School Algebra & Elementary Surds
- Graphs of Linear Equations
- Triangles (Various Kinds of Centers, Congruence, and Similarity)
- Circle (Chords, Tangents, Angles Subtended by Chords, Common Tangents to Circles)
- Quadrilaterals, Regular Polygons, Circle
- Right Prism, Right Circular Cone, Right Circular Cylinder
- Sphere, Hemispheres, Rectangular Parallelepiped
- Regular Right Pyramid (Triangular or Square Base)
- Trigonometric Ratio, Degree, and Radian Measures
- Standard Identities, Complementary Angles
- Heights and Distances
- Histogram, Frequency Polygon
- Bar Diagram and Pie Chart
- English Comprehension:
- Understanding Correct English
- Basic Comprehension
- Writing Ability
Indicative Syllabus for Tier II
- Module-I of Session-I of Paper-I (Mathematical Abilities):
- Number Systems: Computation of Whole Number, Decimal, Fractions, Relationship between numbers
- Fundamental Arithmetical Operations: Percentages, Ratio and Proportion, Square Roots, Averages, Interest (Simple and Compound), Profit and Loss, Discount, Partnership Business, Mixture and Alligation, Time and Distance, Time and Work
- Algebra: Basic Algebraic Identities of School Algebra, Elementary Surds (simple problems), Graphs of Linear Equations
- Geometry: Triangle and its various kinds of centers, Congruence and Similarity of Triangles, Circle and its Chords, Tangents, Angles subtended by Chords of a Circle, Common Tangents to two or more Circles
- Mensuration: Triangle, Quadrilaterals, Regular Polygons, Circle, Right Prism, Right Circular Cone, Right Circular Cylinder, Sphere, Hemispheres, Rectangular Parallelepiped, Regular Right Pyramid with triangular or square Base
- Trigonometry: Trigonometric Ratios, Complementary Angles, Height and Distances (simple problems only), Standard Identities (like sin²θ + cos²θ = 1)
- Statistics and Probability: Use of Tables and Graphs (Histogram, Frequency Polygon, Bar-Diagram, Pie-Chart), Measures of Central Tendency (Mean, Median, Mode, Standard Deviation), Calculation of Simple Probabilities
- Module-II of Section-I of Paper-I (Reasoning and General Intelligence):
- Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning
- Semantic Analogy
- Symbolic Operations
- Symbolic/Number Analogy
- Trends
- Figural Analogy
- Space Orientation
- Semantic Classification
- Venn Diagrams
- Symbolic/Number Classification
- Drawing Inferences
- Figural Classification
- Punched Hole/Pattern-Folding & Unfolding
- Semantic Series
- Figural Pattern-Folding and Completion
- Number Series
- Embedded Figures
- Figural Series
- Critical Thinking
- Problem Solving
- Emotional Intelligence
- Word Building
- Social Intelligence
- Coding and De-coding
- Numerical Operations
- Module-I of Section-II of Paper-I (English Language and Comprehension):
- Vocabulary
- Grammar
- Sentence Structure
- Synonyms, Antonyms, and their Correct Usage
- Spot the Error
- Fill in the Blanks
- Homonyms
- Spellings (Detecting Mis-spelt Words)
- Idioms & Phrases
- One Word Substitution
- Improvement of Sentences
- Active/Passive Voice
- Direct/Indirect Narration
- Shuffling of Sentence Parts
- Shuffling of Sentences in a Passage
- Cloze Passage
- Comprehension Passage: Includes questions based on given paragraphs (simple ones, current affairs, reports/editorials)
- Module-II of Section-II of Paper-I (General Awareness):
- Environment and its Application to Society
- Knowledge of Current Events
- History (India and Neighboring Countries)
- Culture
- Geography
- Economic Scene
- General Policy
- Scientific Research
- Module-I of Section-III of Paper-I (Computer Proficiency):
- Computer Basics: Organization of Computer, CPU, Input/Output Devices, Computer Memory, Memory Organization, Backup Devices, PORTs, Windows Explorer, Keyboard Shortcuts
- Software: Windows Operating System Basics, MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint
- Working with Internet and E-mails: Web Browsing, Searching, Downloading, Uploading, Managing E-mail Account, E-Banking
- Basics of Networking and Cyber Security: Networking Devices and Protocols, Information Security Threats (Hacking, Virus, Worms, Trojans, etc.), Preventive Measures
Posts, Salary Groups, and Age Limits
The following table comprehensively lists all the posts available through the SSC CGL 2024 exam, categorized by pay levels, along with the respective ministries/departments, classifications, and age limits. This information will guide aspirants in understanding the available opportunities and their eligibility requirements:
| Pay Level | Post Name | Ministry/Department | Classification | Age Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pay Level-7 | Assistant Section Officer | Central Secretariat Service | Group "B" | 20-30 years |
| Pay Level-7 | Assistant Section Officer | Intelligence Bureau | Group "B" | 18-30 years |
| Pay Level-7 | Assistant Section Officer | Ministry of Railways | Group "B" | 20-30 years |
| Pay Level-7 | Assistant Section Officer | Ministry of External Affairs | Group "B" | 20-30 years |
| Pay Level-7 | Assistant Section Officer | AFHQ | Group "B" | 20-30 years |
| Pay Level-7 | Assistant Section Officer | Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology | Group "B" | 18-30 years |
| Pay Level-7 | Assistant / Assistant Section Officer | Other Ministries/ Departments/ Organizations | Group "B" | 18-30 years |
| Pay Level-7 | Inspector of Income Tax | CBDT | Group "C" | 18-30 years |
| Pay Level-7 | Inspector (Central Excise) | CBIC | Group "B" | 18-30 years |
| Pay Level-7 | Inspector (Preventive Officer) | CBIC | Group "B" | 18-30 years |
| Pay Level-7 | Inspector (Examiner) | CBIC | Group "B" | 18-30 years |
| Pay Level-7 | Assistant Enforcement Officer | Directorate of Enforcement, Department of Revenue | Group "B" | 18-30 years |
| Pay Level-7 | Sub-Inspector | Central Bureau of Investigation | Group "B" | 20-30 years |
| Pay Level-7 | Inspector Posts | Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications | Group "B" | 18-30 years |
| Pay Level-7 | Inspector | Central Bureau of Narcotics, Ministry of Finance | Group "B" | 18-30 years |
| Pay Level-6 | Assistant / Assistant Section Officer | Other Ministries/ Departments/ Organizations | Group "B" | 18-30 years |
| Pay Level-6 | Executive Assistant | CBIC | Group "B" | 18-30 years |
| Pay Level-6 | Research Assistant | National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) | Group "B" | 18-30 years |
| Pay Level-6 | Divisional Accountant | Offices under C&AG | Group "B" | 18-30 years |
| Pay Level-6 | Sub-Inspector | National Investigation Agency (NIA) | Group "B" | 18-30 years |
| Pay Level-6 | Sub-Inspector/Junior Intelligence Officer | Narcotics Control Bureau (MHA) | Group "B" | 18-30 years |
| Pay Level-6 | Junior Statistical Officer | Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation | Group "B" | 18-32 years |
| Pay Level-5 | Auditor | Offices under C&AG | Group "C" | 18-27 years |
| Pay Level-5 | Auditor | Offices under CGDA | Group "C" | 18-27 years |
| Pay Level-5 | Auditor | Other Ministries/Departments | Group "C" | 18-27 years |
| Pay Level-5 | Accountant | Offices under C&AG | Group "C" | 18-27 years |
| Pay Level-5 | Accountant | Controller General of Accounts | Group "C" | 18-27 years |
| Pay Level-5 | Accountant/Junior Accountant | Other Ministries/Departments | Group "C" | 18-27 years |
| Pay Level-4 | Postal Assistant/Sorting Assistant | Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications | Group "C" | 18-27 years |
| Pay Level-4 | Senior Secretariat Assistant/Upper Division Clerks | Central Government Offices/Ministries | Group "C" | 18-27 years |
| Pay Level-4 | Senior Administrative Assistant | Military Engineering Services, Ministry of Defence | Group "C" | 18-27 years |
| Pay Level-4 | Tax Assistant | CBDT | Group "C" | 18-27 years |
| Pay Level-4 | Tax Assistant | CBIC | Group "C" | 18-27 years |
| Pay Level-4 | Sub-Inspector | Central Bureau of Narcotics, Ministry of Finance | Group "C" | 18-27 years |
Note:
- Physical standards and medical requirements apply for specific posts, such as Inspector roles.
- Age relaxations are available for reserved categories as per government norms: SC/ST - 5 years, OBC - 3 years, PwBD - up to 15 years.
- Physical and medical requirements are mandatory for specific posts such as Inspector and Sub-Inspector roles. Ensure you meet these criteria before applying.
- Age relaxation is available for reserved categories: SC/ST - 5 years, OBC - 3 years, PwBD - up to 15 years.
This section covers all the posts and details explicitly mentioned in the SSC CGL 2024 notification.
Year Wise Vacancies
- SSC CGL 2025- TBA
- SSC CGL 2024- 17727
- SSC CGL 2023- 8415
- SSC CGL 2022- 37409
- SSC CGL 2021- 7621
- SSC CGL 2020- 7035
- SSC CGL 2019- 8428
- SSC CGL 2018- 11271
- SSC CGL 2017- 9276
Tips for Preparation
Here are some tips to help you ace the SSC CGL examination:
- Start with a detailed understanding of the syllabus and exam pattern.
- Practice time management with mock tests and quizzes.
- Focus on weak areas and revise key topics regularly.
- Stay updated on current affairs for the General Awareness section.
- Use reliable resources, such as books by R.S. Aggarwal for Quantitative Aptitude and S.P. Bakshi for English.
Document Verification and Final Merit
Candidates who qualify Tier-II will undergo a document verification process to ensure eligibility. The final merit list is based solely on performance in Tier-II.
Conclusion
The SSC CGL examination is a gateway to a promising government career, offering various Group B and C posts. By understanding the structure and preparing strategically, aspirants can achieve their career goals.
*Note: This guide is based on the SSC CGL 2024 notification.*