All SSC Exams Eligibility 2026: Age Limit, Qualification and Relaxation

All SSC Exams Eligibility 2026: Age Limit, Qualification, and Relaxation for CGL, CHSL, MTS, GD & CPO are defined by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) in their latest notifications, covering age criteria, educational requirements, nationality, category-wise relaxations, and (where applicable) physical standards for recruitment in 2026.

Overview of SSC Exams Eligibility 2026

The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) conducts multiple exams like Combined Graduate Level (CGL), Combined Higher Secondary Level (CHSL), Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS), General Duty (GD) Constable, and Central Police Organization (CPO – Sub-Inspector) for different educational levels and posts.

Common pillars of eligibility include nationality, age limit, educational qualification, category-wise age relaxation, number of attempts (within age), and physical/medical standards for police/constable posts.

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SSC Eligibility Principles for 2026 (Common Rules)

• Nationality conditions (Indian citizen, with specified allowances for subjects of Nepal/Bhutan and Tibetan refugees etc. – phrase generally, advise checking specific notifications).

• Age reckoning date (usually a specific date like 1 January or 1 August mentioned in each notification; highlight that 2026 notifications will specify the exact cut-off).

• Category-wise reservation and age relaxation are as per central government rules (SC/ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, PwBD, Ex-servicemen, Central Govt Employees, widows/divorced women etc.).

• Attempts are not fixed; candidates can appear as long as they meet age and other criteria.

SSC Exams Age Limit 2026 (CGL, CHSL, MTS, GD, CPO)

Precise cut-offs for 2026 will follow the pattern of recent notifications; keep wording as “as per latest SSC pattern / recent cycles” to avoid hard-coding dates.

SSC CGL 2026 Age Limit (Combined Graduate Level)

• Typical overall age band: 18–32 years, depending on post, with most Group B/C posts in the 18–27/30/32 bracket.

• Mention that some posts (e.g., Junior Statistical Officer, Sub-Inspector in CBI, Inspector posts) have distinct upper age limits.

• Add note: “Exact post-wise age limits will be confirmed in the SSC CGL 2026 notification on ssc.nic.in.”

SSC CHSL 2026 Age Limit (Combined Higher Secondary Level)

• Generally, 18–27 years for most CHSL posts like Lower Division Clerk, Junior Secretariat Assistant, Postal Assistant/Sorting Assistant, etc., with relaxations for reserved categories.

SSC MTS 2026 Age Limit (Multi-Tasking Staff)

• MTS usually has separate age bands, frequently 18–25 and 18–27 years, for different post groups, with relaxation as per category.

SSC GD 2026 Age Limit (General Duty Constable)

• Age band is often around 18–23 years for SSC GD Constable, with relaxations for SC/ST/OBC, Ex-servicemen, etc., as per the latest GD notification pattern.

SSC CPO 2026 Age Limit (Sub-Inspector in Delhi Police & CAPFs)

• SSC CPO (Central Police Organization) SI age limit generally falls in the 20–25 years band, with category-wise relaxations.

Educational Qualification for All SSC Exams 2026

Minimum qualification per level varies across exams.

SSC CGL 2026 Qualification (Graduate Level)

• Minimum: Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university for most posts.

• Highlight special posts:

  • Junior Statistical Officer – graduation with specific maths/statistics conditions (e.g., 60% in Mathematics in 12th or Statistics as a degree subject).

  • Statistical Investigator Grade-II – graduation with Statistics as a subject in all three years.

  • Research Assistant in NHRC – graduation plus desirable research/human rights/law background.

SSC CHSL 2026 Qualification (Higher Secondary Level)

• Minimum: Passed 12th (Higher Secondary) from a recognised board for all CHSL posts.

SSC MTS 2026 Qualification (10th Level)

• Minimum: Matriculation/Class 10th pass from a recognised board.

SSC GD 2026 Qualification (General Duty Constable)

• Minimum: 10th pass (Matriculation) from a recognised board.

SSC CPO 2026 Qualification (Sub-Inspector)

• Minimum: Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university for all SI posts in Delhi Police and CAPFs.

Category-wise Age Relaxation Rules (All SSC Exams 2026)

Broad relaxation structure is common across SSC exams, though exact wording and some categories may vary in each notification.

Common Age Relaxation Pattern (Indicative)

Add a line advising users always to check the specific exam notification PDF and SSC age-relaxation category code document for 2026.

Nationality Requirements for SSC Exams 2026

Generic SSC nationality requirement (Indian citizen or specified categories from Nepal/Bhutan/Tibetan refugees, etc., as per central government norms), avoiding verbatim reproduction.

Note that candidates must also hold the requisite documents to prove nationality and category at the document verification stage.

Physical and Medical Standards for SSC GD and SSC CPO 2026

This section is crucial for aspirants targeting uniformed services.

SSC GD Constable 2026 Physical Eligibility

• Key parameters:

  • Height (different standards for male/female and for specific categories/regions).

  • Chest (for males): minimum unexpanded 80 cm and minimum expansion 5 cm in the recent pattern (note as “typical requirement”).

  • Running/race, long jump, high jump, etc. in PET.

  • Medical standards, including eyesight and general health.

SSC CPO 2026 Physical Eligibility (Sub-Inspector)

• Similar structure: height, chest (for males), weight proportionate to height, eye standards, and PET events like running, long jump, high jump.

• Mention that Delhi Police SI may have slightly specific standards in notification.

Add a clear disclaimer that exact measurements and tests will be as per SSC GD 2026 and SSC CPO 2026 notifications.

Comparison Table – SSC CGL vs CHSL vs MTS vs GD vs CPO Eligibility 2026

How to Choose the Right SSC Exam Based on Eligibility

Filter by Educational Qualification

• If 10th pass: focus on SSC MTS and SSC GD Constable.

• If 12th pass: add SSC CHSL; you can still appear for MTS and GD.

• If graduate: open to SSC CGL, SSC CPO plus CHSL, MTS, GD if within age limits.

Filter by Age and Category

• Explain that candidates close to 27–30 years may prioritise CGL/CHSL/MTS, where the upper age limit can be higher with relaxation.

• Younger candidates (18–22) can start with GD/MTS/CHSL while preparing for CGL/CPO degrees or final year graduation.

Consider Physical Requirements

• Candidates comfortable with physical tests and interested in uniformed services may choose GD or CPO.

• Those preferring desk/administrative roles may choose CGL, CHSL, or MTS based on qualification.

SSC Exam Process and Key Stages (Short)

• Stages: application → admit card → exam tiers → PET/PST (for GD/CPO) → document verification → final result.

• Reiterate that eligibility is checked at multiple stages; being allowed in the exam does not guarantee final eligibility.

Important SSC Official Notifications and Where to Find Them

SSC Official Website and Notifications

• All authentic eligibility rules are published only in official notifications on ssc.nic.in.

• Briefly mention the “Latest Notification” sections and PDF downloads.

Where to Find SSC CGL, CHSL, MTS, GD, CPO 2026 Notifications

• Separate notifications are released for each exam with dedicated eligibility sections.

How to Apply for SSC Exams 2026 (Eligibility-Focused)

• Give a short step list: register on the SSC website, fill online form, upload documents, pay the fee, and submit.

• Emphasise: apply only if age, qualification, nationality and physical standards (if applicable) are fully satisfied as on the cut-off date.