The SSC CGL Exam 2025 is among the most prestigious competitive exams in India, offering aspirants a golden opportunity to work in central government ministries, departments, and organizations. Conducted annually by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC), the exam recruits candidates for Group B and Group C posts such as Assistant, Inspector, Auditor, and more.
Every year, lakhs of candidates apply for SSC CGL, making it one of the toughest yet most rewarding exams in India. In this post, we will explore every detail of the SSC CGL Exam 2025 — including the application process, eligibility criteria, syllabus, exam pattern, selection process, salary, and preparation strategy — in a clear and step-by-step manner.
SSC CGL Exam 2025: Notification, Syllabus, Eligibility & Salary
What is SSC CGL Exam 2025?
The Staff Selection Commission – Combined Graduate Level (SSC CGL) examination is a national-level competitive exam designed to recruit graduates for various government departments under the Central Government of India.
Selected candidates are placed in positions such as:
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Assistant Section Officer (ASO)
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Income Tax Inspector
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Assistant Audit Officer (AAO)
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Sub-Inspector
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Statistical Investigator
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Junior Accountant and more
The posts are categorized mainly under Group B (gazetted and non-gazetted) and Group C levels.
Important Dates for SSC CGL 2025
Event | Important Dates |
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Official Notification Release | June 9, 2025 |
Online Application Start Date | June 9, 2025 |
Last Date to Apply Online | July 4, 2025 |
Last Date for Fee Payment | July 5, 2025 |
Application Correction Window | July 9 – 11, 2025 |
City Intimation Slip Release | September 3, 2025 |
Admit Card Release (Tier I) | September 9, 2025 |
SSC CGL Tier I Exam Dates | September 12 – 26, 2025 |
Re-Exam for Affected Candidates | October 14, 2025 |
Provisional Answer Key Release | October 15, 2025 |
Tier II Exam (Tentative) | December 2025 |
Note: Candidates are advised to visit the official website ssc.gov.in regularly for any changes or updates.
Eligibility Criteria for SSC CGL Exam 2025
Before applying, make sure you meet all eligibility requirements. Failure to satisfy even one criterion can lead to rejection.
1. Nationality
The applicant must be:
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A citizen of India, or
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A subject of Nepal/Bhutan, or
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A Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962, intending to settle permanently.
2. Educational Qualification
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Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university or equivalent qualification.
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For certain posts (like Statistical Investigator or AAO), a specific degree in Economics, Statistics, or Commerce may be required.
3. Age Limit
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The general age range is 18 to 32 years, depending on the post.
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Age relaxation applies to reserved categories:
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SC/ST: 5 years
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OBC: 3 years
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PwD: 10–15 years depending on category
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4. Other Requirements
Candidates must have a clean disciplinary record and be physically fit as per SSC norms.
SSC CGL 2025 Application Process
Step-by-Step Guide to Apply
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Visit the official SSC website: ssc.gov.in
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Click on the Apply tab and choose SSC CGL 2025.
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Complete the One-Time Registration (if not already registered).
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Log in using your registration ID and password.
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Fill out the online application form carefully with correct personal and academic details.
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Upload scanned copies of your photograph and signature as per specifications.
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Pay the application fee (if applicable).
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Review the form and submit it.
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Print the confirmation page for reference.
Application Fee
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₹100 for General and OBC candidates.
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No fee for SC/ST, PwD, Ex-Servicemen, and all female candidates.
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Payment can be made online through net banking, UPI, debit/credit card.
Exam Pattern of SSC CGL Exam 2025
The SSC CGL Exam 2025 will be conducted in multiple stages (Tiers). Let’s understand each in detail:
Tier | Type of Exam | Mode | Purpose |
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Tier I | Objective MCQ | Computer Based | Screening (Qualifying) |
Tier II | Objective MCQ (Different Papers) | Computer Based | Final Merit Preparation |
Tier III / Skill Test / CPT | Descriptive / Skill Test | Offline / Online | Post-Specific Requirement |
Tier IV | Document Verification | Physical Verification | Final Step |
SSC CGL Tier I Exam Pattern
Sections | No. of Questions | Total Marks | Time |
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General Intelligence & Reasoning | 25 | 50 | 60 minutes |
General Awareness | 25 | 50 | |
Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 | |
English Comprehension | 25 | 50 | |
Total | 100 | 200 | 1 hour |
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Negative Marking: 0.50 mark deduction for each wrong answer.
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Language Medium: English and Hindi (except English section).
SSC CGL Tier II Exam Pattern
Tier II consists of multiple papers depending on the post you apply for:
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Paper I (Compulsory for all): Quantitative, Reasoning, English, and General Awareness.
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Paper II: Statistics (for Statistical Investigator posts).
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Paper III: General Studies (Finance & Economics) for Assistant Audit Officer and Assistant Accounts Officer.
Marks from Tier II are counted for final selection.
SSC CGL 2025 Syllabus
Here’s a subject-wise breakdown:
1. General Intelligence & Reasoning
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Analogies, Coding-Decoding, Blood Relations
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Puzzles, Series, Syllogism
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Direction Sense, Alphabet Test
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Venn Diagrams, Data Interpretation
2. General Awareness
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Current Affairs (National & International)
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Indian History, Polity, Geography, Economy
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Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology)
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Awards, Sports, Books & Authors
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Government Schemes & Policies
3. Quantitative Aptitude
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Number System, Ratio & Proportion
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Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry
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Profit & Loss, Time & Work, Speed & Distance
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Data Interpretation, Statistics, Probability
4. English Comprehension
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Reading Comprehension
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Error Detection, Sentence Correction
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Vocabulary (Synonyms, Antonyms)
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Idioms & Phrases, Cloze Tests, Para Jumbles
5. Specialized Papers (Tier II)
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Statistics: Mean, Median, Mode, Sampling, Correlation
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Finance & Economics: Accounting principles, Costing, Micro & Macro Economics
SSC CGL Admit Card & Exam Instructions
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City Intimation Slip: Released a few days before the admit card, indicating your exam city.
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Admit Card: Download from the official SSC portal using your registration details.
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Mandatory Documents:
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Printout of admit card
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Original photo ID proof (Aadhar, PAN, Voter ID, etc.)
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Two passport-size photos
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Exam Day Tips:
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Reach the center early.
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Avoid carrying prohibited items (mobile, calculator, etc.).
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Read all instructions carefully before starting.
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Manage time effectively — attempt easy questions first.
Answer Key, Result, and Cut-Off
Answer Key
After the exam, SSC releases a provisional answer key. Candidates can:
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Check their responses, and
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Challenge incorrect answers within a fixed time (by paying ₹100 per question).
Result
The SSC CGL 2025 result will be declared online in PDF format, containing roll numbers of qualified candidates.
Results for each Tier are announced separately on ssc.gov.in.
Cut-Off
Cut-offs depend on:
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Number of candidates,
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Difficulty level of exam,
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Number of vacancies, and
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Category-wise reservation.
Normalized marks are considered when exams are held in multiple shifts.
Selection Process
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Tier I – Screening (Qualifying)
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Tier II – Mains (Merit-Deciding)
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Skill Test / CPT – For specific posts only
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Document Verification (DV)
Only candidates who clear all stages and submit valid documents will receive the final appointment letter.
Posts & Salary Details
Group B Posts
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Assistant Section Officer (ASO): ₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400 (Pay Level 7)
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Inspector of Income Tax / Preventive Officer: ₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400
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Assistant Audit Officer (AAO): ₹47,600 – ₹1,51,100
Group C Posts
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Tax Assistant / Auditor / Clerk: ₹25,500 – ₹81,100 (Pay Level 4–5)
Additional Benefits:
Dearness Allowance, HRA, Travel Allowance, Medical Facility, Pension, and Career Promotion opportunities.
Preparation Strategy for SSC CGL Exam 2025
1. Understand the Syllabus & Pattern
Read the official notification carefully to know which subjects and topics carry more weightage.
2. Make a Study Plan
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Divide study time into 3–4 sessions daily.
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Allocate more hours to weak areas.
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Keep 1 hour daily for revision.
3. Practice Regularly
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Solve previous year question papers.
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Take mock tests to improve speed and accuracy.
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Analyze your mistakes after each test.
4. Focus on Accuracy
Avoid blind guessing — remember there’s negative marking.
5. Stay Updated with Current Affairs
Read newspapers, monthly magazines, and government press releases regularly.
6. Maintain Health & Routine
Balanced diet, proper sleep, and stress management are equally important during preparation.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake | How to Avoid It |
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Ignoring exam pattern | Study the latest SSC CGL structure before starting preparation. |
Lack of mock tests | Attempt at least 2 full mocks weekly. |
Skipping current affairs | Revise current events daily for 20–30 minutes. |
Overconfidence in one subject | Balance your preparation across all sections. |
Ignoring document verification | Keep original and photocopies of all certificates ready. |
What’s New in SSC CGL 2025
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Re-Exam Announcement: Affected candidates got a re-exam on October 14, 2025.
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Single-Shift Format: SSC conducted Tier I in a single shift per day for fairness.
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Center Allotment Policy: Exam centers were allotted within a 100 km radius of the candidate’s address.
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Strict Anti-Malpractice Rules: SSC warned of permanent bans for cheating or impersonation.
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Revised Normalization Method: Enhanced fairness in multi-shift evaluation.
Conclusion
The SSC CGL Exam 2025 offers a gateway to India’s most respected government jobs. With the right preparation strategy, clear understanding of the exam structure, and disciplined effort, you can easily achieve your dream post.
Success in SSC CGL depends on three things — clarity, consistency, and confidence.
Start early, stay focused, and trust your preparation. Remember, every small step counts toward your goal of becoming a proud central government officer.