The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has officially released its tentative annual calendar for the recruitment year 2026-2027. This roadmap is essential for aspirants targeting central government jobs, as it provides the specific window for advertisements, application closing dates, and the tentative months for Computer-Based Examinations (CBE).
The recruitment cycle kicks off in March 2026. Below are the dates when the official notifications (Advertisements) are expected to be released:
Month of Advertisement | Name of Examination | Notification Date | Closing Date |
March 2026 | SSC CGL 2026 | March 2026 | April 2026 |
SSC Junior Engineer (JE) 2026 | March 2026 | April 2026 | |
Selection Post Phase-XIV | March 2026 | April 2026 | |
JSA/LDC Grade LDCE (DoPT) | 16 March 2026 | 07 April 2026 | |
SSA/UDC Grade LDCE (DoPT) | 16 March 2026 | 07 April 2026 | |
ASO Grade LDCE | 16 March 2026 | 07 April 2026 | |
April 2026 | SSC CHSL (10+2) 2026 | April 2026 | May 2026 |
Stenographer Grade ‘C’ & ‘D’ | April 2026 | May 2026 | |
Combined Hindi Translators | April 2026 | May 2026 | |
May 2026 | SSC CPO 2026 (SI in Delhi Police) | May 2026 | June 2026 |
June 2026 | SSC MTS & Havaldar 2026 | June 2026 | July 2026 |
September 2026 | SSC GD Constable 2027 | Sept 2026 | Oct 2026 |
The following table categorizes exams based on their scheduled periods, helping you track advertisement dates and application deadlines.
Month | Name of Examination | Advertisement Date | Closing Date | Exam Date/Period |
Jan – Feb 2026 | Grade ‘C’ Steno Ltd. Dept. Exam 2025 | Jul–Sep 2025 | Aug–Nov 2025 | Jan – Feb 2026 |
SSC MTS & Havaldar 2025 | 26 June 2025 | 24 July 2025 | 04 February 2026 | |
SSC GD Constable 2026 | Oct 2025 | Nov 2025 | 23 February 2026 | |
May 2026 | JSA/LDC Grade LDCE 2025 | 16 March 2026 | 07 April 2026 | May 2026 |
SSA/UDC Grade LDCE 2025 | 16 March 2026 | 07 April 2026 | May 2026 | |
ASO Grade LDCE 2025 | 16 March 2026 | 07 April 2026 | May 2026 | |
May – June 2026 | SSC CGL 2026 (Tier-I) | March 2026 | April 2026 | May – June 2026 |
SSC Junior Engineer (JE) 2026 | March 2026 | April 2026 | May – June 2026 | |
May – July 2026 | Selection Post Phase-XIV 2026 | March 2026 | April 2026 | May – July 2026 |
July – Sept 2026 | SSC CHSL 2026 (Tier-I) | April 2026 | May 2026 | July – Sept 2026 |
Aug – Sept 2026 | Stenographer Grade ‘C’ & ‘D’ 2026 | April 2026 | May 2026 | Aug – Sept 2026 |
Combined Hindi Translators 2026 | April 2026 | May 2026 | Aug – Sept 2026 | |
Oct – Nov 2026 | SSC CPO 2026 (SI in Delhi Police/CAPF) | May 2026 | June 2026 | Oct – Nov 2026 |
Sept – Nov 2026 | SSC MTS & Havaldar 2026 | June 2026 | July 2026 | Sept – Nov 2026 |
Jan – Mar 2027 | SSC GD Constable 2027 | Sept 2026 | Oct 2026 | Jan – March 2027 |
Age Limit: Generally 18–32 years (varies by post).
18–27 years: For Auditor, Accountant, and Tax Assistant.
20–30 years: For Assistant Section Officer (CSS/IB/Railways) and Sub-Inspector (CBI).
Up to 32 years: For Junior Statistical Officer (JSO).
Educational Qualification:
Assistant Audit Officer (AAO): Bachelor’s Degree in any subject. (Desirable: CA/CS/MBA/Masters in Commerce).
Junior Statistical Officer (JSO): Bachelor’s Degree + 60% marks in Mathematics in Class 12th OR Bachelor’s Degree with Statistics as a subject.
All Other Posts: Graduation in any stream from a recognized university.
Age Limit: 18–27 years.
Educational Qualification:
LDC/JSA & DEO: Must have passed 12th Standard or equivalent.
DEO (Grade A) in C&AG: 12th Standard in Science stream with Mathematics as a subject.
Age Limit: * 18–25 years (MTS and some Havaldar posts in CBN).
18–27 years (Havaldar in CBIC and few MTS posts).
Educational Qualification: 10th Standard (Matriculation) pass.
Physical Standards (For Havaldar only):
Walking: Male: 1600m in 15 mins | Female: 1km in 20 mins.
Height: Male: 157.5 cm | Female: 152 cm.
Age Limit: 18–23 years.
Educational Qualification: 10th Standard pass.
Physical Standards (PST):
Height: Male: 170 cm | Female: 157 cm (Relaxations for ST and Hill areas).
Chest (Male): 80 cm (unexpanded) with 5 cm expansion.
Age Limit: 20–25 years.
Educational Qualification: Bachelor’s Degree in any stream.
For Delhi Police SI (Male): Must possess a valid Driving License for LMV (Motorcycle and Car) on the date of Physical Tests.
Physical Standards:
Height: Male: 170 cm | Female: 157 cm.
Chest (Male): 80 cm (unexpanded) / 85 cm (expanded).
Age Limit: Up to 30 or 32 years (varies by Department).
Educational Qualification:
Civil/Mechanical/Electrical: B.E./B.Tech degree in the relevant engineering branch OR a 3-year Diploma + 2 years of work experience.
Age Limit: Grade C: 18–30 years.
Grade D: 18–27 years.
Educational Qualification: 12th Standard pass.
Skill Requirement: No math is required. Candidates must pass a Shorthand Skill Test (Grade C: 100 wpm | Grade D: 80 wpm).
Exam Name | Min Qualification | Age Range | Key Condition |
CGL | Graduation | 18–32 | 60% in 12th Maths for JSO |
CHSL | 12th Pass | 18–27 | Science for DEO in C&AG |
MTS | 10th Pass | 18–27 | Physical test for Havaldar |
GD | 10th Pass | 18–23 | Strict Physical Standards |
CPO | Graduation | 20–25 | DL required for Delhi Police |
JE | B.Tech/Diploma | 18–32 | Experience req. for Diploma |
Steno | 12th Pass | 18–30 | Must know Shorthand |
Crucial Date: SSC usually determines age and qualification as of August 1st or the notification date.
Category Relaxation: SC/ST (5 years), OBC (3 years), and PwD (10 years) get upper age relaxation.
Final Year Students: Generally, those in the final year of graduation can apply for CGL/CPO, provided they receive their results before the cutoff date specified in the official notification.
These books form the "Core Foundation" for exams like CGL, CHSL, CPO, and MTS.
For Concepts: Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by R.S. Aggarwal.
For Speed & Shortcuts: Fast Track Objective Arithmetic by Rajesh Verma or Magical Book on Quicker Maths by M. Tyra.
For Advanced Maths (CGL/CHSL): Play with Advanced Maths by Abhinay Sharma.
Practice (PYQs): SSC Mathematics Chapterwise Solved Papers by Kiran Prakashan or Rakesh Yadav (7300+).
Grammar Foundation: Plinth to Paramount (Vol 1) by Neetu Singh.
Comprehensive Grammar: Objective General English by S.P. Bakshi.
Vocabulary: Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis (The best book for root words).
Common Errors: A Mirror of Common Errors by Dr. Ashok Kumar Singh.
Overall Guide: A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning by R.S. Aggarwal.
Analytical Skills: Analytical Reasoning by M.K. Pandey.
Practice: Kiran’s SSC Reasoning Chapterwise Solved Papers (Contains 12,000+ TCS pattern questions).
Static GK (Theory): General Knowledge by Lucent Publication (The "Bible" for SSC).
Practice (MCQs): Objective General Knowledge by Lucent or Blackbook of General Awareness by Nikhil Gupta.
Current Affairs: Manorama Yearbook or monthly magazines like Pratiyogita Darpan.
Civil: Objective Civil Engineering by R.S. Khurmi & J.K. Gupta or Made Easy publications.
Electrical: Objective Electrical Technology by V.K. Mehta & Rohit Mehta.
Mechanical: Mechanical Engineering (Conventional & Objective) by R.K. Jain.
Complete Guide: SSC Constable GD Exam Guide by Arihant Experts.
Hindi Language (Optional for GD): Samanya Hindi by Aditya Publication.
Bilingual Practice: Adda247 or Testbook SmartBooks for 4000+ level-wise questions.
Shorthand Learning: Pitman’s Shorthand Instructor (English) or Standard Shorthand by Ramdhari Gupta (Hindi).
English Weightage: Since English is worth 100 marks here, focus heavily on S.P. Bakshi and Neetu Singh.
"Don't buy 10 different books for one subject. Buy one standard book and revise it 10 times. Once you finish the concepts, your 2026 selection will depend 90% on solving TCS-pattern Previous Year Questions (PYQs) from 2018 to 2025."
Subject | Recommended Book | Author/Publisher |
Mathematics | Quantitative Aptitude | R.S. Aggarwal |
SSC Mathematics (PYQs) | Rakesh Yadav / Kiran | |
English | Plinth to Paramount | Neetu Singh (KD Campus) |
Word Power Made Easy | Norman Lewis | |
Reasoning | Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning | R.S. Aggarwal |
Reasoning for SSC | Kiran Publication | |
General Awareness | General Knowledge | Lucent Publication |
Manorama Yearbook | Current Affairs |
Goal: 100% Syllabus Coverage and Concept Clarity.
Mathematics: Don't start with tricks. Focus on the "Why" behind formulas in Arithmetic (Percentage, Ratio, Profit & Loss) and Advanced Math (Geometry, Algebra).
English: Read "Plinth to Paramount" for grammar. Spend 30 minutes daily on "Word Power Made Easy" to build a root-word vocabulary.
Reasoning: Understand the logic of Syllogisms, Blood Relations, and Number Series.
GK: Read Lucent’s GK once like a storybook to understand the flow of History and Polity.
Goal: Transition from "knowing" to "solving fast."
Topic-Wise Practice: Solve 50–100 questions for every chapter from Previous Year Question (PYQ) books (Kiran or Rakesh Yadav).
The "Mistake Notebook": Every time you get a question wrong, write down the concept or the short trick in a dedicated notebook. This is your most valuable asset.
Sectional Tests: Start taking 15-minute sectional tests for Reasoning and English to improve your "strike rate."
Goal: Exam Simulation and Time Management.
Full-Length Mocks: Take 2–3 full-length mock tests every week.
Analysis is Key: Spending 2 hours analyzing a mock is more important than the 1 hour spent taking it. Identify if you are losing marks due to "Silly Mistakes," "Lack of Concept," or "Time Pressure."
Current Affairs: Start a deep dive into the last 10–12 months of current affairs. Focus on Sports, Appointments, Awards, and Government Schemes.
Time Slot | Activity | Focus Area |
06:00 – 07:30 AM | Vocab & Grammar | Fresh mind for memorization |
08:00 – 10:30 AM | Mathematics | Problem-solving when energy is high |
11:00 – 12:30 PM | Reasoning | Logical puzzles and brain teasers |
02:00 – 04:00 PM | General Awareness | Reading History/Science (Post-lunch) |
05:00 – 07:00 PM | PYQ Practice | Mixed practice of all subjects |
08:30 – 09:30 PM | Revision | Review "Mistake Notebook" & Formulas |
The SSC often updates small sub-topics or shifts the weightage of sections (like the recent increase in Static GK and Computer Awareness).
Action: Download the latest notification PDF for your specific exam (CGL, CHSL, etc.) and check off each topic as you complete it. Avoid "shortcuts" that skip core concepts; Tier 2 exams will test your depth.
General Awareness is the biggest "time-saver" in the exam.
Static GK: Read Lucent’s GK for a high-level overview of History, Polity, and Geography.
Science: For Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, refer to NCERT Class 6–10 books. Many direct questions are picked from these textbooks.
Current Affairs: Focus on the last 8–12 months before your exam date.
SSC is known for repeating question patterns.
The 5-Year Rule: Ensure you have solved every paper from 2021 to 2025.
Pattern Recognition: Use these papers to identify "favorite" topics of the commission, such as certain types of Geometry theorems or specific eras of Indian History.
Many candidates score high in the written exam but fail the qualifying Data Entry Speed Test (DEST).
Daily Habit: Spend 15–20 minutes daily on a typing software or online tool. Aim for a speed of at least 35-40 WPM to stay safe during the actual 27 WPM requirement.
Accuracy First: In the exam, accuracy is more important than raw speed. Practice typing from printed text, as that is harder than copying from a screen.
Your brain needs time to move information from short-term to long-term memory.
The 5+2 Rule: Study new topics for 5 days (Monday to Friday) and keep the weekend only for revision and mock tests.
Avoid Burnout: Use the Pomodoro technique (50 minutes study / 10 minutes break) to maintain high concentration levels throughout your 6-8 hour daily schedule.
Official Notification : Download Notification
Official Website: https://ssc.gov.in/
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