You might be caught up with the thought of setting government exams as your next stepping stone towards success. For many competitors such government exams are deemed to be an opportunity for their growth and future security. If you are categorized under those who consider competitive exams not just as a test but as a challenge to develop your skills and character then success is yours. In this article we will explore one among those most anticipated competitive exams which many aspirants aspire to crack. It’s nothing but the SSC CGL exam, an exam which opens up a gateway to many respected posts in various governmental ministries. Let’s dive into the origin and the pattern of the SSC CGL Exam, SSC CGL Salary structure and the career opportunities it offers.
What is the SSC?
The Government of India originally established the Subordinate Service Commission to hire non-gazetted officers to numerous central ministries and departments. As India’s bureaucracy was escalating, the need to have a more organized system for the recruitment process was also evident. In the endeavor to address this phenomenon, the commission went through the process of reformation and was renamed as the Staff selection Commission of India in 1977.
What is the SSC CGL Exam?
Staff Selection Commission (SSC) is the supreme authority that conducts the Combined Graduate Level Examination (CGL) for appointing Group B and C officers in various departments and ministries of the government of India. This exam was introduced later to simplify and streamline the hiring process of graduate level candidates. The SSC CGL Exam was first conducted sometime in the late 1970s to early 1980s. During the initial stages, the exam was conducted with just a couple of papers in offline mode but with the advancement of technology and the evolving number of applicants they have shifted the exam to Online or computer based testing mode to keep up with the demand.
Structure of SSC CGL Exam
The SSC CGL Exam is conducted in four stages called tiers. Each tier gradually filters out candidates and tests their skills for different posts.
- Tier 1 is the preliminary level with the subjects dealing with general intelligence and reasoning, current affairs, quantitative aptitude and English comprehension to be attended in multiple choice questions.
- Tier 2 is the Mains level with MCQ type questions with the subjects dealing with quantitative abilities, english comprehension, statistics (for junior statistical officer) and general studies (finance and economics).
- Tier 3 is the descriptive paper to be attended offline and answers should be written in a descriptive way including essay writing, application letter etc. to test the written communication skills of the candidates. The medium of language can either be English or Hindi.
- Tier 4 is the computer proficiency test where practical tests for specific skills like data entry speed and computer knowledge are being tested based on the role you are applying for. At this stage itself the document verification process is done.
Important points to be noted is that firstly, the Tier 1 and 2 are critical as they have the maximum weightage for final selection and secondly negative marking is applied only to Tier 1 and 2.
SSC CGL Salary Post Wise Details
The SSC CGL exam offers recruitment to prestigious posts in various ministries of government. The salary varies depending on several factors. Here is a detailed post wise SSC CGL Salary structure according to 2025:
| Post Name | Department / Ministry | Group | Pay Level | Basic pay | Posting City(X/Y/Z) | HRA(%) | DA(%) | TA | In-hand Salary(Approx.) |
| Assistant Audit Officer (AAO) | Indian Audit & Accounts Dept | Group B (Gazetted) | Level 8 | ₹47,600 | X | 27% | 50% | ₹7,200 | ₹78,000-₹82,000 |
| Assistant Accounts Officer | Indian Audit & Accounts Dept | Group B (Gazetted) | Level 8 | ₹47,600 | X | 27% | 50% | ₹7,200 | ₹78,000-₹82,000 |
| Assistant Section Officer (CSS) | Central Secretariat Service | Group B | Level 7 | ₹44,900 | X | 27% | 50% | ₹7,200 | ₹72,000-₹75,000 |
| Assistant Section Officer (MEA) | Ministry of External Affairs | Group B | Level 7 | ₹44,900 | X | 27% | 50% | ₹7,200 | ₹72,000-₹75,000 |
| Assistant Section Officer(Railway) | Railway Board | Group B | Level 7 | ₹44,900 | X | 27% | 50% | ₹7,200 | ₹72,000-₹75,000 |
| Assistant Section Officer(AFHQ) | Armed Forces Headquarters | Group B | Level 7 | ₹44,900 | X | 27% | 50% | ₹7,200 | ₹72,000-₹75,000 |
| Assistant Section Officer(IB) | Intelligence Bureau (MHA) | Group B | Level 7 | ₹44,900 | X | 27% | 50% | ₹7,200 | ₹70,000-₹72,000 |
| Assistant (Other Ministries/ Departments) | Various Ministries | Group B | Level 6 | ₹35,400 | Y | 18% | 50% | ₹3,600 | ₹50,000-₹52,000 |
| Inspector of Income Tax | CBDT (Income Tax Dept) | Group C | Level 7 | ₹44,900 | X | 27% | 50% | ₹7,200 | ₹70,000-₹72,000 |
| Inspector (Central Excise) | CBIC(Dept of Revenue) | Group B | Level 7 | ₹44,900 | X | 27% | 50% | ₹7,200 | ₹70,000-₹72,000 |
| Inspector (Preventive Officer) | CBIC(Dept of Revenue) | Group B | Level 7 | ₹44,900 | X | 27% | 50% | ₹7,200 | ₹70,000-₹72,000 |
| Inspector (Examiner) | CBIC(Dept of Revenue) | Group B | Level 7 | ₹44,900 | X | 27% | 50% | ₹7,200 | ₹70,000-₹72,000 |
| Assistant Enforcement Officer | Enforcement Directorate | Group B | Level 7 | ₹44,900 | X | 27% | 50% | ₹7,200 | ₹70,000-₹72,000 |
| Sub Inspector (CBI) | Central Bureau of Investigation | Group B | Level 7 | ₹44,900 | X | 27% | 50% | ₹7,200 | ₹68,000-₹70,000 |
| Sub Inspector (NIA) | National Investigation Agency | Group B | Level 6 | ₹35,400 | X | 27% | 50% | ₹7,200 | ₹58,000-₹60,000 |
| Sub Inspector (Central Bureau of Narcotics) | Central Bureau of Narcotics | Group B | Level 5 | ₹29,200 | Y | 18% | 50% | ₹3,600 | ₹45,000-₹48,000 |
| Divisional Accountant | Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG) | Group B | Level 7 | ₹44,900 | Y | 18% | 50% | ₹3,600 | ₹62,000-₹65,000 |
| Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) | Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation | Group B | Level 6 | ₹35,400 | X | 27% | 50% | ₹7,200 | ₹58,000-₹60,000 |
| Auditor(C&AG) | Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG) | Group C | Level 5 | ₹29,200 | Y | 18% | 50% | ₹3,600 | ₹45,000-₹48,000 |
| Auditor(CGDA) | Controller General of Defence Accounts | Group C | Level 5 | ₹29,200 | Y | 18% | 50% | ₹3,600 | ₹45,000-₹48,000 |
| Auditor(CGA) | Controller General of Accounts | Group C | Level 5 | ₹29,200 | Y | 18% | 50% | ₹3,600 | ₹45,000-₹48,000 |
| Accountant/Junior Accountant | Various Ministries | Group C | Level 5 | ₹29,200 | Z | 9% | 50% | ₹1,800 | ₹42,000-₹45,000 |
| Senior Secretariat Assistant/ UDC | Central Govt Ministries / Depts | Group C | Level 4 | ₹25,500 | Y | 18% | 50% | ₹3,600 | ₹40,000-₹42,000 |
| Tax Assistant(CBDT) | CBDT (Income Tax Dept) | Group C | Level 4 | ₹25,500 | Z | 9% | 50% | ₹1,800 | ₹37,000-₹39,000 |
| Tax Assistant(CBIC) | CBIC(Dept of Revenue) | Group C | Level 4 | ₹25,500 | Z | 9% | 50% | ₹1,800 | ₹37,000-₹39,000 |
| Compiler | Registrar General of India | Group C | Level 4 | ₹25,500 | Z | 9% | 50% | ₹1,800 | ₹37,000-₹39,000 |
Conclusion
An entry into prestigious government posts isn’t just a blessing being provided to you by SSC CGL exam but also continues to carve you out as a better person both personally and professionally. SSC CGL is still one among the aspirations being set by many graduates across India. Moreover its attractive salary package also makes the aspirants to aspire high and dream to attain financial stability in the near future.
Also read about: SSC CHSL Salary, Post Wise Pay Scale & Benefits