The Staff Selection Commission conducts both the SSC CGL and SSC CHSL exams every year. While both exams attract lakhs of candidates, only a limited number are selected for the government posts offered through them. To facilitate your concern and confusion this elaborate comparative analysis of both exams will discuss eligibility, patterns, syllabi, job profiles, salaries, career progression, and more.
SSC CGL Vs SSC CHSL
The SSC CGL and SSC CHSL exams differ in terms of eligibility, exam level, and job roles. Candidates can choose to appear for one or both exams based on their qualifications and career goals. This section will help you understand the key differences so you can decide which exam suits you best.
SSC CGL 2025 Vs SSC CHSL 2025 Exam – Overview
The SSC CGL and SSC CHSL exams differ in eligibility, posts, and exam level. The table below gives a quick comparison to help you understand both exams better.
| Particulars | SSC CHSL 2025 | SSC CGL 2025 |
| Recruitment Agency | Staff Selection Commission (SSC) | Staff Selection Commission (SSC) |
| Exam Name | Combined Higher Secondary Level (CHSL) | Combined Graduate Level (CGL) |
| Typical Posts Offered | JSA, DEO, LDC | Tax Assistant, Auditor, Inspector, etc. |
| Advertisement No. | SSC CHSL 2025 | SSC CGL 2025 |
| Vacancies | 3,131 (tentative) | 14,582 |
| Application Dates | June 23 – July 18, 2025 | June 9 – July 4, 2025 |
| Job Locations | All India | All India |
| Application Mode | Online | Online |
| Conducting Body | Staff Selection Commission (SSC) | Staff Selection Commission (SSC) |
| Exam Level | National | National |
| Frequency | Annual | Annual |
| Exam Mode | Online | Online |
| Exam Duration | Tier-I: 60 min Tier-II: 2 h 15 min | Tier-I: 60 min Tier-II (Paper I): 2 h 30 min |
| Medium of Exam | Hindi / English | Hindi / English |
| Helpdesk | 011-69999845 | 011-69999845 |
| Official Website | ssc.gov.in | ssc.gov.in |
SSC CGL Vs SSC CHSL 2025 Exam – Important Dates
The Staff Selection Commission has released the important dates for both the CGL 2025 and CHSL 2025 examinations, as provided in the table below:
| Events | SSC CGL 2025 Date | SSC CHSL 2025 Date |
| Notification Release Date | June 9, 2025 | June 23, 2025 |
| Apply Online Start Date | June 9, 2025 | June 23, 2025 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | July 4, 2025 (11:00 PM) | July 18, 2025 (11:00 PM) |
| Tier-I Exam Dates | August 13–30, 2025 | September 8–18, 2025 |
SSC CGL Vs SSC CHSL – Posts
Candidates are selected for different positions through two main exams: the Combined Higher Secondary Level (CHSL) and the Combined Graduate Level (CGL).
| Particulars | SSC CHSL 2025 | SSC CGL 2025 |
| Positions | 1. Lower Division Clerk (LDC) 2. Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA) 3. Postal Assistant (PA) 4. Sorting Assistant (SA) 5. Data Entry Operator (DEO) | 1. Assistant Audit Officer (AAO) 2. Assistant Accounts Officer (AAOcc) 3. Assistant Section Officer (ASO) 4. Inspector (Income Tax) 5. Inspector (Central Excise) 6. Assistant Enforcement Officer 7. Sub-Inspector (CBI, NIA) 8. Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) 9. Senior Statistical Officer (SSO) 10. Tax Assistant 11. Divisional Accountant 12. Research Assistant 13. Auditor |
| Purpose | Fills Group C clerical and data-entry roles | Fills Group B and Group C professional and supervisory roles |
| Scope | Office support, record keeping, data processing | Finance, administration, investigation, statistics, and audit services |
SSC CGL Vs SSC CHSL – Eligibility Criteria
The SSC CGL Exam varies in a number of ways from the SSC CHSL Exam in the eligibility criteria. Interested candidates must go through the details to have a clear idea about the eligibility details for both exams.
SSC CGL Vs SSC CHSL – Age Limit
The age limits vary for both examinations, with details provided in the table below:
| Exam | Minimum Age Limit | Maximum Age Limit |
| SSC CGL | 18 years | 32 years |
| SSC CHSL | 18 years | 27 years |
SSC CGL Vs SSC CHSL – Educational Qualification
The educational requirements differ between the two exams. SSC CGL is for candidates with a graduate degree, whereas SSC CHSL is for those with a 10+2 qualification. However, candidates holding a graduate degree are eligible for both SSC CGL and SSC CHSL, whereas those with a 10+2 qualification can only apply for SSC CHSL.
| SSC CGL Exam | SSC CHSL Exam |
| All other Posts except Assistant Audit Officer/Assistant Accounts Officer and JSO: Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized University or equivalent. Candidates in the final year of graduation can also apply. Assistant Audit Officer/Assistant Accounts Officer: Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized University or Institute. Desirable qualifications include Chartered Accountant, Cost & Management Accountant, Company Secretary, Masters in Commerce, Master in Business Studies, Master in Business Administration (Finance), or Master in Business Economics. Junior Statistical Officer: Bachelor’s Degree in any subject with at least 60% Marks in Mathematics at 12th standard level, or Bachelor’s Degree in any subject with Statistics as one of the subjects at the degree level. | For Lower Division Clerk (LDC)/Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA) and Data Entry Operator (DEO): Candidates must have passed the 12th Standard or equivalent examination from a recognized Board or University. For Data Entry Operator (DEO Grade ‘A’) in the Office of Comptroller and Auditor General of India (C&AG): 12th Standard pass in Science streams with Mathematics as a subject from a recognized Board or equivalent. Candidates appearing in their 12th Standard or equivalent examination can also apply, provided they possess essential qualifications on or before the cutoff date provided in the Notification. |
SSC CGL Vs SSC CHSL – Nationality
To be considered eligible for both the SSC CHSL and the SSC CGL Exam 2025, candidates must meet specific criteria outlined by the government. The eligibility requirements are as follows:
- Indian Citizenship: Candidates must be citizens of India.
- Nepalese Citizenship: Individuals holding citizenship of Nepal are also eligible to apply.
- Bhutanese Citizenship: Citizenship of Bhutan qualifies individuals for candidacy.
- Tibetan Refugees: Tibetan refugees who arrived in India before 1st January 1962, with the intention of permanent settlement, are eligible.
- Persons of Indian Origin: Individuals of Indian origin who have migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, and several East African countries such as Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, and Vietnam, with the intention of permanent settlement in India, are also eligible to apply.
SSC CHSL Vs SSC CGL – Exam Pattern
The SSC CHSL and SSC CGL exam patterns are somewhat similar in Tier 1, but they differ in Tier 2 in structure and difficulty level. CGL questions are set at graduation level, while CHSL questions are based on the 10+2 level.
| Particulars | SSC CGL 2025 | SSC CHSL 2025 |
| Tier 1 Subjects | General Intelligence & Reasoning Quantitative Aptitude English Comprehension General Awareness | General Intelligence Quantitative Aptitude English Language General Awareness |
| Total Questions | 100 (25 per section) | 100 (25 per section) |
| Total Marks | 200 | 200 |
| Duration | 60 minutes | 60 minutes |
| Negative Marking | 0.50 marks for each wrong answer | 0.50 marks for each wrong answer |
| Exam Mode | Online (Objective type) | Online (Objective type) |
| Tier 2 (Main Stage) | Paper I (Compulsory for all): – Maths (30 Q) – Reasoning (30 Q) – English (45 Q) – General Awareness (25 Q) – Computer Knowledge (20 Q) Total Marks: 390 Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes Paper II: For JSO post (Statistics) – 100 Q, 200 Marks, 2 hours Paper III: For AAO/AAO post (Finance & Economics) – 100 Q, 200 Marks, 2 hours | Session I: – Maths (30 Q) – Reasoning (30 Q) – English (40 Q) – General Awareness (20 Q) – Computer Knowledge (15 Q) Total Marks: 360 Duration: 2 hours 15 minutes Session II: Skill Test for DEOTyping Test for LDC/JSA Duration: 10–15 minutes |
| Difficulty Level | Graduation level | 10+2 level |
SSC CGL Vs SSC CHSL – Salary
Understanding these salary differences is essential for candidates considering government job opportunities through SSC CGL vs SSC CHSL.
| SSC CGL Salary Range | SSC CHSL Salary Range |
| Rs. 25,500 – Rs. 1,51,100 per month | Rs. 19,900 – Rs. 92,300 per month |
| Salaries vary based on position and experience | Salaries vary based on position and experience |
SSC CGL Vs SSC CHSL – Job Profile
When considering a career in the government sector through the Staff Selection Commission (SSC), understanding the job profiles offered by the SSC CGL (Combined Graduate Level) and SSC CHSL (Combined Higher Secondary Level) exams is crucial.
| SSC CGL | SSC CHSL |
| The various job profiles are: 1. Conducting Audits of Govt/Public sector organizations 2. Verifying taxation on goods 3. Recordkeeping, compiling reports, maintaining files 4. Investigating 5. Carrying out inspections, raids, surveillance 6. Tax evasion detection 7. Prevention of Smuggling, Money Laundering & Forgery 8. Assessing Customs Duty on Goods | The job profile will be one of the following : 1. Manual feeding of data in the computer. 2. Taking care of the entire clerical work and maintaining workflow in the office. 3. Updating and maintaining documents, entering and creating important, relevant data in the computer database. 4. Maintaining the data and disposing of the mail at regular intervals. 5. Handling and Solving all customer-related queries. |
SSC CGL Vs SSC CHSL – Career Growth
Career growth opportunities vary significantly between SSC CGL and SSC CHSL.
| SSC CGL | SSC CHSL |
| Group ‘B’ and ‘C’ officers can be posted anywhere in India, post-recruitment. After a few years of service, they’re promoted to Senior Audit Officers (SAO) Commissioners Principal Directors Deputy Secretaries Senior Superintendent Senior Divisional Account Officers Narcotics Commissioners Additional Commissioner of Income Tax Senior Accounts Officers | LDC can be promoted to UDC and subsequently Section Officer as Highest promotion. DEO can be promoted to the highest post of System Analyst PA/SA can be promoted to the highest post of Chief Supervisor – Higher Selection Grade III. |
| Transfer: Every 3-5 years | Transfer: After 3-4 years or depending on the availability |
SSC CGL Vs SSC CHSL – Conclusion
In conclusion, both the SSC CGL and SSC CHSL examinations offer promising career opportunities in the Indian government sector.
- SSC CGL: Provides access to various Group B and Group C positions across ministries, departments, and organizations of the Government of India. The salary range varies depending on the position, with higher potential earnings compared to SSC CHSL.
- SSC CHSL: Primarily focuses on filling Group C positions such as Lower Division Clerk, Junior Secretariat Assistant, and Data Entry Operator. While the salary range is competitive, it generally falls within a lower range compared to SSC CGL positions.
Overall, the choice between SSC CGL and SSC CHSL depends on individual career aspirations, educational background, preferences for job roles, and salary potential.
SSC CGL Vs SSC CHSL – FAQs
SSC CGL requires a bachelor’s degree, while SSC CHSL requires a 10+2 qualification.
Both exams are conducted annually by the Staff Selection Commission.
Yes, candidates can apply for both exams if they meet the eligibility criteria.
No, SSC CGL requires a bachelor’s degree for eligibility. However, candidates can apply for SSC CHSL after completing their 12th standard.
Ans. SSC CGL salaries range from ₹25,500 to ₹1,51,100, while CHSL salaries range from ₹19,900 to ₹92,300.
Ans. SSC CGL is better for long-term growth, salary, and senior government positions.
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