SSC CGL is the graduate-level exam for higher Group B and C posts (Inspector, ASO, Auditor) at Pay Levels 4–8; SSC CHSL is the 12th-pass-level exam for clerical Group C posts (LDC, DEO, Postal Assistant) at Levels 2–4. If you are only 12th pass, CHSL is your route; graduates can write both, and most target CGL as the goal with CHSL as backup. This guide compares posts, pay, difficulty and strategy.
By Saurabh Kamal, Senior Editor — SSC & Central desk. Published 12 July 2026. Last verified 12 July 2026.
In short
- SSC CGL is the graduate-level exam for higher Group B and C posts (Inspector, Assistant Section Officer, Auditor, JSO) — more pay, more responsibility, tougher competition.
- SSC CHSL is the 12th-pass-level exam for clerical Group C posts (LDC/JSA, Data Entry Operator, Postal Assistant) — easier to reach, lower pay, huge number of applicants.
- If you are only 12th pass, CHSL is your route. If you are a graduate, you can write both — most serious aspirants target CGL as the goal and CHSL as a backup.
- CGL posts sit at Pay Levels 4–8; CHSL posts at Levels 2–4 — so CGL pays and promotes noticeably higher over a career.
Two of the Staff Selection Commission's biggest exams — CGL and CHSL — confuse lakhs of aspirants every year, because both are national SSC exams with similar-sounding stages. But they are aimed at different qualifications and different jobs. Picking the right one (or the right order) saves you a year. Here is the honest comparison.
The one-line difference
- SSC CGL (Combined Graduate Level) — you must be a graduate. It fills higher-grade Group B and C posts across ministries and departments.
- SSC CHSL (Combined Higher Secondary Level) — you need only Class 12 (10+2). It fills clerical and data-entry Group C posts.
So the first filter is simple: your qualification. A 12th-pass candidate can only write CHSL (and similar 10+2 exams). A graduate can write both.
Posts and pay compared
| SSC CGL | SSC CHSL | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum qualification | Bachelor's degree | Class 12 (10+2) pass |
| Typical posts | Inspector (Income Tax/CGST), Assistant Section Officer, Auditor/Accountant, Junior Statistical Officer, Tax Assistant, Sub-Inspector (CBI) | Lower Division Clerk / Junior Secretariat Assistant, Data Entry Operator, Postal Assistant / Sorting Assistant |
| Pay Level (7th CPC) | Level 4 to Level 8 (approx ₹25,500 to ₹47,600 basic) | Level 2 to Level 4 (approx ₹19,900 to ₹25,500 basic) |
| Job profile | Officer/executive and specialised roles | Clerical, secretariat and data-entry roles |
| Career growth | Higher starting grade, faster reach to officer roles | Steady clerical promotions over time |
(Pay figures are approximate basic pay; in-hand depends on DA, HRA and city — use our in-hand salary calculator to estimate your own.)
The takeaway: CGL posts start higher and grow higher. An Assistant Section Officer or Inspector (CGL) begins a rung or two above a Lower Division Clerk (CHSL), and the gap compounds over a career.
Exam structure — both are multi-stage
Both exams are computer-based and run in tiers:
- SSC CGL has a Tier-1 (objective screening) and a Tier-2 (the scoring stage, with sections on quantitative aptitude, English, reasoning and general awareness, plus a computer/skill component for some posts).
- SSC CHSL has a Tier-1 (objective) and a Tier-2 (objective plus a typing / skill test — Data Entry Speed Test for DEO, typing test for LDC/JSA).
Both apply negative marking in the objective papers, so accuracy matters. The exact marks, number of questions and negative-marking ratio are set in each year's official notice — always confirm them there. You can estimate your score from the answer key using our exam score calculator.
Difficulty — which is harder?
- SSC CGL is harder in absolute terms — the syllabus is deeper (especially Tier-2 quant and English), and the competition is graduate-level. But the applicant pool is smaller than CHSL's because of the degree requirement.
- SSC CHSL is more accessible (only 12th needed), which makes the applicant volume enormous and the cut-offs competitive in their own right, plus the typing/DEST skill test is a real filter that trips up candidates who don't practise.
So "easier" cuts both ways: CHSL has a lower syllabus bar but a massive crowd and a skill test; CGL has a higher bar but a graduate-only field.
So which should you choose?
- You are 12th pass (not a graduate yet): target CHSL (and other 10+2 exams). Start typing practice early — the skill test decides many CHSL selections.
- You are a graduate: make CGL your primary goal — better posts and pay — and write CHSL as a backup in the same preparation cycle, since the Tier-1 syllabi overlap heavily (quant, reasoning, English, GA). Preparing for CGL largely prepares you for CHSL too.
- You want the fastest possible government job and pay is secondary: CHSL's larger vacancy base can mean a quicker entry, after which many candidates keep attempting CGL for a better post.
The smart strategy: prepare once, write both
Because the Tier-1 syllabus overlaps so much, a graduate can prepare a single foundation — quantitative aptitude, reasoning, English and general awareness — and attempt both CGL and CHSL in the same year. Treat CGL as the target and CHSL as insurance. If you are still completing your degree, build the same foundation now through CHSL, and step up to CGL the moment you graduate.
Frequently asked questions
Can a graduate apply for SSC CHSL?
Is SSC CGL tougher than CHSL?
Which pays more, CGL or CHSL?
Should I prepare separately for CGL and CHSL?
Related reading
Compare SSC CGL Tier-1 vs Tier-2, read the SSC CGL preparation plan, and see how the pay matrix and pay levels translate into salary. For live vacancies and dates, always follow the year's official SSC notification on ssc.gov.in.