• Written By Monica_Kumari
  • Last Modified 28-04-2023

SSC CGL or SSC CHSL – Which one has a better career opportunity?

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Are you unsure whether to take the SSC CGL or SSC CHSL? You must be thinking which is the better job or which will be the easiest to crack. These kinds of questions are extremely common among SSC aspirants. Hence, to address your query, we have provided the difference Between SSC CGL and SSC CHSL in this blog. 

The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) is a government entity in charge of administering various exams to recruit suitable candidates in the Government of India’s ministries, departments, and organizations. The two most popular recruitment tests are the SSC CGL and SSC CHSL. Scroll down to learn the differences between the two exams regarding their positions, exam pattern, salary and more.  

Difference Between SSC CGL and SSC CHSL

The SSC CGL exam stands for Combined Graduate Level. This recruitment exam is held to select applicants for various Grade “B” and “C” category positions in various Government Ministries, Departments, and Offices. There are 2 stages in the selection process: Tier 1 Computer-Based Examination and Tier 2.

Moreover, the SSC CHSL full form is Combined Higher Secondary Level. This is a national-level exam held to choose Higher Secondary qualified candidates for various departments and offices of the Indian Government. This exam consists of 2 stages, namely, Tier 1 (Objective Multiple Choice) and Tier 2 (Objective Multiple Choice + Skill Test & Typing Test).

However, when it comes to attempting the SSC CGL and CHSL examinations, students frequently need clarification about which exam gives a better career, salary and so on. Read on to get answers to all the questions.

Comparison Between SSC CGL & SSC CHSL Eligibility

The Staff Selection Commission establishes different eligibility standards for SSC CGL & SSC CHSL exams, primarily in terms of educational background and age limit. Check out the eligibility criteria for both exams below:

Eligibility FactorsSSC CGL Eligibility CriteriaSSC CHSL Eligibility Criteria
Educational QualificationBachelor’s degree from a recognized board or university in any discipline.A 12th Standard or equivalent examination from a recognized Board or University is required.
Age Limit18 years to 32 years (depending on various posts)18 years to 27 years

Note: The eligibility requirements that candidates must meet to sit for these tests are detailed in the following link:

Difference Between SSC CGL & SSC CHSL – Exam Pattern

Check out the difference between exam patterns for SSC CGL & SSC CHSL from the below table:

ParticularsSSC CGL Exam Pattern HighlightsSSC CHSL Exam Pattern Highlights
Number of Tiers2  2
Exam ModeTier 1: Online 
Tier 2: Online
Tier 1: Online 
Tier 2: Offline 
Exam SubjectsTier 1: 4 sections (English Intelligence & Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, English Comprehension)
Tier 2: 3 papers will be conducted. The details are given below:
Paper 1: Mathematical Abilities, Reasoning and General Intelligence, English Language and Comprehension, General Awareness, Computer Knowledge & Data Entry Skills
Paper 2: Statistics
Paper 3: General Studies-Finance and Economics
Tier 1: 4 (English Language, General Intelligence, Quantitative Aptitude and General Awareness)
Tier 2: 2 sessions
Exam DurationTier 1: 60 minutes
Tier 2: 
– 150 minutes for Paper 1
– 120 minutes each for Paper 2 and 3
Tier I: 60 minutes
Tier 2: 
– Session 1: 2 hours 15 minutes
– Session 2: 25 minutes
Total MarksTier 1: 200
Tier 2: 850
Tier 1: 200
Tier 2 (Session 1): 
Section 1: 180 Marks
Section 2: 180 Marks
Section 3: 45 Marks
Type of QuestionsTier 1: MCQs
Tier 2: MCQs + DEST
Tier 1: MCQs
Tier 2: Objective Type, Multiple choice questions, except for Module 2 of Section-3

SSC CGL Vs SSC CHSL – Posts

The following are the posts for which recruitment is done under SSC CGL and SSC CHSL for applicants who intend to apply for the upcoming exams:

SSC CGL PostsSSC CHSL Posts
– Assistant Audit Officer
– Assistant Accounts Officer
– Assistant Section Officer (Central Secretariat Service, Intelligence Bureau, Ministry of Railway, Ministry of External Affairs and other Ministries)
– Assistant (Government Ministries)
– Inspector (Central Excise & Income Tax)
– Sub Inspector (CBI & NIA)
– Junior and Senior Statistical Officer
– Auditor, Accountant
– Tax Assistant
– Lower Divisional Clerk/ Junior Secretariat Assistant
– Postal Assistant/ Sorting Assistant
– Data Entry Operators

Difference between SSC CGL & SSC CHSL – Salaries

The following is the salary structure for SSC CGL and SSC CHSL:

SSC CGL SalarySSC CHSL Salary
The SSC CGL grade pay for different posts varies from 2400-4800The SSC CHSL grade pay for different posts is between 1900-2400
The initial basic pay for different posts varies from Rs.24,446 to Rs. 61,424The initial basic pay for different posts varies from Rs. 5200 to Rs,20,200

FAQs: Difference Between SSC CGL and SSC CHSL

Below are some of the most commonly asked questions on the distinction between SSC CGL and SSC CHSL.

Q: Is the SSC CGL exam tougher than SSC CHSL?

A: Yes, the SSC CGL exam is more difficult. This is due to the fact that SSC CGL questions are more complicated and of a graduate level. Moreover, SSC CHSL questions are from the 12th grade. As a result, the CGL exam is considered more difficult than the CHSL exam.

Q: What does SSC CGL stand for?

A: The full form of SSC CGL is Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level.

Q: What is SSC CHSL?

A: SSC CHSL is held to select applicants for Lower Division Clerk (LDC)/ Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA), Postal Assistant (PA)/ Sorting Assistant (SA), and Data Entry Operator (DEO) positions.

Q: Can a 12th pass appear for both SSC CGL & SSC CHSL?

A: No. Candidates can appear for the SSC CHSL Exam after passing the 12th. However, they must be a graduate to take the SSC CGL Exam.

Q: What is the age limit to sit for SSC CGL recruitment?

A: Candidates who want to apply for the SSC CGL recruitment must be between 18 and 32 years old.

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