SSC CHSL vs SSC CGL: Which Exam Should You Take?
One needs Class 12, the other a degree. That difference decides posts, pay and competition.
Choose SSC CGL if you hold (or are finishing) a bachelor's degree and want the higher pay ceiling: Group B posts like Income Tax Inspector and AAO at Level 6 and 7 scales. Choose SSC CHSL if you have passed Class 12 and want into central government service now, through Group C posts like LDC, Postal Assistant and DEO.
That is the whole verdict for most people, because eligibility decides it before preference does. The comparison below is for everyone in between: final-year students, graduates wondering if CHSL is a backup, and 12th-pass candidates deciding whether to wait.
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CHSL vs CGL at a Glance
Minimum education
SSC CHSL
Class 12 pass
SSC CGL
Bachelor's degree in any discipline
Post group
SSC CHSL
Group C (LDC, JSA, PA, SA, DEO)
SSC CGL
Group B and Group C
Top posts
SSC CHSL
DEO Grade A (SCI), PA/SA, DEO
SSC CGL
Income Tax Inspector, AAO, CBI SI, ASO
Entry pay bands
SSC CHSL
₹19,900-₹63,200 (LDC) up to ₹35,400-₹1,12,400 (DEO Grade A)
SSC CGL
₹35,400-₹1,12,400 up to ₹47,600-₹1,51,100 (AAO)
Extra stage
SSC CHSL
Skill/typing test for most posts
SSC CGL
Role-specific Tier 2 papers for some posts
Question level
SSC CHSL
Class 12 standard
SSC CGL
Graduate standard
| Factor | SSC CHSL | SSC CGL |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum education | Class 12 pass | Bachelor's degree in any discipline |
| Post group | Group C (LDC, JSA, PA, SA, DEO) | Group B and Group C |
| Top posts | DEO Grade A (SCI), PA/SA, DEO | Income Tax Inspector, AAO, CBI SI, ASO |
| Entry pay bands | ₹19,900-₹63,200 (LDC) up to ₹35,400-₹1,12,400 (DEO Grade A) | ₹35,400-₹1,12,400 up to ₹47,600-₹1,51,100 (AAO) |
| Extra stage | Skill/typing test for most posts | Role-specific Tier 2 papers for some posts |
| Question level | Class 12 standard | Graduate standard |
How Different Are the Exams Themselves?
Structurally, they rhyme. Both run a 60-minute, 100-question Tier 1 across the same four subjects, then a heavier Tier 2 where English is the largest section. A candidate prepared for one is most of the way prepared for the other.
The difference is pitch. CHSL questions sit at Class 12 standard and are considered slightly easier; CGL runs at graduate level, especially in Quant. But easier questions do not mean an easier exam: CHSL's applicant pool is huge relative to its 3,000 to 5,000-plus yearly vacancies, so its cut-off competition is fierce in its own right.
Both exams share subjects. See the question style free.
Where the Jobs Differ
- check_circleCGL's flagship posts (Income Tax Inspector, AAO) are Level 7 with gazetted status available; CHSL's ceiling is DEO Grade A at Level 6.
- check_circleCHSL posts are clerical and operational; CGL posts lean administrative, investigative and audit-oriented.
- check_circleCGL salaries are higher overall, both at entry and across the career ladder.
- check_circleCHSL adds a typing/skill test; CGL adds role-specific papers for statistics and finance posts.
The Case for Doing Both
For a graduate, the exams are not rivals; they are two tickets from largely the same preparation. The subjects overlap almost completely, CHSL's Tier 1 doubles as timed practice at slightly lower difficulty, and a CHSL post in hand takes the financial pressure off a CGL attempt. Plenty of candidates clear CHSL, join, and keep writing CGL from a government desk.
CHSL vs CGL FAQs
How is SSC CHSL different from SSC CGL?expand_more
CHSL requires a Class 12 pass while CGL needs graduation. CHSL recruits Group C posts (LDC, DEO, PA); CGL recruits Group B and Group C posts. CGL salaries are higher overall.
Is CHSL easier than CGL?expand_more
CHSL is considered slightly easier in question difficulty, being pitched at Class 12 level. The cut-off competition is still fierce given the number of applicants relative to vacancies.
Can a graduate write both CHSL and CGL?expand_more
Yes. Graduation satisfies CHSL's Class 12 requirement, and the two syllabi overlap heavily, so many graduates prepare once and attempt both in the same year.
Next steps
Start free practiceWhichever exam you pick, the subjects overlap. Start free.