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SSC CGL Exam Analysis 16 October 2026 — Shift 2

SSC CGL 2026 Tier 1 · 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM IST · Updated 17 Oct, 12:40 am IST

Reported4 linked sources · unofficial candidate reports
Overall difficulty
Moderate to Difficult
Reported attempts
65-73 / 100
Shift timing
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM IST

Shift 2 was reported as Moderate to Difficult overall, with candidates attempting 65-73 questions well. General Awareness and Quantitative Aptitude were the toughest sections, while Reasoning and English were comparatively easier. Most reports noted a focus on fixed topics in GA, with repeated questions on constitutional articles, economic reforms, and government schemes. Quantitative Aptitude posed timing challenges, especially in Data Interpretation and Trigonometry.

Section overview

General Intelligence & Reasoning

25 questions · 50 marks

Difficulty
Moderate to Difficult
Reported attempts
21

General Awareness

25 questions · 50 marks

Difficulty
Difficult
Reported attempts
10-14

Quantitative Aptitude

25 questions · 50 marks

Difficulty
Very Difficult
Reported attempts
14-17

English Comprehension

25 questions · 50 marks

Difficulty
Moderate to Difficult
Reported attempts
17-21

Topics asked, section by section

General Intelligence & Reasoning

Moderate to Difficult

Reported as doable with no major timing issues. Candidates said it could be finished within 15 minutes.

  • Blood Relation · 2
  • Mirror Image · 1
  • Missing Term Series · 1
  • Calendar · 1
  • Direction & Distance · 1

General Awareness

Difficult

Reported as the most challenging section. Candidates said it stuck to 4-5 fixed topics, with repeated questions on constitutional articles, economic reforms, and government schemes.

  • Indian Polity · 6
  • Economy · 4
  • Geography · 4
  • Science & Technology · 3
  • History · 3
  • 1991 economic reforms · 2
  • Ancient History - Paleolithic sites · 1
  • Neolithic sites - Jammu and Kashmir · 1

Quantitative Aptitude

Very Difficult

Reported as very difficult with major timing issues. Candidates said only 18-19 questions were attempted, with struggles in Trigonometry and Data Interpretation being skipped entirely.

  • Percentage · 2
  • Time & Work · 2
  • Speed Distance Time · 2
  • Algebra · 2
  • Mensuration

English Comprehension

Moderate to Difficult

Reported as doable but lengthy and time-consuming. Candidates said it was easier compared to other sections.

  • Error Spotting · 2
  • Sentence Improvement · 2
  • Idiom & Phrase · 2
  • One Word Substitution · 1
  • Fill in the Blanks · 1

Topics with an arrow link to our free notes and practice questions for that topic.

Questions asked (memory-based)

What candidates recalled after the shift, reworded. Exact wording and options may differ from the real paper.

General Awareness

  1. 1

    Dr. Bhim Singh Bhavesh, awarded Padma Shri in 2025 for social work, belongs to which state? (Bihar)

  2. 2

    Which statement best describes the structural change in Indian economy as a major impact of 1991 economic reforms? (Expansion of industrial and service sectors, decline in agriculture's GDP share)

  3. 3

    Before appointing a judge to Supreme Court or High Court, whose advice is important for the President? (Chief Justice of India and collegium)

  4. 4

    By what name is the Tenth Schedule of the Indian Constitution popularly known? (Anti-defection law)

  5. 5

    Government of India's MISHTI scheme is mainly related to? (Conservation and plantation of mangrove forests along the coastline)

  6. 6

    Under Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Yojana, how much daily stipend is given to a trainee or artisan during skill enhancement training? (₹500 per day)

  7. 7

    If a person released after serving 4-year sentence commits offense again, what principle applies to sentencing? (Habitual offender, harsher sentence)

  8. 8

    In which Olympic Games did India win total of seven medals for most successful performance? (2020 Tokyo Olympics)

  9. 9

    Meghalaya Plateau, including Garo, Khasi, Jaintia hills, is extended part of which geographical division? (Peninsular Plateau)

  10. 10

    According to World Happiness Report 2026, how many countries recorded significant improvement in happiness rankings? (79 countries)

  11. 11

    Under Article 127 of Indian Constitution, whose prior consent does Chief Justice of India require for appointment of ad hoc judge in Supreme Court? (President of India)

  12. 12

    Under which political leader's regime was the world's first five-year plan initiated? (Joseph Stalin)

English Comprehension

  1. 1

    Meaning of idiom: 'The famous politician lost the election after the media revealed skeletons in his closet.' (Embarrassing or shocking secret from the past)

General Intelligence & Reasoning

  1. 1

    If a bus is moving at steady speed and driver applies sudden brakes, what happens to person sitting in bus? (Feels jerk forward, Newton's first law)

What candidates noticed

  • General Awareness had repeated questions on constitutional articles, economic reforms, and government schemes across shifts.
  • Quantitative Aptitude was the most challenging section with timing issues, especially in Data Interpretation and Trigonometry.
  • Reasoning was reported as the easiest section, doable within 15 minutes without timing pressure.
  • English section was considered lengthy but manageable, with a focus on error spotting and idioms.

Where reviews disagree

  • 4 reports called Quant difficult to very difficult, while 1 report called it moderate.
  • 3 reports called GA difficult, while 1 report called it easy.
  • 2 reports called English moderate to difficult, while 2 reports called it easy.
  • 2 reports called overall moderate to difficult, while 2 reports called it moderate or easy to moderate.

Other shifts on 16 October

Shift 1
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM IST
Easy to Moderate
Shift 3
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM IST
Easy to Moderate

Sources

Automatically compiled from the linked reviews. Source agreement does not guarantee accuracy; this is not a manually verified paper. Difficulty and attempt figures are unofficial.

How we use sources and correct errors

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FAQs

How was the SSC CGL 16 October 2026 Shift 2 paper?

Candidates rated the 16 October 2026 Shift 2 paper Moderate to Difficult overall. Shift 2 was reported as Moderate to Difficult overall, with candidates attempting 65-73 questions well. General Awareness and Quantitative Aptitude were the toughest sections, while Reasoning and English were comparatively easier. Most reports noted a focus on fixed topics in GA, with repeated questions on constitutional articles, economic reforms, and government schemes. Quantitative Aptitude posed timing challenges, especially in Data Interpretation and Trigonometry.

What attempt range was reported for SSC CGL 16 October 2026 Shift 2?

65-73 overall out of 100 questions, according to the linked reviews. This is an unofficial reported range, not a recommended attempt count or safe-score prediction.

Which General Intelligence & Reasoning topics were asked in SSC CGL 16 October 2026 Shift 2?

General Intelligence & Reasoning was Moderate to Difficult. Topics reported: Blood Relation (2), Mirror Image (1), Missing Term Series (1), Calendar (1), Direction & Distance (1).

Which General Awareness topics were asked in SSC CGL 16 October 2026 Shift 2?

General Awareness was Difficult. Topics reported: Indian Polity (6), Economy (4), Geography (4), Science & Technology (3), History (3), 1991 economic reforms (2), Ancient History - Paleolithic sites (1), Neolithic sites - Jammu and Kashmir (1).

Which Quantitative Aptitude topics were asked in SSC CGL 16 October 2026 Shift 2?

Quantitative Aptitude was Very Difficult. Topics reported: Percentage (2), Time & Work (2), Speed Distance Time (2), Algebra (2), Mensuration.

Which English Comprehension topics were asked in SSC CGL 16 October 2026 Shift 2?

English Comprehension was Moderate to Difficult. Topics reported: Error Spotting (2), Sentence Improvement (2), Idiom & Phrase (2), One Word Substitution (1), Fill in the Blanks (1).

What was the overall difficulty level of SSC CGL 2026 Tier 1 Shift 1 on 16 October 2026?

Shift 1 on 16 October 2026 was reported as Easy to Moderate by most candidates. The exam covered General Awareness, Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, and English, with several General Awareness questions repeating across sources, including topics like the Forest Man of India and 1991 economic reforms.

How was the difficulty level and performance in SSC CGL 2026 Tier 1 Shift 2 on 16 October 2026?

Shift 2 on 16 October 2026 was reported as Moderate to Difficult overall. General Awareness and Quantitative Aptitude were identified as the toughest sections, while Reasoning and English were comparatively easier. Candidates noted timing challenges, particularly in Data Interpretation and Trigonometry under Quantitative Aptitude.

What was the analysis for SSC CGL 2026 Tier 1 Shift 3 on 16 October 2026?

Shift 3 on 16 October 2026 was reported as Easy to Moderate. The pattern was largely similar to previous years, except for changes in sectional timing. No technical issues were reported, and the exam proceeded smoothly. Good attempts for this shift are not reliably reported.

Were there any repeated questions in the General Awareness section of SSC CGL 2026 Tier 1 on 16 October 2026?

Yes, several General Awareness questions were reported as repeated across sources in the 16 October 2026 exam. Common topics included the Forest Man of India, 1991 economic reforms, constitutional articles, and government schemes. Some sources also provided answer keys alongside the questions.

Does SSC normalise scores across shifts for SSC CGL 2026 Tier 1 conducted on 16 October 2026?

Yes, the Staff Subordinate Commission normalises scores across all shifts of the SSC CGL 2026 Tier 1 exam, including those conducted on 16 October 2026. This ensures that variations in difficulty levels across shifts do not affect the fairness of the evaluation process.