The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has released the notification for the Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination, 2026, commonly known as SSC CHSL 2026. The examination is conducted for recruitment to various Group C posts such as Lower Divisional Clerk (LDC), Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA), Data Entry Operator (DEO) and Data Entry Operator Grade ‘A’ in different Central Government departments and offices.
For candidates who have completed Class 12 and are looking for a government job, SSC CHSL remains an important examination. Here is a complete overview of the SSC CHSL 2026 notification, including important dates, vacancies, eligibility, salary, exam pattern, syllabus, typing/skill test and selection process.
SSC CHSL 2026: Important Dates
According to the official notification, the online application process begins on 7 September 2026 and candidates can submit their applications up to 7 October 2026.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification/Application begins | 7 September 2026 |
| Last date to apply online | 7 October 2026 |
| Last time for application submission | 11:00 PM |
| Last date for online fee payment | 8 October 2026 |
| Application correction window | 14–16 October 2026 |
| Tier-I Examination | To be notified |
| Tier-II Examination | To be notified |
The SSC has advised candidates not to wait until the final day to submit their forms because heavy website traffic can create difficulties during the closing period.
SSC CHSL 2026 Vacancy
SSC has announced approximately 2,536 tentative vacancies for CHSL 2026.
However, candidates should remember that this is not the final vacancy figure. The final number of vacancies will be determined after the Commission receives and scrutinizes vacancy information from the concerned departments.
The updated vacancy details, including post-wise and category-wise vacancies, will be published by SSC subsequently. SSC also makes it clear that it does not collect vacancies separately on a state-wise or zone-wise basis.
Posts covered under SSC CHSL 2026
The examination is being conducted for posts including:
- Lower Divisional Clerk (LDC)
- Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA)
- Data Entry Operator (DEO)
- Data Entry Operator Grade ‘A’
These are Group C positions in various Ministries, Departments, Offices and other government organizations.
SSC CHSL 2026 Salary
The pay level depends upon the post allotted to the candidate.
| Post | Pay Level | Pay Scale |
|---|---|---|
| LDC/JSA | Level 2 | ₹19,900 – ₹63,200 |
| DEO | Level 4 | ₹25,500 – ₹81,100 |
| DEO | Level 5 | ₹29,200 – ₹92,300 |
| DEO Grade ‘A’ | Level 4 | ₹25,500 – ₹81,100 |
The final post allotted to a candidate depends on merit and the preferences submitted by the candidate.
SSC CHSL 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
For LDC/JSA and most DEO/DEO Grade ‘A’ posts, candidates must have passed Class 12 or an equivalent examination from a recognized Board or University.
There is an important exception for certain DEO/DEO Grade ‘A’ posts in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, SSC and Ministry of Culture. For these posts, candidates must have passed Class 12 in the Science stream with Mathematics as a subject.
Candidates appearing in their Class 12 examination can also apply, but they must obtain the required qualification by 7 October 2026. The result of the qualifying examination must have been declared by the Board/University by this date.
Important point for students
Simply appearing for Class 12 or waiting for the result is not sufficient. The required qualification must be completed within the prescribed cut-off date.
SSC CHSL 2026 Age Limit
The age is calculated as on 1 August 2026.
The normal age limit is:
18 to 27 years
Therefore, candidates born between 2 August 1999 and 1 August 2008, both dates inclusive, are eligible under the normal age criterion.
Age Relaxation
| Category | Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC/ST | 5 years |
| OBC | 3 years |
| PwBD | 10 years |
| PwBD + OBC | 13 years |
| PwBD + SC/ST | 15 years |
| Eligible Ex-Servicemen | As per SSC rules |
Other prescribed relaxations are available for specified categories such as eligible Central Government civilian employees, certain defence personnel and widows/divorced women/women judicially separated and not remarried.
SSC CHSL 2026 Application Form
Candidates have to submit their applications online through the new SSC website or through the mySSC mobile application.
A candidate who has not generated an OTR on the new SSC website will first have to complete One-Time Registration (OTR). An OTR created on the old SSC website will not work on the new website.
SSC has also advised candidates to use Aadhaar-based authentication during the OTR process.
Photograph and Signature
The application system captures the candidate’s photograph through the camera. Candidates should:
- Use a well-lit place.
- Keep a plain background.
- Position the camera approximately at eye level.
- Face the camera directly.
- Keep the complete face within the designated area.
- Avoid wearing a cap, mask or spectacles while capturing the photograph.
The scanned signature is required in JPEG/JPG format and should be approximately 10–20 KB, with dimensions of about 6 cm × 2 cm.
SSC CHSL 2026 Application Fee
The application fee is ₹100.
However, women candidates and candidates belonging to SC, ST, PwBD and eligible Ex-Servicemen categories are exempt from paying the examination fee.
The fee can be paid online through:
- BHIM UPI
- Net Banking
- Visa
- MasterCard
- Maestro
- RuPay Debit Card
The last date for online fee payment is 8 October 2026 up to 11:00 PM.
SSC CHSL 2026 Application Correction
SSC will provide a correction window from:
14 October 2026 to 16 October 2026
Eligible candidates can modify and resubmit their applications during this period.
The correction charges are:
- First correction: ₹200
- Second correction: ₹500
A candidate can submit the corrected application a maximum of two times during the correction window.
Therefore, candidates should carefully check every detail before submitting the application.
SSC CHSL 2026 Exam Pattern
The SSC CHSL 2026 examination will be conducted in two tiers:
- Tier-I
- Tier-II
The Commission may normalize marks when an examination is conducted in multiple shifts.
SSC CHSL Tier-I Exam Pattern
Tier-I consists of four sections:
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| English Language | 25 | 50 |
| General Intelligence | 25 | 50 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 |
| General Awareness | 25 | 50 |
| Total | 100 | 200 |
The normal examination duration is 60 minutes, with a 15-minute sectional timer for each subject.
Candidates eligible for the prescribed scribe facility receive additional time as specified in the notification.
Negative Marking in Tier-I
There is a penalty of 0.50 marks for every incorrect answer in Tier-I.
Candidates should therefore avoid random guessing, particularly when they are not reasonably confident about an answer.
SSC CHSL Tier-II Exam Pattern
Tier-II is divided into four sections and is conducted in two sessions on the same day.
Section-I
Mathematical Abilities + Reasoning and General Intelligence
- Mathematical Abilities: 30 questions
- Reasoning and General Intelligence: 30 questions
- Total: 60 questions
- Marks: 180
- Time: 1 hour
Section-II
English Language & Comprehension + General Awareness
- English Language & Comprehension: 40 questions
- General Awareness: 20 questions
- Total: 60 questions
- Marks: 180
- Time: 1 hour
Section-III
Computer Knowledge Test
- Questions: 15
- Marks: 45
- Time: 15 minutes
Section-IV
Skill Test/Typing Test
This section depends on the post applied for.
Tier-II Session Structure
Session-I consists of:
- Section-I – Mathematical Abilities & Reasoning
- Section-II – English & General Awareness
- Section-III – Computer Knowledge
The duration of Session-I is 2 hours 15 minutes.
After Session-I, candidates receive a break for re-registration, after which Session-II is conducted for the Skill Test/Typing Test.
There is 1 mark negative marking for each wrong answer in Sections I, II and III of Tier-II.
SSC CHSL Typing Test and Skill Test
This is an important part of the examination, especially for candidates targeting LDC/JSA and DEO posts.
For DEO Posts
For specified DEO/DEO Grade ‘A’ posts mentioned in the notification, the required skill test speed is:
15,000 key depressions per hour
The test duration is 15 minutes and the passage contains approximately 3,700–4,000 key depressions.
For other DEO/DEO Grade ‘A’ posts, the required speed is:
8,000 key depressions per hour
The test lasts 15 minutes, with approximately 2,000–2,200 key depressions in the passage.
The DEO Skill Test is mandatory for candidates appearing for DEO posts.
For LDC/JSA Typing Test
Candidates can choose either:
- English
- Hindi
The choice made in the application form is treated as final.
Required Typing Speed
English: 35 words per minute
Hindi: 30 words per minute
The corresponding approximate key depressions are 10,500 per hour for English and 9,000 per hour for Hindi.
The typing speed is assessed through a 10-minute computer-based typing test.
Candidates choosing Hindi for the LDC/JSA typing test must use Mangal Font.
SSC CHSL 2026 Syllabus
English Language
The Tier-I English syllabus includes topics such as:
- Spot the Error
- Fill in the Blanks
- Synonyms and Homonyms
- Antonyms
- Spelling
- Idioms and Phrases
- One Word Substitution
- Sentence Improvement
- Active and Passive Voice
- Direct and Indirect Speech
- Sentence Rearrangement
- Cloze Test
- Reading Comprehension
General Intelligence
Important areas include:
- Analogy
- Classification
- Series
- Coding-Decoding
- Venn Diagrams
- Figural Reasoning
- Number Series
- Embedded Figures
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Space Orientation
- Emotional Intelligence
- Social Intelligence
Quantitative Aptitude
The syllabus covers:
- Number System
- Percentage
- Ratio and Proportion
- Average
- Simple and Compound Interest
- Profit and Loss
- Discount
- Partnership
- Mixture and Alligation
- Time and Work
- Time and Distance
- Algebra
- Geometry
- Mensuration
- Trigonometry
- Statistical Charts
General Awareness
Questions are designed around general awareness, current events and everyday observations. The syllabus particularly includes areas connected with:
- Indian History
- Culture
- Geography
- Economic Scene
- General Policy
- Scientific Research
- India and neighbouring countries
Computer Knowledge
Tier-II includes topics such as:
- Computer fundamentals
- CPU
- Input and output devices
- Computer memory
- Backup devices
- Ports
- Windows Explorer
- Keyboard shortcuts
- Windows operating system
- MS Word
- MS Excel
- PowerPoint
- Internet browsing
- Downloading and uploading
- E-banking
- Networking
- Cybersecurity
- Common threats such as viruses, worms and Trojans
SSC CHSL 2026 Selection Process
The selection process begins with Tier-I.
Candidates who qualify Tier-I are shortlisted for Tier-II. The Commission may apply separate category-wise cut-offs for different groups of posts, including DEO and LDC/JSA.
The minimum qualifying percentages mentioned in the notification are:
| Category | Minimum Qualifying Marks |
|---|---|
| UR | 30% |
| OBC/EWS | 25% |
| Other categories | 20% |
Candidates must qualify all required sections of Tier-II. The Computer Knowledge Test and Skill/Typing Test are qualifying in nature, while the final merit is prepared using the marks obtained in Section-I and Section-II of Tier-II, subject to qualifying the required sections.
Post Preference in SSC CHSL
One point candidates should take particularly seriously is post preference.
Candidates will be asked to submit their preferences for posts and departments online. A candidate will not be considered for a post for which they have not submitted a preference.
Once submitted, the preference is treated as final and irreversible. Final allotment is based on merit along with the candidate’s post preferences.
Therefore, candidates should study the eligibility requirements of different posts before submitting their preferences.
Examination Centres
Candidates have to select three examination centres in order of preference within the same SSC region.
SSC will try to allot a centre selected by the candidate, but the Commission reserves the right to change, add or cancel examination centres depending on administrative requirements.
For candidates from Bihar, the Central Region list includes centres such as Patna, Gaya, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur, Chapra, Darbhanga, Saharsa, Purnea and Munger, among others.
Important Tips for SSC CHSL 2026 Aspirants
SSC CHSL preparation should not be limited to Tier-I alone. Candidates should begin preparing for Tier-II from the beginning because the final merit is based on Tier-II performance.
1. Build a strong foundation
Focus first on basic concepts in Maths, Reasoning and English rather than immediately attempting difficult questions.
2. Give special attention to English
English carries significant weight in both Tier-I and Tier-II. Regular practice of vocabulary, grammar, comprehension and error detection can improve accuracy.
3. Practise Mathematics with a timer
Tier-I has sectional timing, so knowing the concepts is not enough. Candidates must also learn to solve questions quickly.
4. Don’t ignore General Awareness
Follow current affairs regularly while simultaneously revising static subjects such as History, Geography, Polity and Science.
5. Start typing practice early
Candidates targeting LDC/JSA should not postpone typing practice until after Tier-I. Building typing speed gradually is much easier than trying to achieve the required speed at the last moment.
6. Prepare for the Computer Knowledge Test
Since the Computer Knowledge Test is mandatory in Tier-II, candidates should include basic computer concepts, MS Office, internet, networking and cybersecurity in their preparation.
SSC CHSL 2026: Important Things to Remember
Before submitting the application, candidates should check:
- Their age as on 1 August 2026.
- Required Class 12 qualification.
- Specific educational requirements for certain DEO posts.
- Category certificate requirements, wherever applicable.
- Correct photograph and signature.
- Correct examination centre preferences.
- Typing language preference for LDC/JSA.
- Post preferences when the option form is opened.
- All details entered in the application form.
Candidates should also retain copies of their application and relevant examination documents for future reference.
Conclusion
The SSC CHSL 2026 examination provides an opportunity for 12th-pass candidates to enter various Central Government departments through posts such as LDC, JSA and DEO. With approximately 2,536 tentative vacancies, the examination is an important opportunity for candidates preparing for government jobs.
The most important thing for aspirants is to begin preparation early and maintain a balance between concept building, mock tests, current affairs, accuracy and typing/skill-test practice.
At Vidyarthi Classes, candidates can follow structured study material, practice questions and exam-oriented preparation resources to strengthen their SSC CHSL preparation.
Start your SSC CHSL 2026 preparation today and make every day of preparation count.