The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has released the official recruitment notification for the Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination, 2026 (SSC CHSL 2026). This national-level competitive exam provides a premier gateway for candidates who have completed Class 12 or equivalent to secure prestigious Group 'C' Central Government positions.
Recruitment under SSC CHSL 2026 is conducted for posts including Lower Divisional Clerk (LDC), Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA), Data Entry Operator (DEO), and Data Entry Operator Grade ‘A’ across various Central Government Ministries, Departments, Offices, Constitutional Bodies, Statutory Bodies, and Tribunals.
Important Notification Clarification for Candidates (2026 Cycle)
Many outdated third-party websites blindly state that SSC CHSL includes Postal Assistant (PA) and Sorting Assistant (SA) posts. Candidates must note that PA/SA recruitment is no longer conducted through SSC CHSL (it was transferred to SSC CGL). The official SSC CHSL 2026 notification strictly covers LDC/JSA, DEO, and DEO Grade ‘A’ posts only.
SSC CHSL 2026 Recruitment Overview
| Particular | Official Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Conducting Body | Staff Selection Commission (SSC) |
| Examination Name | Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination, 2026 |
| Common Name | SSC CHSL 2026 |
| Advertisement No. | HQ-C1102/5/2026-C-1 |
| Recruitment Posts | LDC/JSA, Data Entry Operator (DEO), DEO Grade 'A' |
| Total Vacancies | Approx. 2,536 (Tentative) |
| Application Mode | Online via SSC Official Portal / My SSC Mobile App |
| Official Notification PDF | Official Notification PDF | Staff Selection Commission | GoI |
| Notification Date | 07 September 2026 |
| Online Application Window | 07 September 2026 to 07 October 2026 (11:00 PM) |
| Fee Payment Last Date | 08 October 2026 (11:00 PM) |
| Application Correction Window | 14 October 2026 to 16 October 2026 (11:00 PM) |
| Tier-I Examination Date | To Be Notified Later by Commission |
| Tier-II Examination Date | To Be Notified Later by Commission |
| Minimum Qualification | 12th Pass / Intermediate or equivalent |
| Age Limit | 18 to 27 Years (as on 01.08.2026) |
| Application Fee | ₹100 (Exempted for Women, SC, ST, PwBD, ESM) |
| Apply Online Portal | Apply | Staff Selection Commission | GoI |
| Candidate OTR Portal | Candidate Portal | Staff Selection Commission | GoI |
SSC CHSL 2026 Vacancy Details
The Staff Selection Commission has officially announced approximately 2,536 tentative vacancies for the SSC CHSL 2026 examination cycle.
Important Note Regarding Final Vacancies
As per paragraph 2 of the official notification, the figure of 2,536 vacancies is tentative. The exact post-wise and category-wise final vacancies will be determined after scrutiny of inputs received from various User Departments. Updated vacancy position tables will be uploaded on the SSC website under Candidate's Corner > Tentative Vacancies in due course. SSC does not determine or collect state-wise/zone-wise vacancies.
SSC CHSL 2026 Posts & Salary Scale
The official pay scales for posts recruited through the SSC CHSL 10+2 Examination 2026 are governed by the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) recommendations:
| Post Name | 7th CPC Pay Level | Official Pay Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Divisional Clerk (LDC) | Pay Level 2 | ₹19,900 – ₹63,200 |
| Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA) | Pay Level 2 | ₹19,900 – ₹63,200 |
| Data Entry Operator (DEO) | Pay Level 4 | ₹25,500 – ₹81,100 |
| Data Entry Operator (DEO) | Pay Level 5 | ₹29,200 – ₹92,300 |
| Data Entry Operator Grade ‘A’ | Pay Level 4 | ₹25,500 – ₹81,100 |
In addition to the basic pay, selected candidates are entitled to government allowances including Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), Transport Allowance (TA), and government medical/pension benefits as applicable to Central Government employees in X, Y, or Z class cities.
SSC CHSL 2026 Eligibility Criteria
1. Educational Qualification
- For LDC/JSA and General DEO/DEO Grade 'A' Posts: Candidates must have passed Class 12 (10+2) Standard or equivalent examination from a recognized Board or University.
- For DEO / DEO Grade ‘A’ in Specified Ministries/Departments: Candidates must have passed Class 12 Standard in the Science stream with Mathematics as a mandatory subject from a recognized Board or equivalent.
2. Age Limit & Cut-Off Date
The age limit for SSC CHSL 2026 is 18 to 27 years as of 1 August 2026 (01.08.2026).
Category-Wise Age Relaxation Table
| Category | Permissible Age Relaxation Beyond Upper Limit |
|---|---|
| SC / ST | 5 Years |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 3 Years |
| PwBD (Unreserved) | 10 Years |
| PwBD (OBC) | 13 Years |
| PwBD (SC / ST) | 15 Years |
| Ex-Servicemen (ESM) | 3 Years after deduction of military service from actual age |
| Central Govt. Civil Employees | Up to 40 years of age (45 for SC/ST) as per notification rules |
Application Fee & Correction Window
- Application Fee: ₹100 (Rupees One Hundred Only).
- Fee Exemption: Women candidates, Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD), and Ex-Servicemen (ESM) eligible for reservation are completely exempt from paying the application fee.
- Payment Modes: BHIM UPI, Net Banking, or Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, RuPay Credit/Debit cards.
- Correction Window Charges: First correction attempt: ₹200; Second correction attempt: ₹500. The correction window will run from 14 October to 16 October 2026 (11:00 PM).
SSC CHSL 2026 Exam Pattern (Tier-I & Tier-II)
Tier-I Computer Based Examination (CBE)
Tier-I consists of Objective Type, Multiple Choice questions only. The exam is conducted in English, Hindi, and regional languages as specified in the notification.
| Subject / Section | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks | Total Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. English Language (Basic Knowledge) | 25 | 50 | 60 Minutes (80 Mins for Scribe) |
| 2. General Intelligence | 25 | 50 | |
| 3. Quantitative Aptitude (Basic Arithmetic) | 25 | 50 | |
| 4. General Awareness | 25 | 50 | |
| Total Tier-I Scheme | 100 Questions | 200 Marks | 60 Minutes |
* Negative Marking: There will be negative marking of 0.50 marks for each wrong answer in Tier-I.
Tier-II Examination Detailed Breakdown
Tier-II will be conducted in two sessions – Session-I & Session-II, on the same day. Session-I includes Section-I, Section-II, and Section-III Module-I. Session-II includes Section-III Module-II (Skill/Typing Test).
| Section | Module & Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section-I | Module-I: Mathematical Abilities | 30 | 60 Qs × 3 = 180 Marks | 1 Hour |
| Module-II: Reasoning & General Intelligence | 30 | |||
| Section-II | Module-I: English Language & Comprehension | 40 | 60 Qs × 3 = 180 Marks | 1 Hour |
| Module-II: General Awareness | 20 | |||
| Section-III | Module-I: Computer Knowledge Test | 15 | 15 Qs × 3 = 45 Marks | 15 Minutes (Qualifying) |
| Section-IV | Module-II: Skill Test / Typing Test | Skill Test for DEO & Typing Test for LDC/JSA | Part A: 15 Mins / Part B: 10 Mins | |
SSC CHSL 2026 Skill Test & Typing Speed Requirements
| Post Category | Test Type | Required Speed / Key Depressions | Test Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEO / DEO Grade 'A' in Specified Depts | Skill Test (Part A) | 15,000 Key Depressions Per Hour (KDPH) | 15 Minutes |
| DEO / DEO Grade 'A' in Other Depts | Skill Test (Part B) | 8,000 Key Depressions Per Hour (KDPH) | 15 Minutes |
| LDC / JSA (English Medium) | Typing Test (Part C) | 35 Words Per Minute (10,500 KDPH) | 10 Minutes |
| LDC / JSA (Hindi Medium) | Typing Test (Part C) | 30 Words Per Minute (9,000 KDPH) | 10 Minutes |
SSC CHSL Syllabus 2026
1. English Language
Spot the Error, Fill in the Blanks, Synonyms/Homonyms, Antonyms, Spellings/Detecting misspelt words, Idioms & Phrases, One word substitution, Improvement of Sentences, Active/Passive Voice of Verbs, Conversion into Direct/Indirect narration, Shuffling of Sentence parts, Cloze Passage, Comprehension Passage.
2. General Intelligence & Reasoning
Semantic Analogy, Symbolic/Number Analogy, Figural Analogy, Semantic Classification, Symbolic/Number Classification, Space Orientation, Venn Diagrams, Drawing inferences, Series, Problem Solving, Word Building, Coding & de-coding, Numerical Operations, Symbolic Operations, Embedded Figures, Critical Thinking.
3. Quantitative Aptitude
Number Systems, Fundamental Arithmetical Operations (Percentages, Ratio & Proportion, Square roots, Averages, Interest, Profit & Loss, Discount, Time and Distance, Time & Work), Algebra, Geometry, Mensuration, Trigonometry, Statistical Charts & Data Interpretation.
4. General Awareness
History, Culture, Geography, Economic Scene, General Policy, Indian Constitution, Scientific Research, National & International Current Affairs, Awards & Honors, Books & Authors, Important Government Schemes and Sports events.
Selection Process & Final Merit Standard
The selection process for SSC CHSL 2026 comprises:
- Tier-I Examination: Computer-Based Screening Test (Marks normalized for merit list shortlisting).
- Tier-II Examination: Main Examination evaluating Mathematical, Reasoning, English, GA, Computer, and Typing/Skill skills.
- Document Verification (DV): Conducted by User Departments after final allocation of posts.
🏆 How Final Merit List is Prepared
Final merit list and allocation of posts will be prepared on the basis of aggregate marks scored by candidates in Section-I and Section-II of Tier-II Examination only, subject to qualifying Section-III (Computer Knowledge Test) and Section-IV (Skill Test/Typing Test) and meeting the prescribed post preferences.
Minimum Qualifying Marks vs Cut-Off
| Category | Minimum Qualifying Marks in Tier-I & Tier-II |
|---|---|
| Unreserved (UR) | 30% |
| OBC / EWS | 25% |
| All Other Categories (SC/ST/PwBD/ESM) | 20% |
Note: Minimum qualifying marks represent the basic threshold required to be considered. The actual SSC CHSL 2026 cut-off marks will be higher depending on vacancy count, candidate attendance, and Tier-I paper difficulty level.
How to Apply Online for SSC CHSL 2026
- Visit the official Staff Selection Commission apply portal at Apply | Staff Selection Commission | GoI or open the My SSC App.
- Complete One-Time Registration (OTR) at Candidate Portal | Staff Selection Commission | GoI if you have not registered on the new portal yet.
- Log in with your Registration Number and Password.
- Click on Apply under Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination, 2026.
- Fill in personal details, educational qualifications, exam city preferences, and post preferences.
- Upload live camera capture photograph and signature adhering to SSC guidelines.
- Pay the ₹100 fee online (if applicable) and review your application.
- Submit the form before 07 October 2026 (11:00 PM) and print/save the application confirmation page.
🔗 Explore IndianDreamJob's Complete SSC CHSL 2026 Guide Cluster
Deep dive into dedicated analysis pages built specifically for SSC CHSL 2026 aspirants:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – SSC CHSL 2026
Is the SSC CHSL 2026 application form out?
Yes, the online application process for SSC CHSL 2026 started on 07 September 2026 and the last date to apply is 07 October 2026 at 11:00 PM on Apply | Staff Selection Commission | GoI.
What is the SSC CHSL Tier-I exam date 2026?
The official Tier-I exam date for SSC CHSL 2026 has not been announced yet. SSC will notify the exact examination schedule on Official Notification PDF | Staff Selection Commission | GoI portal later.
How many vacancies are there in SSC CHSL 2026?
SSC has announced approximately 2,536 tentative vacancies for the 2026 recruitment drive across LDC, JSA, DEO, and DEO Grade 'A' posts.
Does SSC CHSL 2026 include Postal Assistant or Sorting Assistant posts?
No. Postal Assistant (PA) and Sorting Assistant (SA) posts are no longer recruited under SSC CHSL. The 2026 notification strictly includes LDC, JSA, DEO, and DEO Grade 'A'.
Is SSC CHSL 2026 Answer Key or result released?
No. Neither the Tier-I exam date has been announced nor the exam conducted yet, so the Answer Key and result status are "Not Released Yet".
What is the qualification required for DEO Grade 'A'?
For DEO / DEO Grade 'A' in specified departments, candidates must have passed 12th standard in Science Stream with Mathematics as a subject.
Official SSC Portal Direct Links
Candidates are advised to verify all notice updates directly from the Staff Selection Commission website.