Complete exam guide
SSC Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination (CHSL)
SSC CHSL is the Staff Selection Commission's entry-level exam for Group C posts open to 12th-pass candidates — Lower Divisional Clerk (LDC), Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA) and Data Entry Operator (DEO) across central ministries, departments and statutory bodies. There is no interview: selection runs through two computer-based tiers, a qualifying typing or data-entry skill test, and document verification. The exam rewards speed and accuracy on a fixed syllabus — basic arithmetic, reasoning, English and general awareness — which is why short formulas, topic drills and timed mocks beat open-ended reading. Note the design: Tier 1 only shortlists you; the merit list is built from Tier 2 Sections I and II (360 marks), while the computer test and typing/skill test are qualifying hurdles you must clear.
2026 cycle — status
✓ Verified 1 Oct 2026Applications are open until 7 October 2026 (23:00). Tier 1 and Tier 2 dates have not been announced yet. Use the window to finish the form, lock your typing-test medium (English or Hindi, fixed at application), and start timed sectional practice — Tier 1 has a separate 15-minute timer per subject.
- NotificationDone7 September 2026
- ApplicationsLive now7 September – 7 October 2026
- Correction windowUpcoming14 – 16 October 2026
- Tier 1AwaitedTo be announced
- Tier 2AwaitedTo be announced
Vacancies are tentative (approx. 2,536) and will be updated by SSC after user departments finalise them. The application correction window runs 14–16 October 2026. Age is counted as on 1 August 2026; the educational qualification cut-off date is 7 October 2026. Always confirm against the official notice on ssc.gov.in.
Exam pattern
Tier 1 — Computer Based Exam Qualifying (shortlists for Tier 2)
Online CBT · 60 min · +2 per correct, −0.50 per wrong
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| English Language (basic knowledge) | 25 | 50 |
| General Intelligence | 25 | 50 |
| Quantitative Aptitude (basic arithmetic skill) | 25 | 50 |
| General Awareness | 25 | 50 |
| Total | 100 | 200 |
The notice sets a sectional timer of 15 minutes for each subject within the 60-minute paper, so you cannot carry unused time from one subject to another. Candidates eligible for a scribe get 80 minutes (20 per subject). Minimum qualifying marks in Tier 1 are 30% for UR, 25% for OBC/EWS and 20% for all other categories. Scores are normalised when the exam runs in multiple shifts. Tier 1 only decides who is shortlisted for Tier 2.
Tier 2 — Session I (objective) + Session II (skill/typing test) Merit-deciding (Sections I and II)
Online CBT, two sessions on the same day · 135 min · +3 per correct, −1 per wrong
Session I (2 h 15 min): Section I is 1 hour (30 minutes sectional timer each for Maths and Reasoning), Section II is 1 hour (40 minutes for English, 20 minutes for GA), Section III is 15 minutes. Session II — Section IV — is the Skill Test/Typing Test, qualifying only: DEO posts take a 15-minute data-entry skill test (15,000 key depressions/hour for DEOs in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, SSC and the Ministry of Culture; 8,000 key depressions/hour for other DEOs), and LDC/JSA candidates take a 10-minute typing test at 35 w.p.m. in English or 30 w.p.m. in Hindi (Mangal font). Merit uses the 360 marks of Sections I and II only; you must qualify in all sections. Minimum qualifying marks in Sections I, II and III are 30% UR, 25% OBC/EWS and 20% others. Negative marking of 1 applies in Sections I, II and III.
Eligibility
Citizen of India, or a subject of Nepal or Bhutan, or a person of Indian origin who migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka or the listed East African countries and Vietnam with the intention of settling permanently in India. Nepal, Bhutan and migrant-category candidates need a certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India.
12th Standard pass (or equivalent) from a recognised Board or University
12th Standard pass in the Science stream with Mathematics as a subject, from a recognised Board or equivalent
May apply, but must hold the qualification on or before 7 October 2026; the result must have been declared by the Board by that date
| SC / ST | +5 years |
| OBC | +3 years |
| PwBD (UR / OBC / SC-ST) | +10 / +13 / +15 years |
| Ex-servicemen (ESM) | +3 years after deducting military service from actual age |
| Central government civilian employees (3+ years of regular service) | up to 40 years (45 for SC/ST) |
| Widows / divorced / judicially separated women who are not remarried | up to 35 years (40 for SC/ST) |
Age is reckoned as on 1 August 2026 and the date of birth in your matriculation certificate is final. Vacancies in the Border Roads Organisation are open to male candidates only, with extra physical standards. Posts are allotted on merit-cum-preference and are not changed later if you miss a post-specific requirement. The official notice overrides any summary, including this one.
Posts, pay & who should apply
| Post | Department | Group | Pay level | Approx. in-hand |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Divisional Clerk (LDC) / Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA) | Various ministries, departments and offices of the Government of India | C | Level 2 · ₹19,900–63,200 | |
| Data Entry Operator (DEO) | Various ministries, departments and offices of the Government of India | C | Level 4 · ₹25,500–81,100 and Level 5 · ₹29,200–92,300 | |
| Data Entry Operator, Grade 'A' (DEO Grade 'A') | Various ministries, departments and offices of the Government of India | C | Level 4 · ₹25,500–81,100 |
Special requirements: Lower Divisional Clerk (LDC) / Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA) — Typing test: 35 w.p.m. English or 30 w.p.m. Hindi · Data Entry Operator (DEO) — Skill test at 8,000 key depressions/hour (15 min) · Data Entry Operator, Grade 'A' (DEO Grade 'A') — Science + Mathematics in 12th and 15,000 key depressions/hour skill test apply for the posts in Consumer Affairs, SSC and Culture ministries
Selection process
Tier 1 (shortlisting) → Tier 2 Sections I–III (objective) → Section IV skill/typing test → options and preferences → Document Verification by the user department. Tier 1 decides who is called for Tier 2. The merit list is prepared on the aggregate of Tier 2 Section I and Section II marks only, provided you qualify Section III (Computer Knowledge Test) and Section IV (typing or skill test). Posts are then allotted on merit-cum-preference — the first available preference you filled is the one you get, and options are irreversible, so choose carefully. Ties are broken in this order: Tier 2 Section I marks, Tier 1 marks, then date of birth (older candidate ranks higher). There is no interview.
Normalisation (why your raw score ≠ final score)
When an exam runs in many shifts with different question papers, SSC normalises scores using the procedure it published in its notice of 2 June 2025, and the normalised score is used for cut-offs and merit. Practical consequences: (1) never compare raw marks across shifts or years; (2) attempt according to the paper in front of you rather than chasing a number; (3) your normalised score — not the raw one — decides your result.
Subjects to prepare
Notification dates history
| Year | Vacancies | Notification | Exam | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2536 | 7 Sep 2026 | TBA | — |
| 2025 | 3131 | 23 Jun 2025 | Result declared 27 Feb 2026 | First round of tentative allocation: Aug 2026 |
FAQs
Do Tier 1 marks count towards final selection?
No. Tier 1 only shortlists candidates for Tier 2, although it is the third tie-break after Tier 2 Section I marks. The merit list is built from Tier 2 Section I and Section II (360 marks).
What is the Tier 1 pattern and negative marking?
100 questions, 200 marks, 60 minutes, with 25 questions each in English, General Intelligence, Quantitative Aptitude and General Awareness. Each correct answer earns 2 marks and each wrong one costs 0.50. Every subject has its own 15-minute sectional timer.
What is the Tier 2 pattern?
Session I has Section I (Maths 30 Q + Reasoning 30 Q, 1 hour), Section II (English 40 Q + GA 20 Q, 1 hour) and Section III (Computer Knowledge, 15 Q, 15 minutes). Each question is 3 marks with −1 for a wrong answer. Session II is the skill or typing test. Merit marks come only from Sections I and II.
Is the computer test or typing test counted in merit?
No — both are qualifying only. The Computer Knowledge Test (Section III) and the Skill/Typing Test (Section IV) must be cleared, but their marks do not add to your merit score.
What typing speed is needed for LDC/JSA?
35 words per minute in English or 30 w.p.m. in Hindi, tested over 10 minutes on a given passage. These correspond to roughly 10,500 and 9,000 key depressions per hour. You choose English or Hindi in the application form and cannot change it later; Hindi must be typed in Mangal font.
What does the DEO skill test require?
A 15-minute data-entry test. For DEOs in the Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, SSC and Culture ministries the required speed is 15,000 key depressions per hour; for other DEOs it is 8,000 key depressions per hour. The skill test is mandatory for every DEO candidate.
Who can apply for DEO posts requiring Science and Maths?
Only 12th-pass candidates with Science stream and Mathematics as a subject are eligible for DEO/DEO Grade 'A' posts in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Staff Selection Commission and Ministry of Culture. For all other CHSL posts, any stream is fine.
What are the qualifying marks?
In Tier 1 and in Tier 2 Sections I, II and III, minimum qualifying marks are 30% for UR, 25% for OBC/EWS and 20% for all other categories. These are only floors — actual cut-offs depend on vacancies and difficulty.
Can final-year 12th students apply?
Yes, candidates who have appeared in 12th can apply, but they must hold the qualification on or before the cut-off date (7 October 2026 this cycle), and the Board must have declared the result by then. Without a passing result by that date, the candidature is rejected.
What is the age limit and fee?
Age limit is 18–27 years as on 1 August 2026, with category relaxations. The fee is ₹100; women, SC, ST, PwBD and eligible ex-servicemen candidates pay nothing. If you object to an answer key, the notice sets a charge of ₹50 per question.
Is there a waiting list or any interview?
There is no interview. SSC does not keep a waiting list for multi-post exams, but it uses a sliding mechanism for allocation, so qualifying candidates can move to a lower preference if higher ones fill up.
Documents for document verification
Document verification is done by the user ministry or department after the final result. Keep these ready in original plus photocopies: matriculation/secondary certificate (date-of-birth proof), 12th pass certificate or marksheet (educational qualification), category certificate (SC/ST/OBC-non-creamy-layer/EWS in the prescribed format; EWS needs an income and asset certificate valid for FY 2026-27), PwBD or ex-servicemen documents where applicable, proof for any age relaxation claimed, a No Objection Certificate if you are already employed in government service, and documents for any name change after matriculation (marriage certificate, affidavit, gazette notification). If a claim in your application is not backed by the right certificate at verification, your candidature is cancelled.