SSC CHSL 2026 eligibility — age limit, qualification, relaxation
This page collects who can apply for SSC CHSL (SSC Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination (CHSL)), conducted by Staff Selection Commission (SSC): the age limit for each group of posts, the educational qualification, nationality rules and the age relaxation for each category. It is built from the same verified data as the SSC CHSL guide, which also carries the 2026 cycle status and dates.
In one line: the basic educational requirement is 12th pass, and the age limit is 18–27 years (born between 2 August 1999 and 1 August 2008). Age is counted as on 1 August 2026 in the data below. Use the calculator to see your own eligible date-of-birth window.
✓ Data verified 1 Oct 2026
Age eligibility calculator
Enter your date of birth and category to see, for each post group in SSC CHSL, whether you are inside the age limit and the exact birth-date window that qualifies. Everything runs in your browser; nothing is stored or sent.
The cut-off date is pre-filled from this page's data: 1 August 2026. If the official notification gives a different date, type it above, and read the notes on this page to see whether this date belongs to the current or the previous cycle.
| Post group | Age limit | Born between |
|---|---|---|
| All posts (LDC/JSA, DEO, DEO Grade 'A') | 18–27 yrs | 2 August 1999 to 1 August 2008 |
The window is: born on or after (cut-off date minus upper limit minus relaxation, plus one day) and on or before (cut-off date minus minimum age). It matches the "born between" ranges printed in the exam data where they are given.
Not calculated here (these depend on individual circumstances; check the table below and the official notification): 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 eligibility is only one condition. Check education, nationality and any physical or post-specific requirements too. The official notification overrides this tool.
Age limit
| Posts | Age limit |
|---|---|
| All posts (LDC/JSA, DEO, DEO Grade 'A') | 18–27 years (born between 2 August 1999 and 1 August 2008) |
Age relaxation by category
| Category | Relaxation |
|---|---|
| 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) |
Educational qualification
| Posts / situation | Requirement |
|---|---|
| LDC / JSA, and DEO / DEO Grade 'A' (except in the departments listed below) | 12th Standard pass (or equivalent) from a recognised Board or University |
| DEO / DEO Grade 'A' in Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Staff Selection Commission and Ministry of Culture | 12th Standard pass in the Science stream with Mathematics as a subject, from a recognised Board or equivalent |
| Candidates who have appeared in 12th | 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 |
Nationality
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.
Important notes on eligibility
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.
How to read these eligibility rules
The cut-off date decides your age. Your age is not measured on the day you apply or the day of the exam. It is measured on one fixed date written in the notification (1 August 2026 in the data used for this page).
Relaxation is added to the upper limit only. A category relaxation raises the maximum age, not the minimum. The calculator adds the number of years for the category you pick and shows the resulting birth-date window per post group.
Your date of birth is taken from your certificate. Age is checked against the date of birth on your Class 10 / matriculation certificate, so use that date rather than the one on any other document.
Education is checked separately. Meeting the age limit does not make you eligible on its own. Check the qualification table above for your post, including any row about final-year students or candidates who are still waiting for a result.
The notification always wins. Where the official notification differs from this page, follow the notification.
Documents that prove age and qualification
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.
SSC CHSL eligibility — FAQs
What is the age limit for SSC CHSL?
All posts (LDC/JSA, DEO, DEO Grade 'A'): 18–27 years (born between 2 August 1999 and 1 August 2008). Age is counted as on 1 August 2026 in this data. The official notification's own age table is final.
What educational qualification is required for SSC CHSL?
LDC / JSA, and DEO / DEO Grade 'A' (except in the departments listed below): 12th Standard pass (or equivalent) from a recognised Board or University; DEO / DEO Grade 'A' in Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Staff Selection Commission and Ministry of Culture: 12th Standard pass in the Science stream with Mathematics as a subject, from a recognised Board or equivalent; Candidates who have appeared in 12th: 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.
How much age relaxation is given in SSC CHSL?
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). Relaxation is added to the upper age limit; see the notes below the table for the rules that apply to this exam.
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.
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.