Candidates who are preparing for the SSC Combined Higher Secondary Level (CHSL) exam must be curious to know about the SSC CHSL Eligibility 2026. Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has released the SSC CHSL Eligibility that includes parameters such as age limit, educational qualification, and nationality. Candidates who have passed or are appearing for Class 12 and are of age between 18 and 27 years of age are eligible to apply for the SSC CHSL exam.
SSC CHSL Eligibility Criteria 2026
Candidates must verify and cross-check SSC CHSL eligibility conditions, such as age, educational qualification, age relaxations, educational criteria, citizenship requirements, and recommendations for physically impaired candidates before applying for the SSC CHSL 2026 exam. Candidates holding the required eligibility for the SSC CHSL 2026 exam can apply online for Lower Division Clerk (LDC), Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA), and Data Entry Operator (DEO) posts.
Before applying, candidates must understand the SSC CGL eligibility criteria. Candidates who fail to fulfill the eligibility criteria will have their application form rejected at any stage of the selection process. SSC CGL eligibility is based on:
- Educational Qualification
- Age Limit
- Post-wise Eligibility
- Nationality
- Physical Standards
- Reservation Rules
SSC CHSL Eligibility Requirements
SSC requires candidates to satisfy age limit, educational qualifications, and nationality conditions to apply.
| Eligibility Criteria | Requirements |
| Qualification | Class 12 Passed |
| Qualification for DEO Post | Class 12 Science with Mathematics for specified posts |
| Qualification Cut-Off Date | 7 October 2026 |
| Age Limit | 18 to 27 years |
| Date of Birth Range | 2 August 1999 to 1 August 2008 |
| Age Calculation Date | 1 August 2026 |
| Nationality | Indian citizen or other eligible categories prescribed by SSC |
| Attempts | Not Limit |
SSC CHSL Eligibility for LDC/JSA, DEO and DEO Grade ‘A’ Posts
| Post Name | Educational | Age Limit | Other Requirement |
| Lower Division Clerk (LDC) | 12th Pass | 18 – 27 years | Typing Test |
| Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA) | 12th Pass | 18 – 27 years | Typing Test |
| Data Entry Operator (DEO) | 12th Pass | 18 – 27 years | Data Entry Skill Test |
| Data Entry Operator, Grade ‘A’ | 12th Pass, Science with Maths for specified departments | 18 – 27 years | Data Entry Skill Test |
Educational Qualification (7/10/2026)
The SSC CHSL 2026 Eligibility requirements specify the basic educational qualifications that must be fulfilled by the candidates to become eligible for this post. In the table below, the educational requirements for different posts under SSC CHSL are given.
| Posts | Educational Qualifications |
| For Data Entry Operator (DEO)/ DEO Grade ‘A’ in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Ministry of Culture | Must have cleared or appeared for 10+2 or its equivalent from any recognized board |
| For LDC/JSA and DEO/DEO Grade ‘A’ (except DEOs in Department/ Ministry) | Qualified: 10+2 possessing Science Stream with Mathematics as a compulsory subject, or its equivalent from any recognized board. |
SSC CHSL 2026: Can Class 12th Appearing Candidates Apply?
Yes, 12th appearing candidates can apply for SSC CHSL 2026, provided they obtain the required Class 12th/Intermediate qualification. The candidate’s result should be officially declared on or before this cut-off date, which is 7 October 2026.
Q. Is Class 12 Mathematics Compulsory for applying for the SSC CHSL Exam?
Ans. No, Class 12 Mathematics is not compulsory for every SSC CHSL post. It is required only for DEO/DEO Grade ‘A’ posts.
Age Limit (As on 01/08/2026)
To be eligible to apply online for SSC CHSL posts must be between 18 and 27 years of age. Candidates born not before 02-08-1999 and not later than 01-08-2008 are eligible to
apply.
- Minimum Age – 18 years
- Maximum Age – 27 years
The age will be determined using the date of birth provided in the online application form and the Matriculation/Secondary Examination Certificate. Requests for changes will not be considered. An ex-call-up serviceman’s time will be counted against the service requirement for age relaxation.
SSC CHSL Age Relaxation 2026
The exam conducting authorities also provide some special age relaxations beyond the upper age limit for people in special categories like SC/ST, OBC, etc. The table below gives the age relaxations for all the categories of people.
| Categories | Age relaxation beyond the upper age limit |
| SC/ ST | 5 years |
| OBC | 3 years |
| PwBD + Unreserved | 10 years |
| PwBD + OBC | 13 years |
| PwBD + SC/ ST | 15 years |
| Ex-Servicemen | 03 years after deducting the military service rendered from the actual age as of the closing date. |
| Candidates who were usually resident in Jammu and Kashmir between January 1, 1980 and December 31, 1989. | 5 years |
| Defence personnel who are handicapped while on duty during hostilities with any foreign country or in a troubled area and are subsequently released. | 3 years |
| Defence personnel who are handicapped while on duty during hostilities with any foreign country or in a disturbed area and are subsequently released (SC/ST). | 8 years |
| Central Government Civilian Employees: Who have delivered not less than three years of regular and continuous service as of the closing date for acceptance of online applications (SC/ST). | Up to 40 years of age |
| Central Government Civilian Employees: Those who have served for at least three years on a regular and continuous basis as of the closing date for online applications (SC/ST). | Up to 45 years of age |
| Women who are widowed, divorced, or judicially separated and have not remarried. | Up to 35 years of age |
| Women who are widowed, divorced, or judicially separated and have not remarried (SC/ST). | Up to 40 years of age |
SSC CGL Number of Attempts
There is no limit on the number of attempts for the SSC CHSL exam. Candidates must meet the required age and educational criteria. For Example –
- Educational Qualification – 12th pass
- Age Limit – 18 – 27 years
SSC CHSL Nationality 2026
Certain prerequisites of SSC CHSL eligibility 2026 for nationality must be met to be eligible for the exam. Candidates must belong to one of the following nationalities to take the exam:
A candidate may be either:
- a resident of India, or
- a subject of Nepal, or
- A subject of Bhutan, or
- a Tibetan refugee who moved over to India before the 1st of January, 1962, to be permanently settled in India,
- a person of Indian heritage who has migrated from Burma, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the East African republics of Kenya, the United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, Zaire, Ethiopia, Zambia, Malawi, and Vietnam to permanently settle in India.
SSC CHSL Physical Disability 2026
Those with some physical disabilities such as low vision & blind, deaf or hard of hearing are also eligible to apply for LDC or DEO posts as specified in SSC CHSL Eligibility 2026. Candidates can check the table below to learn about other physical disabilities which are mentioned by official authorities
| Posts | Physical Disability Criteria |
| Lower Division Clerk/Junior Secretariat Assistant | One Arm affected, Both Arms affected, One Leg affected, and Both Legs |
| One Arm One Leg affected, Cerebral Palsy, Leprosy Cured, Dwarfism, Acid Attack Victim, Muscular Dystrophy, Spinal Deformity/Spinal Injury | |
| Low Vision & Blind | |
| Deaf, Hard of Hearing | |
| Data Entry Operator | One Arm One Leg affected, Cerebral Palsy, Leprosy Cured, Dwarfism, Acid Attack Victim, Muscular Dystrophy, Spinal Deformity/Spinal Injury |
| One Arm affected, Both Arms affected, One Leg affected, and Both Legs | |
| Deaf, Hard of Hearing | |
| Low Vision & Blind |
| SSC CHSL Important Links | |
| SSC CHSL Exam Pattern | SSC CHSL Syllabus |
| SSC CHSL Previous Year Cut-Offs | SSC CHSL Previous Year Question Paper |
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