SSC CHSL 2026 Tier 1 Exam Date Out, 2536 Vacancies, Exam Pattern
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- SSC CHSL 2026
Every year, SSC conducts the SSC CHSL Exam to recruit 12th-level candidates for various Group C posts. The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) will recruit 12th pass candidates for 2536 vacancies of LDC, JSA, DEO & DEO Grade A (Group C) posts. Candidates who applied for the vacancies have to appear for Tier 1 Exam which is scheduled from 30 November to 31 December 2026.
The selection process involves two CBT stages, Document Verification and a Medical Examination, with an initial pay of Rs. 19,900 (Level 2, 7th CPC) for LDC & JSA and Rs. 25,500 (Level 4, 7th CPC) for DEO.
SSC CHSL 2026 Exam Overview
The detailed notification for the SSC CHSL 2026 Exam was officially released at www.ssc.gov.in to recruit candidates for Lower Divisional Clerk (LDC)/Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA) and Data Entry Operator (DEO) posts.
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Staff Selection Commission (SSC) |
| Exam Name | Combined Higher Secondary Level Examination- 2026 |
| Vacancies | 2536 |
| Posts Name | Lower Division Clerk (LDC) Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA) Data Entry Operator (DEO) Data Entry Operator, Grade ‘A’ |
| Exam Type | National Level |
| Mode of Application | Online |
| Exam Dates | 30 November to 31 December 2026 |
| Mode of Exam | Online |
| Qualification | 12th pass (10+2) |
| Age Limit | 18 to 27 years |
| Selection Process | Tier 1 and Tier 2 |
| Official Website | https://ssc.gov.in/ |
| Notification PDF | SSC CHSL 2026 Official Notification PDF |
SSC CHSL 2026 Exam Date Out
Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has officially announced SSC CHSL Tier 1 Exam Date 2026 for the candidates who have applied for 2536 vacancies. Tier 1 Exam will be held from 30 November to 31 December 2026 across multiple exam centres in three to four shifts each day.
SSC CHSL City Intimation 2026- Click to Check
SSC CHSL Admit Card 2026- Click to Download
Important Dates
The online application process started on 7 September after the notification was released, and the last date is 7 October 2026. Candidates can apply online now and pay the application fee before 8th October 2026.
| Events | Dates |
| Notification PDF | 7 September 2026 |
| SSC CHSL Apply Online Starts | 7 September 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 7 October 2026 (11 pm) |
| Fee Payment Last Date | 8 October 2026 (11 pm) |
| Application Correction Window | 14 to 16 October 2026 |
| SSC CHSL City Intimation 2026 | 22 November 2026 |
| SSC CHSL Admit Card 2026 | 27 November 2026 |
| SSC CHSL Tier 1 Exam Date 2026 | 30 November to 31 December 2026 |
Key Details and Eligibility
- Post Offered: Lower Division Clerk (LDC), Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA), Data Entry Operator (DEO), and Data Entry Operator, Grade ‘A’
- Educational Qualification: Must have completed 12th or equivalent from a recognised board.
- Age Limit: 18 to 27 years as of 1 August 2026
- Application Fee: Rs. 100 (Women, SC, ST, PwBD and ESM candidates are exempted)
Selection Process
- Tier 1: Online computer-based objective test (qualifying screening test)
- Tier 2: Objective session with mandatory with a mandatory typing/skill test module (determine final selection)
Major Changes in SSC CHSL 2026
The SSC CHSL recruitment 2026 introduces several changes that candidates should know before applying.
- Sectional Timing: Sectional timing has been introduced for the examination.
- Three Exam Centres: Candidates can select three examination centres within the same SSC region, subject to the rules in the notification.
- Aadhaar Authentication: Aadhaar authentication is optional.
- Correction Window: The correction window will remain open for three days, from 14 to 16 October 2026.
- Mangal Font: The Mangal font is specified for the Hindi Typing/Skill Test for LDC/JSA posts.
SSC CHSL Vacancy 2026
The tentative number of vacancies to be recruited for FY 2026 has been announced through the official SSC CHSL notification PDF. This year, 2536 vacancies will be filled for LDC, JSA, DEO and DEO ‘Grade A’ post. The post-wise and category-wise vacancies will be released in due course of time.
We have also compared the vacancies with previous years. The year-wise vacancy comparison for the past 8 years is mentioned below:
| Years | LDC/ JSA | PA/ SA | DEO DEO ‘Grade A’ | Court Clerk | Total |
| 2026 | TBA | -- | TBA | -- | 2536 |
| 2025 | TBA | -- | TBA | -- | 3131 |
| 2024 | TBA | -- | TBA | -- | 3712 |
| 2023 | -- | -- | -- | NA | 1600 |
| 2022 | 3185 | 898 | 42 | 601 | 4726 |
| 2021 | 3181 | 3598 | 26 | 88 | 4893 |
| 2020 | 2359 | 3880 | 02 | 56 | 5789 |
| 2019 | 2648 | 3222 | 02 | 917 | 6789 |
| 2018 | 898 | 2359 | 02 | NA | 3259 |
Year-wise SSC CHSL (10+2) Vacancy Comparison
Which SSC CHSL Post Should You Choose?
The right post depends on the type of work you prefer.
| If you prefer... | Consider |
|---|---|
| Clerical/office work | LDC |
| Secretariat-related administrative work | JSA |
| Computer and data-entry work | DEO |
| Higher pay-level DEO opportunities | DEO |
| Typing-based work | LDC/JSA |
SSC CHSL 2026 Eligibility Criteria
There are 3 important eligibility criteria for the SSC CHSL 2026 exam that a candidate must fulfill. The 3 parameters are given below:
Age Limit (as on 01/08/2026)
- The age limit for the SSC CHSL posts is 18-27 years.
- Only candidates born between 02-08-1999 and 01-08-2008 are eligible to apply.
- Permissible relaxation in the upper age limit for different categories is as below:
| Category | Permissible age relaxation beyond the upper age limit |
|---|---|
| SC/ ST | 5 years |
| OBC | 3 years |
| Persons with Disabilities (PwD-Unreserved) | 10 years |
| PwD + OBC | 13 years |
| PwD + SC/ ST | 15 years |
| Ex-Servicemen | 03 years after deduction of the military service rendered from the actual age as on the closing date. |
| Candidates who had ordinarily been domiciled in the State of Jammu & Kashmir during the period from 1st January 1980 to 31st December 1989. | 5 years |
| Defence Personnel disabled in operation during hostilities with any foreign country or in a disturbed area and released as a consequence thereof. | 3 years |
| Defence Personnel disabled in operation during hostilities with any foreign country or in a disturbed area and released as a consequence thereof (SC/ ST). | 8 years |
| Central Government Civilian Employees: Who have rendered not less than 3 years regular and continuous service as on closing date for receipt of online applications. | Up to 40 years of age |
| Central Government Civilian Employees: Who have rendered not less than 3 years regular and continuous service as on closing date for receipt of online applications (SC/ ST). | Up to 45 years of age |
| Widows/ Divorced Women/ Women judicially separated and who are not remarried. | Up to 35 years of age |
| Widows/ Divorced Women/ Women judicially separated and who are not remarried (SC/ ST). | Up to 40 years of age |
Educational Qualification (as on 07/10/2026)
Candidates must have passed the 12th Standard from a recognised board to be eligible to apply for the SSC CHSL Recruitment 2026.
| Posts | Streams |
| For Data Entry Operator (DEO)/ DEO Grade 'A‟ in Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Staff Selection Commission and Ministry of Culture | 12th Science stream with mathematics as a subject. |
| LDC/JSA and DEO/DEO Grade A in other departments | Any stream (Arts, Science, Commerce) |
Can 12th appearing candidate apply for SSC CHSL 2026?
Yes, 12th-appearing candidates can apply for SSC CHSL Recruitment 2026, provided they possess the required qualification by October 7, 2026
How many attempts are allowed in the SSC CHSL exam?
Candidates can attempt the SSC CHSL (10+2) exam multiple times as long as they fall within the age limit, which varies by category:
- General: up to 27 years
- OBC: up to 30 years
- SC/ST: up to 32 years
There is no fixed number of attempts for the SSC CHSL examination.
Nationality
Indian citizens, subjects of Nepal or Bhutan, or persons of Indian origin who have migrated with the intention of settling permanently in India (the latter category needs a Government of India eligibility certificate).
📱 Free SSC CHSL Tier 1 Live Test (Tue 9AM–Wed 10PM)
SSC CHSL 2026 Application Fee
• The required application fee for the General Category for SSC CHSL 2026 is Rs. 100/-
• Exemption: No fee is required to be paid by female candidates, SC, ST, Physically Handicapped, and Ex-Servicemen candidates.
How to Apply for SSC CHSL 2026 Recruitment at ssc.gov.in?
- Visit the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) official website at @ssc.gov.in
- Complete One-Time Registration (OTR) if not done earlier — note: OTR from the old site (ssc.nic.in) is NOT valid.
- Log in using registration number and password.
- Click on “Combined Higher Secondary Level Examination, 2026” under Live Exam.
- Fill in all details – personal, educational, and additional information.
- Capture a live photograph using a webcam/mobile (no pre-existing photos allowed).
- Upload scanned signature in JPEG format (10–20 KB, 6.0 cm × 2.0 cm).
- Preview and verify all details, then submit the form. Pay the application fee online.
Documents Required to Apply for SSC CHSL
| Document/Detail | When/Why Required |
|---|---|
| Aadhaar Card/Number | For Aadhaar-based authentication during OTR |
| Alternative ID Proof | Required if not using Aadhaar authentication |
| 10th/Matriculation Certificate | To enter name, DOB, board, roll number and passing year |
| Active Mobile Number | OTP verification and communication |
| Active Email ID | OTP verification and SSC communication |
| Disability Certificate Number | For candidates applying under PwBD category |
| Category Certificate | To claim SC/ST/OBC/EWS reservation, where applicable |
| Scanned Signature | Required during application |
| Live Photograph | Captured through the application module |
| Educational Qualification Details | To confirm CHSL eligibility |
| Relevant Supporting Certificates | If claiming age relaxation/reservation or other benefits |
Signature & Photograph Requirements
| Item | Dimensions |
|---|---|
| Live Photograph | Captured directly through the SSC application module; no fixed upload dimensions specified |
| Photograph | SSC does not prescribe a fixed pixel dimension because it is captured live through the application module. The camera interface guides the candidate to fit the entire face within the displayed red rectangular area |
| Scanned Signature | 6.0 cm × 2.0 cm (approx.) |
| Signature File Size | 10–20 KB |
| Signature Format | JPEG |
SSC CHSL Live Photo and Signature
The current application process requires candidates to complete the live photograph process through the application module. Candidates should follow the instructions displayed on the SSC portal while capturing the photograph.
The scanned signature should be uploaded in the prescribed format and size mentioned by SSC.
SSC CHSL Application Correction Facility
The application form correction facility for SSC CHSL 2026 will be available from 14th to 16th October 2026, for three days. Candidates may submit corrected applications twice during this window. The SSC will charge Rs. 200 for the first correction and Rs. 500 for the second correction, irrespective of category and gender. Candidates should carefully check all personal, educational and category details before resubmitting the form.
Which SSC CHSL Post Should You Choose?
For SSC CHSL aspirants, understanding which post to choose is important before filling in the post preference. Instead of looking only at salary, candidates should consider the nature of work, typing/data-entry requirements, department, location, and long-term career plans.
| If You Prefer... | Post Profile to Examine |
|---|---|
| General clerical work | LDC |
| Secretariat/administrative support | JSA |
| Computer-heavy data work | DEO |
| Lower basic pay level with clerical duties | LDC/JSA |
| Higher pay-level DEO vacancy | DEO |
| Typing-based skill test | LDC/JSA |
| Data-entry skill test | DEO |
SSC CHSL Selection Process
The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) starts conducting the Combined Higher Secondary Level (CHSL) in two levels for various posts:
Tier-I Computer Based Examination
↓
Tier-II Computer Based Examination
↓
Skill Test / Typing Test, wherever applicable
↓
Document Verification
↓
Final Selection
Exam Pattern and Syllabus
Before beginning the SSC CHSL preparation, it is important to make note of changes in the exam pattern and syllabus. The following modifications apply to the SSC CHSL Exam Pattern 2026:
- SSC CHSL 2026 Tier 1 exam will be conducted in online mode.
- There will be sectional timing for both Tier 1 and Tier 2 exams.
- Tier II will include Objective Multiple Choice + Skill Test & Typing Test.
- There is negative marking in the SSC CHSL 2026 Tier 1 Exam. Giving a wrong answer to a question will lead to a penalty of 0.5 marks in all sections.
The SSC CHSL Tier 1 exam is an objective exam conducted online. The Tier 1 exam has 4 sections and 100 questions, totalling 200 marks. The subject-wise details are given below:
| SSC CHSL Tier 1 Exam Pattern 2026 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Subjects | No of Questions & Marks | Duration |
| General Intelligence | 25 questions for 50 marks | 15 minutes for each section |
| General Awareness | 25 questions for 50 marks | |
| Quantitative Aptitude (Basic Arithmetic Skill) | 25 questions for 50 marks | |
| English Language (Basic Knowledge) | 25 questions for 50 marks | |
| Total | 100 | 60 minutes |
| SSC CHSL Tier 2 Exam Pattern | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tier-II Session I | ||
| Sections | Subjects & Marks | Duration |
| Section-I | Mathematical Abilities: 30 questions Reasoning & General Intelligence: 30 questions Total: 60 questions for 180 marks | 60 minutes (30-minute sectional timer for each part) |
| Section-II | English Language & Comprehension: 40 questions General Awareness: 20 questions Total: 60 questions for 180 marks | 60 minutes Separate sectional timing |
| Section-III | Computer Knowledge Test: 15 questions Total: 15 questions for 45 marks | 15 minutes |
| Tier-II Session II | ||
| Section-IV | Skill Test/Typing Test Qualifying in nature | Part A: Skill Test for DEOs in Department/ Ministry- 15 minutes Part B: Skill Test for DEOs except in Department/ Ministry- 15 minutes Part C: Typing Test for LDC/JSA- 15 minutes |
Negative Marking for Tier 2- 1 mark for each wrong answer in Sections I, II & III
SSC CHSL 2026 Exam Syllabus
The Tier 1 syllabus for the SSC CHSL 2026 Exam includes 4 subjects, namely General Intelligence, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude (Basic Arithmetic Skill), and English Language (Basic Knowledge). The topics to be included in the tier 1 exam in each subject are as follows-
| Subjects | Topics |
| English Language | Spot the Error, Fill in the Blanks, Synonyms/ Homonyms, Antonyms, Spellings/ Detecting mis-spelt words, Idioms and Phrases, One-word substitution, Improvement of Sentences, Active/ Passive Voice of Verbs, Conversion into Direct/ Indirect narration, Shuffling of Sentence parts, Shuffling of Sentences in a passage, Cloze Passage, Comprehension Passage. |
| General Intelligence | Semantic analogy, symbolic operations, number analogy, trends, figural analogy, space orientation, semantic classification, Venn diagrams, number classification, drawing inferences, figural classification, punched hole/pattern folding & unfolding, semantic series, figural pattern-folding and completion, number series, embedded figures, figural series, critical thinking, problem solving, emotional intelligence, word building, social intelligence, coding and decoding, other sub-topics, if any, and numerical operations. |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Number Systems, Fundamental arithmetical operations, Algebra, Geometry, Mensuration, Trigonometry, Statistical Charts |
| General Awareness | India and its neighbouring countries especially about History, Culture, Geography, Economic Scene, General policy and scientific research |
To check the detailed syllabus, visit our SSC CHSL 2026 Syllabus Page
What is the best way to prepare for the General Awareness section?
Focus on the last 6-8 months of current affairs, static GK topics like History and Geography, and practice previous year question papers GK GS questions.
Previous Year Cut-Off Marks
To get an insight into the SSC CHSL Cut-Off, we must have an idea about previous years' cut-offs. Have a look at the cut-off for SSC CHSL Tier I Exam 2025:
| SSC CHSL Tier 1 Cut-Off 2025 | ||
| Category | LDC/JSA | DEO Grade ‘A’ |
| UR | 144.25 | 169.54 |
| SC | 125.40 | 157.72 |
| ST | 115.25 | 152.78 |
| OBC | 143.83 | 169.49 |
| EWS | 141.42 | 169.54 |
| ESM | 68.26 | 128.52 |
| OH | 112.15 | -- |
| HH | 75.38 | 118.61 |
| VH | 82.72 | -- |
| PwD – Other | 55.33 | -- |
Click Here to View SSC CHSL Previous Year's Cut-Off
SSC CHSL Salary Structure
SSC has modified the SSC CHSL Salary Structure for all the posts after the 7th Pay Commission. The SSC CHSL salary structure after the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission is given below:
| Posts | Pay Level | Salary |
| Lower Division Clerk (LDC)/ Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA) | Level 2 | Rs. 19,900- Rs. 63,200 |
| Data Entry Operator (DEO) | Level 4 Level 5 | Rs. 25,500- Rs. 81,100 Rs. 29,200- Rs. 92,300 |
| Data Entry Operator, Grade ‘A’ | Level 4 | Rs. 25,500- Rs. 81,100 |
SSC CHSL Previous Year Question Paper PDFs
SSC CHSL Exam Regions
| Region | States/UTs Covered |
|---|---|
| Central Region | Uttar Pradesh, Bihar |
| Eastern Region | West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, Sikkim, Andaman & Nicobar |
| KKR | Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep |
| MPR | Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh |
| Northern Region | Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand |
| North Western Region | Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, J&K, Ladakh |
| Southern Region | Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry |
| Western Region | Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa and other covered UTs |
| North Eastern Region | Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura |
SSC CHSL Exam Centre & Regions
The candidates can choose 3 exam cities when submitting their applications from the SSC CHSL Exam Centre List 2026. However, all three should be in the same region.
| SSC Regions and States | Examination Centers | Address of the Regional Offices/ Website |
|---|---|---|
| Central Region (CR)/ Bihar and Uttar Pradesh | Agra, Allahabad, Bareilly, Gorakhpur, Kanpur, Lucknow, Meerut, Varanasi, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur, Patna, Chapra, Saharsa, Darbhanga, Purnea and Munger | Regional Director (CR), Staff Selection Commission, 21-23, Lowther Road, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh-211002. (http://www.ssc-cr.org) |
| Eastern Region (ER)/ Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Jharkhand, Odisha, Sikkim and West Bengal | Gangtok, Ranchi, Barasat, Berhampore (WB), Chinsurah, Jalpaiguri, Kolkata, Malda, Midnapur, Siliguri, Berhampore (Odisha), Bhubaneshwar, Cuttack, Keonjhargarh, Sambalpur, Port Blair, Bokaro, Malda, Suri, Kalyani | Regional Director (ER), Staff Selection Commission, 1st MSO Building,(8th Floor), 234/4, Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Road, Kolkata, West Bengal-700020 (www.sscer.org) |
| Karnataka, Kerala Region (KKR)/ Lakshadweep, Karnataka and Kerala | Bangalore, Dharwar, Gulbarga, Mangalore, Mysore, Kochi, Kozhikode(Calicut), Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, Malappuram | Regional Director (KKR), Staff Selection Commission, 1st Floor, “E” Wing, Kendriya Sadan, Koramangala, Bengaluru, Karnataka-560034 (www.ssckkr.kar.nic.in) |
| Madhya Pradesh Sub-Region (MPR)/ Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh | Bhopal, Chindwara, Guna, Gwalior, Indore, Jabalpur, Khandwa, Ratlam, Satna, Sagar, Ambikapur, Bilaspur Jagdalpur, Raipur, Durg | Dy. Director (MPR), Staff Selection Commission, J-5, Anupam Nagar, Raipur, Chhattisgarh-492007 (www.sscmpr.org) |
| Northern Region (NR)/ NCT of Delhi, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand | Almora, Dehradun, Haldwani, Srinagar (Uttarakhand), Haridwar, Delhi, Alwar, Bharatpur, Bikaner, Jaipur, Kota, Sriganganagar, Udaipur, | Regional Director (NR), Staff Selection Commission, Block No. 12, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003 (www.sscnr.net.in) |
| North Western Sub-Region (NWR)/ Chandigarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab | Anantnag, Baramulla, Jammu, Leh, Rajouri, Srinagar(J&K), Kargil, Dodda, Hamirpur, Shimla, Bhathinda, Jalandhar, Patiala, Amritsar, Chandigarh | Dy. Director (NWR), Staff Selection Commission, Block No. 3, Ground Floor, Kendriya Sadan, Sector-9, Chandigarh 160009 (www.sscnwr.org) |
| Southern Region (SR)/ Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and Telangana. | Guntur, Kurnool, Rajahmundry, Tirupati, Vishakhapatnam, Vijaywada, Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchirapalli, Tirunelveli, Puducherry, Hyderabad, Nizamabad, Warangal, Ongole, Siddipet | Regional Director (SR), Staff Selection Commission, 2nd Floor, EVK Sampath Building, DPI Campus, College Road, Chennai, Tamil Nadu-600006 (www.sscsr.gov.in) |
| Western Region (WR)/ Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Goa, Gujarat and Maharashtra | Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Rajkot, Surat, Bhavnagar, Kutch, Amravati, Aurangabad, Kolhapur, Mumbai, Nagpur, Nanded, Nashik, Pune, Thane, Bhandara, Chandrapur, Akola, Jalgaon, Ahmednagar, Alibaug, Panaji | Regional Director (WR), Staff Selection Commission,1st Floor, South Wing, Pratishtha Bhawan, 101, Maharshi Karve Road, Mumbai, Maharashtra-400020 (www.sscwr.net) |
| North Eastern Region (NER)/ Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura. | Itanagar, Dibrugarh, Guwahati (Dispur), Jorhat, Silchar, Kohima, Shillong, Imphal, Churachandpur, Ukhrul, Agartala, Aizwal | Regional Director (NER), Staff Selection Commission, Housefed Complex, Last Gate-Basistha Road, P. O. Assam Sachivalaya, Dispur, Guwahati, Assam 781006 (www.sscner.org.in) |
SSC CHSL Preparation Strategy
A simple preparation cycle can be followed:
Learn Concepts
↓
Solve Topic-wise Questions
↓
Practice Previous-Year Papers
↓
Attempt Sectional Tests
↓
Take Full-Length Mock Tests
↓
Analyse Mistakes
↓
Revise Weak Topics
Admit Card & City Intimation Slips
SSC CHSL 2026 Admit Card and City Intimations will be released for the Tier-I Exam, followed by Tier-II by the Staff Selection Commission of India. The city intimation slips are released 7 to 8 days before the scheduled exam date while admit cards are released 3 to 4 days before.
Answer Key & Response Sheet
After the completion of all days of the exam, SSC will release the provisional answer key along with individual response sheets for all candidates who appeared. Candidates can calculate their approximate marks and raise objections against the provisional answer key. After analysing the objections, final answer key will be released.
Result & Score Cards
The SSC CHSL 2026 result will be declared by SSC within a month of the Tier-I examination being conducted, along with cutoff marks in PDF format. The candidates can check their SSC CHSL result & cut-off from the official website https://ssc.gov.in/ when released. The scorecards with section-wise & total marks scored will be released 15-20 days after the exam is over.