Exam guide · SSC
SSC CHSL
Combined Higher Secondary Level Examination
SSC CHSL recruits Class 12 pass candidates for clerical and data entry posts in central government offices.
Vacancies
Approx. 2,536
Age limit
18–27 years
Application fee
₹100
Notice published
7 September 2026
SSC CHSL notification: key dates and vacancies
| Online application | 7 September – 7 October 2026 (11 pm) |
|---|---|
| Last date for fee payment | 8 October 2026 (11 pm) |
| Form correction window | 14 – 16 October 2026 |
| Tier-I and Tier-II (CBT) | To be notified later |
| Vacancies | Approx. 2,536 (tentative) |
Posts filled through this exam
- Lower Divisional Clerk (LDC) / Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA)
- Data Entry Operator (DEO) / DEO Grade 'A'
Source: Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination, 2026 — Notice (published 7 September 2026). Confirm in the official notice before applying.
Posts in SSC CHSL: pay level and age limit
Open a post for its departments, qualification and exam stages.
| Post | Pay level | Group | Age limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Division Clerk (LDC) / Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA) | Level 2 | Group C | 18–27 years |
| Data Entry Operator (DEO) | Level 4 | Group C | 18–27 years |
| Data Entry Operator Grade 'A' | Level 4 | Group C | 18–27 years |
SSC CHSL (Combined Higher Secondary Level) is the Staff Selection Commission's examination for Class 12 pass candidates. It fills Lower Divisional Clerk (LDC) / Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA) and Data Entry Operator (DEO) posts in central government ministries, departments, offices and constitutional bodies.
The 2026 notice announces about 2,536 tentative vacancies. Selection has two stages: a Tier-I computer-based test and a Tier-II test that combines a computer-based paper (Session-I) with a skill or typing test (Session-II) on the same day. Posts are allotted on merit and the post preferences you submit online before the result.
This guide sets out what the 2026 notice prints: pay levels, age and relaxation, the special qualification rule for some DEO posts, both tiers' pattern, typing and data-entry speeds, qualifying marks, tie-break rules and the application steps.
SSC CHSL 2026 vacancies
The notice lists approximately 2,536 tentative vacancies. Final vacancies are fixed after the user departments complete their scrutiny, and the post-wise and category-wise split is published later on the SSC website under Candidate's Corner → Tentative Vacancy. Check that page before filling preferences.
SSC CHSL salary: pay level by post
CHSL posts span Pay Levels 2 to 5 of the 7th CPC matrix. Allowances are paid over basic pay at central government rates; the notice gives no in-hand figure.
Pay level by post
| Post | Pay level |
|---|---|
| Lower Divisional Clerk (LDC) / Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA) | Level-2 (₹19,900 – ₹63,200) |
| Data Entry Operator (DEO) | Level-4 (₹25,500 – ₹81,100) and Level-5 (₹29,200 – ₹92,300) |
| Data Entry Operator, Grade 'A' | Level-4 (₹25,500 – ₹81,100) |
Posts are allotted on merit-cum-preference; once allotted, the Commission does not change the post because a candidate fails a post-specific requirement.
Age limit, relaxation and qualification
Age is reckoned on 1 August 2026. The limit is 18–27 years, which means you must be born not before 2 August 1999 and not later than 1 August 2008. The date of birth recorded in your Matriculation/Secondary certificate is the one the Commission accepts.
For LDC/JSA and most DEO posts, you need a 12th standard pass from a recognised board or university. DEO and DEO Grade 'A' posts in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, the Staff Selection Commission and the Ministry of Culture need 12th in the Science stream with Mathematics as a subject. The qualification must be held by 7 October 2026; candidates who have appeared in their 12th exam may apply if they qualify by then.
Upper age relaxation
| Category | Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC / ST | 5 years |
| OBC | 3 years |
| PwBD (Unreserved) | 10 years |
| PwBD (OBC) | 13 years |
| PwBD (SC/ST) | 15 years |
| Ex-servicemen | 3 years after deducting military service from actual age |
| Defence personnel disabled in operations | 3 years (8 years for SC/ST) |
| Central Government civilian employees with 3 years' regular service | Up to 40 years (45 for SC/ST) |
| Widows / divorced / judicially separated women, not remarried | Up to 35 years (40 for SC/ST) |
Exam pattern details, qualifying marks and tie-break
Tier-I has four parts — English Language, General Intelligence, Quantitative Aptitude and General Awareness — each with 25 questions for 50 marks, in 60 minutes with a 15-minute sectional timer. Wrong answers in Tier-I cost 0.50 marks.
Tier-II Session-I lasts 2 hours 15 minutes. Section-I (Mathematical Abilities and Reasoning, 30 questions each, 180 marks) and Section-II (English Language and Comprehension 40 questions, General Awareness 20 questions, 180 marks) each run for one hour; Section-III is a 15-question, 45-mark Computer Knowledge Test of 15 minutes. Each wrong answer in Sections I–III costs 1 mark. Session-II, the same day, is the skill or typing test.
You must reach the minimum qualifying marks in Tier-I and in each of Sections I, II and III of Tier-II: 30% for UR, 25% for OBC and EWS, and 20% for all other categories. The Computer Knowledge Test and the skill/typing test are qualifying only. Normalised scores are used for merit and final selection, and there may be separate cut-offs for DEOs in the four ministries named above, other DEOs, and LDC/JSA.
If candidates tie in Tier-II, merit is decided in this order: marks in Section-I of Tier-II, then marks in Tier-I, then date of birth (older candidates first).
Skill test and typing test standards
Session-II of Tier-II
| Test | Post | Standard | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part A — skill test | DEO / DEO Grade 'A' in Consumer Affairs, SSC and Culture | 15,000 key depressions per hour on a passage of about 3,700–4,000 key depressions | 15 minutes |
| Part B — skill test | DEO / DEO Grade 'A' in other departments | 8,000 key depressions per hour | 15 minutes |
| Part C — typing test | LDC / JSA | 35 words per minute in English or 30 words per minute in Hindi (about 10,500 / 9,000 key depressions per hour) | 10 minutes |
Candidates eligible for a scribe get extra time (20 minutes for skill tests, 15 minutes for the typing test). The skill test is compulsory for all qualified DEO candidates; the typing test is compulsory except for candidates exempted under the notice's PwBD provision.
How to apply for SSC CHSL 2026
- 1
Register once on ssc.gov.in
Complete One-Time Registration on the new SSC website and log in to the CHSL application. Keep your mobile number and email active — both are verified by OTP.
- 2
Capture your photograph live
The application captures your photograph live through the camera; use good light, a plain background and keep your face fully in the frame.
- 3
Choose the exam language and centres
Questions in Parts II, III and IV of Tier-I can be answered in English, Hindi or one of the languages listed in the notice, which you choose in the form.
- 4
Pay the fee
The fee is ₹100, payable online by BHIM UPI, net banking or card, by 8 October 2026 (11 pm). Women, SC, ST, PwBD and eligible ex-servicemen candidates are exempt.
- 5
Correct mistakes in the window
The correction window is 14 – 16 October 2026. The charge is ₹200 for the first resubmission and ₹500 for the second. SSC's toll-free helpline is 1800 309 3063.
- 6
Fill post preferences later
Preferences for posts and departments are collected through an online option form before the result. You are not considered for any post you do not list.
ID proof and documents
- An original photo ID at the exam: Aadhaar, voter ID, driving licence, PAN card, passport, college/school ID, employer ID (Govt./PSU), ex-serviceman discharge book, or another central/state government photo ID.
- If the photo ID does not show your date of birth, carry an original proof such as your Matriculation certificate or board mark sheet.
- Candidates using a scribe or compensatory time must bring the supporting certificate to the exam and to document verification.
- At verification: 12th certificate (with Science-Mathematics for the four DEO ministries), category certificate if claimed, and any certificate supporting an age relaxation.
Latest SSC CHSL recruitment
No active trusted recruitment is published for this exam right now.
Exam overview
Reviewed editorial
Who it is for
Candidates who have passed Class 12 and want central government office posts.
Eligibility, age and qualification
Exact limits are set per post in each official notice.
Age limit
18–27 years (as on 1 August 2026)
Educational qualification
- 12th standard pass from a recognised board
- DEO in specified ministries (incl. Consumer Affairs, SSC, Culture): 12th in Science with Mathematics
Upper age relaxation
Category-wise relaxation is listed in the official notice.
Application fee
₹100. Categories exempted from the fee (including women candidates) are listed in the notice.
Source: Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination, 2026 — Notice (published 7 September 2026). Confirm in the official notice before applying.
- Age on the official cutoff date
- Class 12 qualification (with subject conditions for some posts)
- Nationality
- Category-based age relaxation, where it applies
Selection process and exam pattern
Stages of selection
- 1Tier-I: computer-based test
- 2Tier-II: computer-based test (Session-I) and skill/typing test (Session-II)
- 3Document verification
Tier-I
60 minutes (15-minute sectional timer)
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| English Language (Basic Knowledge) | 25 | 50 |
| General Intelligence | 25 | 50 |
| Quantitative Aptitude (Basic Arithmetic Skill) | 25 | 50 |
| General Awareness | 25 | 50 |
Tier-II
Session-I 2 h 15 min, Session-II same day
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Section I: Mathematical Abilities + Reasoning | 30 + 30 | 180 |
| Section II: English Language + General Awareness | as per notice | as per notice |
| Section III: Computer Knowledge Test | as per notice | as per notice |
| Section IV: Skill Test / Typing Test | — | Qualifying |
Negative marking: 1 mark per wrong answer in Sections I–III.
Source: Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination, 2026 — Notice (published 7 September 2026). Confirm in the official notice before applying.
Reviewed editorial
Selection usually includes computer-based tests and a skill or typing test. The exact stages are confirmed from each year's official notice.
Syllabus and subject-wise prep
- Quantitative aptitude
- Reasoning
- English
- General awareness
Prepare for SSC CHSL
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Frequently asked questions
What is the age limit for SSC CHSL?
18–27 years, counted as on 1 August 2026, as per the Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination, 2026 — Notice. Category-wise upper age relaxation is given in the notice.
What qualification is needed for SSC CHSL?
12th standard pass from a recognised board. DEO in specified ministries (incl. Consumer Affairs, SSC, Culture): 12th in Science with Mathematics.
When can I apply for SSC CHSL?
Online application: 7 September – 7 October 2026 (11 pm), as per the notice published on 7 September 2026. Applications are made only on ssc.gov.in.
What is the SSC CHSL exam pattern?
Tier-I: English Language (Basic Knowledge), General Intelligence, Quantitative Aptitude (Basic Arithmetic Skill), General Awareness (60 minutes (15-minute sectional timer)) Tier-II: Section I: Mathematical Abilities + Reasoning, Section II: English Language + General Awareness, Section III: Computer Knowledge Test, Section IV: Skill Test / Typing Test (Session-I 2 h 15 min, Session-II same day). Negative marking: 1 mark per wrong answer in Sections I–III.
How many vacancies are there in SSC CHSL?
Approx. 2,536 (tentative), according to the Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination, 2026 — Notice.
How many vacancies are there in SSC CHSL 2026?
About 2,536 tentative vacancies; the post-wise and category-wise split is published later on the SSC website under Tentative Vacancy.
What is the salary of SSC CHSL posts?
LDC/JSA is in Pay Level-2 (₹19,900 – ₹63,200); DEO is in Level-4 (₹25,500 – ₹81,100) and Level-5 (₹29,200 – ₹92,300); DEO Grade 'A' is in Level-4.
What is the age limit for SSC CHSL 2026?
18–27 years as on 1 August 2026: born not before 2 August 1999 and not later than 1 August 2008, with category relaxations.
Can 12th Arts or Commerce students apply for SSC CHSL DEO?
Yes for most DEO posts. Only DEO posts in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, the SSC and the Ministry of Culture require 12th Science with Mathematics.
What is the typing speed for SSC CHSL LDC?
35 words per minute in English or 30 words per minute in Hindi, tested for 10 minutes.
What is the DEO skill test speed?
15,000 key depressions per hour for DEOs in the four named ministries and 8,000 key depressions per hour for other DEO posts, each over 15 minutes.
Is there negative marking in SSC CHSL?
Yes: 0.50 marks per wrong answer in Tier-I and 1 mark per wrong answer in Sections I, II and III of Tier-II.
What are the qualifying marks in SSC CHSL?
30% for UR, 25% for OBC and EWS and 20% for others, in Tier-I and in each of Sections I–III of Tier-II.
How is a tie resolved in SSC CHSL?
By Section-I marks in Tier-II, then Tier-I marks, then date of birth with the older candidate ranked higher.
Who is exempt from the SSC CHSL fee?
Women, SC, ST, PwBD and ex-servicemen candidates eligible for reservation. Everyone else pays ₹100 online.
What is SSC CHSL?
SSC CHSL recruits Class 12 pass candidates for clerical and data entry posts in central government offices.
Who is SSC CHSL for?
Candidates who have passed Class 12 and want central government office posts.
How is SSC CHSL selection described?
Selection usually includes computer-based tests and a skill or typing test. The exact stages are confirmed from each year's official notice.
Niyookti is not part of SSC. The official SSC website (ssc.gov.in) and its notices are the only final source. Always confirm details there before applying.