SSC Stenographer 2026 · Age limit & eligibility
SSC Stenographer Age Limit 2026: Relaxation, Qualification and Eligibility
SSC Stenographer age limit: Grade 'C': 18–30 years (born 2 Aug 1996 – 1 Aug 2008); Grade 'D': 18–27 years (born 2 Aug 1999 – 1 Aug 2008) (age counted on 1 August 2026), as per the official notice published 24 April 2026.
Age limit, the date on which age is counted, category-wise relaxation and the educational qualification, as printed in the official notice.
SSC Stenographer age limit and relaxation
Age limit
Grade 'C': 18–30 years (born 2 Aug 1996 – 1 Aug 2008); Grade 'D': 18–27 years (born 2 Aug 1999 – 1 Aug 2008) (as on 1 August 2026)
Educational qualification
- 12th standard or equivalent pass from a recognised board or university
- Must be held on or before 1 August 2026; the result must be declared by then (mere processing does not count)
Upper age relaxation
| SC / ST | 5 years |
| OBC | 3 years |
| PwBD (Unreserved/EWS) | 10 years |
| PwBD (OBC) | 13 years |
| PwBD (SC/ST) | 15 years |
| Ex-Servicemen | 3 years after deducting military service |
| Defence personnel disabled in operations | 3 years (8 years for SC/ST) |
| Central Govt. civilian employees, 3 years' regular service (Group 'C' posts) | Up to 40 years (45 for SC/ST) |
| Widows / divorced / judicially separated women, not remarried | Up to 35 years (40 for SC/ST) |
Application fee
₹100. Women, SC, ST, PwBD and Ex-Servicemen eligible for reservation are exempted from the fee.
Source: Stenographer Grade 'C' & 'D' Examination, 2026 — Notice (published 24 April 2026). Confirm in the official notice before applying.
Age limit, relaxation and qualification in detail
Age is counted on 1 August 2026. Grade 'C' has a wider band of 18–30 years; Grade 'D' allows 18–27 years. A candidate who is 28 on that date can still apply for Grade 'C' but not for Grade 'D' (before any relaxation).
You need a 12th standard or equivalent pass from a recognised board or university, held on or before 1 August 2026. If you are awaiting your result, it must actually be declared by that date and you must be able to show this with documents; the notice says mere processing of the result by the board does not meet the requirement.
You must be a citizen of India, or a subject of Nepal or Bhutan, or a person of Indian origin who migrated from one of the countries listed in the notice with the intention of settling permanently in India. Candidates in the last three groups need a certificate of eligibility from the Government of India.
Date-of-birth range by post
| Post | Age band | Born not before | Born not after |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stenographer Grade 'C' | 18–30 years | 2 August 1996 | 1 August 2008 |
| Stenographer Grade 'D' | 18–27 years | 2 August 1999 | 1 August 2008 |
Upper age relaxation
| Code | Category | Relaxation |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | SC / ST | 5 years |
| 02 | OBC | 3 years |
| 03 | PwBD (Unreserved/EWS) | 10 years |
| 04 | PwBD (OBC) | 13 years |
| 05 | PwBD (SC/ST) | 15 years |
| 06 | Ex-servicemen | 3 years after deducting military service from actual age on 1 August 2026 |
| 08 | Defence personnel disabled in operations | 3 years |
| 09 | Defence personnel disabled in operations (SC/ST) | 8 years |
| 10 | Central Govt. civilian employees with at least 3 years' regular, continuous service on the closing date | Up to 40 years |
| 11 | Central Govt. civilian employees as above (SC/ST) | Up to 45 years |
| 12 | Widows / divorced / judicially separated women, not remarried | Up to 35 years |
| 13 | Widows / divorced / judicially separated women, not remarried (SC/ST) | Up to 40 years |
Codes 10–13 are printed under the heading 'Permissible relaxation in upper age limit for Group 'C' posts only' (Stenographer Grade 'D').
Frequently asked questions
What is the age limit for SSC Stenographer?
Grade 'C': 18–30 years (born 2 Aug 1996 – 1 Aug 2008); Grade 'D': 18–27 years (born 2 Aug 1999 – 1 Aug 2008), counted as on 1 August 2026, as per the Stenographer Grade 'C' & 'D' Examination, 2026 — Notice. Category-wise upper age relaxation is given in the notice.
What qualification is needed for SSC Stenographer?
12th standard or equivalent pass from a recognised board or university. Must be held on or before 1 August 2026; the result must be declared by then (mere processing does not count).
What is the age limit for SSC Stenographer 2026?
18–30 years for Grade 'C' and 18–27 years for Grade 'D', counted on 1 August 2026, with category relaxations.
What qualification is needed for SSC Stenographer?
A 12th standard or equivalent pass from a recognised board or university, held on or before 1 August 2026.