The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) released the SSC CHSL Recruitment 2026 notification on 7 September 2026 for 2,536 tentative vacancies of Lower Division Clerk (LDC)/Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA) and Data Entry Operator (DEO)/DEO Grade ‘A’ posts. Online applications are open from 7 September 2026 to 7 October 2026 at ssc.gov.in. This article explains eligibility, age limit, application fee, selection process and the step-by-step application procedure based on the official notice.
SSC CHSL Recruitment 2026 Overview
The Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination, 2026 is conducted to recruit candidates for Group C posts in various Ministries, Departments and Offices of the Government of India, as well as Constitutional and Statutory Bodies and Tribunals.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Authority | Staff Selection Commission (SSC) |
| Exam Name | Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination, 2026 |
| Notification Number | F. No. HQ-C1102/5/2026-C-1 |
| Notification Date | 7 September 2026 |
| Posts | LDC/JSA, DEO, DEO Grade ‘A’ |
| Post Category | Group C |
| Total Vacancies (Tentative) | 2,536 |
| Mode of Application | Online only |
| Official Website | ssc.gov.in |
| Helpline (Toll Free) | 1800 309 3063 |
SSC CHSL 2026 Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release Date | 7 September 2026 |
| Start of Online Application | 7 September 2026 |
| Last Date to Submit Online Application | 7 October 2026 (11:00 PM) |
| Last Date for Online Fee Payment | 8 October 2026 (11:00 PM) |
| Application Correction Window | 14 October 2026 to 16 October 2026 (11:00 PM) |
| Tier-I Exam Date (CBT) | To be notified later |
| Tier-II Exam Date (CBT) | To be notified later |
This information has not yet been confirmed by the official authority regarding the exact Tier-I and Tier-II exam dates. SSC has stated these will be announced separately on ssc.gov.in.
SSC CHSL Vacancy Details 2026
SSC has announced approximately 2,536 tentative vacancies for the posts of LDC/JSA, DEO and DEO Grade ‘A’. As per the official notice, the final number of vacancies will be determined after scrutiny of documents received from the user departments. The post-wise and category-wise vacancy breakup is not mentioned in the official notification at present; it will be published separately on the SSC website under Candidate’s Corner > Tentative Vacancy.
SSC CHSL Pay Scale 2026
| Post Name | Pay Level | Pay Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Division Clerk (LDC)/Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA) | Level-2 | Rs 19,900 – Rs 63,200 |
| Data Entry Operator (DEO) | Level-4 and Level-5 | Rs 25,500-81,100 and Rs 29,200-92,300 |
| Data Entry Operator, Grade ‘A’ | Level-4 | Rs 25,500 – Rs 81,100 |
SSC CHSL Eligibility Criteria 2026
Nationality
A candidate must be a citizen of India, a subject of Nepal or Bhutan, or a person of Indian origin who migrated from specified countries with the intention of permanently settling in India, subject to conditions in the official notice.
Educational Qualification (as on 7 October 2026)
- For LDC/JSA and DEO/DEO Grade ‘A’ posts (except DEO posts in Department of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, SSC, and Ministry of Culture): Candidates must have passed Class 12th or an equivalent examination from a recognized Board or University.
- For DEO/DEO Grade ‘A’ posts specifically in the Department of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, SSC, and Ministry of Culture: Candidates must have passed 12th Standard in the Science stream with Mathematics as a subject.
- Candidates appearing in Class 12th can also apply, but the qualifying result must be officially declared by the Board/University on or before 7 October 2026. Mere processing of the result by this date does not fulfil the requirement.
SSC CHSL Age Limit 2026
The age limit for SSC CHSL posts is 18 to 27 years as on 1 August 2026. Candidates must be born not before 2 August 1999 and not later than 1 August 2008.
| Category | Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC/ST | 5 years |
| OBC | 3 years |
| PwBD (Unreserved) | 10 years |
| PwBD (OBC) | 13 years |
| PwBD (SC/ST) | 15 years |
| Ex-Servicemen (ESM) | 3 years after deduction of military service rendered |
| Defence personnel disabled in operations | 3 years |
| Defence personnel disabled in operations (SC/ST) | 8 years |
| Central Govt civilian employees (3+ years’ service) | Up to 40 years |
| Central Govt civilian employees, SC/ST (3+ years’ service) | Up to 45 years |
| Widows/Divorced/Judicially separated women, not remarried | Up to 35 years |
| Widows/Divorced/Judicially separated women (SC/ST), not remarried | Up to 40 years |
Candidates claiming age relaxation must possess the prescribed certificate and satisfy the conditions mentioned in the official notice. Only male candidates are eligible for LDC vacancies, if reported, in the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), subject to applicable physical and medical standards.
SSC CHSL Application Fee 2026
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General/UR/OBC/EWS (Male) | Rs 100/- |
| Women (all categories) | Exempted |
| SC/ST | Exempted |
| PwBD | Exempted |
| Ex-Servicemen (ESM) eligible for reservation | Exempted |
Fee can be paid online through BHIM UPI, Net Banking, or Visa/MasterCard/Maestro/RuPay Debit cards up to 8 October 2026 (11:00 PM). Fee once paid is not refunded under any circumstances.
SSC CHSL Selection Process 2026
- Tier-I: Computer Based Examination (Objective type)
- Tier-II: Computer Based Examination (Session-I: objective sections; Session-II: Skill Test/Typing Test)
- Document Verification (DV): Conducted by the User Departments after declaration of the final result
SSC CHSL Exam Pattern 2026
Tier-I Pattern
| Section | Subject | Questions/Marks |
|---|---|---|
| I | English Language | 25/50 |
| II | General Intelligence | 25/50 |
| III | Quantitative Aptitude | 25/50 |
| IV | General Awareness | 25/50 |
Tier-I duration is 60 minutes, with a new sectional timer of 15 minutes per subject introduced in the 2026 cycle. There is a negative marking of 0.50 marks for each wrong answer.
Tier-II Pattern
| Section | Subject | Questions/Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Section-I | Mathematical Abilities + Reasoning & General Intelligence | 60 Q / 180 marks | 1 hour |
| Section-II | English Language & Comprehension + General Awareness | 60 Q / 180 marks | 1 hour |
| Section-III | Computer Knowledge Test (Qualifying) | 15 Q / 45 marks | 15 minutes |
| Section-IV | Skill Test/Typing Test (Qualifying) | – | 10-15 minutes |
There is a negative marking of 1 mark for each wrong answer in Section-I, II and III of Tier-II. It is mandatory to qualify all sections of Tier-II. Candidates opting for the Hindi Typing Test for LDC/JSA must type in Mangal Font only.
SSC CHSL Minimum Qualifying Marks
| Category | Qualifying Marks |
|---|---|
| UR (General) | 30% |
| OBC/EWS | 25% |
| All other categories | 20% |
SSC CHSL Syllabus 2026 (Indicative)
Tier-I Syllabus
- English Language: Error spotting, fill in the blanks, synonyms/antonyms, idioms, one-word substitution, active/passive voice, cloze test, comprehension
- General Intelligence: Verbal and non-verbal reasoning, analogies, classification, coding-decoding, series
- Quantitative Aptitude: Number systems, arithmetic, algebra, geometry, mensuration, trigonometry, statistical charts
- General Awareness: History, geography, polity, economy, science, current affairs
Tier-II Syllabus
- Mathematical Abilities (same broad topics as Tier-I Quantitative Aptitude, plus statistics and probability)
- Reasoning and General Intelligence
- English Language and Comprehension (with two comprehension passages)
- General Awareness
- Computer Knowledge: Computer basics, MS Office, internet, e-mail, networking and cyber security basics
Documents Required for SSC CHSL Application 2026
- Scanned passport-size photograph (captured live through the application module)
- Scanned signature in JPEG format (10-20 KB, 6.0 cm x 2.0 cm)
- Class 10th and 12th mark sheets
- Valid photo ID proof
- Category/caste certificate, if applicable
- PwBD certificate, if applicable
- Active mobile number and e-mail ID
- One Time Registration (OTR) details on the new SSC website
How to Apply for SSC CHSL 2026 – Step by Step
- Visit the official SSC website at ssc.gov.in.
- Complete One-Time Registration (OTR) on the new website. Note: OTR generated earlier on the old website (ssc.nic.in) is not valid on the new portal.
- Log in using the Registration Number and Password.
- Click on “Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination, 2026” under Live Exams.
- Fill in personal, educational and additional details.
- Select three examination centres, in order of preference, within the same SSC Region.
- Capture a live photograph as per SSC’s instructions (pre-existing photographs are not accepted, unless the candidate has opted for Aadhaar Based Authentication).
- Upload the scanned signature in the prescribed format.
- Preview and verify all details before final submission.
- Pay the application fee online, if applicable.
- Download and save the application printout for future reference.
Important Instructions for SSC CHSL 2026 Applicants
- Only one online application is allowed per candidate. Multiple applications will lead to rejection of candidature.
- Candidates are advised to apply well before the closing date to avoid last-minute website load issues.
- The Application Form Correction Window will be open from 14 to 16 October 2026, with a correction charge of Rs 200 for the first correction and Rs 500 for the second.
- Post preference must be submitted through the Online Option Form before declaration of the result; this choice is final and cannot be changed later.
- The English version of the notice will prevail in case of any dispute with the Hindi version.
Common Application Mistakes to Avoid
- Using the old ssc.nic.in OTR credentials instead of registering fresh on ssc.gov.in
- Uploading a pre-existing photograph instead of capturing a live photo through the application module
- Selecting exam centres outside the same SSC Region
- Missing the fee payment deadline of 8 October 2026, even after submitting the form
- Not verifying name, date of birth and category details as per the Matriculation certificate before final submission
Beware of Fake Websites
Candidates are advised to apply only through the official website ssc.gov.in or the official “my SSC” mobile application. SSC does not charge any fee beyond what is mentioned in the official notice, and does not ask for payments through unofficial links, agents or third-party portals.
SSC CHSL Notification 2026 and Application Links
Candidates are strongly advised to read the complete official notification PDF before applying, since it contains full details on reservation rules, disability categories, exam centres and annexure formats that cannot be fully covered in a summary article.
Conclusion
The SSC CHSL Recruitment 2026 notification for 2,536 tentative posts of LDC, JSA and DEO is open for applications until 7 October 2026. Eligible Class 12 pass candidates should complete their One-Time Registration early, fill the application form carefully, and pay the fee before the deadline to avoid last-minute issues. Keep checking ssc.gov.in for the Tier-I exam date announcement.
