SSC CHSL 2026 Examination

The Staff Selection Commission Combined Higher Secondary Level (SSC CHSL) examination is a national-level recruitment process conducted annually to select 12th-pass candidates for various Group C clerical and data entry positions across Central Government ministries and departments. ^{[1, 2]}

The SSC CHSL 2026 Notification was officially released on the SSC Official Website. ^{[1, 3]}

Important Dates (2026 Cycle)

• Registration Window: 20 May 2026 to 9 June 2026
• Tier-1 Exam Date: Scheduled between July and September 2026
• Tier-2 Exam Date: To be announced later ^{[1, 4, 5, 6]}

Core Eligibility Criteria

• Educational Qualification: Must have passed Class 12 (10+2) or equivalent from a recognized board.
• Age Limit: General category applicants must be between 18 and 27 years old. Standard age relaxations apply for reserved categories.
• Application Fee: ₹100 for General/OBC male candidates. Women, SC, ST, PwBD, and ESM applicants are exempted from payment. ^{[1, 5, 7, 8, 9]}

Exam Pattern & Structure

The selection process consists of two primary stages, both conducted in online mode. ^[1]

1. Tier-1 Examination (Qualifying Only)

This is an objective-type, multiple-choice exam lasting 60 minutes. ^{[7, 10]}

• Structure: Consists of 4 sections with 25 questions each: English Language, General Intelligence (Reasoning), Quantitative Aptitude, and General Awareness.
• Marking: Each correct answer adds 2 marks (Total 200 marks).
• Negative Marking: Deducts 0.50 marks per wrong answer. ^{[6, 11, 12, 13]}

2. Tier-2 Examination (Merit-Deciding)

Conducted in two sessions on the same day, this tier evaluates objective knowledge and physical skill competency. ^[6]

• Session I (Written Objective): Includes Mathematical Abilities, Reasoning, English Language, General Awareness, and a mandatory Computer Knowledge module. Each question is worth 3 marks with a 1-mark penalty for errors.
• Session II (Skill Test): Features a typing or data entry speed test depending on the post. For instance, a Data Entry Operator (DEO) role requires a speed of 15,000 key depressions per hour. ^{[6, 12, 14]}

Job Posts & Salary Structure

Final selection grants positions across various pay levels based on the 7th Pay Commission. ^{[1, 15]}

Post Name [16, 17, 18, 19, 20]	Pay Level	Pay Scale
Lower Division Clerk (LDC) / Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA)	Pay Level-2	₹19,900 – ₹63,200
Data Entry Operator (DEO) / DEO Grade 'A'	Pay Level-4	₹25,500 – ₹81,100
Data Entry Operator (Higher Scale)	Pay Level-5	₹29,200 – ₹92,300

( SSC CHSL Notification Overview) ^[6]

How to Apply

1. Perform a One-Time Registration (OTR) on the SSC Portal if you are a first-time user.
2. Log in, select the CHSL 2026 Application, and input your educational details.
3. Choose your preferred exam centers and upload your passport photograph and signature.
4. Pay the application fee online (if applicable) and download the confirmation PDF. ^[6]