SSC CHSL Vacancy 2026: Official Notification, Eligibility, Exam Criteria & Exam Pattern

SSC CHSL 2026: Quick Overview

The Tier-I and Tier-II examination dates had not been notified in the official notice supplied for this article. Candidates should therefore rely on the SSC website for subsequent schedule announcements.

SSC CHSL 2026 Notification

The SSC CHSL 2026 notification was dated 7 September 2026. According to the notice, the Commission will conduct a competitive examination for recruitment to Group C posts such as LDC/JSA and Data Entry Operators.

The application process follows this schedule:

• Application begins: 7 September 2026
• Last date to apply: 7 October 2026, up to 11:00 PM
• Last date for online fee payment: 8 October 2026, up to 11:00 PM
• Application correction window: 14 October to 16 October 2026, up to 11:00 PM
• Tier-I examination: To be notified
• Tier-II examination: To be notified

Candidates should not rely on old SSC CHSL schedules because the dates for each recruitment cycle can differ. Official SSC Website

SSC CHSL 2026 Vacancy

SSC has reported approximately 2,536 tentative vacancies for CHSL 2026.

These are not necessarily the final vacancies. The Commission has clearly stated that the final number will be determined after scrutiny of the information received from the user departments. Updated vacancies, including post-wise and category-wise details, will be made available on the SSC website.

One point candidates should remember is that SSC does not collect state-wise or zone-wise vacancies for this examination. Candidates seeking that information are advised by the Commission to approach the concerned user departments.

SSC CHSL 2026 Posts and Pay Scale

The notification lists three broad post categories.

Lower Divisional Clerk/Junior Secretariat Assistant

LDC/JSA posts carry Pay Level-2, with a pay scale of Rs. 19,900 to Rs. 63,200.

Data Entry Operator

DEO posts carry either Pay Level-4, with a pay scale of Rs. 25,500 to Rs. 81,100, or Pay Level-5, with a pay scale of Rs. 29,200 to Rs. 92,300, depending on the post.

Data Entry Operator, Grade 'A'

DEO Grade 'A' carries Pay Level-4, with a pay scale of Rs. 25,500 to Rs. 81,100.

The final allotment of posts is made on the basis of merit and the preferences submitted by candidates. The notification also makes it clear that post preferences are important because a candidate is not considered for a post or department that has not been included in their submitted preferences.

Who Is Eligible for SSC CHSL 2026?

The eligibility requirements are straightforward at the basic level, but candidates should pay attention to the different educational conditions applicable to particular DEO posts.

Educational Qualification

For LDC/JSA and DEO/DEO Grade 'A' posts, except for the DEO posts specifically mentioned in the notification, candidates must have passed Class 12 or an equivalent examination from a recognized Board or University.

For DEO/DEO Grade 'A' posts in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Staff Selection Commission and Ministry of Culture, the requirement is different. Candidates must have passed Class 12 in the Science stream with Mathematics as a subject from a recognized Board or an equivalent qualification.

Candidates who are appearing in their Class 12 examination can also apply, provided they obtain the required qualification on or before 7 October 2026, which is the cut-off date specified in the notice.

This is an important distinction. A candidate should not assume that passing Class 12 automatically satisfies the educational requirement for every DEO post.

SSC CHSL 2026 Age Limit

The age limit for SSC CHSL 2026 is 18 to 27 years as on 1 August 2026.

The notification states that candidates should have been born not before 2 August 1999 and not later than 1 August 2008.

Age relaxation is available for eligible categories under the applicable Government of India rules.

The notification also provides specific relaxations for Ex-Servicemen, certain defence personnel, Central Government civilian employees and eligible widows/divorced women/women judicially separated and not remarried.

Candidates claiming age relaxation should ensure that they have the required supporting documents when these are requested during document verification.

SSC CHSL 2026 Application Fee

The application fee is Rs. 100.

Women candidates and candidates belonging to SC, ST, PwBD and eligible Ex-Servicemen categories are exempt from paying the examination fee.

The fee can be paid online using:

• BHIM UPI
• Net Banking
• Visa
• MasterCard
• Maestro
• RuPay Debit Card

The last date for online fee payment is 8 October 2026 at 11:00 PM.

Candidates who are required to pay the fee should make sure that the payment has actually been received by SSC. If the fee is not received, the application can remain incomplete and may be rejected. The notification also states that a fee once paid will not be refunded or adjusted against another examination.

SSC CHSL 2026 Application Correction Window

SSC has provided a correction window from 14 October 2026 to 16 October 2026, up to 11:00 PM.

The notice allows candidates to correct and resubmit their application two times during this window. After the permitted corrections have been used, no further correction will be allowed.

This makes it important to review the application carefully before submitting it.

SSC CHSL 2026 Exam Pattern

The SSC CHSL 2026 examination is conducted in two tiers: Tier-I and Tier-II. The official notification also provides for normalization of scores where the Computer-Based Examination is conducted in multiple shifts.

SSC CHSL Tier-I Exam Pattern

This is one area where the earlier version of the article needed a major correction. The official notification specifies 100 questions carrying 200 marks, not 200 questions. Each of the four sections contains 25 questions carrying 50 marks.

The total examination time is 60 minutes, with a 15-minute sectional timer for each subject. Candidates eligible for the specified scribe facilities receive the applicable additional time as provided in the notification.

Negative Marking in Tier-I

SSC has prescribed 0.50 marks of negative marking for every wrong answer in Tier-I.

That makes question selection important. Candidates should avoid treating every doubtful question as an automatic attempt.

SSC CHSL Tier-I Syllabus

The official notification gives an indicative syllabus for each subject.

English Language

The English section includes areas such as:

• Spot the Error
• Fill in the Blanks
• Synonyms and Homonyms
• Antonyms
• Spelling
• Idioms and Phrases
• One-word Substitution
• Sentence Improvement
• Active and Passive Voice
• Direct and Indirect Narration
• Shuffling of Sentence Parts
• Shuffling of Sentences in a Passage
• Cloze Passage
• Comprehension Passage

General Intelligence

The Reasoning syllabus includes verbal and non-verbal questions covering areas such as:

• Analogy
• Classification
• Series
• Coding and Decoding
• Venn Diagrams
• Drawing Inferences
• Figural Classification
• Embedded Figures
• Problem Solving
• Critical Thinking
• Emotional Intelligence
• Social Intelligence
• Numerical Operations
• Space Orientation

Quantitative Aptitude

The Quantitative Aptitude syllabus includes:

• Number Systems
• Percentages
• Ratio and Proportion
• Square Roots
• Averages
• Simple and Compound Interest
• Profit and Loss
• Discount
• Partnership
• Mixture and Alligation
• Time and Distance
• Time and Work
• Algebra
• Geometry
• Mensuration
• Trigonometry
• Statistical Charts

General Awareness

The General Awareness section covers knowledge of the environment and its application to society, current events and matters of everyday observation.

The notification specifically mentions areas related to India and neighbouring countries, particularly:

• History
• Culture
• Geography
• Economic Scene
• General Policy
• Scientific Research
• Current Events

For candidates building their preparation schedule, the site's existing SSC subject-wise study plan can be used as a supporting resource, while the 2026 notification should remain the authority for the current syllabus.

SSC CHSL Tier-II Exam Pattern 2026

Tier-II is more detailed than Tier-I and is divided into four sections.

It is conducted in two sessions on the same day.

Session-I

Session-I includes:

• Section-I: Mathematical Abilities and Reasoning & General Intelligence
• Section-II: English Language & Comprehension and General Awareness
• Section-III: Computer Knowledge Test

Session-II

Session-II consists of:

• Section-IV: Skill Test/Typing Test

Section-I: Mathematical Abilities and Reasoning

Section-I contains:

• 30 questions from Mathematical Abilities
• 30 questions from Reasoning and General Intelligence

Together, the section contains 60 questions carrying 180 marks.

The allotted time is one hour, with a 30-minute sectional timer for each part.

Section-II: English and General Awareness

Section-II contains:

• 40 questions from English Language and Comprehension
• 20 questions from General Awareness

This gives a total of 60 questions carrying 180 marks.

The time allotted is one hour, with a 40-minute timer for English and a 20-minute timer for General Awareness.

Section-III: Computer Knowledge Test

Section-III contains 15 questions carrying 45 marks.

The duration is 15 minutes.

The Computer Knowledge Test is mandatory but qualifying in nature.

Section-IV: Skill Test/Typing Test

Section-IV is conducted in Session-II.

The applicable test depends on the post:

• DEO Skill Test
• DEO Grade 'A' Skill Test
• LDC/JSA Typing Test

SSC CHSL Tier-II Negative Marking

There is 1 mark of negative marking for each wrong answer in Sections I, II and III of Tier-II.

Candidates should therefore factor accuracy into their Tier-II strategy rather than focusing only on the number of questions attempted.

The merit list/final selection is based on the aggregate marks obtained in Section-I and Section-II of Tier-II, subject to qualifying the applicable Section-III and Section-IV requirements.

SSC CHSL 2026 Computer Knowledge Test

The Computer Knowledge Test is mandatory but qualifying.

The syllabus covers areas including:

• Computer basics
• CPU and input/output devices
• Computer memory
• Backup devices
• Ports
• Windows Explorer
• Keyboard shortcuts
• Windows operating system
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Web browsing
• Downloading and uploading
• Email management
• E-banking
• Networking devices and protocols
• Basic cyber-security threats and preventive measures

Candidates should not treat this as an area that can be ignored simply because it is qualifying. A qualifying section still has to be cleared.

SSC CHSL Typing Test and Skill Test

The typing and skill requirements differ according to the post.

Skill Test for DEO

The DEO Skill Test is mandatory.

For DEO/DEO Grade 'A' posts covered under the specific departments mentioned in the notification, the required speed is 15,000 key depressions per hour, with a 15-minute test.

For other DEO/DEO Grade 'A' posts, the required data-entry speed is 8,000 key depressions per hour, also assessed through a 15-minute test.

Typing Test for LDC/JSA

Candidates applying for LDC/JSA posts have to take the prescribed typing test unless specifically exempted under the rules.

Candidates can choose either English or Hindi as their typing-test medium in the application form. The choice is treated as final.

The required speed is:

• English: 35 words per minute
• Hindi: 30 words per minute

The test duration is 10 minutes. Candidates using the applicable scribe facility receive the additional time specified by SSC.

For Hindi typing, SSC specifically states that candidates must use the Mangal font.

This is one reason typing practice should be started early rather than postponed until after the written examination.

SSC CHSL 2026 Selection Process

The selection process is not simply a matter of clearing one written paper.

Candidates first appear for Tier-I. Those who qualify are shortlisted for Tier-II on the basis of their Tier-I performance. SSC states that normalized scores are used for determining merit and cut-offs where applicable.

In Tier-II:

• Section-I must be qualified
• Section-II must be qualified
• Section-III is qualifying
• Section-IV is qualifying
• DEO candidates must qualify the applicable skill test
• LDC/JSA candidates must qualify the applicable typing test

The minimum qualifying percentages specified by SSC are:

Final selection is based on performance in Tier-II and the post preferences submitted by the candidate, subject to the applicable qualifying requirements.

How to Prepare for SSC CHSL 2026

Preparing for CHSL becomes easier when the examination is treated as a series of smaller tasks rather than one enormous syllabus.

Start by understanding the paper you actually have to sit for. Then build your preparation around accuracy, timed practice and revision.

Start With the Tier-I Basics

If you are at the beginning of your preparation, spend time understanding the fundamental concepts in Mathematics, English and Reasoning.

For General Awareness, create separate revision blocks for static topics and current affairs.

There is little value in completing dozens of chapters if the basic concepts are still unclear.

Use Previous-Year Questions as a Diagnostic Tool

Previous-year papers are useful not only for practice but also for identifying recurring weaknesses.

After solving a paper, mark the questions you:

• Got wrong
• Guessed
• Took too long to solve
• Left because you could not identify the method
• Got wrong because of a calculation or reading error

That record becomes more useful with every practice session.

BST Competitive Classes already has an informational resource on SSC Previous Year Paper Analysis, which can complement this preparation section.

Take Mock Tests With a Purpose

A mock test should tell you something about your preparation.

Don't stop at the score.

Look at the time spent on each section, the number of avoidable errors and the questions that affected your time management.

If the same mistake appears in several mocks, it is probably worth giving that topic additional attention before taking another full-length test.

Keep Typing Practice Separate From Written Preparation

Typing is a skill, so reading about it does not improve typing speed.

Candidates preparing for LDC/JSA should practise regularly, while DEO candidates should work towards the prescribed key-depression requirement applicable to their post.

A short, consistent practice session is easier to sustain than leaving the entire skill-test preparation until the last few weeks.

Improve Maths Speed Without Sacrificing Accuracy

Speed matters in a timed examination, but rushing through calculations can create a different problem: avoidable errors.

Candidates working on Quantitative Aptitude can also refer to the existing resource on improving speed and accuracy in SSC Maths.

A Simple SSC CHSL Study Routine

There is no need to make a timetable so complicated that it becomes difficult to follow.

A practical routine can have four components: Concept building: Learn or revise the topic. Question practice: Solve questions without looking at the solution immediately. Timed practice: Introduce a time limit once you understand the topic. Review: Go back to the questions you got wrong or found difficult.

As the examination gets closer, the balance can gradually shift from learning new concepts towards revision, mock tests and error analysis.

Candidates who want another preparation resource can also read Effective Study Plan for SSC Exams.

Important SSC CHSL 2026 Resources

The following resources are more closely connected to the questions a CHSL aspirant is likely to have while reading this guide:

SSC Coaching: Location-Based Resources

For candidates who specifically need a coaching option close to home, BST Competitive Classes has location-focused SSC resources for several parts of Delhi.

For example:

• SSC Coaching in Delhi
• SSC Coaching in Rohini
• SSC Coaching in Uttam Nagar
• SSC Coaching in Shalimar Bagh
• SSC Coaching in Keshav Puram
• SSC Coaching in Mukherjee Nagar
• SSC Coaching in Karol Bagh
• SSC Coaching in Pitampura
• SSC Coaching in East Delhi
• SSC Coaching in North Delhi

SSC CHSL 2026: Common Questions

Final Takeaway