SSC CHSL 2026: Eligibility, Exam Pattern and How to Apply

The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) uploaded the Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination 2026 notification on 7 September 2026. It covers about 2,536 tentative vacancies for Lower Division Clerk (LDC), Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA) and Data Entry Operator (DEO) posts in central government offices. If you have passed 12th and are between 18 and 27, this is one of the biggest openings of the year. Here is everything in the official notice, in plain language.

SSC CHSL 2026 at a glance

SSC has not yet published a post-wise or category-wise break-up of the vacancies; it will appear on ssc.gov.in under Candidate’s Corner > Tentative Vacancy.

Important dates

• Apply online: 7 September to 7 October 2026 (11 pm)
• Last date for online fee payment: 8 October 2026 (11 pm)
• Form correction window: 14 to 16 October 2026 (₹200 for the first correction, ₹500 for the second)
• Tier-I and Tier-II exams: to be notified by SSC

Eligibility: qualification and age

Qualification. You need to have passed 12th (10+2) or an equivalent exam from a recognised Board or University. For DEO and DEO Grade ‘A’ posts in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, the Staff Selection Commission itself and the Ministry of Culture, 12th must be in Science with Mathematics. If your 12th result is still awaited, you can apply only if it is declared on or before 7 October 2026.

Age. 18 to 27 years as on 1 August 2026, which means you must be born between 2 August 1999 and 1 August 2008. The upper age limit is relaxed by:

• OBC: 3 years
• SC / ST: 5 years
• PwBD: 10 years (OBC: 13 years, SC/ST: 15 years)
• Ex-Servicemen: 3 years after deducting the period of military service
• Central Government civilian employees with at least 3 years of regular service: up to 40 years (SC/ST: 45)
• Widows, divorced women and judicially separated women who have not remarried: up to 35 years (SC/ST: 40)

Check the complete relaxation table in the official notice before you apply.

Application fee

The fee is ₹100. Women, SC, ST, PwBD and Ex-Servicemen eligible for reservation do not pay any fee. Payment is online only, through BHIM UPI, net banking or Visa, MasterCard, Maestro and RuPay cards.

Selection process and exam pattern

Tier-I is a 60-minute computer-based test with four sections — English, General Intelligence, Quantitative Aptitude and General Awareness — each with 25 questions for 50 marks. Every wrong answer costs 0.50 marks. Tier-I only shortlists candidates for Tier-II.

Tier-II has two sessions on the same day. Session I is a computer-based test covering Mathematical Abilities and Reasoning, English and General Awareness, plus a qualifying Computer Knowledge module; each wrong answer costs 1 mark. Session II is a qualifying skill test: DEO candidates need 8,000 key depressions an hour (15,000 for the three offices above), and LDC/JSA candidates need a typing speed of 35 words a minute in English or 30 in Hindi.

The final merit list is made from Tier-II marks and your post preferences, followed by document verification. The minimum qualifying marks are 30% for UR, 25% for OBC/EWS and 20% for all others.

How to apply, step by step

1. Complete One-Time Registration (OTR) on ssc.gov.in. Registrations made on the old ssc.nic.in site are not valid.
2. Log in and click Apply under the Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination 2026 in Latest Notifications. You can also use the mySSC app.
3. Fill in your qualification and category details, choose three exam centres in your region, and pick the exam language and typing-test medium.
4. Take a live photo through the form and upload your signature as a JPEG of 10–20 KB.
5. Preview the form, accept the declaration and submit.
6. Pay the fee online by 8 October 2026 (if not exempt) and save a copy of your application.

How to start preparing

Tier-I dates are not out yet, which gives you time to build a base. Start with one full-length mock test to see where you stand, then give most of your daily time to your two weakest sections. Previous year CHSL papers are the best guide to the level and the most repeated topics — practise them section by section, and begin typing practice early if you are aiming for LDC/JSA, because the typing test is qualifying and cannot be skipped.

Source: official SSC notice F. No. HQ-C1102/5/2026-C-1 dated 07-09-2026. Always confirm details on ssc.gov.in before applying.