Overview & Notification Summary
The Staff Selection Commission Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination is the primary gateway into Central Government clerical, administrative, and data entry posts for candidates who have cleared Class 12 — without requiring any college degree.
- Exam Name
- Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination, 2026 (SSC CHSL)
- Exam Authority
- Staff Selection Commission (Government of India)
- Recruitment Posts
- Lower Division Clerk (LDC), Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA), Data Entry Operator (DEO), and DEO Grade 'A' Group C non-gazetted ministerial posts across Central Ministries, Attached & Subordinate Offices, Constitutional Bodies, and Tribunals nationwide.
- Total Vacancies
- ≈ 2,536 (Tentative, expected to scale upward with post confirmations from Central Ministries)
- Basic Qualification
- Passed Class 12 (Intermediate / 10+2) from any recognised State or Central Board Note: DEO posts at the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) office require Class 12 in Science stream with Mathematics.
- Application Fee
- ₹100 for General, OBC, and EWS male candidates Completely exempt (₹0) for all Women candidates, SC, ST, PwBD, and Ex-Servicemen.
- Selection Architecture
- Tier 1 (Computer Based Test, Qualifying) → Tier 2 (CBT Objective + Sectional Typing/Skill Test) → Document Verification
- Official Portal
- ssc.gov.in (New One-Time Registration OTR Portal)
Official Notification Dates
Confirmed schedule from the official Staff Selection Commission notification. Keep this timeline bookmarked.
Eligibility Criteria & Relaxations
- Age Limit
- 18 to 27 years Candidate must have been born not earlier than 02-08-1999 and not later than 01-08-2008 (crucial date: 1 August 2026).
- Age Relaxations (Upper)
-
SC / ST: +5 years (up to 32 years)
OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): +3 years (up to 30 years)
PwBD (Unreserved): +10 years (up to 37 years)
PwBD (OBC): +13 years | PwBD (SC/ST): +15 years
Ex-Servicemen: 3 years after deduction of military service rendered from actual age. - Educational Standard
- Class 12 pass certificate from a recognised Board. Candidates must possess their qualifying passing certificate on or before the closing date. Candidates appearing in 12th board exams whose results are not yet declared are ineligible.
- Special Qualification
- For Data Entry Operator (DEO / DEO Grade 'A') in the Office of Comptroller and Auditor General of India (C&AG), Ministry of Consumer Affairs, and Ministry of Culture: 12th Standard pass in Science stream with Mathematics as a subject is mandatory.
- Nationality
- Citizen of India, subject of Nepal, subject of Bhutan, or Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1 January 1962 with the intention of permanently settling.
Detailed Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme
Tier 1 acts strictly as a screening gate. Your final all-India rank and department allocation depend 100% on Tier 2 Section I + Section II composite scores.
| Section | Subject | Questions | Marks | Sectional Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part I | English Language (Basic Knowledge) | 25 | 50 | 15 min |
| Part II | General Intelligence & Reasoning | 25 | 50 | 15 min |
| Part III | Quantitative Aptitude (Basic Arithmetic Skill) | 25 | 50 | 15 min |
| Part IV | General Awareness (Current + Static) | 25 | 50 | 15 min |
| Total | Composite Screening Examination | 100 | 200 | 60 min |
| Section | Module | Questions | Marks | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section I | Module-I: Mathematical Abilities | 30 | 90 | 1 Hour (60 min) |
| Module-II: Reasoning & General Intelligence | 30 | 90 | ||
| Section II | Module-I: English Language and Comprehension | 40 | 120 | 1 Hour (60 min) |
| Module-II: General Awareness | 20 | 60 | ||
| Section III | Module-I: Computer Knowledge (Mandatory Qualifying) | 15 | 45 | 15 min |
| Merit Total | Section I + Section II Combined | 120 | 360 | 2 Hours 15 Min |
| Post | Skill Test Format | Speed Standard | Test Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| LDC / JSA | Typing Test (English or Hindi) | 35 WPM (Eng) / 30 WPM (Hin) | 10 min |
| DEO / DEO Grade 'A' | Data Entry Skill Test (DEST) | 8,000 Key Depressions/Hour | 15 min |
| DEO (C&AG Office) | Advanced Data Entry Skill Test | 15,000 Key Depressions/Hour | 15 min |
Micro-Syllabus & High-Yield Topic Weightage
Deeply researched breakdown of every single recurring topic tested by SSC over the past 5 years. Tap to expand subjects and review weightages.
Tier 1 Micro-Syllabus
- Number Systems: Computation of whole numbers, Decimals, Fractions, Relationships between numbers
- Fundamental Arithmetical Operations: Percentages, Ratio & Proportion, Square roots, Averages, Interest (Simple & Compound), Profit & Loss, Discount, Partnership Business, Mixture and Alligation, Time and Distance, Time & Work
- Algebra: Basic algebraic identities of School Algebra & Elementary surds, Graphs of Linear Equations
- Geometry: Familiarity with elementary geometric figures and facts: Triangle and its various kinds of centres, Congruence and similarity of triangles, Circle and its chords, tangents, angles subtended by chords of a circle, common tangents to two or more circles
- Mensuration: Triangle, Quadrilaterals, Regular Polygons, Circle, Right Prism, Right Circular Cone, Right Circular Cylinder, Sphere, Hemispheres, Rectangular Parallelepiped, Regular Right Pyramid with triangular or square Base
- Trigonometry: Trigonometric ratios, Degree and Radian Measures, Standard Identities, Complementary angles, Heights and Distances (simple problems only)
- Statistical Charts: Use of Tables and Graphs: Histogram, Frequency polygon, Bar-diagram, Pie-chart
- Verbal Reasoning: Semantic Analogy, Symbolic/Number Analogy, Figural Analogy, Semantic Classification, Symbolic/Number Classification, Figural Classification
- Series & Coding: Semantic Series, Number Series, Figural Series, Problem Solving, Word Building, Coding & Decoding, Numerical Operations, Symbolic Operations
- Logical Puzzles: Trends, Space Orientation, Space Visualization, Venn Diagrams, Drawing inferences, Punched hole/pattern-folding & unfolding
- Non-Verbal: Figural Pattern-folding and completion, Indexing, Address matching, Date & city matching, Classification of centre codes/roll numbers, Small & Capital letters/numbers coding, Embedded figures, Critical thinking, Emotional Intelligence, Social Intelligence
- Vocabulary: Synonyms and Antonyms (High frequency), Homonyms, Spelling check/detecting mis-spelt words, Idioms & Phrases, One-word substitution
- Grammar: Spot the Error, Fill in the Blanks, Sentence Improvement, Active/Passive Voice of Verbs, Conversion into Direct/Indirect narration
- Sentence Structure: Shuffling of Sentence parts (Para-jumbles), Shuffling of Sentences in a passage
- Comprehension: Cloze Passage, Comprehension Passage (at least one story based or editorial based)
- Current Affairs: National and International events of the past 6–8 months, Government policies, summits, appointments, awards
- Indian Polity & Constitution: Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles, Parliament, Judiciary, Constitutional Amendments
- History & Culture: Ancient, Medieval, Modern Indian Freedom Struggle, Classical & Folk dances, Monuments, Art & Architecture
- Geography: Physical geography of India, Rivers & Tributaries, Mountain passes, Soils, Minerals, Solar system, Climate
- Economics: Basic concepts of macroeconomics, Five-year plans, NITI Aayog, Inflation, National Income, Budget terms
- General Science: Everyday Physics, Chemistry in daily life, Biology (Human body systems, Diseases, Vitamins & Nutrients)
Tier 2 Advanced Modules
- Number Systems, Fundamental Arithmetical Operations, Algebra (Advanced quadratic equations, polynomial functions)
- Geometry (Theorems on triangles, circles, tangents, quadrilaterals, cyclic quadrilaterals)
- Mensuration (Advanced surface area and volume combinations of solids)
- Trigonometry (Heights & distances with multiple vantage points, identities)
- Statistics & Probability: Measures of central tendency (Mean, Median, Mode), Standard deviation, Calculation of simple probabilities
- Advanced Verbal & Non-verbal reasoning, Critical thinking, Statement-Assumption, Statement-Conclusion, Cause and Effect, Direction and Distance complex puzzles, Seating arrangement (Circular & Linear)
- Vocabulary in context, Advanced grammatical syntax, Double fillers, Extended Cloze tests, Complex Reading Comprehension passages requiring analytical inference
- Deep scientific concepts, Economic policies, Constitutional laws & landmark Supreme Court judgments, Environment & Ecology
- Organization of Computer: CPU, Input/Output devices, Computer memory, Memory organization, Back-up devices, Ports, Windows Explorer, Keyboard shortcuts
- Software: Windows Operating System, MS Office basics (MS Word, MS Excel, PowerPoint)
- Working with Internet & E-mails: Web browsing, Searching, Downloading/Uploading, Managing an email account, e-Banking
- Basics of Networking & Cyber Security: Networking devices and protocols, Network & information security threats (Hacking, Virus, Worms, Trojans) and preventive measures
Official CBT Practice Arena (2,021+ Authentic PYQs)
Experience the actual examination interface with official Previous Year Questions from 2017–2024. Includes 15-minute sectional timer, negative marking (–0.50 marks per wrong answer), and detailed solutions.
Qualifying Typing Test Simulator
Tier 2 Skill Test is mandatory. Practice the exact speed requirements: LDC/JSA candidates must maintain 35 WPM (English) or 30 WPM (Hindi) with 93%+ accuracy.
Essential Formula & High-Yield Rule Vault
Pocket compendium of the most repeatedly tested mathematical formulas, English grammatical rules, reasoning shortcuts, and computer concepts.
Quant: High-Yield Algebra & Geometry
- If
x + 1/x = k, thenx² + 1/x² = k² − 2andx³ + 1/x³ = k³ − 3k - If
a + b + c = 0, thena³ + b³ + c³ = 3abc - Difference between CI and SI for 2 years =
P × (R/100)² - Difference between CI and SI for 3 years =
P × (R/100)² × (300 + R)/100 - Inradius of Right Triangle =
(Base + Perpendicular − Hypotenuse) / 2 - Direct Common Tangent (DCT) length =
√[d² − (R − r)²] - Transverse Common Tangent (TCT) length =
√[d² − (R + r)²]
English: 10 Golden Grammar Rules
- Subject-Verb Agreement: Singular subjects joined by 'either...or' or 'neither...nor' take verb agreeing with the nearest subject.
- Hardly / Scarcely: Always followed by
when, neverthenorthan. (Inversion applies: Hardly had I...) - No Sooner: Always followed by
than. (No sooner did he arrive than...) - Lest: Always followed by
shouldor bare infinitive. Never use 'not' with lest. - Conditional Type 3: If + Past Perfect (had + V3), Main clause =
would have + V3. - Preposition Trap: Words like prefer, senior, junior, superior take
to, neverthan.
Computer Knowledge: Tier 2 Essentials
- Memory Hierarchy: Registers (Fastest) → Cache (L1, L2, L3) → RAM (Primary) → SSD/HDD (Secondary).
- Standard Units: 1 Byte = 8 bits. 1 Nibble = 4 bits. 1 KB = 1024 Bytes. 1 MB = 1024 KB.
- Windows Shortcuts:
Win + D(Show desktop),Win + L(Lock workstation),Ctrl + Shift + Esc(Task Manager). - MS Excel Keys:
F4(Repeat/Lock absolute cell reference $A$1),Alt + =(AutoSum). - Protocols: HTTP (Port 80), HTTPS (Port 443), DNS (Port 53), SMTP (Port 25, sending mail).
Reasoning: Speed Hacks
- Alphabet Reverse Pairs: A-Z, B-Y, C-X, D-W, E-V, F-U, G-T, H-S, I-R, J-Q, K-P, L-O, M-N. (Sum of forward and backward positions = 27).
- Clock Angle Formula:
Angle = |(30 × H) − (11/2 × M)|. - Calendar Odd Days: Normal year = 1 odd day; Leap year = 2 odd days; 100 years = 5 odd days; 400 years = 0 odd days.
- Syllogism: 'All A are B' + 'All B are C' ⇒ 'All A are C'. 'Some' does not mean 'All'.
Complete Selection Roadmap
Online Application & OTR Registration
Fill out the form on ssc.gov.in, capture live photograph as per new guidelines, upload signature, and pay the ₹100 fee (or claim exemption) before 7 October 2026.
Tier 1 Examination (Computer Based Screening)
Attempt 100 questions in 60 minutes with 15-minute strict sectional timing. Clear the category-wise cut-off to qualify for Tier 2.
Tier 2 Examination (Merit CBT + Skill/Typing Test)
Section I & II objective papers determine your final merit score (out of 360 marks). Qualifying Section III (Computer Module) and the Typing/Skill test on the same day is mandatory.
Post-Preference Submission
Submit your preferred central ministries, departments, and cadres online on the SSC portal after Tier 2 answer keys are published.
Document Verification & Final Appointment
Conducted directly by the indenting user departments/ministries for selected candidates. Appointment letters are issued following medical examination and police verification.
Salary Structure, Pay Matrix & Career Growth
| Post Name | Pay Level (7th CPC) | Pay Scale (Basic) | Approx Gross (X-City) | Approx In-Hand |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Division Clerk (LDC) / JSA | Level-2 | ₹19,900 – ₹63,200 | ₹34,000 – ₹38,000 | ₹30,000 – ₹34,000 |
| Data Entry Operator (DEO) | Level-4 | ₹25,500 – ₹81,100 | ₹43,000 – ₹48,000 | ₹38,000 – ₹43,000 |
| DEO Grade 'A' (C&AG / Ministries) | Level-4 / 5 | ₹29,200 – ₹92,300 | ₹49,000 – ₹54,000 | ₹44,000 – ₹48,000 |
Allowances include Dearness Allowance (DA at 50%+), House Rent Allowance (HRA: 30% in X-city, 20% in Y-city, 10% in Z-city), Transport Allowance (TA), and Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) benefits. LDCs are eligible for internal departmental competitive examinations to get promoted to Upper Division Clerk (UDC, Level-4) and Assistant Section Officer (ASO, Level-7).
Historical Cut-Off Analysis & Safe Targets
Analysis of normalised cut-offs from the most recent SSC CHSL cycles out of 200 marks in Tier 1.
| Category | CHSL 2024 | CHSL 2023 | CHSL 2022 | Estimated Safe Target 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unreserved (UR) | 157.36 | 153.91 | 157.72 | 160+ Marks |
| OBC | 156.62 | 152.26 | 153.25 | 158+ Marks |
| EWS | 150.52 | 151.02 | 151.02 | 152+ Marks |
| SC | 139.68 | 136.41 | 135.46 | 142+ Marks |
| ST | 129.45 | 124.52 | 125.79 | 132+ Marks |
| Ex-Servicemen (ESM) | 78.23 | 83.21 | 97.98 | 85+ Marks |
| PwBD (OH) | 124.70 | 121.34 | 122.00 | 128+ Marks |
Tier 1 Mock Score & Accuracy Calibrator
Estimate your net score based on attempted questions and expected accuracy. Calibrate your strategy before the real CBT.
Persistent 90-Day Actionable Study Plan
Structured phase-wise revision mapped to the real calendar leading to the tentative Tier 1 exam window (Dec 2026 – Jan 2027). Your checkmarks are automatically saved in your browser's local storage.
- Review official SSC CHSL 2026 notification PDF thoroughly; note eligibility, dates & OTR portal
- NCERT Class 6–10 Mathematics review: Number System, HCF/LCM, Percentages, Ratios & Averages
- English Foundation: Memorise 100 golden Subject-Verb Agreement & Preposition rules
- General Intelligence: Learn untimed shortcuts for Syllogism, Blood Relations & Directions
- Static GK: Master Articles 1 to 51A of the Indian Constitution, Fundamental Rights & Duties
- Typing Practice: Establish daily 15-minute routine on standard QWERTY keyboard aiming for 25 WPM
- Complete online application form and payment on ssc.gov.in well before 7 October deadline
- Quant Arithmetic mastery: Compound Interest formulas, Time & Work, Speed Distance, Profit & Loss
- Geometry & Mensuration 2D/3D: Memorise circle chords, tangents, and solid volume formulas
- Reasoning speed drill: Complete 50 coding-decoding, number series & matrix questions daily
- English Vocabulary vault: Memorise 300 high-frequency SSC previous year idioms and one-word substitutions
- Daily Current Affairs: Skim national summaries, government schemes, summits & major sports awards
- Full-length CBT mock tests 3 times a week strictly enforcing the new 15-min sectional timer
- Maintain Mock Error Diary: Log every negative marking mistake and revise underlying concept
- Tier 2 Computer module foundation: Master Windows shortcuts, MS Excel formulas & protocols
- Push typing speed to 35+ WPM with minimum 95% accuracy on standard administrative passages
- General Science revision: Human digestive/circulatory systems, vitamins, periodic table basics
- Analyze previous 5 years SSC CHSL cut-off trends to benchmark target safe score (160+ UR)
- Formula and rule flashcards revision: No new topics; focus 100% on high-yield retention
- Solve 10 previous year Tier 1 original shift question papers under real exam timing
- Alternate-day full mock testing with comprehensive error review; rest and recover on off days
- Download admit card as soon as published on regional SSC portal; verify exam venue & shift
- Confirm required exam-day documents: Original Aadhaar/Voter ID with matching DoB, photographs
- Pre-exam day strategy: Execute section sequence with calm focus — accuracy over blind guessing
reliable Free Study Resources
High-quality, genuine public domain resources and official download repositories to prepare without expensive coaching.
ssc.gov.in Official Portal
The primary, reliable source for the official notification PDF, OTR candidate registration, admit cards, and regional notices.
NCERT Foundation Textbooks
Free digital textbooks covering Class 6–10 arithmetic, basic algebra, geometry, and foundational English grammar from ncert.nic.in.
Press Information Bureau (PIB)
Official Government of India press summaries. Skim daily PIB releases for reliable facts on national schemes and policies.
Lucent GK & Constitution Dossier
Comprehensive static GK reference for Indian History, Polity, Geography, and General Science tested in SSC exams.
1,200+ Interactive MCQs Practice Engine
Practice Reviewed previous year questions across Quantitative Aptitude, General Intelligence, English, and General Awareness.
Open Typing Speed Practice
Daily timed touch-typing drills with real-time WPM calculation, accuracy tracking, and error highlighting.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. There is strictly no interview stage in SSC CHSL. The final selection is based 100% on performance in Tier 2 (Section I + Section II), provided you qualify Section III (Computer Module) and the Skill/Typing Test.
No. Candidates must possess their passing certificate/marksheet on or before the crucial closing date of the application window (7 October 2026). Those awaiting results are not eligible.
SSC has implemented fixed sectional timing of 15 minutes for each of the 4 sections in Tier 1. You cannot jump between subjects or save time from one subject to use on another. Pacing yourself strictly per section is mandatory.
No. Tier 1 is purely a qualifying screening gate. Your final all-India merit rank is prepared exclusively from your Tier 2 Section I (180 marks) + Section II (180 marks) total score out of 360 marks.
Yes. Typing / Skill test is a mandatory qualifying hurdle for all posts. For LDC/JSA, candidates must achieve 35 WPM in English or 30 WPM in Hindi. For DEO, 8,000 to 15,000 key depressions per hour is required.
Yes. Since Tier 1 is conducted in multiple shifts across several days, standard percentile-based mathematical normalisation is applied to raw scores to ensure parity across varying question difficulty levels.