SSC CHSL (10+2) Combined Higher Secondary Level Examination 2026
Staff Selection Commission (SSC)
Applications close 8 Oct · Exam: Tier-I to be notified
Updated 13 Sep 2026 · details from the official notice
01
Overview
About 2,536 Group C clerical and data-entry posts for Class 12 pass candidates.
SSC CHSL, the Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination, fills Group C clerical and data-entry posts across central ministries, departments, and constitutional and statutory bodies. The 2026 notice, released on 7 September 2026, lists approximately 2,536 tentative vacancies.
It is open to Class 12 pass candidates aged 18 to 27 on 1 August 2026. Applications are open online at ssc.gov.in until 11 PM on 7 October 2026.
Post-wise vacancies come later
SSC has published a single tentative total. The split between LDC/JSA and DEO posts, and by category, will be posted on ssc.gov.in under Tentative Vacancy once departments confirm their numbers.
Quick snapshot
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam | Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination, 2026 |
| Conducting body | Staff Selection Commission (SSC) |
| Posts | LDC / JSA, DEO, DEO Grade 'A' |
| Tentative vacancies | Approx. 2,536 |
| Applications | 7 September – 7 October 2026 (11 PM) |
| Fee payment by | 8 October 2026 (11 PM) |
| Correction window | 14 – 16 October 2026 |
| Tier-I and Tier-II | To be notified by SSC |
| Qualification | Class 12 pass (Science with Mathematics for some DEO posts) |
| Age limit | 18–27 years as on 1 August 2026 |
| Pay | Level 2 to Level 5 |
| Official website | ssc.gov.in |
02
Notification & dates
Key dates from the 7 September 2026 notice.
SSC published the notice for the Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination, 2026 on 7 September 2026.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notice released | 7 September 2026 |
| Online applications | 7 September – 7 October 2026 (11:00 PM) |
| Last date for online fee payment | 8 October 2026 (11:00 PM) |
| Application correction window | 14 – 16 October 2026 (11:00 PM) |
| Tier-I examination | To be notified later |
| Tier-II examination | To be notified later |
Exam dates are not fixed yet
SSC has not announced when Tier-I will be held. Treat any specific date you see elsewhere as a guess until SSC publishes it.
03
Posts & pay
Three post groups, from Level 2 to Level 5.
| Post | Pay level | Pay scale |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Division Clerk / Junior Secretariat Assistant | Level 2 | ₹19,900 – ₹63,200 |
| Data Entry Operator | Level 4 or Level 5 | ₹25,500 – ₹81,100, or ₹29,200 – ₹92,300 |
| Data Entry Operator, Grade 'A' | Level 4 | ₹25,500 – ₹81,100 |
Choose your post preferences carefully
SSC allots posts on merit and the preferences you give. Once a post is allotted it is not changed — not even if you later turn out not to meet a requirement specific to that post. Put a post high on your list only if you are sure you qualify for it.
04
Eligibility
Age limit, relaxations and qualification.
Age limit (as on 1 August 2026)
18 to 27 years: born no earlier than 2 August 1999 and no later than 1 August 2008.
| Category | Relaxation in upper age |
|---|---|
| SC / ST | 5 years |
| OBC | 3 years |
| PwBD | 10 years |
| PwBD (OBC) | 13 years |
| PwBD (SC / ST) | 15 years |
| Ex-servicemen | 3 years after deducting military service |
Educational qualification
- LDC / JSA and most DEO posts: Class 12 pass, or equivalent, from a recognised board or university.
- DEO posts in the departments named in the notice — including the Department of Food & Public Distribution, the Staff Selection Commission and the Ministry of Culture — need Class 12 in the Science stream with Mathematics.
- Candidates waiting for Class 12 results can apply, but must hold the qualification by 7 October 2026.
05
Application fee
₹100, with wide exemptions.
| Candidate | Fee |
|---|---|
| General, OBC and EWS (men) | ₹100 |
| Women | Exempt |
| SC and ST | Exempt |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities | Exempt |
| Ex-servicemen eligible for reservation | Exempt |
Pay online by BHIM UPI, net banking, or a Visa, MasterCard, Maestro or RuPay debit card, by 11 PM on 8 October 2026. An application whose payment has not gone through stays marked incomplete.
06
Exam pattern
Tier-I screening, then Tier-II with a skill or typing test.
Tier-I
| Part | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| English Language (Basic Knowledge) | 25 | 50 |
| General Intelligence | 25 | 50 |
| Quantitative Aptitude (Basic Arithmetic Skill) | 25 | 50 |
| General Awareness | 25 | 50 |
| Total | 100 | 200 |
60 minutes in all, with a 15-minute timer on each part.
Negative marking
0.50 marks are deducted for each wrong answer in Tier-I. With 2 marks per question, four wrong guesses cost as much as one correct answer earns.
Tier-II
Tier-II is held in two sessions. Session-I, lasting 2 hours 15 minutes, covers Mathematical Abilities and Reasoning, English Language and General Awareness, and a Computer Knowledge Test. Session-II is the practical test for the post you want.
| Session-II test | For | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Skill test | Data Entry Operators | 15 minutes |
| Typing test | LDC / JSA | 10 minutes |
When a paper runs in several shifts, SSC normalises the scores before drawing up merit lists.
07
How to apply
Online on ssc.gov.in only.
- 1Complete the one-time registration on ssc.gov.in, or sign in if you already have an account on the current SSC website.
- 2Open the application for the Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination, 2026 and fill it in, including your post preferences.
- 3Pay the ₹100 fee online by 8 October 2026, unless you are exempt.
- 4Submit before 11 PM on 7 October 2026, and keep a copy of the submitted form.
- 5If you find a mistake, use the correction window from 14 to 16 October 2026. Correction charges apply.
Apply a few days early
Government portals slow down sharply in the last days before a deadline. Submitting early leaves time to fix a failed payment.