The Staff Selection Commission conducts the Combined Higher Secondary Level (CHSL) exam annually at the national level to recruit 10+2 qualified candidates for various Indian government departments. This year, the commission is expected to announce over 3,000 vacancies for various 10+2 posts, with the online application process commencing alongside the official notification release. Candidates should review this guide for comprehensive exam details.
What is the SSC CHSL Exam?
The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) organizes the CHSL exam to facilitate recruitment for various ministries, departments, and organizations under the Government of India. Standing for Staff Selection Commission Combined Higher Secondary Level, this prestigious exam provides entry-level government career opportunities for candidates who have completed their secondary education, specifically for roles including:
- Data Entry Operator (DEO)
- Lower Divisional Clerk (LDC)/ Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA)
- Data Entry Operator (Grade A)
SSC CHSL 2026 Notification
The detailed SSC CHSL 2026 notification will facilitate recruitment for Lower Divisional Clerk (LDC), Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA), and Data Entry Operator (DEO) positions. The official recruitment notification containing complete guidelines for the 2026 examination will be published exclusively on the official portal at www.ssc.gov.in.
SSC CHSL 2026 Exam Summary
The Staff Selection Commission holds the annual Combined Higher Secondary Level exam to fill various subordinate service vacancies. For the 2026-27 fiscal year, the SSC CHSL 2026 notification will provide full details regarding the exam schedule on the official website. Please refer to the summary table below for essential updates.
| SSC CHSL 2026- Exam Summary | |
| SSC CHSL Full Form | Staff Selection Commission Combined Higher Secondary Level |
| Conducting Body | Staff Selection Commission |
| Exam Name | Combined Higher Secondary Level- 2026 |
| Vacancies | To be notified |
| Posts | LDC, JSA and DEO |
| Category | Govt Jobs |
| Exam Type | National Level |
| Mode of Application | Online |
| Registration Dates | To be notified |
| Mode of Exam | Online |
| Eligibility | Indian citizenship & 12th pass |
| Selection Process | Tier 1 and Tier 2 |
| Official Website | https://ssc.gov.in/ |
📲 Free SSC CHSL Tier 1 Live Test (Every Tuesday 9 AM to Wednesday 10 PM)
SSC CHSL Recruitment 2026- Important Dates
SSC has officially released the exam schedule via the SSC Calendar 2026. The application window will remain active for one month, and the computer-based Tier 1 exam is scheduled for August-September 2026. Stay updated on these critical exam dates for the SSC CHSL 2026 cycle:
| Activity | Dates |
| Notification Date | June 2026 |
| Application Start Date | June 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | -- |
| Last Date for Online Fee Payment | -- |
| Application Form Correction | -- |
| Tier 1 Exam | September-August 2026 |
SSC CHSL Vacancy 2026
The tentative vacancy count for the 2026 cycle will be outlined in the upcoming SSC CHSL 2026 Notification PDF. Following last year's trend of 3,131 vacancies for LDC, JSA, and DEO roles, we anticipate similar or higher figures this year. Review the post-wise and category-wise breakdown below.
We have compiled a comparative analysis of historical vacancies to help you understand trends. View the eight-year vacancy comparison table provided below:
| Years | LDC/ JSA | PA/ SA | DEO | Court Clerk | Total |
| 2026 | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| 2025 | TBA | -- | TBA | -- | 3131 |
| 2024 | TBA | -- | TBA | -- | 3712 |
| 2023 | -- | -- | -- | NA | 1600 |
| 2022 | 3185 | 898 | 42 | 601 | 4726 |
| 2021 | 3181 | 3598 | 26 | 88 | 4893 |
| 2020 | 2359 | 3880 | 02 | 56 | 5789 |
| 2019 | 2648 | 3222 | 02 | 917 | 6789 |
| 2018 | 898 | 2359 | 02 | NA | 3259 |
Year-wise SSC CHSL (10+2) Vacancy Comparison
Which posts are included in SSC CHSL 2026?
Roles under the SSC CHSL (10+2) umbrella include Lower Division Clerk, Junior Secretariat Assistant, Postal Assistant, Sorting Assistant, and Data Entry Operator. The commission selects candidates based on performance in a computer-based test, followed by a skill or typing assessment.
Eligibility Criteria for the SSC CHSL 2026 Exam
Candidates must satisfy three primary eligibility criteria to appear for the SSC CHSL 2026 exam. These parameters are detailed below:
Nationality
Applicants must be one of the following:
(a) A citizen of India, or
(b) A subject of Nepal or Bhutan, or
(d) A Tibetan refugee who settled in India permanently before January 1, 1962, or
(e) A person of Indian origin who migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, or specific East African countries to permanently settle in India.
Age Limit
The age limit for SSC CHSL roles is 18–27 years. Only candidates born between January 2, 1999, and January 1, 2008, are eligible. Permissible age relaxation for reserved categories is provided in the guidelines below:
Check Detailed SSC CHSL Eligibility and Age Limit
Educational Qualification
For Data Entry Operator (DEO/DEO Grade 'A'): Candidates applying for these roles in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Ministry of Culture, and SSC must have completed their 12th standard (or equivalent) from a recognized Board or University.
For LDC/JSA and specific DEO roles: Applicants must have passed the 12th standard in the Science stream with Mathematics as a compulsory subject from a recognized Board or equivalent institution.
How many Attempts are allowed in SSC CHSL?
Candidates may attempt the SSC CHSL (10+2) exam as many times as they wish, provided they remain within the category-specific age limits.
- General: up to 27 years
- OBC: up to 30 years
- SC/ST: up to 32 years
There is no restriction on the number of attempts for the SSC CHSL 2026 Examination.
SSC CHSL 2026 Application Fee
• The application fee for General category candidates appearing for the SSC CHSL 2026 exam is Rs. 100/-.
• Exemption: No fee is required for female candidates, SC, ST, persons with physical disabilities, and ex-servicemen.
SSC CHSL 2026 Exam Pattern
The Staff Selection Commission conducts the CHSL selection process across two tiers for various positions:
| Tier | Type | Mode |
| Tier – I | Objective Multiple Choice | Computer-Based (online) |
| Tier – II | Objective Multiple Choice + Skill Test & Typing Test Tier-II will include three sections, each having two modules | Computer-Based (online) |
Before you begin your preparation, it is crucial to review the latest updates to the exam pattern and syllabus. The key changes to the SSC CHSL Exam Pattern 2026 are as follows:
• The SSC CHSL 2026 Tier 1 exam is conducted exclusively in online (CBT) mode.
• The evaluation includes a descriptive component alongside objective testing.
• The time limit for the Tier-I examination has been set to 60 minutes.
• Tier II consists of objective-type multiple-choice questions, followed by mandatory Skill and Typing tests.
The Tier 1 exam is an online objective test featuring 100 questions divided into 4 sections, totaling 200 marks. The subject-wise breakdown is provided below:
| SSC CHSL Tier 1 Exam Pattern 2026 | ||||
| Section | Subjects | No of Questions | Max Marks | Exam Duration |
| 1 | General Intelligence | 25 | 50 | 60 minutes (80 Minutes for candidates eligible for scribe) |
| 2 | General Awareness | 25 | 50 | |
| 3 | Quantitative Aptitude (Basic Arithmetic Skill) | 25 | 50 | |
| 4 | English Language (Basic Knowledge) | 25 | 50 | |
| Total | 100 | 200 | ||
SSC CHSL 2026 Syllabus
The SSC CHSL 2026 Tier 1 syllabus covers four subjects: General Intelligence, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, and English Language. Key topics for each subject are listed below:
English Language: Spotting errors, fill in the blanks, synonyms/homonyms, Antonyms, spelling tests, Idioms and Phrases, One-word substitution, sentence improvement, active/passive voice, direct/indirect narration, and reading comprehension.
General Intelligence: Includes verbal and non-verbal reasoning, semantic analogies, symbolic operations, trends, space orientation, classification, Venn diagrams, pattern folding, coding-decoding, and critical thinking.
Quantitative Aptitude: Number systems, fundamental arithmetic, algebra, geometry, mensuration, trigonometry, and statistical chart interpretation.
General Awareness: Testing awareness of the environment, current events, everyday scientific observations, history, culture, geography, economics, and national policy.
Click Here to View the Detailed SSC CHSL 2026 Syllabus
Important Exam Notes:
• Negative Marking: Each incorrect answer in the Tier 1 exam will result in a penalty of 0.5 marks across all sections.
• Extended time: Candidates with visual impairments are provided 75 minutes for the examination.
SSC CHSL 2026 Salary (Pay Scale)
The salary structure for posts under the SSC CHSL exam is outlined below:
| Post Name | Pay Scale | Salary |
| LDC/ JSA | Pay Level 2 | Rs. 19,900-63,200 |
| PA/ SA | Pay Level 4 | Rs. 19,900-63,200 |
| DEO | Pay Level 4 & 5 | Rs. 25,500-81,100 (Level 4) Rs. 29,200-92,300 (Level 5) |
| DEO Grade ‘A’ | Pay Level 4 | Rs. 25,500-81,100 |
SSC CHSL Salary Structure - Click to Check
SSC CHSL Salary after 7th Pay Commission
SSC has revised the pay scales for all posts in alignment with the 7th Pay Commission recommendations. The current salary structure is as follows:
| Post Name | Basic Pay | HRA | TA | Gross Salary | In Hand | City |
| DEO | 25500 | 6120 | 3600 | 35220 | 31045 | X |
| 25500 | 4080 | 1800 | 31380 | 27205 | Y | |
| 25500 | 2040 | 1800 | 29340 | 25165 | Z | |
| LDC | 19900 | 4776 | 1350 | 26026 | 22411 | X |
| Court Clerk | 19900 | 3184 | 900 | 23984 | 20369 | X |
| PA/SA | 19900 | 1592 | 900 | 22392 | 18777 | X |
Download SSC CHSL Previous Year Question Papers (PDF)
SSC CHSL 2026 Cut Off
To gauge expected requirements, candidates should analyze the SSC CHSL Cut-Off trends from previous years, such as the Tier I exam results from 2025.
| SSC CHSL Tier 1 Cut Off 2025 | ||
| Category | LDC/JSA | DEO Grade ‘A’ |
| UR | 144.25 | 169.54 |
| SC | 125.40 | 157.72 |
| ST | 115.25 | 152.78 |
| OBC | 143.83 | 169.49 |
| EWS | 141.42 | 169.54 |
| ESM | 68.26 | 128.52 |
| OH | 112.15 | -- |
| HH | 75.38 | 118.61 |
| VH | 82.72 | -- |
| PwD – Other | 55.33 | -- |
Click Here to View Previous Years' SSC CHSL Cut-Offs
FAQs
The official SSC CHSL 2026 notification is expected to be released in June 2026.
SSC CHSL stands for Staff Selection Commission Combined Higher Secondary Level.
No, there is no sectional timing in the SSC CHSL exam. The total duration for the Tier-I exam is 60 minutes.
Yes, there is negative marking in the Tier-I exam. One-fourth of the marks assigned to a question will be deducted for every incorrect answer.
Yes, the question papers are bilingual (Hindi and English), with the exception of the English Language section.
Also Read:
- SSC CHSL Tier 2 Admit Card 2026 Released: Download Mains Hall Ticket at ssc.gov.in
- SSC CHSL Tier 2 City Intimation 2026 Released: Direct Link to Check Exam City
- SSC CHSL Eligibility 2025: Age Limit, Qualification & Complete Criteria
- SSC CHSL Tier 2 Score Card 2026: Official Marks & Result Download
- OSSC CHSL Exam Date 2026: Schedule for 124 Group B & C Posts
- SSC CHSL Tier 1 Scorecard 2026 Released: Direct Link to Download Marks at ssc.gov.in
- SSC CHSL Tier 2 Exam Date 2026 Released: Check Schedule for Paper 2
- SSC CHSL Shift Timings 2025: Reporting Time, Exam Schedule & Guidelines
- SSC CHSL Tier 2 Answer Key 2026 Released: Direct Download Link & Objection Portal
- SSC CHSL 2026 Online Application: Registration Steps & Official Link at ssc.gov.in