SSC CHSL Notification 2026 – Apply Now
The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has officially released the SSC CHSL Notification 2026 on 7 September 2026. The notification is for the Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination, 2026, conducted for recruitment to various Group C posts in Central Government departments and organisations. According to the official notification, approximately 2,536 tentative vacancies have been announced for posts including Lower Divisional Clerk (LDC), Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA), Data Entry Operator (DEO) and DEO Grade A.
The SSC CHSL 2026 application form is available online from 7 September 2026, and eligible candidates can submit their applications through the official SSC website. The last date to apply is 7 October 2026 up to 11:00 PM. Candidates who are planning to appear for the SSC CHSL Exam 2026 should carefully check the eligibility criteria, application dates, examination pattern and post-specific requirements before submitting the form.
SSC CHSL Notification 2026 – Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination, 2026 |
| Conducting Authority | Staff Selection Commission (SSC) |
| Notification Release Date | 7 September 2026 |
| Recruitment Year | 2026 |
| Posts | LDC/JSA, DEO, DEO Grade A |
| Job Category | Central Government Jobs |
| Total Tentative Vacancies | 2,536 |
| Educational Qualification | 12th Standard / equivalent |
| Age Limit | 18–27 years |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Application Start Date | 7 September 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 7 October 2026 |
| Application Fee | ₹100 |
| Official Website | ssc.gov.in |
| Selection Process | Tier-I, Tier-II and applicable Skill/Typing Test |
The vacancies are tentative. SSC has stated that final vacancies will be determined later after scrutiny of vacancy details received from the concerned user departments. Updated post-wise and category-wise vacancies will be made available on the SSC website in due course.
SSC CHSL 2026 Important Dates
The official SSC CHSL 2026 notification contains the following important dates:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| SSC CHSL Notification Release | 7 September 2026 |
| Online Application Begins | 7 September 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 7 October 2026, 11:00 PM |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | 8 October 2026, 11:00 PM |
| Application Correction Window | 14 October to 16 October 2026 |
| Tier-I Examination | To be announced |
| Tier-II Examination | To be announced |
SSC CHSL 2026 Vacancy Details
The SSC CHSL 2026 recruitment has announced approximately 2,536 tentative vacancies.
The recruitment is being conducted for Group C posts in various Ministries, Departments and Offices of the Government of India and other Constitutional Bodies, Statutory Bodies and Tribunals.
The major posts include:
- Lower Divisional Clerk (LDC)
- Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA)
- Data Entry Operator (DEO)
- Data Entry Operator, Grade A
The pay levels mentioned in the notification include Level-2 for LDC/JSA, while DEO posts carry Pay Level-4 or Level-5, depending on the post. DEO Grade A is also listed under Pay Level-4.
Important Note on Vacancies
The 2,536 vacancies are tentative. Candidates should not consider this figure as the final vacancy count because SSC will update the vacancies after receiving and scrutinising information from the concerned departments.
SSC CHSL 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Candidates interested in the SSC CHSL 2026 recruitment must fulfil the educational qualification and age requirements specified by SSC.
Educational Qualification
For LDC/JSA and most DEO/DEO Grade A posts, candidates must have passed 12th Standard or an equivalent examination from a recognised Board or University.
However, there is a specific qualification requirement for certain DEO/DEO Grade A posts in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, SSC and Ministry of Culture. For these posts, candidates must have passed 12th Standard in the Science stream with Mathematics as a subject.
Candidates appearing for their Class 12 examination can also apply, provided they obtain the required qualification on or before 7 October 2026.
Therefore, candidates searching for SSC CHSL eligibility, SSC CHSL qualification and SSC CHSL 12th pass government jobs should carefully check the post-specific requirements.
SSC CHSL 2026 Age Limit
The SSC CHSL age limit is 18 to 27 years as on 1 August 2026.
Candidates should have been born:
- Not before 2 August 1999
- Not later than 1 August 2008
Age relaxation is available to eligible reserved categories according to Government of India rules.
Age Relaxation
| Category | Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC/ST | 5 years |
| OBC | 3 years |
| PwBD | 10 years |
| PwBD – OBC | 13 years |
| PwBD – SC/ST | 15 years |
| Ex-Servicemen | As per SSC rules |
Other specified categories may also receive relaxation according to the conditions mentioned in the official notification.
SSC CHSL 2026 Application Fee
The SSC CHSL application fee is ₹100.
However, women candidates, SC, ST, PwBD and eligible Ex-Servicemen candidates are exempted from paying the application fee.
The fee can be paid online through:
- BHIM UPI
- Net Banking
- Visa
- MasterCard
- Maestro
- RuPay Debit Card
The last date for online fee payment is 8 October 2026 up to 11:00 PM.
SSC CHSL 2026 Application Form – How to Apply
Candidates can apply for SSC CHSL 2026 online through the official SSC website.
Steps to Apply
- Visit the official SSC website.
- Complete One-Time Registration (OTR) on the new SSC website if you do not already have a valid OTR.
- Log in using your registration details.
- Select the SSC CHSL 2026 examination.
- Enter the required personal and educational details.
- Select examination centre preferences.
- Upload/complete the required photograph and signature-related requirements.
- Pay the application fee, if applicable.
- Check the complete application carefully.
- Submit the application form.
- Save and download the application confirmation for future reference.
SSC has clarified that an OTR created on the old SSC website (ssc.nic.in) will not be functional on the new website. Candidates who do not have an OTR on the new SSC website need to create one before applying.
Aadhaar Authentication in SSC CHSL 2026
Aadhaar-based authentication has received attention in the SSC CHSL 2026 application process.
The official notification advises candidates to opt for Aadhaar-based authentication during the OTR process. Candidates who opt for Aadhaar authentication receive certain benefits related to photograph and identity verification during the application and examination process.
Candidates should therefore carefully read the authentication instructions before completing their OTR.
SSC CHSL 2026 Application Correction Window
SSC will provide a correction facility from 14 October to 16 October 2026.
Candidates whose completed applications and applicable fee have been received within the specified period can make corrections during this window.
The notification allows candidates to submit a corrected application up to two times.
The correction charges are:
- First correction: ₹200
- Second correction: ₹500
These correction charges apply to candidates irrespective of gender or category.
SSC CHSL 2026 Exam Pattern
The SSC CHSL 2026 examination will be conducted in two tiers – Tier-I and Tier-II.
SSC CHSL Tier-I Exam Pattern
Tier-I consists of four sections:
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| English Language | 25 | 50 |
| General Intelligence | 25 | 50 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 |
| General Awareness | 25 | 50 |
| Total | 100 | 200 |
The standard duration is 60 minutes, with a 15-minute sectional timer for each subject.
For eligible candidates who are provided the scribe facility, the examination duration is 80 minutes, with the applicable additional time arrangement.
There is also negative marking of 0.50 marks for every wrong answer in Tier-I.
New Sectional Timing in SSC CHSL 2026
One of the important changes in the SSC CHSL 2026 exam pattern is the introduction of sectional timers in Tier-I.
Candidates will get a fixed time for each section and will not be able to freely move the unused time from one section to another.
This makes time management particularly important for candidates preparing for the SSC CHSL Tier 1 Exam 2026.
SSC CHSL Tier-II Exam Pattern
Tier-II consists of multiple sections and is conducted in two sessions on the same day.
Session-I
Section-I includes:
- Mathematical Abilities – 30 questions
- Reasoning and General Intelligence – 30 questions
Together, Section-I carries 180 marks.
Section-II includes:
- English Language and Comprehension – 40 questions
- General Awareness – 20 questions
Together, Section-II carries 180 marks.
Section-III consists of the Computer Knowledge Test, containing 15 questions for 45 marks.
Session-II
Session-II consists of Section-IV – Skill Test/Typing Test.
The applicable test depends on the post:
- DEO: Skill Test
- LDC/JSA: Typing Test
The Computer Knowledge Test and Skill/Typing Test have specific qualifying requirements as prescribed by SSC.
SSC CHSL 2026 Typing Test and Skill Test
For LDC/JSA, candidates have to appear for a typing test.
Candidates opting for English must have a typing speed of 35 words per minute, while candidates opting for Hindi must have a typing speed of 30 words per minute.
For DEO posts, the required data-entry speed depends on the post. The notification specifies 15,000 key depressions per hour for certain DEO/DEO Grade A posts and 8,000 key depressions per hour for other specified DEO posts.
SSC CHSL 2026 Answer Key Objection Fee
Another important update in the SSC CHSL 2026 notification is the reduction in the fee for challenging the tentative answer key.
Candidates can submit representations against the tentative answer key by paying ₹50 per question.
The amount is non-refundable.
SSC CHSL 2026 Examination Centres
Candidates have to provide three examination centre preferences in order of priority within the same SSC Region.
SSC has clearly stated that candidates should select their centres carefully because requests for changing the examination centre later will not normally be considered.
For candidates from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the notification lists centres including Hyderabad, Warangal, Karimnagar and Siddipet, along with several centres in Andhra Pradesh and other states under the Southern Region.
SSC CHSL 2026 Selection Process
The selection process broadly involves:
- SSC CHSL Tier-I Computer-Based Examination
- SSC CHSL Tier-II Examination
- Computer Knowledge Test
- Skill Test/Typing Test, wherever applicable
- Document Verification
- Final allocation of posts
The applicable skill or typing test is qualifying in nature, while candidates must qualify all required sections of Tier-II according to the rules specified in the notification.
SSC CHSL 2026 Salary
The salary depends on the post allotted.
According to the official notification:
- LDC/JSA: Pay Level-2 – ₹19,900 to ₹63,200
- DEO: Pay Level-4 – ₹25,500 to ₹81,100
- DEO: Pay Level-5 – ₹29,200 to ₹92,300
- DEO Grade A: Pay Level-4 – ₹25,500 to ₹81,100
The actual appointment and post allocation will depend on merit, preferences, vacancies and the applicable requirements.
SSC CHSL 2026 – What Candidates Should Do Now
Candidates who are eligible for the SSC CHSL 2026 exam should start the application process early rather than waiting until the final day.
Before submitting the form, candidates should:
- Check their age eligibility
- Verify their Class 12 qualification
- Check post-specific educational requirements
- Complete the new SSC OTR
- Choose examination centres carefully
- Check the application preview
- Pay the fee before the deadline if applicable
- Save a copy of the submitted application
- Start preparing for Tier-I immediately
Since the SSC CHSL Tier-I and Tier-II exam dates are yet to be announced, candidates should continue their preparation and watch for further updates from SSC.
Conclusion
The release of the SSC CHSL Notification 2026 has opened another major opportunity for 12th-pass candidates seeking Central Government jobs. With approximately 2,536 tentative vacancies, posts such as LDC, JSA and DEO offer candidates an opportunity to enter government service through the SSC recruitment process.
Candidates should complete their SSC CHSL 2026 online application before 7 October 2026, carefully verify all details and begin preparation for the Tier-I examination. Since the Tier-I and Tier-II examination schedules are yet to be announced, aspirants should regularly follow official SSC updates and trusted education portals such as Manabadi for the latest information on SSC CHSL admit card, exam date, answer key, result, cut-off and further recruitment updates.