The Staff Selection Commission released the notification for the Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination, 2026 on 7 September 2026 on its official website, ssc.gov.in. The official notification, Notification No. HQ-C1102/5/2026-C-1, covers recruitment to Lower Divisional Clerk (LDC)/Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA) and Data Entry Operator (DEO) posts across various ministries, departments and offices of the Government of India. Online applications open the same day and close on 7 October 2026. SSC CHSL 2026 exam suits 12th-pass candidates looking for an entry-level clerical or data-entry post in the central government.
The notification lists approximately 2,536 tentative vacancies for LDC/JSA and DEO posts combined, with the full post-wise and category-wise breakdown to follow later on the Commission’s website. Selection runs through a two-tier computer-based examination followed by a Skill Test or Typing Test and document verification. Posting can be anywhere in India, in the ministry or department a candidate is finally allotted. Candidates should check all details in the article below.
Information verified from the official Staff Selection Commission notification No. HQ-C1102/5/2026-C-1 dated 07-09-2026.
Last verified: 07 September 2026.
The Staff Selection Commission is recruiting for approximately 2,536 tentative vacancies for LDC/JSA and DEO posts through the CHSL 2026 exam, under Notification No. HQ-C1102/5/2026-C-1. The last date to apply online is 7 October 2026 (23:00 Hrs) at ssc.gov.in, with fee payment open until 8 October 2026 (23:00 Hrs). Selection is through a Tier-I and Tier-II computer-based examination, followed by a mandatory Skill Test or Typing Test and document verification.
Quick Summary of SSC CHSL 2026 Notification
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Staff Selection Commission (SSC) |
| Post | LDC/JSA, DEO, DEO Grade ‘A’ |
| Total Vacancy | 2,536 (tentative) |
| Salary | Pay Level-2 to Pay Level-5 (see breakdown below) |
| Application Mode | Online at ssc.gov.in or the “my SSC” mobile app |
| Eligibility | 12th Standard pass or equivalent (post-wise detail below) |
| Selection Process | Tier-I CBE → Tier-II CBE → Skill/Typing Test → Document Verification |
| Place of Posting | Anywhere in India, per the allotted ministry/department |
| Last Date | 7 October 2026 (23:00 Hrs) |
| Who Can Apply | 12th pass candidates aged 18–27 years (as on 01-08-2026) |
Also Read: C-DAC Chennai Recruitment 2026
About SSC
The Staff Selection Commission functions under the Department of Personnel and Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Government of India. It recruits candidates for Group B and Group C posts in central government ministries, departments and offices through examinations such as CHSL, CGL and others. The CHSL exam specifically fills clerical and data-entry posts, giving 12th-pass candidates a direct route into central government service without needing a graduate degree.
Local Context
Candidates from Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Siliguri and the wider North Bengal region can sit the exam at the Siliguri centre, which falls under SSC’s Eastern Region along with Kolkata, Burdwan, Malda, Suri, Kalyani and Durgapur. Sikkim candidates have Gangtok as their designated centre in the same region. Candidates from Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh fall under the North Eastern Region, with centres at Guwahati, Shillong, Silchar, Tezpur, Jorhat, Imphal, Aizawl, Dimapur, Kohima and Agartala.
This notice does not list a separate centre for Darjeeling town itself, so candidates based there should plan to sit the exam at Siliguri. This is added context, not part of the official notification. Confirm the centre list and jurisdiction on the official website before choosing an option. Note also that posting after selection can be anywhere in India — a convenient exam centre does not guarantee a local job posting.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification release | 07-09-2026 |
| Start of online application | 07-09-2026 |
| Last date to submit online application | 07-10-2026 (23:00 Hrs) |
| Last date for online fee payment | 08-10-2026 (23:00 Hrs) |
| Application form correction window | 14-10-2026 to 16-10-2026 (23:00 Hrs) |
| Tier-I exam date | To be notified later |
| Tier-II exam date | To be notified later |
Candidates facing any difficulty filling the form can call the Commission’s toll-free helpline, 1800-309-3063.
Also Read: MyGov Jobs 2026
Vacancy Details and Salary
| Post | Pay Level | Pay Scale (₹) | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Divisional Clerk (LDC) / Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA) | Level-2 | 19,900–63,200 | Not mentioned in the official notification |
| Data Entry Operator (DEO) | Level-4 or Level-5 | 25,500–81,100 or 29,200–92,300 | Not mentioned in the official notification |
| Data Entry Operator, Grade ‘A’ | Level-4 | 25,500–81,100 | Not mentioned in the official notification |
| Total (all posts combined, tentative) | — | — | ~2,536 |
The SSC CHSL 2026 Notification gives only the combined tentative total of 2,536 vacancies. Post-wise and category-wise numbers will be published later on the Commission’s website under Candidate’s Corner > Tentative Vacancy. The notice also does not specify which departments carry Pay Level-4 versus Pay Level-5 for Data Entry Operators — candidates will find this out once the department-wise breakup is released.
Eligibility
Educational qualification (as on 07-10-2026)
- DEO / DEO Grade ‘A’ in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, SSC and the Ministry of Culture: 12th Standard pass in the Science stream with Mathematics, from a recognised board or equivalent.
- LDC/JSA and DEO/DEO Grade ‘A’ in all other departments: 12th Standard pass (any stream) from a recognised board or university.
- Candidates who have appeared for their 12th Standard exam but have not yet received results may also apply, but must qualify with the result declared on or before 7 October 2026.
Nationality
A candidate must be an Indian citizen, or a subject of Nepal, or a subject of Bhutan, or a person of Indian origin who migrated from Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, certain East African countries, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia or Vietnam with the intention of settling permanently in India. Candidates in the latter categories need a certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India.
Age limit (as on 01-08-2026)
18 to 27 years — candidates born not before 2 August 1999 and not later than 1 August 2008.
| Category | Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC/ST | 5 years |
| OBC | 3 years |
| PwBD | 10 years |
| PwBD (OBC) | 13 years |
| PwBD (SC/ST) | 15 years |
| Ex-Servicemen (ESM) | 3 years after deducting military service from actual age |
| Defence personnel disabled in operations/hostilities | 3 years |
| Defence personnel disabled in operations/hostilities (SC/ST) | 8 years |
| Central Government civilian employees with 3+ years’ regular service | Up to 40 years of age |
| Central Government civilian employees with 3+ years’ regular service (SC/ST) | Up to 45 years of age |
| Widows/divorced/judicially separated women, not remarried | Up to 35 years of age |
| Widows/divorced/judicially separated women, not remarried (SC/ST) | Up to 40 years of age |
Other eligibility points
- Only male candidates are eligible for vacancies, if any, reported in the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). Candidates considering an LDC post in BRO must also meet the Physical Efficiency Test, Physical Standards and Medical Standards set out in Annexure-XVI of the notice.
- Reservation and age-relaxation claims require the relevant certificate in the prescribed format, produced when the user department asks for it at document verification — not necessarily before applying.
Also read: Sainik School Bijapur Recruitment 2026
SSC CHSL 2026 Notification – Selection Process
The SSC CHSL 2026 selection process runs through two computer-based tiers, a Skill or Typing Test, and document verification.
- Tier-I – Computer Based Examination. Objective, multiple-choice questions across four parts — English Language (Basic Knowledge), General Intelligence, Quantitative Aptitude (Basic Arithmetic) and General Awareness — 25 questions/50 marks each. Total duration is 60 minutes, with a 15-minute sectional timer per part. Negative marking of 0.50 marks per wrong answer applies. Tier-I is used only to shortlist candidates for Tier-II.
- Tier-II – Computer Based Examination, held in two sessions on the same day:
- Session-I (2 hours 15 minutes): Section-I (Mathematical Abilities + Reasoning and General Intelligence — 60 questions/180 marks, 1 hour), Section-II (English Language & Comprehension + General Awareness — 60 questions/180 marks, 1 hour), and Section-III (Computer Knowledge Test — 15 questions/45 marks, 15 minutes, qualifying only).
- Session-II: Section-IV — Skill Test (for DEO posts) or Typing Test (for LDC/JSA), qualifying only.
- Negative marking of 1 mark per wrong answer applies in Sections I, II and III.
- Final merit is based only on the combined marks of Section-I and Section-II (360 marks total), subject to qualifying Section-III and Section-IV.
- Skill Test / Typing Test (Session-II, same day as Tier-II):
- DEO in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution/SSC/Ministry of Culture: 15,000 key depressions per hour, 15 minutes.
- DEO in other departments: 8,000 key depressions per hour, 15 minutes.
- LDC/JSA: typing speed of 35 w.p.m. in English or 30 w.p.m. in Hindi (Mangal font only), tested over 10 minutes.
- Document Verification (DV): Conducted by the user ministry/department after the final result, based on merit-cum-post-preference. SSC does not maintain a waiting or reserve list for this exam; it instead uses a First Round of Tentative Allocation (FRTA) under a sliding mechanism, as explained in the Commission’s earlier notices dated 03-03-2026 and 08-04-2026.
Minimum qualifying marks in Tier-I and in Sections I–III of Tier-II are 30% for UR, 25% for OBC/EWS, and 20% for all other categories.
Application Fee
- Fee payable: ₹100.
- Exempted: Women candidates and SC, ST, PwBD and Ex-Servicemen (ESM) candidates eligible for reservation.
- Payment modes: BHIM UPI, Net Banking, or Visa/MasterCard/Maestro/RuPay debit cards.
- The fees can be paid online up to 8 October 2026 (23:00 Hrs). Fee once paid is not refunded under any circumstances.
How to Apply
- Visit the new SSC website at ssc.gov.in or open the “my SSC” mobile app (Google Play Store).
- Complete One-Time Registration (OTR) on the new website if not already done — OTR generated on the old ssc.nic.in site will not work here.
- Consider Aadhaar-based authentication during OTR — it exempts you from the fixed photo/signature standards and from carrying a physical photo ID to the exam.
- Log in and open the CHSL 2026 application form.
- Capture a live photograph through the application module’s camera prompt — no pre-existing photo is needed — following the on-screen guidance on lighting, framing and no cap/mask/spectacles.
- Upload a scanned signature in JPEG/JPG format, 10–20 KB, about 6.0 cm × 2.0 cm.
- Fill in personal, educational, category and centre-preference details, choosing up to three exam centres in order of priority, within the same region.
- Preview the completed form carefully — check every field, photograph and signature before final submission.
- Pay the application fee, if applicable, and submit before 7 October 2026, 23:00 Hrs.
Documents to keep ready
- Matriculation/12th mark sheet and certificate
- Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwBD/ESM), in the prescribed format, if applicable
- Aadhaar number, for Aadhaar-based authentication
- If not opting for Aadhaar authentication: two recent passport-size colour photographs and an original photo ID (Voter ID, Driving Licence, PAN, Passport, School/College ID, Government/PSU employer ID, or ESM Discharge Book)
- Disability certificate, for PwBD candidates seeking reservation, scribe or compensatory time
Important Links
| Link | Details |
|---|---|
| Official SSC CHSL 2026 Notification (PDF) | Full notice, all annexures |
| Apply Online / OTR Portal | New SSC Headquarters website |
| More Latest Government Jobs (All India) | Other current openings on this site |
Should You Apply?
This exam suits 12th-pass candidates who want a stable central government job without waiting for a graduate degree. The LDC/JSA post carries Pay Level-2, the lowest of the three pay levels on offer here, but it remains a well-established entry point into the central secretariat and ministry clerical cadre. This is added context, not part of the official notification. Confirm with the hiring office.
The Data Entry Operator posts carry a higher Pay Level-4 or Level-5, but demand a much stricter data-entry speed test — up to 15,000 key depressions an hour for DEOs in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, SSC and the Ministry of Culture. Candidates should be honest about their typing speed before ranking that option high in their post-preference list, since preferences become final and irreversible once submitted. LDC in the Border Roads Organisation additionally requires meeting physical efficiency and medical standards, and is open to male candidates only. Selection is pan-India — candidates can be posted anywhere in the country regardless of which exam centre they choose — so this exam suits candidates who are open to relocating.
FAQs on SSC CHSL 2026
What is the last date to apply for SSC CHSL 2026?
The last date to submit the online application is 7 October 2026 (23:00 Hrs). Candidates who are not exempt from the fee must pay online by 8 October 2026 (23:00 Hrs). A correction window opens from 14 to 16 October 2026 for candidates to fix errors in their submitted form.
How many vacancies are there in SSC CHSL 2026?
SSC has announced approximately 2,536 tentative vacancies for LDC/JSA and DEO posts combined. The post-wise and category-wise breakdown has not been released with this notification; it will be published later on the Commission’s website under Candidate’s Corner > Tentative Vacancy.
What is the age limit for SSC CHSL 2026?
Candidates must be between 18 and 27 years old as on 1 August 2026, meaning born between 2 August 1999 and 1 August 2008. Age relaxation of 3 to 15 years applies to SC/ST, OBC, PwBD, Ex-Servicemen and certain women candidates, as listed in the notification.
Which pays more in SSC CHSL 2026, LDC or DEO?
Data Entry Operator posts carry a higher Pay Level-4 or Level-5 (₹25,500–92,300) compared to LDC/JSA’s Pay Level-2 (₹19,900–63,200). However, DEO posts require clearing a stricter data-entry speed test of 8,000–15,000 key depressions an hour, so the higher pay comes with a tougher skill-test bar. This is added context, not part of the official notification. Confirm with the hiring office.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I am Sandeep Khati, the founder of India Job Alerts. I hold a B.Tech in Computer Science from JGEC (2010). My career began as a Systems Engineer at TCS, and I have been active in the digital publishing space since 2011, starting with the launch of SearchDarjeeling.com and my work as a web developer and designer at Darjeeling Informatics.
Launched in April 2025, India Job Alerts is my most focused project to date. I am dedicated to publishing verified government and PSU job notifications for candidates in West Bengal, Sikkim, and across India. To guarantee accuracy, I personally cross-check every post against official notifications before publishing. Know more