The Staff Selection Commission has invited online applications for the Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination, 2026. The examination will fill approximately 2,536 tentative Group C vacancies for Lower Divisional Clerk, Junior Secretariat Assistant and Data Entry Operator posts.
Candidates can apply from 7 September 2026 to 7 October 2026 at 11:00 PM. Most posts require a recognized Class 12 pass, but some Data Entry Operator posts specifically require Class 12 Science with Mathematics.
Recruitment Overview
| Particular | Officially verified detail |
|---|---|
| Organization | Staff Selection Commission (SSC) |
| Examination | Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination, 2026 |
| Advertisement number | F. No. HQ-C1102/5/2026-C-1 |
| Posts | LDC / JSA, DEO and DEO Grade A |
| Vacancies | Approximately 2,536 tentative vacancies |
| Post classification | Group C |
| Application mode | Online only |
| Application period | 7 September–7 October 2026 |
| Official website | https://ssc.gov.in/ |
Vacancy Details
| Post | Vacancy position |
|---|---|
| Lower Divisional Clerk (LDC) / Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA) | Post-wise total not yet published |
| Data Entry Operator (DEO) | Post-wise total not yet published |
| Data Entry Operator Grade A | Post-wise total not yet published |
| All posts combined | Approximately 2,536 tentative vacancies |
SSC has not yet published the final post-wise, department-wise or category-wise distribution. Updated figures will be placed on the SSC website under Candidate's Corner → Tentative Vacancy. The total may change after user departments confirm their requirements, so no unofficial split has been added here.
Important Dates
| Event | Date and time |
|---|---|
| Official notice released | 7 September 2026 |
| Online application starts | 7 September 2026 |
| Last date to submit the application | 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, up to 11:00 PM |
| Tier I examination | To be announced by SSC |
| Tier II examination | To be announced by SSC |
A specific examination date could not be verified in the official notice-board information available at publication time. Candidates should treat dates shown on unofficial websites as unconfirmed until SSC issues a schedule.
Application Fee
| Applicant category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS candidates who are not exempt | ₹100 |
| Women candidates | No fee |
| SC / ST candidates | No fee |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities | No fee |
| Eligible Ex-Servicemen | No fee |
| First application correction | ₹200 |
| Second application correction | ₹500 |
Payment is online through BHIM UPI, net banking, or Visa, MasterCard, Maestro or RuPay debit card. Correction charges apply to every candidate, regardless of category or gender, and paid fees are not refundable.
Educational Qualification
| Post | Qualification required by 7 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| LDC / JSA | Class 12 or an equivalent examination from a recognized Board or University |
| Most DEO / DEO Grade A posts | Class 12 or equivalent from a recognized Board or University |
| Specified DEO / DEO Grade A posts in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, SSC and Ministry of Culture | Class 12 Science with Mathematics as a subject |
Candidates who have appeared in Class 12 may apply only if their result is formally declared by 7 October 2026. A result still being processed on that date does not meet the qualification rule. No post-qualification work experience is required.
Age Limit and Relaxation
Candidates must normally be 18–27 years old on 1 August 2026, meaning they should have been born between 2 August 1999 and 1 August 2008, inclusive.
| Category | Upper-age relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC / ST | 5 years |
| OBC | 3 years |
| PwBD | 10 years |
| PwBD with OBC | 13 years |
| PwBD with SC / ST | 15 years |
| Eligible Ex-Servicemen | 3 years after deducting military service from actual age |
| Defence personnel disabled during operations | 3 years, or 8 years for SC/ST |
| Eligible Central Government civilian employees with at least 3 years of regular service | Up to 40 years, or 45 years for SC/ST |
| Widows, divorced women and judicially separated women who have not remarried | Up to 35 years, or 40 years for SC/ST |
Only the date of birth recorded in the Matriculation or Secondary Examination certificate is accepted. Every relaxation claim requires the prescribed valid certificate and must satisfy the notice's conditions.
Salary
| Post | Pay level and scale |
|---|---|
| LDC / JSA | Pay Level 2: ₹19,900–₹63,200 |
| DEO | Pay Level 4: ₹25,500–₹81,100, or Pay Level 5: ₹29,200–₹92,300, depending on the post |
| DEO Grade A | Pay Level 4: ₹25,500–₹81,100 |
Allowances and actual take-home salary depend on the appointing department, posting city and deductions. The official notice does not guarantee one fixed in-hand monthly amount.
Selection Process
- Qualify the Tier I computer-based examination.
- Appear in the Tier II computer-based examination, held in two sessions on the same day.
- Qualify the Computer Knowledge Test in Tier II.
- Qualify the applicable Skill Test or Typing Test.
- Submit final post and department preferences through SSC's Online Option Form.
- Complete Document Verification with the allotted user department.
There is no interview. Final merit is prepared from the aggregate marks in Section I and Section II of Tier II, subject to qualifying the Computer Knowledge Test and Skill/Typing Test and meeting every eligibility condition.
Tier I Exam Pattern
| Subject | Questions | Marks | Section time |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 25 | 50 | 15 minutes |
| General Intelligence | 25 | 50 | 15 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 | 15 minutes |
| General Awareness | 25 | 50 | 15 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 200 | 60 minutes |
Tier I deducts 0.50 mark for every wrong answer. Eligible candidates using a scribe receive 80 minutes, with 20 minutes for each section. SSC may normalize scores when the examination is conducted in multiple shifts.
Tier II Exam Pattern
| Tier II section | Questions | Maximum marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematical Abilities | 30 | Part of Section I's 180 marks | 30 minutes |
| Reasoning and General Intelligence | 30 | Part of Section I's 180 marks | 30 minutes |
| English Language and Comprehension | 40 | Part of Section II's 180 marks | 40 minutes |
| General Awareness | 20 | Part of Section II's 180 marks | 20 minutes |
| Computer Knowledge Test | 15 | 45 marks; qualifying | 15 minutes |
| Skill Test / Typing Test | Post-specific | Qualifying | As prescribed by SSC |
Sections I, II and III of Tier II deduct 1 mark for each wrong answer. Minimum qualifying marks in Tier I and Tier II are 30% for UR, 25% for OBC/EWS and 20% for all other categories, although SSC may set higher cut-offs for shortlisting.
Skill Test and Typing Test
| Post | Required standard |
|---|---|
| Specified DEO / DEO Grade A posts | 15,000 key depressions per hour |
| Other DEO posts | 8,000 key depressions per hour |
| LDC / JSA – English typing | 35 words per minute |
| LDC / JSA – Hindi typing | 30 words per minute in Mangal font |
The Skill Test and Typing Test are qualifying but compulsory unless SSC grants a permitted exemption. Candidates must choose the typing medium carefully because the choice cannot normally be changed later.
Documents Required
- Matriculation or Secondary certificate showing date of birth
- Class 12 marksheet and pass certificate with result declared by 7 October 2026
- Recent live photograph captured during the online application
- Scanned signature in SSC's prescribed JPEG/JPG size and dimensions
- Valid photo identity proof
- SC, ST, OBC-NCL or EWS certificate, where applicable
- PwBD certificate and scribe-related documents, if applicable
- Ex-Servicemen discharge certificate and declaration, if applicable
- Equivalence certificate for an equivalent qualification
- Distance Education Bureau approval evidence for an applicable open or distance qualification
- No Objection Certificate for candidates already in government service
- Application confirmation page and payment receipt
Original documents are checked after the final result by the user department. Information accepted in the online form does not by itself prove eligibility.
How to Apply Online
- Open the official SSC website at https://ssc.gov.in/.
- Complete One-Time Registration on the current SSC portal; an old ssc.nic.in registration does not work on the new system.
- Log in and select Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination, 2026 under the current applications.
- Enter personal, education, category, disability and Ex-Servicemen details exactly as shown on certificates.
- Choose examination-centre preferences and the required Skill/Typing Test option.
- Capture a fresh live photograph without a cap, mask or spectacles and upload the prescribed signature file.
- Preview the complete form and correct mistakes before submission.
- Submit by 7 October 2026 at 11:00 PM and pay ₹100 by 8 October 2026 at 11:00 PM if not exempt.
- Confirm that payment status is successful and save the final application PDF.
- Check SSC's website regularly for examination dates, application status and admission certificates.
Do not photograph an existing printed or digital photo during live capture. A blurred or incorrectly sized signature, unpaid fee, incorrect qualification claim or missed Online Option Form can lead to rejection.
Official Links
Official SSC website and notice board: https://ssc.gov.in/
Official SSC login and application portal: https://ssc.gov.in/login
Official SSC tentative examination calendar: https://ssc.gov.in/api/attachment/uploads/masterData/ExamCalendar/Tentative_Calendar2026_27_08012026.pdf
A stable direct SSC attachment URL for the detailed CHSL 2026 notice could not be independently verified. On SSC's official notice board, open the 7 September 2026 notice for the Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination, 2026. No third-party source link has been included.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many vacancies are available?
SSC has announced approximately 2,536 tentative vacancies. The final post-wise and category-wise breakup will be published later.
What is the last date to apply?
The application closes on 7 October 2026 at 11:00 PM. Online fee payment closes on 8 October 2026 at 11:00 PM.
Can a Class 12 student apply?
Yes, but the qualifying result must be officially declared by 7 October 2026. Merely appearing in the examination is not enough at document verification.
Is Mathematics compulsory in Class 12?
Not for every post. Science with Mathematics is required only for the specified DEO and DEO Grade A posts named in the notice; general Class 12 eligibility applies to LDC/JSA and other DEO posts.
What is the age limit?
The normal age limit is 18–27 years on 1 August 2026, with category-based relaxation under SSC rules.
Is there an interview?
No. Selection uses Tier I, Tier II, the qualifying Computer Knowledge Test, the applicable Skill/Typing Test and document verification.
What typing speed is needed for LDC or JSA?
The standard is 35 w.p.m. in English or 30 w.p.m. in Hindi. Hindi typing must be completed in Mangal font.
What is the application fee?
The fee is ₹100. Women, SC, ST, PwBD and eligible Ex-Servicemen candidates are exempt.
Official-Source Verification Disclaimer
This independent article was checked on 17 September 2026 against SSC's official notice information for F. No. HQ-C1102/5/2026-C-1, the SSC portal and official examination calendar. The approximately 2,536 tentative vacancies, dates, fee, qualifications, age rules, pay levels, two-tier selection scheme, revised sectional exam pattern and official links were verified. SSC has not yet published the post-wise/category-wise vacancy split or confirmed examination dates, and a stable direct detailed-notice attachment URL could not be independently verified; none of these details has been invented. SSC's latest notice, corrigenda and portal always take precedence.