About SSC CHSL
The Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination (CHSL) is held by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) for candidates who have passed Class 12. It fills Group C posts in central government ministries, departments and offices, constitutional bodies, statutory bodies and tribunals.
The posts filled through CHSL are Lower Division Clerk (LDC) / Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA), Data Entry Operator (DEO) and Data Entry Operator Grade 'A'. These are mainly office jobs: clerical work, record keeping and data entry on computers.
The exam is held once a year. Like other SSC exams, you write two computer-based tiers and then choose your posts and departments in order of preference.
SSC CHSL at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting body | Staff Selection Commission (SSC) |
| Level | National (central government jobs) |
| Posts | LDC/JSA, DEO, DEO Grade 'A' (Group C) |
| Qualification | Class 12 pass (Science with Maths for DEOs in a few departments) |
| Age limit | 18–27 years (with category relaxation) |
| Stages | Tier-I (CBE) → Tier-II (CBE + computer test + skill/typing test) → document verification |
| Mode | Online, computer based |
| Frequency | Once a year |
| Official website | ssc.gov.in |
Eligibility
Educational qualification
- LDC/JSA and most DEO posts: Class 12 or an equivalent exam from a recognised board or university.
- DEO / DEO Grade 'A' in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, the Staff Selection Commission and the Ministry of Culture: Class 12 pass in the Science stream with Mathematics as a subject.
Students appearing in Class 12 can apply, but they must pass by the cut-off date given in the notification.
Age limit
18 to 27 years on the age-reckoning date of the notification (1 August of the exam year in the 2026 notice). Upper age relaxation:
| Category | Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC / ST | 5 years |
| OBC | 3 years |
| PwBD (General / EWS) | 10 years |
| PwBD (OBC) | 13 years |
| PwBD (SC / ST) | 15 years |
| Ex-Servicemen | 3 years after deducting military service from actual age |
| Defence personnel disabled in operations and released | 3 years (8 years for SC/ST) |
| Central Govt. civilian employees with 3 years' regular service | Up to 40 years (45 for SC/ST) |
| Widows, divorced women and judicially separated women not remarried | Up to 35 years (40 for SC/ST) |
Nationality
You must be a citizen of India, or a subject of Nepal or Bhutan, or a person of Indian origin who migrated from certain listed countries to settle permanently in India. Candidates in the last three groups need an eligibility certificate from the Government of India.
Note on BRO posts
Vacancies in the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), if any, are open only to men, and the LDC post in BRO has its own physical standards, physical tests and medical standards (given in an annexure of the notice). Check them before you choose BRO in your preferences.
Selection process
- Tier-I (Computer Based Examination): a screening test for Tier-II. Separate cut-offs may be fixed for the different posts.
- Tier-II (Computer Based Examination): held in two sessions on the same day. Session-I has Mathematics and Reasoning, English and General Awareness, and a Computer Knowledge Test. Session-II has the Skill Test (DEO) or Typing Test (LDC/JSA).
- Document verification: original certificates are checked.
- Final selection: on the basis of marks in Sections I and II of Tier-II, subject to passing the computer test and skill/typing test, and the post preferences you submit online.
Exam pattern
Tier-I
| Subject | 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 |
Time: 60 minutes, with a sectional timer of 15 minutes for each subject (80 minutes for scribe-eligible candidates). Negative marking: 0.50 mark per wrong answer. Questions are in English, Hindi and the regional languages listed in the notice (except the English section).
Tier-II, Session-I
| Section | Subject | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section-I | Mathematical Abilities; Reasoning and General Intelligence | 30 + 30 | 180 | 1 hour |
| Section-II | English Language and Comprehension; General Awareness | 40 + 20 | 180 | 1 hour |
| Section-III | Computer Knowledge Test (qualifying) | 15 | 45 | 15 minutes |
Each question carries 3 marks; 1 mark is cut for each wrong answer in Sections I, II and III. You must qualify every section.
Tier-II, Session-II: Skill Test / Typing Test (qualifying)
| Post | Test | Standard | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEO / DEO Grade 'A' in the three departments that need Science with Maths | Skill test | 15,000 key depressions per hour (passage of about 3,700–4,000 key depressions) | 15 minutes |
| DEO / DEO Grade 'A' in other departments | Skill test | 8,000 key depressions per hour (passage of about 2,000–2,200 key depressions) | 15 minutes |
| LDC / JSA | Typing test | 35 words per minute in English or 30 words per minute in Hindi | 10 minutes |
You choose Hindi or English for the typing test in the application form and cannot change it later. Hindi typing must be done in the Mangal font. Scribe-eligible candidates get 5 extra minutes.
Minimum qualifying marks
In Tier-I and in Sections I, II and III of Tier-II: 30% for UR, 25% for OBC/EWS and 20% for all other categories.
Syllabus
Main topics as per the latest notification (indicative syllabus):
English
- Spot the error, fill in the blanks, synonyms/homonyms, antonyms, spellings
- Idioms and phrases, one-word substitution, sentence improvement
- Active/passive voice, direct/indirect speech
- Rearranging sentence parts and sentences, cloze passage, comprehension
- Tier-II adds vocabulary, grammar and sentence structure, with comprehension passages from a story or book and from a current-affairs report or editorial
General Intelligence / Reasoning
- Semantic, number and figure analogy, classification and series
- Coding-decoding, symbolic and numerical operations, trends
- Venn diagrams, drawing inferences, space orientation
- Paper folding and unfolding, figure pattern completion, embedded figures
- Critical thinking, problem solving, emotional and social intelligence, word building
Quantitative Aptitude / Mathematical Abilities
- Number system: whole numbers, decimals, fractions
- Arithmetic: percentage, ratio and proportion, square roots, averages, simple and compound interest, profit and loss, discount, partnership, mixture and alligation, time and distance, time and work
- Algebra: basic identities, simple surds, graphs of linear equations
- Geometry: triangles and their centres, congruence and similarity, circles, chords and tangents
- Mensuration: 2D figures, prism, cone, cylinder, sphere, hemisphere, cuboid, pyramid
- Trigonometry: ratios, complementary angles, heights and distances, standard identities
- Charts: histogram, frequency polygon, bar and pie charts; Tier-II adds mean, median, mode, standard deviation and simple probability
General Awareness
- Current events and everyday science
- History, culture and geography of India and its neighbours
- Economic scene, general policy and scientific research
Computer Knowledge (Tier-II)
- Computer basics: CPU, memory, input/output devices, back-up devices, ports, Windows Explorer, keyboard shortcuts
- Windows and MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Internet browsing, downloading/uploading, e-mail and e-banking
- Networking basics and cyber security threats such as viruses, worms and Trojans
Salary and posts
| Post | Pay Level (7th CPC) | Pay range |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Division Clerk / Junior Secretariat Assistant | Level 2 | ₹19,900 – ₹63,200 |
| Data Entry Operator | Level 4 and Level 5 | ₹25,500 – ₹81,100 (Level 4); ₹29,200 – ₹92,300 (Level 5) |
| Data Entry Operator Grade 'A' | Level 4 | ₹25,500 – ₹81,100 |
The first figure is the starting basic pay. Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance, Transport Allowance and other benefits are paid as per central government rules. Posts are allotted on merit-cum-preference; once a post is allotted it is not changed.
How to apply
- Visit ssc.gov.in and complete One-Time Registration (OTR) if you have not done it already.
- Log in and open the CHSL application form when the notice is out.
- Fill in your details and choose the medium of the typing test (Hindi or English) carefully.
- Select your exam centres and upload your photo and signature as instructed.
- Pay the fee online (UPI, net banking or card) and submit before the last date.
- Keep a printout of the submitted form.
Application fee: ₹100. Women, SC, ST, PwBD and Ex-Servicemen eligible for reservation are exempt. The fee is not refunded.
Exam calendar
SSC's annual tentative calendar plans the CHSL notice for the first half of the year, but in recent cycles it has come later, around September. The usual order is (usual, may change):
- Notification and one-month application window, followed by a correction window.
- Tier-I – a few months after the notification.
- Tier-I result, then Tier-II (both sessions on the same day).
- Online option form for post preferences.
- Final result and document verification.
The live status box on this page shows the latest notification, admit card and result as soon as they are out.
Preparation tips
These are general study tips, not official rules:
- Tier-II marks decide your final rank, so prepare for Tier-II from day one. Most topics are common to both tiers.
- Practise typing daily. LDC/JSA candidates need 35 wpm in English or 30 wpm in Hindi (Mangal font).
- Take timed mock tests with sectional timers, because each section closes on its own.
- Negative marking is 1 mark per wrong answer in Tier-II, so attempt only when you are fairly sure.
- Revise basic computer topics, as the Computer Knowledge Test must be passed.
- Read the newspaper daily for General Awareness and English comprehension.
SSC CHSL FAQs
What is the qualification for SSC CHSL?
Class 12 pass from a recognised board. DEO posts in three departments need Class 12 Science with Mathematics.
What is the age limit for SSC CHSL?
18 to 27 years, with 5 years' relaxation for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC, 10 years for PwBD and other relaxations as per the notice.
How many stages are there in SSC CHSL?
Two computer-based tiers. Tier-II includes the Computer Knowledge Test and the skill/typing test. Document verification follows.
Is there negative marking in SSC CHSL?
Yes. 0.50 mark per wrong answer in Tier-I and 1 mark per wrong answer in Sections I–III of Tier-II.
What is the salary of SSC CHSL posts?
LDC/JSA is at Pay Level 2 (starting basic pay ₹19,900). DEO posts are at Level 4 or Level 5 (starting basic pay ₹25,500 or ₹29,200).
What typing speed is needed for SSC CHSL?
For LDC/JSA, 35 words per minute in English or 30 in Hindi. For DEO, 8,000 or 15,000 key depressions per hour depending on the department.
Can Class 12 students who are still appearing apply?
Yes, but they must pass Class 12 by the cut-off date in the notification.
Always confirm the details in the official notification of the year you apply for.
SSC CHSL: all notifications on this site
| Recruitment | Posts | Last date | Admit card / result |
|---|---|---|---|
| SSC CHSL 2025 Notification (3,131 posts) | 3131 approx | 18 Jul 2025 | Result |