SSC CHSL (Combined Higher Secondary Level Examination)
What is SSC CHSL, who can sit it after Class 12, and how do the two tiers and the typing test decide selection?
The Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination, CHSL for short, is the Staff Selection Commission's recruitment exam for Class 12 pass candidates. It fills Group C posts in central government offices: Lower Division Clerk or Junior Secretariat Assistant (LDC/JSA) and Data Entry Operator (DEO). Selection runs through two computer-based tiers, and the second tier ends with a typing or data-entry skill test. This page follows SSC's notice for the 2026 exam (F. No. HQ-C1102/5/2026-C-1), uploaded on ssc.gov.in on 7 September 2026.
This page may be out of date. It was due for a re-check on 31 March 2027. Confirm every rule with the official source before acting on it.
Applications for 2026 closed on 7 October 2026 and the correction window ran from 14 to 16 October 2026. The notice says Tier-I and Tier-II dates will be notified later; check ssc.gov.in.
Exam at a glance
- Conducted by
- Staff Selection Commission (SSC), Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India[1]
- Posts
- LDC/JSA (Pay Level-2) and Data Entry Operator (Pay Level-4 and Level-5; DEO Grade A at Level-4)[1]
- Education
- Class 12 pass, by 7 October 2026. Some DEO posts need Class 12 Science with Mathematics.[1]
- Age limit
- 18-27 years on 1 August 2026 (born between 2 August 1999 and 1 August 2008)[1]
- Stages
- Tier-I (computer-based, shortlisting) and Tier-II (computer-based, with a skill or typing test)[1]
- Tentative vacancies (2026)
- About 2,536[1]
- Application fee
- Rs 100. Women, SC, ST, PwBD and eligible ex-servicemen candidates pay nothing.[1]
Tier-II: marks by section
| Part | 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 |
60 minutes, with a 15-minute timer for each part. Multiple-choice questions; the non-English parts are set in English, Hindi and the language you opt for in the form. 0.50 marks are deducted for each wrong answer.[1]
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| I: Mathematical Abilities + Reasoning and General Intelligence | 30 + 30 | 180 | 1 hour |
| II: English Language and Comprehension + General Awareness | 40 + 20 | 180 | 1 hour |
| III: Computer Knowledge Test (qualifying) | 15 | 45 | 15 minutes |
| IV: Skill Test (DEO) or Typing Test (LDC/JSA), qualifying | One passage | None | 15 minutes (DEO) or 10 minutes (LDC/JSA) |
Each question in Sections I to III carries 3 marks, and a wrong answer costs 1 mark. You must qualify all four sections.[1]
| Post | Standard |
|---|---|
| DEO / DEO Grade A in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, SSC and the Ministry of Culture | 15,000 key depressions per hour |
| DEO / DEO Grade A in other offices | 8,000 key depressions per hour |
| LDC/JSA, English typing | 35 words per minute (about 10,500 key depressions per hour) |
| LDC/JSA, Hindi typing | 30 words per minute (about 9,000 key depressions per hour) |
You choose Hindi or English for the typing test in the application form, and the choice cannot be changed later.[1]
You need to have passed Class 12 or an equivalent exam from a recognised board, with the result declared by 7 October 2026. Students who were still in Class 12 could apply, but a result that is only being processed on that date does not count.
Data Entry Operator posts in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, in SSC itself and in the Ministry of Culture need Class 12 in the Science stream with Mathematics. All other CHSL posts take Class 12 in any stream.
The age band is 18-27 years on 1 August 2026. The upper limit is relaxed by 5 years for SC and ST, 3 years for OBC and 10 years for PwBD candidates, with further relaxations listed in the notice.[1]
LDC/JSA posts are at Pay Level-2 (Rs 19,900 to 63,200). Data Entry Operator posts are at Pay Level-4 (Rs 25,500 to 81,100) and Level-5 (Rs 29,200 to 92,300), and DEO Grade A is at Level-4. All are Group C posts in central ministries, departments, constitutional and statutory bodies and tribunals.
Before the final result you rank posts and departments in an online option form. SSC allots on merit and those preferences, and once a post is allotted it will not be changed.[1]
- Tier-I shortlists candidates for Tier-II. Cut-offs can differ for the three groups of posts: the DEOs that need Science with Maths, the other DEOs, and LDC/JSA.
- The minimum to qualify in Tier-I and in Sections I to III of Tier-II is 30% for UR, 25% for OBC and EWS, and 20% for all other categories.
- The Computer Knowledge Test and the skill or typing test are qualifying only.
- The final merit list uses Sections I and II of Tier-II. Tier-I marks are not added.
- Scores from different shifts are normalised, and there is no re-evaluation or re-checking.
Source[1]
- 7 September to 7 October 2026: online applications (fee by 8 October).
- 14 to 16 October 2026: form correction window.
- Tier-I and Tier-II: SSC will notify the dates later.
- Before you apply: decide whether you want DEO or LDC/JSA, because the skill test, the Maths rule and the cut-offs differ.
- After you apply: start typing practice in the medium you chose. The typing test runs for 10 minutes on a computer.
- Before Tier-II: rank posts in the option form with care. Options cannot be changed once submitted.
Source[1]
Tips and tricks
- Check that your Class 12 result is declared by the cut-off date in the notice (7 October 2026 for this cycle). A result still being processed does not count.[1]
- If you want a DEO post that needs Science with Maths, check your Class 12 marksheet before you rank it. If you are allotted a post and don't meet its standards, your candidature is rejected and SSC will not consider your other preferences.[1]
- The typing and skill tests are qualifying, but you can't skip them. Practise on a computer in the medium you chose in the form.[1]
Questions people ask
What is the age limit for SSC CHSL 2026?
18 to 27 years on 1 August 2026, so you must be born between 2 August 1999 and 1 August 2008. SC and ST candidates get 5 more years, OBC 3 and PwBD 10.[1]
Can I apply for CHSL with Class 12 Arts or Commerce?
Yes, for LDC/JSA and for most DEO posts. Only the DEO posts in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, SSC and the Ministry of Culture need Class 12 Science with Mathematics.[1]
How fast do I need to type for LDC/JSA?
35 words per minute in English or 30 in Hindi, on a computer, in a 10-minute test. You pick the medium in the application form.[1]
Do Tier-I marks count in the final CHSL result?
No. Tier-I is for shortlisting. The final merit list is built from Sections I and II of Tier-II, subject to qualifying the computer test and the skill or typing test.[1]
Is there negative marking in SSC CHSL?
Yes. A wrong answer costs 0.50 marks in Tier-I and 1 mark in Sections I to III of Tier-II.[1]
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Official and partner links
- Official bodyStaff Selection Commission (official website)
Sources
- Notice: Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination, 2026 (F. No. HQ-C1102/5/2026-C-1, uploaded 07-09-2026), Staff Selection Commission. Paras 1, 2.1, 5, 8, 10, 13.8-13.9, 17 (pp. 1-28). Accessed 17 October 2026.
Found an error or a newer rule? Tell us through the corrections page. Updated 17 October 2026.