SSC Stenographer Grade C and D Examination
Who can apply for SSC Stenographer Grade C or D, what is in the computer test, how fast must you take dictation, and how are candidates selected?
The SSC Stenographer Grade C and D Examination fills stenographer posts in central government ministries, departments and their offices across India. Grade C is a Group B (non-gazetted) post and Grade D a Group C post. You need Class 12 and real shorthand skill. Selection has two stages: a computer-based test of 200 questions, and then a stenography skill test that you only have to pass. Merit in the computer test decides who gets which post. This page follows the SSC notice for the 2026 examination, uploaded on 24 April 2026.
This page may be out of date. It was due for a re-check on 31 May 2027. Confirm every rule with the official source before acting on it.
Applications for the 2026 exam closed on 15 May 2026 and the computer test was scheduled for July to August 2026. Results and skill test dates come in SSC notices on ssc.gov.in.
Exam at a glance
- Conducted by
- Staff Selection Commission (SSC), Department of Personnel and Training[1]
- Posts
- Stenographer Grade C (Group B, non-gazetted) and Stenographer Grade D (Group C) in central government offices; about 731 tentative vacancies in 2026[1]
- Qualification
- Class 12 or equivalent from a recognised board, passed by 1 August 2026[1]
- Age limit
- Grade C: 18 to 30 on 1 August 2026 (born 2 August 1996 to 1 August 2008). Grade D: 18 to 27 (born 2 August 1999 to 1 August 2008)[1]
- Computer test
- 200 multiple-choice questions for 200 marks in 2 hours, in English and Hindi; 0.25 marks off for each wrong answer[1]
- Skill test
- One 10-minute dictation in English or Hindi at 100 words a minute (Grade C) or 80 (Grade D), transcribed on a computer[1]
- Fee
- Rs 100[1]
- 2026 schedule
- Applications 24 April to 15 May 2026, fee by 16 May, correction window 20 to 21 May; computer test scheduled for July to August 2026[1]
SSC Stenographer 2026, in order
| Part | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| I. General Intelligence and Reasoning | 50 | 50 |
| II. General Awareness | 50 | 50 |
| III. English Language and Comprehension | 100 | 100 |
2 hours in all, with sectional timers: 30 minutes each for Parts I and II and 60 minutes for Part III. Candidates eligible for a scribe get 2 hours 40 minutes.[1]
| Category | Minimum |
|---|---|
| UR | 30% |
| OBC / EWS | 25% |
| All other categories | 20% |
Clearing these marks does not guarantee a skill test call: SSC shortlists candidates for the skill test category-wise on computer test marks.[1]
SSC holds this open competitive exam for direct recruitment of stenographers to central government ministries, departments and organisations, including their attached and subordinate offices and statutory bodies, in states and union territories across India. The notice says plainly that only candidates with stenography skills are eligible.
Grade C is a Group B (non-gazetted) post and Grade D is a Group C post. You choose Grade C, Grade D or both in the application form. Ex-servicemen vacancies are reserved only in Grade D.
SSC put the 2026 vacancies at about 731 and said post-wise and category-wise figures would follow on its Tentative Vacancy page. It does not collect vacancies by state or zone.[1]
You need Class 12 or an equivalent examination from a recognised board or university, passed on or before 1 August 2026. Open and distance learning qualifications count only if the university was approved by the UGC's Distance Education Bureau for the period you studied, and you show that approval at document verification.
Age is counted on 1 August 2026. Grade C takes 18 to 30, so you must be born between 2 August 1996 and 1 August 2008. Grade D takes 18 to 27: born between 2 August 1999 and 1 August 2008.
The upper limit is relaxed by 5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC, 10 years for PwBD (Unreserved/EWS), 13 for PwBD (OBC) and 15 for PwBD (SC/ST). Ex-servicemen get 3 years after deducting their military service. For Group C posts, central government civilian employees with at least 3 years of regular service can apply up to 40.[1]
The computer test has three parts: reasoning, general awareness, and English language and comprehension, which carries half the marks. Questions come in English and Hindi, and each wrong answer costs a quarter mark. If the test runs in several shifts, SSC normalises the scores.
Candidates shortlisted on computer test marks then take the skill test: one 10-minute dictation at 100 words a minute for Grade C or 80 for Grade D, in English or Hindi as chosen in the form, typed out on a computer. The skill test is mandatory but only qualifying.
Final allocation goes by computer test merit and your post and department preferences. If you take the skill test in Hindi, you must learn English stenography after appointment (and the other way round), or your probation may not be cleared.[1]
Tips and tricks
- Build shorthand speed before you apply: SSC takes only candidates with stenography skills, and the dictation is 100 words a minute for Grade C.[1]
- Apply for both grades if your age allows. Grade C takes candidates up to 30 and Grade D up to 27.[1]
- Spend most of your preparation on English. It is half the computer test, and merit in that test decides your post.[1]
- Leave a question blank if you are guessing blindly. Each wrong answer costs a quarter mark.[1]
Questions people ask
What is the qualification for SSC Stenographer?
Class 12 or equivalent from a recognised board or university, passed by 1 August 2026 for the 2026 exam. You also need stenography skill, which the skill test checks.[1]
What is the age limit for SSC Stenographer 2026?
18 to 30 on 1 August 2026 for Grade C and 18 to 27 for Grade D. SC/ST candidates get 5 extra years, OBC 3 and PwBD 10 to 15 depending on category.[1]
What speed is needed in the SSC Stenographer skill test?
100 words a minute for Grade C and 80 for Grade D. The dictation lasts 10 minutes, in English or Hindi, and you transcribe it on a computer.[1]
Is there negative marking in SSC Stenographer?
Yes. Each wrong answer in the computer test costs 0.25 marks.[1]
Do skill test marks count in the final merit?
No. The skill test is qualifying. Final allocation goes by computer test merit and your post preferences.[1]
Connected pages
- Related · ExamSSC CHSL (Combined Higher Secondary Level Examination)SSC CHSL 2026 from the official SSC notice: LDC/JSA and Data Entry Operator posts, the 18-27 age rule, Tier-I and Tier-II pattern and the typing or skill test.
- Related · ExamSSC CGL (Combined Graduate Level Examination)SSC CGL 2026 from the official SSC notice: who can apply, age bands by post, Tier-I and Tier-II pattern, negative marking and how the final merit list is made.
- Related · ExamSSC MTS and Havaldar (Multi-Tasking Staff Examination)SSC MTS and Havaldar: 7,948 posts in the 2025 cycle, the 18-25 and 18-27 age groups, why only Session-II ranks you, and the Havaldar walk test.
- Related · ExamSSC Combined Hindi Translators ExaminationSSC Combined Hindi Translators Exam from the 2026 notice: a master's with Hindi and English, age 18-30, a CBT and a 200-mark translation paper.
Official and partner links
- Official bodyStaff Selection Commission (official)
Sources
- Notice: Stenographer Grade 'C' & 'D' Examination, 2026 (F. No. E/13/2026-C-2), Staff Selection Commission, New Delhi. dates p1, vacancy para 2, age para 5, qualification para 8, fee para 10, scheme paras 13-15, selection para 19. Accessed 3 November 2026.
Found an error or a newer rule? Tell us through the corrections page. Updated 3 November 2026.