SSC Combined Higher Secondary Level (CHSL) 2026 — Complete Guide

The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) conducts the Combined Higher Secondary Level (CHSL) examination to recruit eligible 12th-pass candidates for clerical-level posts in Central Government Ministries, Departments, and Offices. SSC CHSL is one of the most popular government exams for Class 12 pass-outs, offering stable employment with good salary and perks.

Aspirants looking for SSC CHSL 2026 notification, exam dates, complete syllabus, post-wise salary, and application steps can find all details below.

1. SSC CHSL 2026 Overview

Parameter	Details
Exam Name	SSC Combined Higher Secondary Level Examination 2026
Conducting Body	Staff Selection Commission (SSC)
Minimum Qualification	12th Pass (10+2)
Posts Recruited	LDC, JSA, DEO, PA/SA
Selection Process	Tier-I (CBT) → Tier-II (CBT + Descriptive) → Skill Test
Official Website	ssc.gov.in

2. SSC CHSL 2026 Important Dates

Event	Date
Notification Release	May 27, 2026
Online Application Opens	May 27, 2026
Last Date to Apply	June 26, 2026
Tier-I CBT Exam	August – September 2026
Tier-I Result	October 2026
Tier-II Exam	November 2026
Skill Test (Typing)	December 2026 – January 2027

3. Posts Under SSC CHSL 2026

Post Name	Conducting Agency	Pay Level
Lower Division Clerk (LDC) / Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA)	Various Central Ministries	Pay Level 2
Postal Assistant (PA) / Sorting Assistant (SA)	Department of Posts	Pay Level 4
Data Entry Operator (DEO)	Various Offices	Pay Level 4
DEO Grade A	O/o Comptroller & Auditor General	Pay Level 4

4. Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification

• LDC/JSA/PA/SA/DEO: Must have passed Class 12th Standard (10+2) or equivalent examination from a recognized Board or University.
• Note: Degree holders (graduates) are also eligible. However, the post minimum qualification is only 12th pass.

Age Limit (As on August 1, 2026 — Tentative)

• Minimum: 18 Years
• Maximum: 27 Years (General)
• OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): 30 Years (+3 years)
• SC / ST: 32 Years (+5 years)
• PwBD (General): 37 Years (+10 years)
• Ex-Servicemen: As per Government norms

5. SSC CHSL 2026 Exam Pattern & Syllabus

Tier-I: Computer Based Examination

Section	Questions	Marks	Time
English Language (Basic)	25	50	—
General Intelligence (Reasoning)	25	50	—
Quantitative Aptitude (Basic Arithmetic)	25	50	—
General Awareness	25	50	—
Total	100	200	60 minutes

Negative marking: 0.50 per wrong answer. Time limit: 80 minutes for PwBD candidates.

Key Syllabus Topics:

• English: Spot the Error, Fill in the Blanks, Synonyms/Antonyms, Idioms and Phrases, Sentence Improvement, Reading Comprehension.
• Reasoning: Analogy, Classification, Matrix, Word Formation, Coding-Decoding, Puzzle, Non-Verbal.
• Quantitative Aptitude: Number System, Percentage, Ratio & Proportion, Time-Work, Geometry, Trigonometry (Basic), Mensuration, Data Interpretation.
• General Awareness: Current Affairs (last 6 months), Indian History, Geography, Polity (Constitution), Science & Technology, Awards.

Tier-II: CBT + Descriptive Paper

Session I (CBT — Computer Based):

Module	Questions	Marks
Module I: Mathematical Abilities	30	90
Module II: Reasoning & General Intelligence	30	90
Module III: English Language & Comprehension	45	135
Module IV: General Awareness	25	75
Module V: Computer Knowledge	20	60
Total Session-I	150	450

Session II (Descriptive — Pen and Paper):

• English Language or Hindi Language Paper: 40 Marks (100 words Essay/Letter). Duration: 45 minutes.

Tier-III: Skill Test (Qualifying)

• LDC/JSA/PA/SA: Typing Test at 35 wpm in English / 30 wpm in Hindi using a computer keyboard. Time: 10 minutes.
• DEO (All): Data Entry Speed Test at 8000 key depressions per hour on computer.

6. Salary & Career Prospects

Post	Pay Level	Basic Pay	Gross Monthly (Approx.)
LDC / JSA	Level 2	₹19,900	₹22,000 – ₹27,000
PA / SA	Level 4	₹25,500	₹28,000 – ₹34,000
DEO	Level 4	₹25,500	₹28,000 – ₹34,000

Benefits include DA, HRA, TA, Medical Insurance (CGHS), and pension under NPS. LDC/JSA can be promoted to Upper Division Clerk (UDC) and Assistant Section Officer (ASO) through departmental exams.

7. How to Apply for SSC CHSL 2026

1. Register on the SSC One-Time Registration (OTR) portal if not already done: ssc.gov.in.
2. Log in using your OTR Registration Number and Date of Birth.
3. Fill in the CHSL 2026 application form with educational, personal, and preference details.
4. Upload your Photograph and Signature.
5. Pay the Application Fee:
   • General/OBC/EWS: ₹100/-
   • Female / SC / ST / Ex-Servicemen / PwBD: Nil (No Fee)
   • Payment via Net Banking/UPI/Credit or Debit Card.
6. Submit the application and print the confirmation slip.

8. Preparation Guide

• Typing Practice Daily: Start now — even 10 minutes daily will build the required speed by exam day.
• English is the Highest-Weighted Subject in Tier-II: It contributes 135 marks. Focus on Reading Comprehension, Error Spotting, and Cloze Test.
• Previous Year Papers: Solve the last 5 years of CHSL Tier-I and Tier-II papers (available at ssc.gov.in).
• Books Recommended:
  • Maths — Rakesh Yadav Class Notes
  • English — Neetu Singh (KD Campus) Volume I & II
  • Reasoning — Paramount Books (Verbal and Non-Verbal)
  • GK — Lucent General Knowledge