With the Tier 1 window now fixed, the SSC CHSL Syllabus 2026 is the document every 12th-pass aspirant needs to read before the last lap of preparation. The Staff Selection Commission has lined up the first computer-based test from 30-11-2026 to 31-12-2026 for roughly 2,536 tentative vacancies of Lower Division Clerk, Junior Secretariat Assistant and Data Entry Operator posts. This guide pulls the subject-wise syllabus, the full Tier 1 and Tier 2 pattern, the marking scheme and the skill-test rules straight from the Commission's notice of examination, so you can plan each subject against the time it actually gets in the hall.
| Organization | Staff Selection Commission (SSC) |
|---|---|
| Examination | Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination, 2026 |
| Total Vacancies | 2,536 (tentative) |
| Posts | Lower Division Clerk (LDC), Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA), Data Entry Operator (DEO), DEO Grade 'A' |
| Tier 1 Exam | 30-11-2026 to 31-12-2026 |
| Tier 2 Exam | To be notified later |
| Official Website | ssc.gov.in |
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Released | 07-09-2026 |
| Application Begin | 07-09-2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 07-10-2026 (up to 11:00 PM) |
| Last Date to Pay Fee | 08-10-2026 |
| Correction Window | 14-10-2026 to 16-10-2026 |
| Tier 1 Exam Date | 30-11-2026 to 31-12-2026 |
| Tier 2 Exam Date | To be notified later |
| Admit Card | Before the exam |
| Post Name | Pay Level |
|---|---|
| Lower Division Clerk (LDC) / Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA) | Pay Level 2 (Rs 19,900 – Rs 63,200) |
| Data Entry Operator (DEO) | Pay Level 4 (Rs 25,500 – Rs 81,100) |
| Data Entry Operator, Grade 'A' | Pay Level 4 (Rs 25,500 – Rs 81,100) |
| Total: 2,536 posts (tentative) | Post-wise break-up to be published later |
Candidates must have passed the 10+2 (Intermediate) examination from a recognised board in India. The qualification had to be complete on or before the closing date of applications, 07-10-2026. Post-wise eligibility details are given in the official notice of examination.
| Minimum Age | 18 years |
|---|---|
| Maximum Age | 27 years |
| Age Counted As On | 01-08-2026 |
| Age Relaxation | As per government rules for SC, ST, OBC, PwBD and other eligible categories |
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS | Rs 100 |
| SC / ST / PwD / Female (all categories) | Nil |
| Correction (first time) | Rs 200 |
| Correction (second time) | Rs 500 |
Tier 1 is a single 60-minute paper of 100 objective questions carrying 200 marks. What changed this year is the clock: each of the four subjects now runs on its own fixed 15-minute timer, so you cannot borrow time from one section to rescue another. Every correct answer earns 2 marks and every wrong answer costs 0.50 marks.
| Part | Subject | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | English Language (Basic Knowledge) | 25 | 50 | 15 minutes |
| II | General Intelligence | 25 | 50 | 15 minutes |
| III | Quantitative Aptitude (Basic Arithmetic Skill) | 25 | 50 | 15 minutes |
| IV | General Awareness | 25 | 50 | 15 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 200 | 60 minutes |
Scribe-eligible candidates get 80 minutes in place of 60. Questions in Parts II, III and IV are set in English, Hindi and the regional language chosen in the application form; the English section is in English only.
Tier 2 is where merit is decided, and it runs in two sessions on the same day. Session I carries three sections in 2 hours 15 minutes, and Session II holds the skill test or typing test. Every section must be qualified separately, and the negative marking here is steeper — 1 mark per wrong answer in Sections I, II and the Computer Knowledge module, with 3 marks for each correct answer.
| Session | Section / Module | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | Section I — Mathematical Abilities (30) + Reasoning and General Intelligence (30) | 60 | 180 | 1 hour |
| I | Section II — English Language and Comprehension (40) + General Awareness (20) | 60 | 180 | 1 hour |
| I | Section III — Computer Knowledge Test (qualifying) | 15 | 45 | 15 minutes |
| I Total | 135 | 405 | 2 hours 15 minutes | |
| II | Skill Test / Typing Test (qualifying) | — | — | 15 minutes |
The Commission publishes an indicative syllabus in the notice. The themes below are the ones the notice lists for each subject; the exact weight of any single topic varies from shift to shift.
Spot the error, fill in the blanks, synonyms and antonyms, spelling and detecting misspelt words, idioms and phrases, one-word substitution, improvement of sentences, active and passive voice, direct and indirect narration, shuffling of sentence parts, shuffling of sentences in a passage, cloze passages and comprehension passages.
Analogies, similarities and differences, space visualisation, problem solving, analysis, judgement, decision making, visual memory, discriminating observation, relationship concepts, arithmetical reasoning and figural classification, arithmetic number series, non-verbal series, coding and decoding, statement-conclusion and syllogistic reasoning.
Number systems, computation of whole numbers, decimals and fractions, relationship between numbers, fundamental arithmetical operations, percentages, ratio and proportion, square roots, averages, interest, profit and loss, discount, partnership business, mixture and alligation, time and distance, time and work, basic algebraic identities, elementary surds, graphs of linear equations, triangles and their centres, congruence and similarity of triangles, circles, quadrilaterals, regular polygons, right prisms, right circular cones, right circular cylinders, spheres, hemispheres, rectangular parallelepipeds, trigonometric ratios, complementary angles, heights and distances, histograms, frequency polygons, bar diagrams and pie charts.
Questions on the surrounding environment and its application to society: current events, everyday observation and scientific experience, history, culture, geography, the economic scene, general policy and scientific research, with a focus on India and its neighbouring countries.
Number systems, fundamental arithmetical operations, algebra, geometry, mensuration, trigonometry, statistics and probability, including data interpretation at a deeper level than Tier 1.
Computer basics, organisation of a computer, Central Processing Unit, input and output devices, memory, Windows operating system, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), working with the internet and e-mails, basics of networking and cyber security, and e-banking concepts.
The skill test is qualifying, but it is also the stage that quietly ends many candidatures, so it deserves practice time of its own. For LDC and JSA posts, candidates must type at 35 words per minute in English or 30 words per minute in Hindi. DEO posts carry a data-entry speed test instead, as laid down in the official notice. The test runs in Session II of Tier 2, on the same day as the written sections.
The Staff Selection Commission conducts recruitment for Group B and Group C posts in ministries, departments and offices of the Government of India. The Combined Higher Secondary Level examination is its entry-level route for 12th-pass candidates into clerical and data-entry roles across central government offices.
| SSC Official Website | ssc.gov.in |
|---|---|
| CHSL 2026 Notice of Examination | Available on the SSC website (notice dated 07-09-2026) |
| Tier 1 Exam Date Notice | Available on the SSC website (notice dated 01-10-2026) |
The SSC CHSL Tier 1 exam 2026 will be held from 30-11-2026 to 31-12-2026 in multiple shifts, as per the Commission's notice dated 01-10-2026. The exact date and shift appear on the admit card.
SSC has notified approximately 2,536 tentative vacancies for Lower Division Clerk (LDC), Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA), Data Entry Operator (DEO) and DEO Grade 'A' posts. The final post-wise break-up is published later on ssc.gov.in.
Tier 1 has 100 objective questions for 200 marks in 60 minutes: English Language, General Intelligence, Quantitative Aptitude and General Awareness, with 25 questions of 50 marks each. Each subject gets a fixed 15-minute sectional timer, and every wrong answer costs 0.50 marks.
Yes. Tier 1 carries a negative marking of 0.50 marks per wrong answer, while Tier 2 deducts 1 mark per wrong answer in Sections I, II and the Computer Knowledge module.
Tier 2 runs in two sessions on the same day. Session I has Section I (Mathematical Abilities 30 questions and Reasoning 30 questions, 180 marks, 1 hour), Section II (English 40 and General Awareness 20 questions, 180 marks, 1 hour) and Section III (Computer Knowledge, 15 questions, 45 marks, 15 minutes, qualifying). Session II holds the skill test or typing test, which is also qualifying.
For LDC and JSA posts the typing test needs a speed of 35 words per minute in English or 30 words per minute in Hindi. DEO posts carry a data-entry speed test instead, as laid down in the official notice.
Candidates must have passed the 10+2 (Intermediate) examination from a recognised board. The age limit is 18 to 27 years as on 01-08-2026, with relaxation for reserved categories as per government rules.
Selection runs through Tier 1 (computer based), Tier 2 (computer based, including the Computer Knowledge Test and the skill or typing test), and document verification. Candidates must qualify in every section of Tier 2.
The indicative syllabus and the full notice of examination are available on the Staff Selection Commission website at https://ssc.gov.in/ under the candidate's corner / notice board.
The fee was Rs 100 for General, OBC and EWS candidates. SC, ST, Persons with Disabilities and women candidates were exempt. The application window closed on 07-10-2026.