SSC · Central
एसएससी संयुक्त उच्चतर माध्यमिक स्तर परीक्षा (सीएचएसएल)SSC Combined Higher Secondary Level (10+2) Examination
Recruitment for Lower Divisional Clerk / Junior Secretariat Assistant, Data Entry Operator, Data Entry Operator, Grade 'A', conducted by SSC.
Eligibility & key facts
- Qualification
- 12th pass · Any streamCandidates appearing in the final year CAN apply.
- Age
- 18–27 years as on 01 Jan 2026Born between 02 Jan 1999 and 01 Jan 2008 (General category; relaxed categories below).Reckoned per: 1 January of the exam cycle year — confirmed for the 2025 cycle (cut-off 01-01-2026). Presumed to continue in future cycles on the same pattern, but re-verify against each new notification before relying on it..
- Additional requirement (mandatory)
- Qualifying examination (12th/equivalent) result must be officially declared by the Board/University on or before the cut-off date of 01-01-2026.Candidates who have appeared in their 12th/equivalent exam may apply, but mere appearance or provisional processing of the result by the cut-off date does not satisfy the requirement — the result itself must have been declared. (SSC CHSL 2025 notice, Para 8.3, 8.6)
- Preference — not a bar
- 12th pass in Science stream with Mathematics as a subjectOnly required for Data Entry Operator / DEO Grade 'A' posts under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Ministry of Culture, and SSC itself (Para 8.1). All other CHSL posts — LDC/JSA and DEO/DEO Grade 'A' in other departments — only require 12th pass in any stream (Para 8.2).
- Nationality
- Indian citizen
- Domicile
- Whether a domicile certificate is required is not stated on this record — check the official notification.
- Attempts
- No attempt limit
Upper age limit by category
| Category | Relaxation | Upper limit |
|---|---|---|
| General (no relaxation) | — | 27 |
| OBC | +3 yr | 30 |
| SC / ST | +5 yr | 32 |
| Ex-servicemenEffective age = actual age minus military service; must not exceed upper limit + 3. Cumulative with category relaxation. | Service deducted from age, +3 yr formula | Formula — see note |
| PwDSSC CHSL 2025 notice, Para 5.2: PwBD (Unreserved) gets 10 years. This is the Unreserved/EWS tier; OBC and SC/ST have their own higher tiers below (added 2026-08-25). | +10 yr | 37 |
| OBC + pwdSSC CHSL 2025 notice, Para 5.2: PwBD-OBC gets 13 years, not the flat Unreserved 10. ADDED 2026-08-25 now that rules.js can AND a caste category with 'special':['pwd']. | +13 yr | 40 |
| SC / ST + pwdSSC CHSL 2025 notice, Para 5.2: PwBD-SC/ST gets 15 years, not the flat Unreserved 10. ADDED 2026-08-25 now that rules.js can AND a caste category with 'special':['pwd']. | +15 yr | 42 |
Relaxations do not stack — the single highest that applies to you is used. Ex-servicemen: your military service is deducted from your age; the notification’s formula, not a flat number of years, decides the result.
Important dates — 2025 cycle
- 23 JunNotification
- 23 JunApplications open
- 18 JulApplications close
- 19 JulFee payment closes
- 23 JulCorrection window
- —2025-09-08 to 2025-09-18 — Tier-1 (CBE)
- —February 2026 to March 2026 (tentative per notice) — Tier-2 (CBE)
| Notification date | 23 Jun 2025 |
|---|---|
| Applications open | 23 Jun 2025 |
| Applications close | 18 Jul 2025 |
| Correction window | 23 Jul 2025 – 24 Jul 2025 |
| Exam dates | Tentative month-wise schedule — see Important dates above |
| Exam mode | Written examination (CBT) |
| Vacancies | 3,131 |
| Applies to | Fee | Note |
|---|---|---|
| All candidates | ₹100 | — |
| Female | Exempt | Women candidates exempted from fee. |
| SC / ST | Exempt | SC/ST candidates exempted from fee. |
| Ex-servicemen | Exempt | Ex-servicemen eligible for reservation exempted from fee. |
| PwD | Exempt | PwBD candidates exempted from fee. FIXED 2026-08-25: rules.js now auto-appends 'pwd' when profile.isPwd is true, so this rule fires correctly — see the matching conflict on eligibility.age below. |
Selection process
Tier 1 — Computer Based Examinationटियर 1 — कंप्यूटर आधारित परीक्षा
WrittenTier-1 is qualifying only — it is used to shortlist candidates for Tier-2 and does NOT count toward the final merit list, which is based solely on normalised Tier-2 Section-I + Section-II marks. This is the same structure as SSC CGL. (SSC CHSL 2025 notice, Para 17.2, 17.6, 17.10 — corrected 2026-08-25; previously this note stated the opposite.)
Tier 2 — Session 1 & Session 2टियर 2 — सत्र 1 एवं सत्र 2
WrittenCounts to meritTier-2 runs in two sessions on the same day. Session-1 (2 hrs 15 min total) covers Section-I (Mathematical Abilities 30Q + Reasoning & General Intelligence 30Q = 60Q/180 marks, 1 hr), Section-II (English Language & Comprehension 40Q + General Awareness 20Q = 60Q/180 marks, 1 hr) and Section-III (Computer Knowledge Test, 15Q/45 marks, 15 min, qualifying only). Session-2 is Section-IV (Skill Test/Typing Test — see the skill-typing-test stage), qualifying only, no negative marking. Negative marking of 1 mark per wrong answer applies to Sections I, II and III. It is mandatory to qualify all four sections, but only Section-I + Section-II marks (normalised) count toward the final merit list. (SSC CHSL 2025 notice, Para 13.8, 17.1–17.10)
Skill Test (DEO posts) / Typing Test (LDC/JSA posts)कौशल परीक्षा (डीईओ) / टंकण परीक्षा (एलडीसी/जेएसए)
Typing testDEO / DEO Grade 'A' posts under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Ministry of Culture and SSC itself (Para 8.1): Skill Test at 15,000 key depressions per hour, 15 minutes. All other DEO/DEO Grade 'A' posts: Skill Test at 8,000 key depressions per hour, 15 minutes. LDC/JSA posts: Typing Test, English 35 wpm (~10,500 key depressions/hour) or Hindi 30 wpm (~9,000 key depressions/hour) — medium chosen by the candidate in the application form and final, 10 minutes. Scribe-eligible candidates get +5 minutes compensatory time on all of the above. Qualifying only, no negative marking. (SSC CHSL 2025 notice, Para 13.8.13)
Document Verificationदस्तावेज़ सत्यापन
Document check
- Final merit
- Tier-2 Section-I (Mathematical Abilities + Reasoning & General Intelligence) and Section-II (English Language & Comprehension + General Awareness) aggregate marks only, normalised across shifts. Tier-1 is used purely to shortlist candidates for Tier-2 and does not contribute to final merit. Section-III (Computer Knowledge) and Section-IV (Skill/Typing Test) of Tier-2 are qualifying only, not counted in merit. (SSC CHSL 2025 notice, Para 17.2, 17.6, 17.10)
- Tie broken by
- Marks scored in Section-I of Tier-2 Examination → Marks scored in Tier-1 Examination → Date of birth, with older candidates placed higher
Exam pattern & pay
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence | 25 | 50 |
| General Awareness | 25 | 50 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 |
| English Language | 25 | 50 |
| Total | 100 | 200 |
- General Intelligence50 mk · 25 Q(25%)
- General Awareness50 mk · 25 Q(25%)
- Quantitative Aptitude50 mk · 25 Q(25%)
- English Language50 mk · 25 Q(25%)
Tier-1 is qualifying only — it is used to shortlist candidates for Tier-2 and does NOT count toward the final merit list, which is based solely on normalised Tier-2 Section-I + Section-II marks. This is the same structure as SSC CGL. (SSC CHSL 2025 notice, Para 17.2, 17.6, 17.10 — corrected 2026-08-25; previously this note stated the opposite.)
Qualifying marks — Tier 1 — Computer Based Examination
| Category | Minimum |
|---|---|
| General | 30% |
| OBC / EWS | 25% |
| SC / ST / Ex-servicemen | 20% |
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematical Abilities & Reasoning | 60 | 180 |
| General Awareness & English Language | 60 | 180 |
| Computer Knowledge | 15 | 45 |
| Total | 135 | 405 |
- Mathematical Abilities & Reasoning180 mk · 60 Q · 60 min(44.44%)
- General Awareness & English Language180 mk · 60 Q · 60 min(44.44%)
- Computer Knowledge45 mk · 15 Q · 15 min(11.11%)
Tier-2 runs in two sessions on the same day. Session-1 (2 hrs 15 min total) covers Section-I (Mathematical Abilities 30Q + Reasoning & General Intelligence 30Q = 60Q/180 marks, 1 hr), Section-II (English Language & Comprehension 40Q + General Awareness 20Q = 60Q/180 marks, 1 hr) and Section-III (Computer Knowledge Test, 15Q/45 marks, 15 min, qualifying only). Session-2 is Section-IV (Skill Test/Typing Test — see the skill-typing-test stage), qualifying only, no negative marking. Negative marking of 1 mark per wrong answer applies to Sections I, II and III. It is mandatory to qualify all four sections, but only Section-I + Section-II marks (normalised) count toward the final merit list. (SSC CHSL 2025 notice, Para 13.8, 17.1–17.10)
Qualifying marks — Tier 2 — Session 1 & Session 2
| Category | Minimum |
|---|---|
| General | 30% |
| OBC / EWS | 25% |
| SC / ST / Ex-servicemen | 20% |
In-hand salary figures are not on record for this exam yet — the pay level and scale below are what the record carries.
| Post | Pay level | Pay scale (₹) | In-hand (₹/month, approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Divisional Clerk / Junior Secretariat Assistant | Level-2 | 19900-63200 | — |
| Data Entry Operator | Level-4 or Level-5 (varies by department) | 25500-81100 (Level-4) or 29200-92300 (Level-5) | — |
| Data Entry Operator, Grade 'A' | Level-4 | 25500-81100 | — |
Frequently asked
What is the age limit for SSC CHSL?
You must be 18 to 27 years old as on 01 Jan 2026 — born between 02 Jan 1999 and 01 Jan 2008. Category relaxation: OBC +3, SC / ST +5, PwD +10, OBC +13, SC / ST +15. Ex-servicemen have their military service deducted from their age instead of a flat relaxation.
What qualification do I need?
A Class 12 pass. Candidates appearing in the final year of that qualification CAN apply. Also mandatory: qualifying examination (12th/equivalent) result must be officially declared by the board/university on or before the cut-off date of 01-01-2026..
Is SSC CHSL open to Persons with Disabilities?
Yes. There is 4% horizontal reservation for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities on identified posts — check the notification's identified-disability list for your post.
What is the selection process?
4 stages: Tier 1 — Computer Based Examination → Tier 2 — Session 1 & Session 2 → Skill Test (DEO posts) / Typing Test (LDC/JSA posts) → Document Verification. Marks toward final merit come only from the Tier 2 — Session 1 & Session 2. Tier 1 — Computer Based Examination, Skill Test (DEO posts) / Typing Test (LDC/JSA posts), Document Verification are qualifying (pass/fail) only. Final merit basis: Tier-2 Section-I (Mathematical Abilities + Reasoning & General Intelligence) and Section-II (English Language & Comprehension + General Awareness) aggregate marks only, normalised across shifts. Tier-1 is used purely to shortlist candidates for Tier-2 and does not contribute to final merit. Section-III (Computer Knowledge) and Section-IV (Skill/Typing Test) of Tier-2 are qualifying only, not counted in merit. (SSC CHSL 2025 notice, Para 17.2, 17.6, 17.10).
How much is the application fee?
For the 2025 cycle the fee varies by category:
| Applies to | Fee | Note |
|---|---|---|
| All candidates | ₹100 | — |
| Female | Exempt | Women candidates exempted from fee. |
| SC / ST | Exempt | SC/ST candidates exempted from fee. |
| Ex-servicemen | Exempt | Ex-servicemen eligible for reservation exempted from fee. |
| PwD | Exempt | PwBD candidates exempted from fee. FIXED 2026-08-25: rules.js now auto-appends 'pwd' when profile.isPwd is true, so this rule fires correctly — see the matching conflict on eligibility.age below. |
What is the in-hand salary?
In-hand pay figures are not on record for this exam yet — the pay level and scale are listed in the pay section.
Is there negative marking?
It varies by paper/session on this exam — each paper's exact scheme is listed in the exam-pattern section above.
Do I need a domicile certificate?
Whether a domicile certificate is required is not stated on this record — check the official notification.
How many attempts are allowed?
No attempt limit.
Not sure you qualify for SSC CHSL?
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