SSC CHSL Exam 2026: Your Gateway to Government Service

Candidates must be either a citizen of India, a subject of Nepal or Bhutan, a Tibetan refugee who migrated to India before January 1, 1962, or a person of Indian origin who migrated from specified East African countries and Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.

The age of candidates should generally be between 18 and 27 years as of the crucial cut-off date (likely January 1, 2026). Age relaxations are provided for candidates belonging to reserved categories as per government norms:

Category	Age Relaxation
SC/ST	5 years
OBC	3 years
Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD)	10-15 years (depending on category)

For most SSC CHSL posts, candidates must have passed the 12th Standard or an equivalent examination from a recognized Board or University. However, for Data Entry Operator (DEO) Grade 'A' in specific Ministries (e.g., Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Ministry of Culture, and SSC itself), a 12th Standard pass in the Science stream with Mathematics as a subject is mandatory. Candidates appearing for their 12th-grade examination can also apply, provided they possess the essential qualification by the specified cut-off date.

This is an objective-type examination and acts as a qualifying stage.

• Mode: Online (Computer-Based Test)
• Total Questions: 100
• Total Marks: 200
• Duration: 60 minutes
• Negative Marking: 0.50 marks will be deducted for each incorrect answer.

The Tier 1 examination comprises four sections:

Subject	Number of Questions	Maximum Marks
General Intelligence	25	50
General Awareness	25	50
Quantitative Aptitude	25	50
English Language	25	50
Total	100	200

Tier 2 is crucial for final merit and consists of two sessions: Session I (Objective Multiple Choice Questions) and Session II (Skill Test/Typing Test).

Session I (Objective Type) - Total 135 Questions, 405 Marks, 2 hours 15 minutes:

Section	Module	Number of Questions	Maximum Marks	Duration
Section-I	Module-I: Mathematical Abilities	30	180	1 hour
	Module-II: Reasoning and General Intelligence	30
Section-II	Module-I: English Language and Comprehension	40	210	1 hour
	Module-II: General Awareness	20
Section-III	Module-I: Computer Knowledge Test	15	45	15 minutes

Negative Marking in Tier 2 (Session I): 1 mark will be deducted for each incorrect answer in Section 1, Section 2, and Module I of Section 3.

Session II (Skill Test/Typing Test) - Qualifying Nature:

• Part A: Skill Test for Data Entry Operator (DEO): Requires a data entry speed of 8,000 to 15,000 key depressions per hour (tested for 15 minutes).
• Part B: Typing Test for LDC/JSA/PA/SA: Requires a typing speed of approximately 10,500 key depressions per hour (tested for 10 minutes).

• English Language: Spot the Error, Fill in the Blanks, Synonyms/Homonyms, Antonyms, Spellings, Idioms & Phrases, One-word substitution, Sentence Improvement, Active/Passive Voice, Direct/Indirect Narration, Shuffling of Sentence parts, Cloze Passage, Comprehension Passage.
• General Intelligence: Includes both verbal and non-verbal types, focusing on analogies, classifications, coding-decoding, series, etc.
• Quantitative Aptitude: Number Systems, Fundamental Arithmetical Operations (Percentages, Ratio & Proportion, Averages, Interest, Profit & Loss), Mensuration, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Data Interpretation.
• General Awareness: Questions designed to test candidates' general awareness of the environment around them and its application to society. Covers History, Culture, Geography, Economic Scene, General Policy, Scientific Research, and Current Affairs.

The topics are largely similar to Tier 1, but with an increased difficulty level. Additionally, Tier 2 includes:

• Mathematical Abilities: More advanced concepts in Number System, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Data Interpretation.
• Reasoning and General Intelligence: Deeper analytical and logical reasoning, emotional intelligence.
• English Language and Comprehension: Advanced grammar usage, detailed comprehension, para jumbles, cloze tests.
• General Awareness: Deeper focus on General Studies, Government Schemes, Static GK, History, Geography, Polity, and Current Affairs (9-12 months).
• Computer Knowledge Module: Basics of software (MS Office), hardware, networking, and cyber security. This module is mandatory and qualifying.

• Lower Divisional Clerk (LDC)
• Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA)
• Postal Assistant (PA)
• Sorting Assistant (SA)
• Data Entry Operator (DEO)
• Data Entry Operator Grade 'A'
• Court Clerk

The salary varies based on the post and the city of posting (categorized as X, Y, or Z cities for HRA purposes).

Post Name	Pay Level (7th CPC)	Basic Pay (Approx.)	In-Hand Salary (Approx.)
LDC/JSA	Level-2	₹19,900	₹24,175 to ₹29,159
PA/SA/DEO (Level 4)	Level-4	₹25,500	₹30,675 to ₹36,555
DEO (Level 5)	Level-5	₹29,200	Highest among CHSL posts

In addition to the basic pay, employees receive various allowances such as Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), Transport Allowance (TA), and other special allowances, contributing to an attractive overall compensation package.