The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has issued the Combined Higher Secondary Level (CHSL) Examination 2026 notification inviting online applications for approximately 2,536 tentative vacancies for Lower Division Clerk (LDC)/Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA) and Data Entry Operator (DEO) / DEO Grade ‘A’ posts; applications open on 07 September 2026 and close on 07 October 2026, with eligibility, age limits, fee, selection process and other details specified in the official notification.
Important dates
The timeline for submission, fee payment and correction is specified in the notification; exam dates will be announced later by SSC.
- Start of online application: 07 September 2026
- Last date to submit online application: 07 October 2026 (23:00 Hours)
- Last date for online fee payment: 08 October 2026 (23:00 Hours)
- Application correction window: 14 October 2026 to 16 October 2026 (23:00 Hours)
- Tier-I and Tier-II exam dates: To be notified later
Vacancy details
The notification states the combined tentative vacancies for the listed posts; final post-wise and category-wise breakup will be published later on the SSC website.
| Post name | No. of posts |
|---|---|
| Lower Division Clerk (LDC) / Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA) / Data Entry Operator (DEO) / DEO Grade ‘A’ (combined) | Approx. 2,536 (tentative) |
Eligibility and qualification
Eligibility is assessed as on the cut-off date of 07 October 2026 and includes nationality and educational qualifications specified by SSC.
- Nationality: Citizen of India, subject of Nepal or Bhutan, or a person of Indian origin who migrated from specified countries (eligible candidates from other categories require a Government of India eligibility certificate).
- Educational qualification: Class 12 pass or equivalent from a recognised Board or University for LDC/JSA and most DEO posts; for DEO/DEO Grade ‘A’ posts in Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, SSC and Ministry of Culture, Class 12 in Science stream with Mathematics as a subject is required.
- Candidates who have appeared in the Class 12 exam may apply only if their result is declared on or before 07 October 2026; a declared result is mandatory.
Age limit and relaxation
Age eligibility is measured as on 01 August 2026; relaxations apply as per government rules.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Age range | 18 to 27 years (born not before 02 August 1999 and not later than 01 August 2008) |
| SC/ST | 5 years |
| OBC | 3 years |
| PwBD | 10 years |
| PwBD (OBC) | 13 years |
| PwBD (SC/ST) | 15 years |
| Ex-Servicemen (ESM) | 3 years after deduction of military service rendered from actual age as on 01.08.2026 |
| Central Government civilian employees (with 3+ years regular service) | Age relaxed up to 40 years |
Application fee and payment modes
The notification specifies the application fee structure and permitted online payment modes; fees once paid are non-refundable.
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS (Male) | Rs. 100 |
| Women (all categories) | Exempted |
| SC / ST | Exempted |
| PwBD | Exempted |
| Ex-Servicemen (ESM) | Exempted |
Payment can be made online through BHIM UPI, Net Banking, or Visa/MasterCard/Maestro/RuPay debit cards up to 08 October 2026 (23:00 Hours).
How to apply
Applications are accepted only online via SSC’s portal or mobile app; candidates must complete One-Time Registration (OTR) on the new SSC website before applying.
- Visit the official SSC website or use the “my SSC” mobile application.
- Complete One-Time Registration (OTR) on the new SSC website (OTR from the earlier website will not work).
- Log in and fill out the SSC CHSL 2026 online application form.
- Opt for Aadhaar-based authentication during OTR, if desired.
- Upload required details and capture your photograph as per instructions in the application module.
- Pay the application fee online (if applicable) before 08 October 2026.
- Submit the form and retain a printout for records.
Selection process and exam pattern
Selection is through a two-tier Computer Based Examination (CBE) followed by document verification and any applicable skill/typing tests.
Tier-I
Tier-I is an objective multiple-choice exam covering four subjects with negative marking.
| Part | Subject | Questions / Marks |
|---|---|---|
| I | English Language (Basic Knowledge) | 25 / 50 |
| II | General Intelligence | 25 / 50 |
| III | Quantitative Aptitude (Basic Arithmetic Skill) | 25 / 50 |
| IV | General Awareness | 25 / 50 |
Tier-I duration is 60 minutes and carries negative marking of 0.50 marks for each wrong answer.
Tier-II
Tier-II is conducted in two sessions on the same day and includes multiple sections; some sections are qualifying in nature and all Tier-II sections must be qualified where specified.
- Section-I: Mathematical Abilities and Reasoning & General Intelligence.
- Section-II: English Language & Comprehension and General Awareness.
- Section-III: Computer Knowledge Test (qualifying in nature).
- Section-IV: Skill Test / Typing Test for DEO and LDC/JSA posts as applicable.
- Negative marking of 1 mark per wrong answer applies in Sections I and II of Tier-II.
Salary
Selected candidates will be placed on pay levels under the 7th Central Pay Commission as specified in the notification; in-hand salary figures are not provided.
| Post | Pay Level (7th CPC) | Pay Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Division Clerk (LDC) / Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA) | Pay Level-2 | Rs. 19,900–63,200 |
| Data Entry Operator (DEO) | Pay Level-4 / Pay Level-5 | Rs. 25,500–81,100 / Rs. 29,200–92,300 |
| Data Entry Operator Grade ‘A’ | Pay Level-4 | Rs. 25,500–81,100 |
Important instructions
Applicants should follow the notification instructions carefully to avoid rejection of applications.
- Applications must be submitted only in online mode; offline applications are not accepted.
- Candidates may select up to three exam centres in order of priority.
- Fee once paid is non-refundable and cannot be adjusted against any other exam.
- The correction window (14–16 October 2026) permits a maximum of two modifications/resubmissions; only applications with fee received (or fee-exempted) are eligible for correction.
- Applications remaining incomplete due to non-receipt of fee will be summarily rejected.
- The schedule for Tier-I and Tier-II exams will be announced separately on the SSC website.
- Only male candidates are eligible for vacancies reported in the Border Roads Organization (BRO), if any.
Official links
Candidates should refer to the SSC official portal and the notification PDF for authoritative information and to submit applications.
