SSC CHSL 2026: Vacancy, Exam Date, Pattern, Salary and Cut Off
SSC CHSL 2026: Vacancy, Exam Date, Pattern, Salary and Cut Off
SSC CHSL 2026 is open, with about 2,536 tentative vacancies for LDC/JSA and Data Entry Operator posts. This page is the SSC CHSL complete guide: every key fact in one place, with a link to the detailed page for each topic.
We update this page with every new SSC notice.
Current status (16 September 2026)
The SSC CHSL exam date is expected between December 2026 and February 2027, as per coaching estimates; not official.
What is SSC CHSL
SSC CHSL is the Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination conducted by the Staff Selection Commission. It is the main SSC 10+2 exam, so you can apply after Class 12.
Selected candidates join Central Ministries, Departments, Constitutional Bodies, Statutory Bodies and Tribunals as clerks and data entry operators. Selection runs through Tier 1, Tier 2 (with the typing or skill test) and document verification.
SSC CHSL 2026 Posts and Pay Levels
The notice does not say which departments offer DEO at Level 5. LDC posts in the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) are for male candidates only and carry physical standards.
SSC CHSL Vacancy 2026
The tentative figure is about 2,536 posts, lower than the 3,131 tentative vacancies of CHSL 2025, which later rose to 3,522 (as reported by Testbook). So the 2026 number can still move. SSC does not collect state-wise vacancy, so any state-wise table online is not official.
SSC CHSL Notification 2026
The notice (F. No. HQ-C1102/5/2026-C-1) was uploaded on 7 September 2026. It lists the dates, fee, posts, centres, scheme of exam and the new rules for this cycle.
The fee is Rs 100. Women, SC, ST, PwBD and eligible Ex-Servicemen do not pay. EWS and OBC men do pay. The toll free helpline is 1800 309 3063.
Full details, dates and the notice summary: SSC CHSL Notification.
SSC CHSL Eligibility 2026
You need to be 18 to 27 years old on 1 August 2026, which means born between 2 August 1999 and 1 August 2008. SC/ST get 5 years of relaxation, OBC 3 years and PwBD 10 years.
You must have passed Class 12 by 7 October 2026. Any stream works for LDC/JSA and most DEO posts. DEO posts in three departments (Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution; SSC; Ministry of Culture) need Science with Mathematics.
Students who are still appearing in Class 12 can apply only if the result is declared on or before 7 October 2026. Read the full rules on the SSC CHSL Eligibility page.
SSC CHSL Apply Online 2026
Apply only on ssc.gov.in or the mySSC app. Your old registration from ssc.nic.in does not work, so create a fresh One-Time Registration (OTR) first.
Aadhaar authentication is optional, but it saves you trouble with photo rejection and exam-day ID checks. Your photo is captured live through the camera. The Typing Test medium you choose (Hindi or English) is final, and you pick 3 exam centres, all within the same SSC Region.
Step-by-step form filling guide: SSC CHSL Apply Online.
SSC CHSL Exam Pattern 2026
SSC CHSL Tier 1 has 100 questions for 200 marks in 60 minutes, across English, General Intelligence, Quantitative Aptitude and General Awareness. The big change: each section now has a fixed 15-minute timer, and unused time does not carry over. Each wrong answer costs 0.50 marks.
Tier 2 is held on one day in two sessions. Session I has Maths plus Reasoning, English plus General Awareness, and a qualifying Computer Knowledge test, with 3 marks per question and 1 mark cut per wrong answer. Session II is the qualifying Skill Test or Typing Test.
Section-wise tables and timers: SSC CHSL Exam Pattern.
If you want to know how a 15-minute cap feels before the real day, ExamAtlas has 7 free SSC CHSL Tier 1 mock tests that run the same sectional timer. One attempt usually shows which section runs out of time for you.
SSC CHSL Syllabus 2026
Tier 1 covers basic English (errors, cloze, comprehension), verbal and non-verbal reasoning, arithmetic up to geometry, mensuration, trigonometry and charts, and general awareness with current events and static GK.
Tier 2 adds statistics and probability in Maths, a comprehension based on an editorial or report in English, and a Computer Knowledge section on basics, MS Office, internet and cyber security.
Topic-wise list: SSC CHSL Syllabus.
SSC CHSL Salary 2026
An LDC/JSA starts at a basic pay of Rs 19,900 (Level 2). With DA at 60% from 1 January 2026, plus HRA and transport allowance, the gross comes to about Rs 35,270 to Rs 39,970 depending on the city. A DEO at Level 4 in an X city gets about Rs 54,210 gross.
These are approximate figures under 7th CPC rules. Pay will change if the 8th Pay Commission is implemented, and no date is known for that. Full breakup: SSC CHSL Salary.
SSC CHSL Cut Off
For CHSL 2025, the Tier 1 cut-off for LDC/JSA was 144.26 for UR and 125.40 for SC out of 200 (as compiled by Mahendras and Careerpower; verify on ssc.gov.in). For CHSL 2024 it was higher, at 157.36 for UR.
We will not predict a 2026 number. Fewer vacancies push cut-offs up, while the new sectional timer could pull scores down. The two may cancel out, or not. Past trends and category-wise data: SSC CHSL Cut Off.
SSC CHSL Preparation Strategy
With the exam likely a few months away, your first job is to practise each section inside 15 minutes. Saving time in GA to spend on Quant no longer works.
Build speed in English and GA, keep Quant accurate, and start typing practice early if you are aiming for LDC/JSA. Month-wise plan: SSC CHSL Preparation Strategy.
9 Changes in SSC CHSL 2026 at a Glance
- Sectional timing: 15 minutes per section in Tier 1, and 30/30, 40/20 and 15 minutes in Tier 2.
- All 3 exam centre choices must be in the same SSC Region.
- Answer key challenge fee is now Rs 50 per question (was Rs 100).
- Hindi typing for LDC/JSA must be in Mangal font.
- Sliding mechanism is formally adopted, and "Final Result" is now "FRTA/Result".
- Aadhaar authentication is optional (it was compulsory last cycle, as reported by coaching sites).
- Exam centres are now 136 (was 130, as reported by coaching sites).
- "Scribe" is now "scribe/assistive technology".
- Visually handicapped candidates are exempt from Aadhaar face authentication at the application stage.
Timer details are on the SSC CHSL Exam Pattern page, and the rest of the changes are explained in the SSC CHSL Notification page.
CHSL or CGL? For Students Writing Both
SSC CHSL is a 12th-level exam, while SSC CGL is for graduates. If you are a graduate, you can write both, and the Tier 1 syllabus overlaps a lot.
Both exams now use sectional timers in Tier 1, so one practice routine works for both. CHSL also has a typing test that most CGL posts do not. See the SSC CGL complete guide for dates and pattern.
Pages Coming After the Exam Date Is Announced
- SSC CHSL Admit Card 2026 (city intimation slip and admit card)
- SSC CHSL Exam Date 2026
- SSC CHSL Answer Key 2026
- SSC CHSL Result 2026
- SSC CHSL Tier 2 2026
- SSC CHSL Previous Year Papers
FAQs on SSC CHSL 2026
How many vacancies are there in SSC CHSL 2026?
About 2,536, and this is tentative. SSC has not released the post-wise or category-wise breakup yet.
What is the last date to apply for SSC CHSL 2026?
The form closes on 7 October 2026 at 11:00 PM. You can pay the fee online till 8 October 2026.
When is the SSC CHSL exam date 2026?
SSC has not announced it yet. Coaching estimates say December 2026 to February 2027, but that is not official.
Is there a sectional timer in SSC CHSL Tier 1 2026?
Yes. Each of the four sections gets 15 minutes. Candidates eligible for a scribe get 20 minutes per section.
What is the in-hand salary of SSC CHSL LDC?
The basic pay is Rs 19,900. After DA at 60%, HRA and TA, the gross is about Rs 35,270 to Rs 39,970, and in-hand is lower after the NPS deduction of about Rs 3,184.
Can I change my exam centre after applying?
No. You choose 3 centres from the same SSC Region in the form, and SSC does not allow any change later.
Is Aadhaar compulsory for SSC CHSL 2026?
No, it is optional. Without it, you must upload extra proofs and carry 2 photos and an original photo ID on exam day.
What to Do This Week
Finish your OTR and the form well before 7 October, because the site slows down in the last few days. Then attempt one timed mock to see where you stand. Check ssc.gov.in once a week for the vacancy breakup and the exam schedule.
Decide your Typing Test medium before you submit, because it cannot be changed later.