SSC CHSL 2026: 2,536 LDC, JSA & DEO Posts — Apply Online by 7 October

SSC has opened applications for CHSL 2026 — the annual Combined Higher Secondary Level exam that fills Lower Division Clerk/Junior Secretariat Assistant, Data Entry Operator, and Data Entry Operator Grade 'A' posts across central government ministries and departments. The window opened 7 September and closes 7 October, giving you about a month to apply. Here's what the notification actually says, without the padding.

What's Open and When

This is a 12th-pass-level exam, which makes it one of the more accessible entry points into central government service. It doesn't require a degree, and the three posts on offer lead to postings in different departments and pay levels.

Post	Pay Level	Qualification
LDC / Junior Secretariat Assistant	Level-2 (₹19,900–63,200)	12th pass, any stream
Data Entry Operator	Level-4/5 (₹25,500–92,300)	12th pass, Science with Maths
Data Entry Operator, Grade 'A'	Level-4 (₹25,500–81,100)	12th pass, Science with Maths

Total vacancies across all three posts stand at 2,536, with the post-wise split to follow once category-wise reservation rosters are finalised — SSC typically releases that breakup closer to the Tier I result.

Who Can Apply

Age limit is 18–27 years as on the notified cut-off date, with the usual central government relaxations:

Category	Relaxation	Effective upper limit
OBC	+3 years	30
SC/ST	+5 years	32
PwBD (Unreserved)	+10 years	37
PwBD (OBC)	+13 years	40
PwBD (SC/ST)	+15 years	42
Ex-Servicemen	+3 years + service period	Varies

The Three-Tier Selection Process

CHSL runs through three stages, and unlike some SSC exams, the descriptive paper actually counts toward your final rank rather than being purely qualifying.

Stage	Format	Marks / Duration	Counts toward merit?
Tier I	Online CBT — Reasoning, GA, Quant, English	100 marks / 60 min	Yes
Tier II	Descriptive — essay & letter writing	100 marks / 45 min	Yes
Tier III	Skill Test — typing (LDC/JSA) or data entry speed (DEO)	15 min	Qualifying only

Tier III requirements differ by post: LDC/JSA candidates need 35 WPM in English or 30 WPM in Hindi on the typing test, while DEO and DEO Grade A candidates are assessed on a data entry speed test at 8,000 key depressions per hour. Both are pass/fail — they don't add marks, they just confirm you can do the job.

Negative marking applies at Tier I (0.5 marks per wrong answer) but not at Tier II. Final merit is calculated from Tier I + Tier II marks combined, with separate category-wise lists for General, OBC, SC, ST, and PwBD candidates.

Fee and How to Apply

Application fee is ₹100 for General category candidates; it's waived entirely for OBC, SC, ST, and PwBD candidates. Apply online at ssc.gov.in — the portal accepts applications through 7 October.

Document verification, when it comes, will require originals of your 10th and 12th certificates, caste certificate (if applicable), and disability certificate for PwBD candidates. Keep scanned copies ready now rather than scrambling later.