SSC CHSL 2026 Notification for LDC, JSA and DEO Posts: Complete Eligibility, Age Limit and Application Process

The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has released the official notification for the Combined Higher Secondary Level (10+2) Examination, 2026, inviting online applications for recruitment to Lower Divisional Clerk/Junior Secretariat Assistant (LDC/JSA) and Data Entry Operator (DEO/DEO Grade ‘A’) posts across various Ministries, Departments, and Constitutional/Statutory Bodies of the Government of India. Candidates who have completed their 12th standard and fall within the prescribed age limit can apply online from 7 September 2026.

SSC CHSL 2026 Overview

Particular Details
Conducting Body Staff Selection Commission (SSC)
Exam Name Combined Higher Secondary Level (10+2) Examination, 2026
Posts LDC/JSA, DEO, DEO Grade ‘A’
Total Vacancies Approx. 2,536 (tentative)
Application Mode Online
Official Website ssc.gov.in

Important Dates

Event Date
Start of online application 07-09-2026
Last date to submit application 07-10-2026 (23:00 hrs)
Last date for online fee payment 08-10-2026 (23:00 hrs)
Application form correction window 14-10-2026 to 16-10-2026 (23:00 hrs)
Tier-I exam date To be notified later
Tier-II exam date To be notified later
Helpline number 18003093063 (Toll Free)

Vacancy and Pay Scale Details

SSC has announced approximately 2,536 tentative vacancies. Final numbers will be updated on the official website after scrutiny of vacancy data from user departments.

Post Pay Level Pay Scale (₹)
LDC/JSA Level-2 19,900 – 63,200
DEO Level-4 / Level-5 25,500 – 81,100 / 29,200 – 92,300
DEO Grade ‘A’ Level-4 25,500 – 81,100

Eligibility Criteria

Nationality

Candidates must be a citizen of India, or a subject of Nepal/Bhutan, or a person of Indian origin migrated from specified countries with the intention of permanently settling in India (subject to eligibility certificate requirements).

Age Limit (as on 01-08-2026)

Candidates must be between 18 and 27 years, i.e., born not before 02-08-1999 and not later than 01-08-2008.

Age Relaxation:

Category Relaxation
SC/ST 5 years
OBC 3 years
PwBD 10 years
PwBD (OBC) 13 years
PwBD (SC/ST) 15 years
Ex-Servicemen 3 years (after deducting military service)
Central Govt Civilian Employees (3+ yrs service) Up to 40 years
Widows/Divorced/Judicially Separated Women Up to 35 years

Educational Qualification (as on 07-10-2026)

  • DEO/DEO Grade ‘A’ (in Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, SSC, and Ministry of Culture): 12th pass in Science stream with Mathematics from a recognized board.
  • LDC/JSA and all other DEO posts: 12th pass or equivalent examination from a recognized board or university.

Application Fee

Category Fee
General/EWS/OBC (Male) ₹100
Women (all categories) Exempted
SC/ST/PwBD/ESM Exempted

Fee can be paid online via BHIM UPI, Net Banking, or Visa/MasterCard/Maestro/RuPay debit cards, up to 08-10-2026.

SSC CHSL 2026 Exam Pattern

The selection process consists of a Computer-Based Examination conducted in two tiers.

Tier-I (Objective type, MCQs — 60 minutes, negative marking of 0.50 for each wrong answer):

Part Subject Questions/Marks
I English Language (Basic Knowledge) 25/50
II General Intelligence 25/50
III Quantitative Aptitude 25/50
IV General Awareness 25/50

Tier-II (conducted in two sessions on the same day; negative marking of 1 mark for wrong answers in Sections I–III):

  • Session-I (2 hours 15 minutes): Section-I (Mathematical Abilities + Reasoning), Section-II (English Language & Comprehension + General Awareness), Section-III (Computer Knowledge Test — qualifying in nature)
  • Session-II: Section-IV — Skill Test/Typing Test (qualifying in nature; Typing Test for LDC/JSA, Skill Test for DEO posts)

Marks from multiple exam shifts are normalized to determine the final merit.

How to Apply for SSC CHSL 2026

  1. Visit the official SSC website (ssc.gov.in) or the “my SSC” mobile app.
  2. Complete One-Time Registration (OTR) with Aadhaar authentication if you’re a first-time applicant.
  3. Log in and fill out the online application form with personal, educational, and category details.
  4. Upload the required documents/photograph as per specifications.
  5. Pay the application fee online (if applicable).
  6. Submit the form and save/print the confirmation page for future reference.

Important Links

FAQs on SSC CHSL 2026

Q1. What is the last date to apply for SSC CHSL 2026?
The last date to submit the online application is 7 October 2026 (23:00 hrs).

Q2. How many vacancies are there in SSC CHSL 2026?
There are approximately 2,536 tentative vacancies for LDC/JSA and DEO posts.

Q3. What is the age limit for SSC CHSL 2026?
Candidates must be between 18 and 27 years as on 1 August 2026, with relaxation for reserved categories.

Q4. What is the educational qualification required?
Candidates must have passed 12th standard from a recognized board; DEO posts in specific departments require Science with Mathematics.

Q5. What is the application fee for SSC CHSL 2026?
₹100 for general candidates; women and SC/ST/PwBD/ESM candidates are exempted.