SSC CHSL Recruitment 2026: Apply for 2536 LDC/DEO Posts

For the SSC CHSL recruitment in 2026, apply online for 2,536 LDC, JSA and DEO positions at ssc.gov.in, check your eligibility with a 10+2 qualification, and find out the salary levels 2 to 4 and the exam pattern.

The SSC Staff Selection Commission has issued the notification for the Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination in 2026, providing for 2,536 tentative positions for the posts of Lower Divisional Clerk (LDC), Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA), Data Entry Operator (DEO), and DEO Grade 'A' across the Central Government's Ministries, Departments and Offices. The online applications became available on 7 September 2026 and must be submitted by 7 October 2026 at 11:00 PM.

For a 12th-pass candidate who is looking to secure your first post with the Central Government, this notice includes more alterations than is the case with the usual annual repetition—there is now a new sectional timing, a rule requiring exam centres to be locked according to region, and a compulsory need to carry out a fresh registration on the SSC's new portal. Below is all that has been confirmed, set out in such a way that you will know precisely what is different this year and what has not changed.

SSC CHSL Recruitment 2026 — Quick Overview

Why This Year's Notification Is Different: Changes Every Candidate Must Know

Do not regard this as a simple repetition of last year's CHSL cycle since SSC has introduced several structural changes this time which have a direct impact on your preparation and application.

Vacancies Down Nearly 19% From 2025

The SSC CHSL 2025 recruitment included 3,131 vacancies; the 2,536 tentative positions for this year amount to about a 19% decrease. This does not indicate that your chances have diminished – instead, it suggests that the competition for each post will be more intense, so you should approach both Tier-I and Tier-II with equal seriousness rather than treating Tier-I as if it were a formality.

New Sectional Timing Introduced in Tier-I and Tier-II

SSC is making sectional timing available for both parts of the CHSL test for the first time. This represents a significant change from the previous composite-timing system, under which candidates were free to move between sections within the total time allowed. Nowadays, once the time allowed for a section has expired, you can no longer go back to it—so you should plan your pacing section by section during your preparation, not on the day of the exam.

Exam Centre Choice Now Locked to a Single SSC Region

Before now, candidates have at times been able to choose exam centre preferences that included centres in different regions. However, according to the 2026 notification, all three of your centre preferences must be within the same SSC region. Make sure to carefully check the list of centres for your region before you submit your application, as you can no longer do it to make it more convenient or because of availability.

Correction Window Extended to 3 Days

The period allowed for making corrections to the application has now been extended from the previous two-day timeframe to 14–16 October 2026 — that is, by three full days. Make good use of this time to rectify any errors in your application, since this is your last opportunity to make changes after having submitted it.

Post-wise Breakdown: LDC, JSA, DEO & DEO Grade 'A'

As for deciding your preference, it should be noted that LDC/JSA positions are available in a wider range of ministries, whereas DEO and DEO Grade 'A' posts, although offering a higher salary, are limited to certain departments and include a strict requirement regarding typing speed and data entry. If your typing speed isn't already good, begin practicing at this time — this is a qualifying requirement which you cannot omit no matter how well you do in the written examinations.

SSC CHSL 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification

• It is necessary to have passed the Class 12 (10+2) or a similar qualification from a recognised board or university.
• People who are waiting for their 12th result or whose results have already been announced by 7 October 2026 are also entitled to apply, on the condition that they can provide evidence of having passed by the date given in the notice.

Age Limit

• Minimum Age: 18 years
• Maximum Age: 27 years
• The age is that as of 1 August 2026.
• For the SC/ST category, a relaxation of 5 years; for OBC, 3 years; for PwBD, 10 years (and in the case of combinations of PwBD with OBC or SC/ST, an additional relaxation is provided); and for the ex-servicemen category, the relaxations are in accordance with the norms of the Government of India.

SSC CHSL Salary 2026: Level-2 vs Level-4

The actual amount you take home will depend on the classification of the city where you are posted (X/Y/Z) since the rates for the Dearness Allowance and the House Rent Allowance differ according to this classification. Posts held by DEO and DEO Grade 'A' have a considerably higher pay level than those of LDC/JSA right from the start, so this point should be taken into account if you are deciding which post to prefer and are confident of passing the data-entry speed test.

SSC CHSL Application Fee 2026

You have the option of paying the fees online using BHIM UPI, net banking, or eligible debit or credit cards. If you belong to any of the categories that are exempt, you can leave out the payment stage when you submit your application.

Step-by-Step: How to Apply for SSC CHSL 2026 on the New SSC Portal

Step 1: Complete One-Time Registration (OTR)

The SSC is now carrying out all its operations on its new website. In the event that your OTR was produced using the earlier portal, it will not be transferred to you and therefore you will have to complete a new OTR based on your Aadhaar on the present ssc.gov.in system before you can go ahead with an application. Do not suppose that a previous registration from an earlier CHSL or another SSC exam cycle will still be valid; you must first check your OTR status.

Step 2: Capture Your Live Photograph

A rule which causes many applicants who are applying for the first time to make a mistake is that the new application module demands a live photograph to be taken directly through the portal, either by means of your webcam or an Android device—photos that have been stored earlier or already saved are not accepted. When taking the photograph keep the following points in mind:

• Select a spot that has good and even lighting and a simple background.
• Set your webcam or camera so that it is at eye level.
• Look directly ahead and meet the camera.
• While the photograph is being taken, don't wear a cap, a mask, sunglasses, or spectacles.

Step 3: Fill Personal, Educational & Exam Centre Details

Log in with your Registration Number and Password, then click 'Apply' for the CHSL 2026 notification. Carefully enter your personal information, details of your educational qualification, and your category information. When you are choosing exam centres, make sure that all three of your preferences are within the same SSC Region.

Step 4: Upload Signature and Pay the Fee

Scan your signature and upload it in JPEG format (the file size is usually between 10 and 20 KB, as stated in the notification). If you are not in an exempted group, pay the application fee online.

Step 5: Preview, Submit, and Print

Check all the details that have been entered on the Preview page. When you are certain that all the information is correct, click to submit the form and print or save the confirmation page together with your registration number.

Errors which cause applications to be flagged or rejected include using an old photograph rather than carrying out live capture, choosing examination centres in different SSC Regions, having a mismatched signature file size, and providing incomplete details of the category certificate for applicants in reserved categories. Before making the final submission, check all of these points.

SSC CHSL 2026 Exam Pattern: Tier-I and Tier-II

Tier-I Pattern (Computer-Based Examination)

Tier-I lasts for a total of 60 minutes (this is extended to 80 minutes in the case of candidates who are eligible for scribe assistance). There is a negative marking of 0.50 marks for each incorrect answer, and Tier-I functions as a qualifying stage by which candidates are shortlisted for Tier-II according to the cut-offs set by category.

Tier-II Pattern: Two Sessions, One Day

Tier-II takes place over two sessions on the same day, the first session being for the written portions and the second session for the Skill Test/Typing Test.

Candidates must qualify all sections of Tier-II individually, not just the overall total — a strong score in one section cannot compensate for failing to meet the minimum in another.

How the New Sectional Timing Changes Your Strategy

Since both Tier-I and Tier-II now enforce section-wise time limits rather than one composite timer, you can no longer "borrow" extra time from a section you finish early to spend on a harder one. If General Awareness typically takes you longer than Quantitative Aptitude, for instance, you need to build that pacing into your practice now, since the exam interface will lock you out of a section the moment its allotted time expires.

Skill Test / Typing Test (Session-II / Tier-III Equivalent)

• LDC/JSA: Typing Test at 35 words per minute (English) or 30 words per minute (Hindi) on computer.
• DEO/DEO Grade 'A': Data Entry Speed Test at 8,000 key depressions per hour on computer.

This stage is purely qualifying — candidates must clear the prescribed speed but don't earn additional merit marks for exceeding it.

Documents Required for SSC CHSL 2026 Application

• Valid OTR generated on the new ssc.gov.in portal
• Aadhaar Card (mandatory for OTR)
• Class 10 Marksheet, for date of birth verification
• Class 12 Marksheet/Certificate, or proof of appearing status with expected result date
• Caste/Category Certificate, if applicable (SC/ST/OBC/EWS)
• PwBD Certificate, if applicable
• Ex-Servicemen discharge certificate, if applicable
• Live-captured photograph (via webcam/mobile during application)
• Scanned signature in the specified JPEG format and size

Important Links Table

Disclaimer: All details above are based on the Staff Selection Commission's official notification (Advt. No. HQ-C1102/5/2026-C-1) dated 7 September 2026, as available at the time of writing. Tier-I and Tier-II exam dates were not announced at the time of writing. Candidates must download and verify the complete notification PDF from ssc.gov.in before applying, and regularly check the official website for exam date updates.