SSC CHSL 2026 Tier 1 exam from 30 November; apply by 7 October

The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has released the Tier 1 examination dates for the Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination, 2026. The computer-based examination (CBE) for recruitment to Lower Divisional Clerk (LDC), Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA), and Data Entry Operator (DEO) posts is scheduled to take place from 30 November to 31 December 2026.

The online application process, which commenced on 7 September 2026, is open for 2,536 vacancies across various Ministries, Departments, and Offices of the Government of India. This year’s recruitment introduces sectional timing in Tier 1 and requires candidates to select three examination centres within the same SSC region.

Application and Fee Details for SSC CHSL 2026

The online application window for the SSC CHSL 2026 recruitment will close on 7 October 2026 at 11 PM. The last date for online fee payment is 8 October 2026 (11 PM). Candidates who need to make corrections to their application forms will have a window from 14 to 16 October 2026 (11 PM).

The application fee is Rs. 100 for General Category candidates. However, women, Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), Persons with Disabilities (PwD), and Ex-servicemen candidates are exempted from paying the application fee. Candidates are required to complete a One-Time Registration (OTR) on the new SSC website (ssc.gov.in) before applying, as OTRs from the old portal are no longer functional.

Eligibility Criteria and Vacancies

To be eligible for the SSC CHSL 2026 examination, candidates must have passed Class 12th or an equivalent examination from a recognised Board or University. The age limit for these Group C posts is 18 to 27 years as of 1 August 2026. This means candidates born between 2 August 1999 and 1 August 2008 are eligible to apply. Age relaxation is applicable for various categories as per government norms.

A total of 2,536 vacancies have been announced for LDC/JSA and DEO posts for the 2026 cycle. This figure represents a decrease compared to previous years, with 3,131 vacancies in 2025 and 3,712 in 2024. The selection process involves a Tier 1 and Tier 2 computer-based examination, followed by a Skill Test or Typing Test where applicable.

Examination Structure and Important Dates

The Tier 1 examination will be conducted in Computer-Based Examination (CBE) mode. The Tier 1 City Intimation Slip for 2026 will be issued 8-10 days before the exam date, while the Tier 1 Admit Card will be available approximately 2-3 days before the examination. Sectional timing has been introduced for the examination, a change from previous years.

The Tier 2 examination date for SSC CHSL 2026 is yet to be announced. For reference, the Tier 2 exam for SSC CHSL 2025 was conducted on 10 April 2026, with the City Intimation Slip released on 1 April 2026 and the Admit Card on 7 April 2026. In 2025, approximately 30.69 lakh candidates applied for the SSC CHSL exam.

Further reading

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• Education Ministry’s Seva First Innovation Challenge 2026: apply by October 24 for Rs 5.4 crore prize pool
• Apply for Rajkot pharmacy admissions by October 3, 2026
• Anganwadi recruitment 2026: apply for 6,843 posts in Gujarat by October 14, other state deadlines vary
• JNVST Class 9 and 11 lateral entry 2027 registration extended: apply by October 15

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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