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SSC CHSL 2026: The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has released the notification for the Combined Higher Secondary Level (CHSL) 2026 recruitment. This opens the application process for 12th-pass youths aspiring for central government jobs. Online applications began on September 7, 2026, via the official SSC website, ssc.gov.in. This recruitment drive aims to fill various posts—including Lower Division Clerk (LDC)/Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA) and Data Entry Operator (DEO)—across different central government ministries, departments, and offices. A total of 2,536 tentative vacancies have been announced, though the Commission has clarified that the final vacancy count will be released later. Candidates can apply until 11:00 PM on October 7, 2026.

SSC CHSL is one of the country's major government recruitment drives. Its popularity is evident from the fact that approximately 30.69 lakh youths applied for the CHSL 2025 recruitment last year. This year's recruitment differs from the previous year's in several respects: the number of vacancies has decreased, a sectional timer has been introduced for the exam, and the fee for raising objections against the answer key has been halved. Additionally, the 'sliding mechanism' and FRTA have been officially implemented.

1. 15-minute timer for each section in the Tier-1 exam
The most significant change in SSC CHSL 2026 concerns the exam timing. In the Tier-1 exam last year (2025), candidates were allotted a total of 60 minutes to solve 100 questions covering English, Reasoning, Mathematics, and General Awareness, without any specific time limits for individual sections. Previously, candidates could solve questions from any section within the total 60-minute duration at their own convenience; however, a sectional timer has now been introduced for CHSL 2026. A separate 15-minute time limit has been set for each of the four subjects—English, General Intelligence, Quantitative Aptitude, and General Awareness—meaning each section must be completed within that 15-minute window. As soon as the 15 minutes for a section elapse, that section will automatically close. This implies that candidates will no longer be able to save time for difficult sections by spending extra time on easier ones; they must solve the questions for each subject within the allotted 15 minutes. The sectional timer will also apply to the Tier-2 examination.

2. Reduction in vacancies compared to last year

A cause for concern for candidates regarding SSC CHSL 2026 is that the number of tentative vacancies has been reduced compared to the previous year. For CHSL 2025, the initial tentative vacancy count was approximately 3,131, which was later increased to 3,522; in contrast, the tentative vacancy count for CHSL 2026 stands at approximately 2,536, though this is not the final figure. The Commission will release the final vacancy count later, so changes to the number of posts are possible.

3. Filing objections against the answer key has become cheaper

Amid the reduction in vacancies, candidates have also been granted significant relief. The fee for filing objections against the answer key has been halved this time. For CHSL 2025, candidates had to pay ₹100 per question to raise an objection regarding the answer key. For CHSL 2026, this has been reduced to ₹50 per question; effectively, if a candidate wishes to object to the answer of a specific question, they will have to pay half the fee compared to the previous year. 

4. Sliding Mechanism and FRTA Now Officially Implemented
Another significant change in the recruitment process this time concerns the sliding mechanism and FRTA. While a single-round post-allotment sliding scheme to fill vacancies remaining after document verification was previously only under consideration for CHSL 2025, the sliding mechanism and FRTA have now been fully and officially implemented for CHSL 2026. Concurrently, the document verification (DV) process has also been modified; following the declaration of final results, the respective user departments will now directly conduct the document verification for candidates.

From Application Date to Exam: Know the Full Schedule
Online applications for SSC CHSL 2026 commenced on September 7, 2026. Candidates can submit their applications until 11:00 PM on October 7, 2026. The deadline for submitting the online application fee is 11:00 PM on October 8, 2026. Candidates will also be provided an opportunity to rectify any errors in their applications; the application correction window will remain open from October 14 to October 16, 2026, with corrections permitted until 11:00 PM on these days. Dates for both the Tier-1 and Tier-2 computer-based examinations have not yet been announced; the Commission will provide details regarding the exam dates at a later stage.

Candidates Who Have Passed Class 12 Can Apply
Generally, passing Class 12 is a mandatory requirement for SSC CHSL 2026; however, specific educational qualifications apply to certain DEO and DEO Grade ‘A’ posts. For DEO/DEO Grade ‘A’ positions in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, the SSC, and the Ministry of Culture, candidates must have passed Class 12 in the Science stream with Mathematics as a subject. Therefore, before applying, candidates should verify whether they meet the prescribed educational qualifications for the specific post they are targeting.

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