The Staff Selection Commission has officially released the notification for the SSC Stenographer Grade C & D Examination 2026 under the broader umbrella of the SSC Examination 2026 recruitment cycle. This examination offers an excellent opportunity for 12th-pass candidates to secure prestigious central government jobs in various Ministries, Departments, and Organizations of the Government of India. With approximately 731 tentative vacancies, candidates skilled in stenography can compete for stable government positions with attractive salary, allowances, and career growth opportunities.
In this post, you’ll get complete details about SSC Stenographer Grade C & D, including notification highlights, important dates, eligibility criteria, age limit, application process, exam pattern, syllabus, skill test, vacancy details, selection process, and official notification PDF — all explained in a clear and easy-to-understand format.
Highlights
| Posts | Stenographer Grade ‘C’ Stenographer Grade ‘D’ |
| Total Vacancies | 731 |
| Application Dates | 24-04-2026 to 15-05-2026 (23:00 hrs) |
| Salary | Stenographer Grade ‘C’: 54000/- to 85000/- (approx.) Stenographer Grade ‘D’: 32000/- to 42000/- (approx.) |
| Age Limit | Stenographer Grade ‘C’: 18 to 30 years Stenographer Grade ‘D’: 18 to 27 years |
Important Dates
| Dates for submission of online applications | 24-04-2026 to 15-05-2026 (23:00 hrs) |
| Last date for online fee payment | 16-05-2026 (23:00 hrs) |
| Date of “Window for Application Form Correction” | 20-05-2026 to 21-05-2026 (23:00 hrs) |
| Crucial date for eligibility (Age, Education etc.) | 01.08.2026 |
| Schedule of Computer-Based Examination | July – August 2026 |
Important Links
Notification: Download PDF
Apply Online: Apply Now
Official Website: Visit Website
Admit Card – Admit card download link will be activated before the examination.
Vacancies/Posts
- Tentative Vacancies: There are approx 731 vacancies.
- Updated vacancies, Post-wise & category-wise, will be provided whenever published by the SSC.
Age Limit
- Stenographer Grade ‘C’: (as on 01.08.2026)
- 18 to 30 years,
- i.e., candidates born not before 02.08.1996 and not later than 01.08.2008 are eligible to apply.
- Stenographer Grade ‘D’: (as on 01.08.2026)
- 18 to 27 years,
- i.e., Candidates born not before 02.08.1999 and not later than 01.08.2008 are eligible to apply.
- Permissible relaxation in upper age limit
| Category | Maximum Relaxation |
| SC/ST | 5 Years |
| OBC | 3 Years |
| PwBD (Unreserved/EWS) | 10 Years |
| PwBD (OBC) | 13 Years |
| PwBD (SC/ ST) | 15 Years |
| Ex-Servicemen (ESM) | 3 Years |
| Defence Personnel disabled in operation during hostilities with any foreign country or in a disturbed area and released as a consequence thereof | 8 Years (SC/ST) 03 Years (all others) |
Permissible relaxation in upper age limit for Group ‘C’ posts only
| Category | Age limit after relaxation |
| Central Govt. Civilian Employees: Who have rendered not less than 3 years regular and continuous service as on closing date for receipt of online applications. | Up to 40 years of age |
| Central Govt. Civilian Employees: Who have rendered not less than 3 years regular and continuous service as on closing date for receipt of online applications. (SC/ ST) | Up to 45 years of age |
| Widows/ Divorced Women/Women judicially separated and who are not remarried. | Up to 35 years of age |
| Widows/Divorced Women/ Women judicially separated and who are not remarried (SC/ST ) | Up to 40 years of age |
Application Fee
- Fee Payable: 100/-
- Exempted from Fee Payment:
- Women candidates
- Candidates belonging to SC/ST
- Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD)
- Ex-servicemen (ESM) eligible for reservation
- Window for Application Form Correction:
- Can be modified/corrected two times
- Charges-
- For the first time-200/-
- For second time-500/-
Essential Educational Qualifications
12th standard or equivalent examination as on or before the cut-off date, i.e., 01.08.2026.
Pay Scale/Salary
Although the SSC notification does not specify the salary details, Stenographer Grade ‘C’ typically falls under Pay Level 6 or 7, while Stenographer Grade ‘D’ falls under Pay Level 4 of the 7th Pay Commission.
Approx In-Hand Salary of Stenographer Grade ‘C’
| City Category | Level 6 | Level 7 |
|---|---|---|
| X City | ₹63,000 – ₹72,000 | ₹75,000 – ₹85,000 |
| Y City | ₹58,000 – ₹67,000 | ₹70,000 – ₹80,000 |
| Z City | ₹54,000 – ₹63,000 | ₹66,000 – ₹75,000 |
Approx In-Hand Salary of Stenographer Grade ‘D’
| City Category | Approx In-Hand Salary |
|---|---|
| X City | ₹37,000 – ₹42,000 |
| Y City | ₹34,000 – ₹39,000 |
| Z City | ₹32,000 – ₹36,000 |
Scheme of Examination/Exam Pattern
The recruitment process consists of two primary stages:
Stage 1: Computer-Based Examination (CBE)
Stage 2: Skill Test in Stenography (Mandatory but Qualifying in nature)
Candidates must qualify in the CBE to get shortlisted for the Stenography Skill Test. Final selection and merit list rankings are computed purely based on the marks scored in the Computer-Based Examination.
Stage 1: Computer-Based Examination
| Part | Subject | No. of questions | Maximum Marks | Sectional Duration |
| I | General Intelligence & Reasoning | 50 | 50 | 30 Minutes |
| II | General Awareness | 50 | 50 | 30 Minutes |
| III | English Language and Comprehension | 100 | 100 | 60 Minutes |
| Total | 200 | 200 | 2 Hours |
Important Points:
- Question paper will be of Objective Type Multiple Choice only. The questions will be set both in English & Hindi.
- Negative Marking: There will be a negative marking of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer.
- Minimum qualifying marks in Computer Based Examination, are as follows:
- (i) UR: 30% (ii) OBC/EWS: 25% (iii) All Other Categories: 20%
- Marks scored by the candidates in Computer Based Examination, if conducted in multiple shifts, will be normalized by using the procedure published by the Commission vide Notice dated 02-06-2025.
Stage 2: Skill Test in Stenography
Candidates who secure the minimum qualifying cutoff marks in the online exam will be called for the practical skill test.
The Dictation:
Candidates will be given one dictation for 10 minutes in either English or Hindi (depending on the preference selected in the application form).
- Stenographer Grade ‘C’ Speed: 100 words per minute (w.p.m.)
- Stenographer Grade ‘D’ Speed: 80 words per minute (w.p.m.)
Transcription Time on Computer:
After taking down the shorthand dictation, candidates must transcribe the text onto a computer within the following strict timelines :
| S.No. | Post Name | Medium of Skill Test | Transcription Time (Minutes) | Transcription Time for Scribe Candidates (Minutes) |
| 1 | Stenographer Grade ‘D’ | English | 50 | 70 |
| 2 | Stenographer Grade ‘D’ | Hindi | 65 | 90 |
| 3 | Stenographer Grade ‘C’ | English | 40 | 55 |
| 4 | Stenographer Grade ‘C’ | Hindi | 55 | 75 |
Syllabus for Computer-Based Mode Examination
General Intelligence & Reasoning (50 Questions | 50 Marks)
This section is designed to evaluate both verbal and non-verbal reasoning types. Questions aim to test the candidate’s general logical aptitude, analytical capability, and ability to handle abstract ideas or spatial computations.
Verbal & Non-Verbal Core Topics:
- Arithmetical Reasoning
- Analogies (Semantic, Symbolic, and Number Analogies)
- Similarities and Differences
- Space Visualization and Spatial Orientation
- Problem Solving and Analysis
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Visual Memory
- Discriminating Observation and Observation Skills
- Relationship Concepts (Blood Relations)
- Verbal and Figure Classification
- Arithmetical Number Series
- Non-Verbal Series (Pattern completion, figure matrix)
General Awareness (50 Questions | 50 Marks)
Questions in this segment test the candidate’s grasp of current environments, everyday occurrences, and their application to society. The exam focuses on assessing awareness of testing parameters that an educated person should possess without requiring highly specialized scientific expertise.
Core Static & Dynamic Topics:
Economic Scene: Basics of Indian economy, Union Budget, Five-Year Plans, and financial institutions.
Current Events: National and International news, summits, sports, and socio-economic occurrences.
India and its Neighboring Countries: Focused heavily on history, geography, treaties, and socio-economic dynamics.
History: Ancient, Medieval, and Modern Indian History; Indian National Movement.
Culture: Indian Art forms, classical dances, music, festivals, and monumental history.
Geography: Physical geography, Indian climate, resources, rivers, and agricultural systems.
General Polity: Pillars of democracy, public policies, and local self-governance.
Indian Constitution: Articles, Schedules, Amendments, and Fundamental Rights.
Scientific Research: Basic advancements in space, defense, and foundational branches of science.
English Language & Comprehension (100 Questions | 100 Marks)
Holding 50% of the total exam weightage, this is the most critical segment of the examination. It measures the candidate’s deep command and understanding of the English Language, structural rules, and writing capabilities.
Vocabulary & Word Usage:
- Synonyms & Antonyms
- Homonyms and correct contextual usage of confusing words
- Phrases and Idioms
- One-Word Substitutions
- Spelling error detection
Core Grammar & Structure:
- Parts of Speech (Nouns, Pronouns, Verbs, Adverbs, Adjectives, Conjunctions, Prepositions)
- Articles and Determiners
- Subject-Verb Agreement
- Tenses, Conditionals, and Voice changes (Active and Passive Voice)
- Direct and Indirect Speech (Narration)
- Sentence Structure and common grammatical error spotting
- Sentence improvement and phrase replacements
Comprehension & Analytical Reading:
- Cloze Test: Passage filling exercises to test vocabulary and structural flow simultaneously.
- Reading Passages: Comprehension paragraphs to test explicit understanding, inference drawing, and central theme identification.
- Sentence Jumbles: Parajumbles and ordering of sentences to build a coherent text structure.
Additional Information
Reservation and Suitability of Posts for Persons with Disabilities:
- Candidates applying for the post(s) in Border Roads Organization (BRO) must cautiously go through the physical and medical standards required by BRO.
- No reallocation will be made for those candidates whose candidature is cancelled on the grounds of non-fulfilment of physical and medical standards.
- Only male candidates are eligible for the vacancies, if any reported, in the post of Stenographer Grade ‘D’ in the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
Document Verification (DV):
- Document Verification (DV) will be conducted by the User Departments/Organizations after declaration of the final result.
- For detailed documents, refer to point 17 of the official notification.
Post Preferences:
- Mandatory Online Submission: Candidates must submit their preferences for various Ministries, Departments, and Organizations through an Online Option Form on the official website before the final results are declared.
- No Alternative Window: If a candidate fails to submit their preferences within the stipulated time frame, they will not be considered for any post or department in the final merit list.
- Irrevocable Choices: Options once submitted are considered final and absolute. No modifications, corrections, or updates will be allowed via email, fax, or post under any circumstances.
- Maximize Choice Density: Aspirants are highly advised to select as many preferences as possible to buffer against strict category-wise cutoffs and safeguard their final selection.
- Border Roads Organization (BRO) Restrictions: * Posts in the BRO are strictly reserved for male candidates only.
- Candidates must undergo stringent physical efficiency, medical, and biometric standards set specifically by the BRO.
- If a candidate opts for BRO, gets allocated to it based on merit, and subsequently fails their medical or physical test, their candidature will be cancelled completely. They will not be reconsidered or re-allocated to any other department.
- All-India Service Liability (AISL): All allocated posts carry an All-India service liability, meaning selected stenographers can be posted anywhere across the country based on departmental requirements.
Related Examinations
- SSC CGL 2026
- SSC CHSL 2026