SSC Stenographer Grade C & D Recruitment 2026 - Stenographer Grade C and D (Total 731 Posts)

The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has released the notification for the Stenographer Grade ‘C’ & ‘D’ Examination 2026. The recruitment is being conducted for approximately 731 vacancies in various Ministries, Departments and Organizations of the Government of India. Eligible candidates who possess stenography skills and have passed Class 12th can submit their applications online from 24/04/2026 to 15/05/2026.

Post Details

Important Dates

Application Fee

The fee can be paid online through BHIM UPI, Net Banking, Visa, Mastercard, Maestro or RuPay Debit Card. The fee is non-refundable. Application correction charges are ₹200 for the first correction and ₹500 for the second correction, applicable to all candidates irrespective of category or gender.

Age Limit

The age limit will be calculated as on 01/08/2026.

• Stenographer Grade ‘C’: 18 to 30 years. Candidates must have been born between 02/08/1996 and 01/08/2008.
• Stenographer Grade ‘D’: 18 to 27 years. Candidates must have been born between 02/08/1999 and 01/08/2008.

Age Relaxation

Vacancy Details

The vacancies are tentative and may change. SSC is collecting updated vacancy details from User Departments. State-wise or zone-wise vacancies are not collected by the Commission. Reservation will be applicable for SC, ST, OBC, EWS, ESM and PwBD candidates as per Government rules. ESM vacancies are reserved only for the Group ‘C’ post of Stenographer Grade ‘D’.

Eligibility / Qualification

• Candidates must have passed 12th Standard or an equivalent examination from a recognized Board or University on or before 01/08/2026.
• Candidates appearing for the qualifying examination may apply provisionally, but they must have passed and possess documentary proof by the prescribed cut-off date.
• Candidates possessing equivalent qualifications must produce an Equivalence Certificate during Document Verification.
• Qualifications obtained through Open and Distance Learning mode must be recognized by the Distance Education Bureau, University Grants Commission, for the relevant period.
• Only candidates who possess stenography skills are eligible to apply.
• Candidates must select Stenographer Grade ‘C’, Stenographer Grade ‘D’, or both posts in the online application.
• Candidates must satisfy the nationality, age, educational, medical and post-specific requirements prescribed in the notification.

Nationality

A candidate must be one of the following:

• A citizen of India;
• A subject of Nepal or Bhutan;
• A person of Indian origin who has migrated from specified countries with the intention of permanently settling in India, subject to a certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India.

Reservation and PwBD Suitability

Reservation is available as per existing Government orders. The posts have been identified as suitable for various categories of benchmark disabilities, including blindness, low vision, deafness, hard of hearing, locomotor disabilities, cerebral palsy, dwarfism, acid attack victims, muscular dystrophy, autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, specific learning disability, mental illness and multiple disabilities, subject to applicable departmental exemptions.

Candidates claiming reservation or age relaxation must possess certificates in the prescribed format issued by the competent authority. Candidature will remain provisional until the original certificates are verified by the concerned User Department or Organization.

Exam Pattern

• The examination will consist of objective-type multiple-choice questions.
• Questions will be set in both English and Hindi, except the English Language and Comprehension section.
• The normal examination duration is 2 hours, with sectional timers of 30 minutes each for Part I and Part II and 60 minutes for Part III.
• Candidates eligible for a scribe will receive 2 hours and 40 minutes, with 40 minutes for Part I, 40 minutes for Part II and 80 minutes for Part III.
• There will be negative marking of 0.25 marks for every wrong answer.
• Marks may be normalized if the examination is conducted in multiple shifts.

Syllabus

General Intelligence and Reasoning

The section may include verbal and non-verbal questions on analogies, similarities and differences, space visualization, problem-solving, analysis, judgment, decision-making, visual memory, observation, relationship concepts, arithmetical reasoning, verbal and figure classification, arithmetical number series, non-verbal series, abstract ideas, symbols, arithmetic computation and analytical functions.

General Awareness

Questions will test awareness of the surrounding environment, current events and everyday scientific observations. Topics may include India and neighbouring countries, sports, history, culture, geography, economic conditions, general polity, the Indian Constitution and scientific research.

English Language and Comprehension

The section will test understanding of the English language, vocabulary, grammar, sentence structure, synonyms, antonyms, correct usage and writing ability.

Skill Test in Stenography

Candidates shortlisted on the basis of the Computer Based Examination must appear for the qualifying Skill Test in Stenography.

• Dictation duration: 10 minutes.
• Dictation speed for Stenographer Grade ‘C’: 100 words per minute.
• Dictation speed for Stenographer Grade ‘D’: 80 words per minute.
• Candidates may opt for English or Hindi in the online application.
• The dictated matter must be transcribed on a computer.

The Skill Test is mandatory but qualifying in nature. Candidates who opt for Hindi stenography may be required to learn English stenography after appointment, and vice versa, depending on the functional requirements of the User Department.

Selection Process

1. Computer Based Examination.
2. Shortlisting of candidates for the Stenography Skill Test.
3. Qualifying Skill Test in Stenography.
4. First Round of Tentative Allocation based on merit and post or department preferences.
5. Document Verification by the concerned User Department or Organization.
6. Physical Efficiency Test and physical or medical standards, wherever applicable, including posts in the Border Roads Organization.
7. Final allocation and appointment subject to fulfillment of all eligibility and service requirements.

The minimum qualifying marks in the Computer Based Examination are 30% for Unreserved candidates, 25% for OBC/EWS candidates and 20% for all other categories. Final selection will be based on Computer Based Examination merit, qualifying Skill Test and the preferences submitted by candidates.

Scribe and Compensatory Time Facility

Eligible PwBD and PwD candidates may avail themselves of a scribe or assistive technology facility subject to the conditions in the notification. A scribe must complete One-Time Registration and Aadhaar authentication on the SSC website. A scribe cannot assist more than one candidate in the same examination and a candidate appearing in the examination cannot act as a scribe for another candidate in the same examination.

Eligible candidates will receive 20 minutes of compensatory time per hour of examination, including candidates eligible for a scribe who choose not to use the facility. Candidates opting for an own scribe must carry the required undertaking, medical certificate and the scribe’s original photo identity proof.

Examination Centres

Candidates must select three examination centres anywhere in India in order of preference. No request for change of centre will be accepted later. Centres are available under the Central, Eastern, Karnataka Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, North Eastern, Northern, North Western, Southern and Western Regions of SSC, covering States and Union Territories across India.

Document Verification

Document Verification will be conducted by the concerned User Departments or Organizations after declaration of the final result. Candidates may be required to produce the following documents in original along with copies:

• Matriculation or Secondary Examination Certificate;
• Class 12th marksheet, certificate or provisional certificate;
• Equivalence Certificate, where applicable;
• Caste or category certificate;
• PwBD or disability certificate, where applicable;
• Ex-Servicemen documents, discharge certificate and undertaking, where applicable;
• Certificate supporting any claim for age relaxation;
• No Objection Certificate for candidates employed in Government service or Government undertakings;
• Documents supporting change of name, where applicable;
• Any other document specified in the Admission Certificate or by the User Department.

Important Examination Instructions

• Applications are accepted provisionally and eligibility is verified at later stages.
• Candidates must enter their name, father’s name, mother’s name and date of birth exactly as recorded in the Matriculation or Secondary Certificate.
• Only one online application is permitted during the normal application period. Multiple applications may lead to cancellation of candidature and debarment.
• The application requires a live photograph. Candidates should use a clear frontal photograph with a plain background and must not wear a cap, mask or spectacles while capturing it.
• The scanned signature must be in JPEG or JPG format, generally between 10 KB and 20 KB, with dimensions of approximately 6.0 cm by 2.0 cm.
• Candidates who have not completed Aadhaar authentication must report to the examination centre two hours before the scheduled time and carry the Admission Certificate, two recent passport-size colour photographs and an original valid photo identity proof showing the date of birth.
• Admission Certificates will be available online and will not be sent by post.
• Candidates selected for appointment may be required to serve anywhere in India under All India Service Liability.
• Candidates appointed through this examination will normally remain on probation for two years.

Border Roads Organization Requirements

For Stenographer Grade ‘D’ vacancies in the Border Roads Organization, candidates must meet the prescribed Physical Efficiency Test, physical and medical standards. Only male candidates are eligible for BRO Stenographer Grade ‘D’ vacancies, if reported.

The Physical Efficiency Test consists of a mandatory one-mile run to be completed within 10 minutes. Candidates qualifying through SSC must pass this test at GREF Centre, Pune before further medical examination. Regional physical standards include minimum height, chest measurement and weight requirements, with specific relaxations for eligible categories such as Gorkhas and sons of serving or former GREF personnel.

Service Conditions

All posts carry All India Service Liability. Selected candidates may be posted anywhere in India and may be required to acquire proficiency in the local language of the allotted State, Union Territory or zone. Appointment is subject to medical fitness, document verification, departmental requirements and the final decision of the concerned User Department.

Answer Key and Result

Tentative Answer Keys will be placed on the SSC website after the Computer Based Examination. Candidates may submit online representations within the prescribed period by paying ₹50 per question, which is non-refundable. Representations submitted through letters, email or other modes will not be entertained. Final Answer Keys will be used for processing the result and will be uploaded after declaration of the Computer Based Examination result.