Staff Selection Commission (SSC)
Last Date: 15 May 2026

The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has released the official notification for Stenographer Grade C and D Examination 2026 on April 24, 2026. A total of approximately 731 vacancies are on offer across various Central Government Ministries, Departments, and Organizations. Online applications open from April 24 and the last date to apply is May 15, 2026 by 11 PM. The Computer Based Examination is scheduled for July to August 2026.

SSC Stenographer Grade C and D 2026 Recruitment - Quick Overview

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Introduction

The SSC Stenographer Grade C and D Examination is one of the more consistent recruitment drives conducted by the Staff Selection Commission. It fills stenographer posts across a wide range of Central Government offices including Ministries, Attached Offices, Subordinate Offices, and Statutory Bodies. The 2026 edition was notified on April 24, 2026, with the advertisement number F. No.: E/13/2026-C-2.

Stenographer Grade C is classified as a Group B Non-Gazetted post, while Stenographer Grade D falls under Group C. Both posts require candidates to have skills in stenography, and that is a hard eligibility condition clearly stated in the notification. Candidates without stenography skills are not eligible to apply.

The recruitment covers positions across all States and Union Territories of India. Exact state-wise or zone-wise vacancy breakup is not collected or published by SSC. The selection process has two distinct stages: a Computer Based Examination and a mandatory Stenography Skill Test. Final allocation of posts is based on CBE merit and candidate preferences, not skill test scores.

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Vacancy Details

The total tentative vacancy count stands at approximately 731. The Commission is still in the process of collecting vacancy details from User Departments. Updated post-wise and category-wise vacancy figures will be published at https://ssc.gov.in under the section For Candidates and then Tentative Vacancy.

Category-wise vacancy breakup: Not yet announced in the official notification. Candidates should check the SSC website for the updated breakup once published.

PwBD Reservation: Reservation is provided for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities. The notification identifies specific disability categories suitable for each post. Stenographer Grade C is identified suitable for a broader range of benchmark disabilities compared to Grade D.

Ex-Servicemen Reservation: ESM vacancies are reserved only for the Group C post of Stenographer Grade D. ESM candidates are not eligible for reserved vacancies in Stenographer Grade C.

Border Roads Organization (BRO): Only male candidates are eligible for Stenographer Grade D vacancies in BRO. These posts carry stringent physical and medical standards, including a Physical Efficiency Test. Candidates who fail BRO medical or physical standards after allocation will not get re-allocated to another department.

The vacancy count is tentative and subject to revision based on inputs from User Departments. The Commission plays no role in determining how many vacancies any individual department reports.

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Application Fee

Fee can only be paid online through BHIM UPI, Net Banking, Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, or RuPay Debit Cards. The fee payment deadline is May 16, 2026 at 11 PM. Once paid, the fee is non-refundable and cannot be adjusted against any other examination.

Applications where fee payment isApplications where fee payment is not received by SSC will be marked as Incomplete and summarily rejected.

Correction Window Fee: If a candidate needs to correct their submitted application, a charge of Rs. 200 applies for the first correction and Rs. 500 for the second correction. This applies to all candidates regardless of gender or category.

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Age Limit

Age is calculated as on 01 August 2026.

• Stenographer Grade C: 18 to 30 years (Born not before 02.08.1996 and not later than 01.08.2008)
• Stenographer Grade D: 18 to 27 years (Born not before 02.08.1999 and not later than 01.08.2008)

Age is determined from the Matriculation or Secondary Examination Certificate. Age relaxation is not admissible to sons, daughters, or dependents of ex-servicemen, even if their parent served in the armed forces.

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Educational Qualification

The essential educational qualification for both posts is identical.

For Stenographer Grade C and Stenographer Grade D

Candidates must have passed the 12th Standard or an equivalent examination from a recognized Board or University on or before the cut-off date of 01 August 2026.

The result of the qualifying examination must have been declared by the Board by this date. Candidates whose results were declared by August 1, 2026 are eligible, provided they have been declared passed. Simply processing results does not satisfy the requirement.

Degrees and diplomas obtained through Open and Distance Learning mode are accepted provided they have been approved by the Distance Education Bureau, University Grants Commission, for the relevant period. Candidates with such qualifications must produce the DEB-UGC approval at the time of Document Verification.

Candidates with equivalent qualifications must carry a Equivalence Certificate from the concerned authority at the time of Document Verification. The final decision on equivalence rests with the User Departments and Appointing Authorities.

No minimum percentage in 12th standard is specified in the official notification.

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Experience Requirement

Not mentioned in the official notification. There is no experience requirement for either Stenographer Grade C or Grade D.

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Selection Process

The selection follows a structured two-stage process:

1. Computer Based Examination (CBE): Objective type multiple choice questions in English and Hindi.
2. Stenography Skill Test: Mandatory qualifying stage. Clearing it is required but merit is based on CBE scores.
3. Document Verification: Conducted by User Departments after final result declaration.
4. Post Preference Submission: Candidates submit post and department preferences through an Online Option Form before the First Round of Tentative Allocation (FRTA).
5. First Round of Tentative Allocation (FRTA): Post allocation based on CBE merit and candidate preferences through a sliding mechanism.

CBE Exam Pattern:

Scribe-eligible candidates get 2 hours 40 minutes total (40 min for Part I, 40 min for Part II, 80 min for Part III).

There is negative marking of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer. If the CBE is held in multiple shifts, scores are normalized before determining merit.

Minimum Qualifying Marks in CBE:

• Unreserved: 30%
• OBC / EWS: 25%
• All other categories: 20%

Skill Test Details:

The Skill Test is qualifying in nature only. Candidates who pass it are considered for FRTA based on their CBE merit, not skill test performance.

Candidates choosing Hindi for the Skill Test must learn English stenography after appointment, and vice versa. The requirement to work in either language depends on the User Office's functional need.

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Salary and Pay Scale

Not mentioned in the official notification. Both posts carry Central Government pay structure. Stenographer Grade C is a Group B Non-Gazetted post and Stenographer Grade D is a Group C post. Candidates should refer to the 7th Pay Commission pay matrix applicable to the User Department for precise salary information.

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Probation Period and Bond Details

Selected candidates will be on probation for a period of two years from the date of appointment. During this period, they may be required to undergo training or pass examinations as prescribed by the Controlling Authority. Confirmation to the post is subject to satisfactory completion of the probation period and being found fit for permanent appointment.

No bond details are mentioned in the official notification.

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Job Location

All posts carry All India Service Liability (AISL). This means selected candidates can be posted anywhere in the country, regardless of their preferred examination centre or home state.

After final selection, the User Organization or Office allots a State, UT, or Zone. Candidates may also be required to acquire proficiency in the local language of the allotted region for confirmation to the post. State-wise or zone-wise vacancies are not collected by SSC.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted only online through the SSC Headquarters website at https://ssc.gov.in or through the mySCC mobile application available on Google Play Store. Offline applications are not accepted.

Candidates who have not previously registered on the new SSC website must first complete One Time Registration (OTR). OTR from the old website (ssc.nic.in) is not valid on the new portal.

Step 1: Visit https://ssc.gov.in and click on Login or Register
Step 2: Complete the One Time Registration (OTR) process using your Aadhaar number or other valid identity proof. OTR requires personal details, date of birth, father and mother name exactly as in Matriculation certificate, mobile number, and email ID. Aadhaar Based Authentication is recommended.
Step 3: After OTR, log in using your Registration Number and password
Step 4: Click Apply against Stenographer Grade C and D Examination 2026 under the Live Exam section
Step 5: Fill in educational qualification details, ex-serviceman details if applicable, age relaxation category if applicable, and examination centre preferences (choose three centres in order of priority)
Step 6: Capture your live photograph using the portal's camera module. Do not upload a pre-existing photograph. Ensure clear lighting, plain background, no cap or spectacles, and full frontal face visible.
Step 7: Upload scanned signature in JPEG/JPG format between 10 and 20 KB. Dimensions should be approximately 6.0 cm width by 2.0 cm height.
Step 8: Select the medium for Skill Test (English or Hindi) and indicate the post or posts applying for (Grade C, Grade D, or both)
Step 9: Preview the complete application and verify all details carefully
Step 10: Submit the application and pay the fee online if not exempted, using BHIM UPI, Net Banking, or Debit Card
Step 11: Take a printout of the submitted application and retain it for at least three years

If corrections are needed after submission, they can be made during the Application Form Correction Window from May 20 to 21, 2026 by paying correction charges of Rs. 200 for the first correction and Rs. 500 for the second. No corrections are allowed after this window closes.

Required Documents

The official notification mentions the following documents required at the time of Document Verification:

• Matriculation or Secondary or equivalent certificate (for proof of date of birth and education)
• 12th Standard marksheets or provisional certificates proving educational qualification
• Equivalence certificate if claiming an equivalent qualification
• Caste or Category certificate in prescribed format (SC, ST, OBC, EWS) as applicable
• Persons with Disabilities certificate in prescribed format, if applicable
• For Ex-Servicemen: Serving Defence Personnel Certificate, undertaking, and discharge certificate as applicable
• No Objection Certificate if already employed in Government or PSU
• Age relaxation certificate from competent authority if applicable
• Name change documents if applicable (marriage certificate, divorce decree, affidavit, etc.)
• Two recent passport-size photographs
• Original Photo ID proof with date of birth (Aadhaar, Voter ID, PAN, Passport, Driving Licence, etc.)

For the examination itself, Aadhaar-authenticated candidates need not carry separate ID proof. Non-Aadhaar authenticated candidates must report two hours early with photographs and original Photo ID proof.

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Important Instructions

• Only those candidates who have skills in stenography are eligible to apply. This is an explicit eligibility condition.
• One Time Registration on the new SSC website (ssc.gov.in) is mandatory. OTR from the old website is not valid.
• Only one application per candidate is allowed. Multiple applications will result in rejection of all applications.
• Name, date of birth, father's name, and mother's name must be filled exactly as in the Matriculation certificate.
• No pre-existing photograph should be submitted. The application module captures a live photo.
• Centre preference once submitted cannot be changed at any stage.
• Post preferences submitted through the Online Option Form are final and cannot be changed.
• If a post is allocated through FRTA and the candidate fails medical or physical standards of that post, no re-allocation to other preferences will be made.
• Candidates applying for BRO posts must carefully review the physical and medical standards in Annexure XVI of the notification before submitting post preferences.
• ESM candidates must satisfy that they have or will acquire ESM status within one year of the closing date.
• OBC candidates must ensure they do not fall under the creamy layer as on the closing date of application.
• EWS candidates must possess an Income and Asset Certificate valid for financial year 2026-27 based on income for 2025-26.
• Possession of mobile phones, Bluetooth devices, or any electronic gadget in the examination hall results in debarment of 3 to 5 years.
• Impersonation leads to debarment of 7 years.
• Canvassing in any form disqualifies the applicant.
• Success in the examination does not confer a right to appointment.

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The data is important, but there are some ground-level realities about this SSC Stenographer 2026 recruitment that candidates often overlook. These are pointed out below:-

How Competitive Is This?

With only around 731 vacancies and SSC examinations traditionally drawing millions of applicants, the selection bar for this examination will be notably high. Grade C is more competitive than Grade D given the smaller expected vacancy count in that category and the higher steno speed requirement of 100 wpm versus 80 wpm. The English Language and Comprehension section carries 100 out of 200 marks, making it the single biggest differentiator in this exam. Candidates who underestimate English preparation typically find themselves short of the cutoff even when reasoning and general awareness scores are decent.

Who Is This Really For?

This recruitment suits candidates who have stenography skills, ideally already practiced at 80 or 100 words per minute, and are looking for stable Central Government employment. The 12th pass requirement keeps the qualification bar accessible, but the skill requirement narrows the pool meaningfully. Candidates preparing for this exam purely on the basis of the CBE without genuinely working on steno speed will clear the written stage but fail at the skill test, which disqualifies them entirely from that cycle. If you have the steno foundation and can clear the English-heavy CBE, this recruitment is worth genuine effort. If steno is something you plan to learn in three weeks, the timeline is unrealistic.

Probation and What to Expect

Two years of probation is standard for both Grade C and Grade D posts. During this period, candidates posted in Hindi medium Skill Test may be required to learn English stenography, and those who took the English medium test may need to learn Hindi steno. The actual language of work depends on the User Office. This is worth knowing before you submit post preferences, especially if you are likely to be posted in a state where the language requirement differs from your skill test medium.

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Candidates looking at similar roles may also want to check these updates.

• SSC Combined Hindi Translators Examination 2026 - 84 Vacancies, Apply by May 14 
• UPSSSC Assistant Statistical and Assistant Research Officer Recruitment 2026 - 929 Vacancies, Apply Online Before 11 May 
• SLBS National Sanskrit University Recruitment 2026 - 32 Non-Teaching Posts, Apply Online Till 21 May 
• NTPC Assistant Executive Recruitment 2026 – 250 Posts, Apply Online Before May 7

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Here are answers to the questions candidates ask most about this SSC recruitment Examination:-

❓Frequently Asked Questions

How many vacancies are available in SSC Stenographer 2026?

There are approximately 731 tentative vacancies for SSC Stenographer Grade C and Grade D 2026. The final post-wise and category-wise breakup will be published on ssc.gov.in under Tentative Vacancy. The vacancy count may change as User Departments submit final figures.

What is the last date to apply for SSC Stenographer 2026?

The last date to submit the online application is May 15, 2026 by 11 PM. The fee payment deadline is May 16, 2026 by 11 PM. These are hard deadlines and the Commission will not accept applications beyond these timings.

Who is eligible to apply for SSC Stenographer 2026?

Any Indian citizen who has passed the 12th Standard or equivalent from a recognized Board as on August 1, 2026, and has skills in stenography, is eligible. The candidate must also meet the age limit applicable to the post they are applying for.

What is the age limit for SSC Stenographer Grade C and Grade D?

For Stenographer Grade C, the age limit is 18 to 30 years as on August 1, 2026. For Stenographer Grade D, the age limit is 18 to 27 years as on August 1, 2026. Category-wise relaxations are available as per the table in the notification.

What is the minimum educational qualification required?

Passing the 12th Standard or an equivalent examination from a recognized Board or University on or before August 1, 2026 is the minimum qualification. No minimum percentage is specified.

What is the selection process for SSC Stenographer 2026?

Selection involves a Computer Based Examination followed by a Stenography Skill Test. The Skill Test is mandatory but qualifying in nature. Final merit and post allocation are based on CBE scores and candidate post preferences submitted through the Online Option Form.

What is the salary for SSC Stenographer Grade C and Grade D?

The exact pay scale is not mentioned in the official notification. Both posts follow the Central Government pay structure under the 7th Pay Commission. Candidates should refer to the applicable pay level for Group B Non-Gazetted posts (Grade C) and Group C posts (Grade D) as per the relevant Recruitment Rules of the User Department.

What is the application fee for SSC Stenographer 2026?

Male candidates from the General, OBC, and EWS categories must pay a fee of Rs. 100. Women candidates, SC, ST, PwBD, and ESM candidates eligible for reservation are fully exempted from fee payment.

How can I apply online for SSC Stenographer 2026?

Visit ssc.gov.in, complete the One Time Registration if not already done, log in, and apply for Stenographer Grade C and D Examination 2026 under the Live Exam tab. Fill in the details, capture a live photo, upload the signature, choose exam centres and posts, and pay the fee. Download the application printout after submission.

What is the official website for SSC Stenographer 2026?

The official website is https://ssc.gov.in. All updates, admit cards, answer keys, and results will be published there. Candidates should avoid unofficial websites.

Can I apply for both Stenographer Grade C and Grade D?

Yes. The application form allows candidates to apply for Grade C only, Grade D only, or both simultaneously. The CBE and skill test for both posts will be covered in the same examination cycle.

What is the steno speed required for the Skill Test?

Grade C requires stenography at 100 words per minute dictation, with transcription on computer. Grade D requires 80 words per minute dictation with transcription on computer. Transcription time differs based on the language of the test chosen by the candidate.

Is there negative marking in the SSC Stenographer 2026 CBE?

Yes. A penalty of 0.25 marks is deducted for each wrong answer. There is no negative marking for unattempted questions.

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The most important action right now is submitting your application well before May 15, 2026. SSC consistently reports website load issues close to deadlines, and the Commission takes no responsibility for technical failures on the last day. If you plan to apply, doing it in the first week of May gives you enough buffer to also use the correction window if needed.

Keep checking ssc.gov.in directly for updates on the final vacancy breakup, admit card release, and any schedule revisions. SSC does not send individual notifications to every registered candidate, so monitoring the website is the only reliable method.

For any queries related to application submission, the SSC toll-free helpline is 1800 309 3063.

This article is based on the official notification and simplified for easy understanding. For the most accurate and updated information, always refer to the official website at https://ssc.gov.in.