SSC Stenographer 2026: complete exam guide
SSC Stenographer 2026: about 731 Grade C and D posts for 12th-pass candidates. CBT 9–15 Sept 2026. Check eligibility, pattern, syllabus and salary.
Updated 22 October 2026
SSC Stenographer at a glance
- Conducting body
- Staff Selection Commission (SSC)
- Posts
- Stenographer Grade 'C' (Group B) and Grade 'D' (Group C)
- Vacancies
- About 731 (tentative)
- Qualification
- 12th class (10+2) passed from a recognised board
- Age limit
- 18–30 years (Grade C); 18–27 years (Grade D)
- Application window
- 24 April – 15 May 2026
- CBT exam
- 9–15 September 2026 (revised by corrigendum of 31 August 2026)
- Selection process
- CBT → Skill test in stenography (qualifying) → Document verification
- Application fee
- ₹100 (SC, ST, PwD and women exempt)
- Pay scale
- Grade C: Level 6 (₹35,400 – ₹1,12,400); Grade D: Level 4 (₹25,500 – ₹81,100)
What is SSC Stenographer?
The SSC Stenographer Grade 'C' and 'D' examination is the Staff Selection Commission's national-level, annual exam for recruiting stenographers in central government ministries and departments. Grade C is a Group 'B' non-gazetted post and Grade D is a Group 'C' post. Stenographers take dictation in shorthand, transcribe it on computer and usually work closely with senior officers.
SSC Stenographer 2026 at a glance
The 2026 notification was released on 24 April 2026 with about 731 tentative vacancies. Applications ran from 24 April to 15 May 2026, and the computer-based test was extended to 9–15 September 2026 by a corrigendum dated 31 August 2026. Key dates are on the SSC Stenographer notification page.
Who should apply?
Candidates who have passed Class 12 and are ready to build shorthand speed. The age limit is 18–30 years for Grade C and 18–27 years for Grade D, with category-wise relaxation. See SSC Stenographer eligibility.
Selection stages
- Computer Based Test (CBT) – 200 objective questions; the merit is based on this exam.
- Skill test in stenography – qualifying; 10 minutes of dictation followed by transcription.
- Document verification.
Exam pattern at a glance
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | 50 | 50 |
| General Awareness | 50 | 50 |
| English Language and Comprehension | 100 | 100 |
| Total | 200 | 200 |
Duration: 2 hours. +1 per correct answer and −0.25 per wrong answer.
| Grade | Dictation speed | Pay level |
|---|---|---|
| Grade C | 100 wpm | Level 6 (₹35,400 – ₹1,12,400) |
| Grade D | 80 wpm | Level 4 (₹25,500 – ₹81,100) |
The skill test can be taken in English or Hindi. Full details are in the SSC Stenographer exam pattern and syllabus tabs.