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SSC CHSL Eligibility Criteria 2026 covers age limit, nationality, educational qualification, age relaxation, skill tests, physical standards, documents, and attempt limits. Candidates must generally be 18 to 27 years old and have passed Class 12. Specific DEO posts require Science with Mathematics. Check all requirements before applying to avoid disqualification.
SSC CHSL Eligibility Criteria 2026 includes nationality, age limit, educational qualification, age relaxation, physical and medical standards, post-wise requirements, and the number of attempts. Candidates must be between 18 and 27 years of age as on 01-08-2026 and have passed Class 12 or an equivalent examination from a recognised board. Certain DEO posts require Science with Mathematics. Check the complete SSC CHSL eligibility requirements, category-wise age relaxation, required documents, and post-specific conditions before applying.
SSC CHSL Eligibility Criteria 2026 is defined by the Staff Selection Commission in the official notification released on 07-09-2026 for the Combined Higher Secondary Level Examination, conducted to fill posts like Lower Division Clerk (LDC), Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA), and Data Entry Operator (DEO) across various central government ministries and departments. Candidates must satisfy nationality, age, and educational qualification conditions before applying, since failing to meet any of these can lead to cancellation of candidature even after selection.
These eligibility norms are built around four core components like nationality, age limit, educational qualification, and physical standards, and each one is checked strictly against the reference date fixed in the notification, which is 01-08-2026 for age this year. Since SSC CHSL is one of the most popular exams for candidates straight out of Class 12, understanding every eligibility detail in advance, rather than assuming general norms apply, helps avoid application rejection or disqualification later in the selection process.
Four components decide whether a candidate can apply for SSC CHSL, and every applicant must satisfy all of them together, not just one or two.
| Component | Requirement |
| Nationality | Indian citizen, or a specified category recognised by the Government of India |
| Age Limit | 18 to 27 years, as on 01-08-2026 |
| Educational Qualification | Passed Class 12 (10+2) or equivalent from a recognised board, by 07-10-2026 |
| Physical Standards | Basic medical fitness; typing or data entry speed test for LDC/JSA and DEO posts |
Applications are open to Indian citizens along with a few other specified categories of persons recognised by the Government of India for permanent settlement.
Candidates from Nepal, Bhutan, or the countries listed above must produce a certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India at the time of appointment. Note that only male candidates are eligible for vacancies reported in the Border Roads Organization (BRO).
Under the SSC CHSL Eligibility Criteria 2026, the crucial date for age reckoning is fixed as 01-08-2026. Candidates must be between 18 and 27 years old, meaning born not before 02-08-1999 and not after 01-08-2008.
| Requirement | Details |
| Minimum Age | 18 years |
| Maximum Age | 27 years |
| Reference Date | 01-08-2026 |
| Applicable Posts | LDC, JSA, DEO, and DEO Grade 'A' |
The date of birth entered in the online application, matching the Class 10 or Secondary certificate, is final for age calculation, and no request for change is entertained later.
Reserved categories and specified groups get additional age relaxation over and above the standard maximum age limit of 27 years, as per the SSC CHSL Eligibility Criteria 2026 norms.
| Category | Age Relaxation |
| SC/ ST | 5 years |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 3 years |
| PwBD (Unreserved) | 10 years |
| PwBD (OBC) | 13 years |
| PwBD (SC/ ST) | 15 years |
| Ex-Servicemen (ESM) | 3 years, after deducting military service rendered from actual age as on 01-08-2026 |
| Defence Personnel disabled in operations during hostilities, or released from a disturbed area | 3 years |
| Defence Personnel disabled in operations during hostilities, or released from a disturbed area (SC/ ST) | 8 years |
| Central Govt. Civilian Employees with 3 years regular service | Up to 40 years |
| Central Govt. Civilian Employees with 3 years regular service (SC/ ST) | Up to 45 years |
| Widow/ Divorced/ Judicially Separated Women (not remarried) | Up to 35 years |
| Widow/ Divorced/ Judicially Separated Women (not remarried, SC/ ST) | Up to 40 years |
The basic educational qualification under SSC CHSL Eligibility Criteria 2026 is a Class 12 pass by 07-10-2026, though a few specific Data Entry Operator posts ask for an additional subject requirement.
| Post | Educational Qualification |
| Lower Division Clerk (LDC) / Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA) | Passed Class 12 (10+2) or equivalent from a recognised board or university |
| Data Entry Operator (DEO), general posts | Passed Class 12 (10+2) or equivalent from a recognised board or university |
| DEO / DEO Grade 'A' in Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Staff Selection Commission, and Ministry of Culture | Passed Class 12 with Science stream, including Mathematics as a subject |
Candidates appearing for their Class 12 exam can also apply, but the result must be declared by the Board or University on or before 07-10-2026. Processing of the result by that date, without formal declaration, does not meet this requirement.
Along with the common age and qualification norms, SSC CHSL Eligibility Criteria 2026 also asks LDC/ JSA and DEO candidates to clear a qualifying typing or data entry speed test after the written exam.
| Post | Key Eligibility Point |
| Lower Division Clerk (LDC) / Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA) | Typing speed of 35 words per minute in English, or 30 words per minute in Hindi, in a qualifying Typing Test |
| Data Entry Operator (DEO), general posts | Data entry speed of 8,000 key depressions per hour, in a qualifying Skill Test |
| DEO / DEO Grade 'A' in the specified departments under Para 8.1 | Data entry speed of 15,000 key depressions per hour, along with Science and Mathematics at Class 12 |
The medium of the Typing Test, Hindi or English, is chosen at the time of filling the application form, and this choice cannot be changed later.
Since most SSC CHSL posts are desk-based government jobs, physical standards are fairly basic compared to other SSC exams, though certain provisions apply for candidates with disabilities.
Unlike some competitive exams with a fixed attempt limit, SSC CHSL Eligibility Criteria 2026 does not restrict the number of attempts a candidate can make.
Candidates must be ready to produce specific documents at the document verification stage to establish that they genuinely meet the eligibility conditions.
SSC CHSL Eligibility Criteria 2026 requires candidates to be Indian citizens, or a specified equivalent category, between 18 and 27 years of age as on 01-08-2026, with a Class 12 pass from a recognised board by 07-10-2026, and select DEO posts additionally need Science with Mathematics. Since there is no cap on the number of attempts, candidates can apply every year until they cross the maximum age limit along with applicable relaxation. Verifying age, qualification, and category details carefully against the official notification before applying remains the safest way to avoid disqualification later in the selection process.
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