If a stable government desk job is your goal, the year’s biggest 12th-pass opening just went live. The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has released the notice for the Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination 2026 — better known as SSC CHSL — for about 2,536 posts. The form is open now and closes on 7 October 2026. Here is what you get, what it pays, and what to do before the window shuts.
The numbers, up front
- About 2,536 tentative vacancies (SSC will confirm the final count later).
- Apply between 7 September and 7 October 2026 at the official site ssc.gov.in; fee payment is allowed up to 8 October.
- Qualification: just a 12th (10+2) pass.
- Age: 18 to 27 years as on 1 August 2026, with the usual category relaxations.
Which posts, and what they pay
CHSL fills three kinds of Group C posts across central ministries and departments. Here is the pay level and starting basic for each:
| Post | Pay Level | Starting basic | Pay range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Division Clerk (LDC) / Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA) | Level 2 | ₹19,900 | ₹19,900–63,200 |
| Data Entry Operator (DEO) | Level 4 / 5 | ₹25,500 / ₹29,200 | up to ₹92,300 |
| DEO Grade ‘A’ | Level 4 | ₹25,500 | ₹25,500–81,100 |
Basic pay is not your salary — here is the real monthly figure
The ₹19,900 or ₹25,500 you see is only the basic pay. On top of it you draw dearness allowance, house rent allowance and transport allowance. Here is how the most common post — an LDC at Level 2 — actually builds up each month, in a big city versus a small town:
| Component | Metro (X-class city) | Small town (Z-class) |
|---|---|---|
| Basic pay | ₹19,900 | ₹19,900 |
| Dearness allowance (60%) | ₹11,940 | ₹11,940 |
| House rent allowance | ₹5,970 (30%) | ₹1,990 (10%) |
| Transport allowance (incl. DA on it) | ₹2,160 | ₹1,440 |
| Gross (approx.) | ~₹40,000 | ~₹35,000 |
A Data Entry Operator, starting one pay level higher at ₹25,500, comes out roughly ₹5,000–6,000 a month above these figures. Your take-home is a little below the gross, because 10% of (basic + DA) goes to your NPS/UPS pension contribution and tax is deducted where it applies.
Who can apply, and how selection works
- Qualification: 12th (10+2) pass from a recognised board by 7 October 2026. For DEO posts in a few departments (Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, and Culture) you need 12th in Science with Maths.
- Age: 18 to 27 years as on 1 August 2026 — 5 years extra for SC/ST, 3 for OBC, and more for PwBD and ex-servicemen.
- Selection: an objective Tier-1 computer test, then a Tier-2 test (which includes a typing/skill test for the relevant posts), followed by document verification. The exam dates are still to be announced.
What to do right now
First, finish your One-Time Registration (OTR) on the new ssc.gov.in site — the OTR you may have made on the old ssc.nic.in site will not work anymore. Then fill the form, upload your photo and signature, pick your posts by preference and pay the fee. Do not leave it to the last evening; the site crawls near the deadline.
Before you pick your post preferences, it helps to see what each one actually pays. Open our SSC CHSL salary calculator, put in your city, and see the exact in-hand for an LDC versus a DEO — allowances and deductions included — so you choose with the take-home in front of you.