SSC Stenographer (Grade C & D)
Staff Selection CommissionClosed
Stenographer Grade C and D Examination 2026 — SSC published tentative answer keys and candidate response sheets on 23 Sep 2026.Check the official SSC Answer Key notice for the current challenge/result stage.
Important Dates
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Vacancies & Posts
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Total Vacancies1,170Pay
| Pay Level | Pay Band | Posts |
|---|---|---|
| Level 4 | ₹25,500–₹81,100 (basic) | Stenographer Grade D — Group C, across 48 participating departments |
| Level 6 | ₹35,400–₹1,12,400 (basic) | Stenographer Grade C — Group B, most departments |
| Level 7 | ₹44,900–₹1,42,400 (basic) | Stenographer Grade C — Intelligence Bureau, Ministry of External Affairs, Election Commission of India, Central Vigilance Commission, National Human Rights Commission |
Figures are 7th CPC basic pay only;DA, HRA and other allowances add to this and vary by posting department.
Who Can Apply
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Application fee
What You Need
Some details below are not confirmed — check the official notification ↗
- 📷 PhotoLive webcam capture only — a pre-existing photo file is rejected unless the candidate uses Aadhaar-based authentication · Live capture (no file upload), except for Aadhaar-authenticated applicants — Confirmed from the official Notice of Examination PDF: candidate positions in front of the camera with no cap/mask/glasses and a plain background; face must fill the delineated area.
- ✍️ Signature~6.0 cm (width) × 2.0 cm (height) · 10–20 KB · JPG/JPEG — Confirmed from the official Notice PDF — several secondary/aggregator sites cite a generic "20–50KB, 3.5×4.5cm" figure that does not match this notice's actual text and should not be used; go with the 10–20KB, ~6×2cm figure above, sourced directly from the official document. Not confirmed
- 💳 Application Fee₹100 — waived for women and SC/ST/PwBD/Ex-servicemen candidates.Confirmed from the official Notice of Examination PDF.
How to Apply
Some details below are not confirmed — check the official notification ↗
View Official Notification ↗- Complete One-Time Registration (OTR) on the new ssc.gov.in — the old ssc.nic.in OTR does not carry over
- Log in, select the Stenographer Grade C & D 2026 notice, and fill the application form
- Live-capture your photograph via webcam per the on-screen instructions, or opt for Aadhaar-based authentication (which relaxes the photo/ID process)
- Upload your scanned signature (JPEG, 10–20 KB, ~6.0 × 2.0 cm) Not confirmed
- Preview and verify every entered detail before final submission
- Pay the ₹100 fee online by the deadline (waived for women and SC/ST/PwBD/Ex-servicemen candidates)
- Use the correction window if changes are needed (correction charges apply: ₹200 first, ₹500 second)
- Download your Admission Certificate a few days before the exam
- Appear for the Computer Based Examination, then — if shortlisted — the qualifying Stenography Skill Test (dictation at 100 wpm for Grade C / 80 wpm for Grade D, then transcription on computer)
- Undergo Document Verification by the allotting department after the final result
Exam Pattern
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CBT: 2 hours, with sectional time limits (30 min + 30 min + 60 min per part, shown below). · Negative Marking: 0.25 marks (1/4) deducted for each wrong answer in the CBT; no deduction for unattempted questions. · Passing Marks: N/A — merit-based cutoff, declared after each exam, no fixed qualifying % found for the CBT. The Skill Test itself is qualifying (pass/fail on dictation-transcription accuracy) but does not carry a published fixed numeric threshold beyond meeting the speed/accuracy requirement.
| Section | Details |
|---|---|
| Part I: General Intelligence & Reasoning | 50 questions, 50 marks (30 min) |
| Part II: General Awareness | 50 questions, 50 marks (30 min) |
| Part III: English Language & Comprehension | 100 questions, 100 marks (60 min) |
| Total | 200 questions, 200 marks |
| Skill Test (Stenography) — Grade C: English 100 wpm dictation, 40 min transcription; Hindi 100 wpm dictation, 55 min transcription | |
| Skill Test (Stenography) — Grade D: English 80 wpm dictation, 50 min transcription; Hindi 80 wpm dictation, 65 min transcription |
Syllabus
A verified, topic-by-topic syllabus for this exam isn't published yet — browse other exams with a syllabus, or check the official notification above.
Browse Syllabus Directory →Selection Process
Two-stage selection — a single online Computer-Based Test (CBT) followed by a Skill Test in Stenography (dictation + transcription), which is qualifying in nature for Grade C/D distinctions (mode note: this is a single-tier CBT, not a Tier-1/Tier-2 CBT structure like some other SSC exams).
Answer Key
- Provisional Answer Key23 Sep 2026 — View ↗
Source & Verification
FAQs
What's the difference between qualifying for Grade C versus Grade D?
Grade C requires a faster stenography skill test (100 wpm dictation with less transcription time) than Grade D (80 wpm dictation, more transcription time) — your CBT score and category/preference determine which grade you're considered for, but the skill test speed requirement differs by grade.
Does my skill test performance affect my final merit rank?
The Skill Test is qualifying in nature (you must meet the minimum dictation/transcription accuracy standard), while final merit ranking is primarily determined by your CBT score — but confirm this against the specific year's notification as skill test scoring nuances can vary.
Is there a time limit for each section of the CBT, or just an overall 2-hour limit?
Each of the three sections has its own sectional time limit (30 minutes for Reasoning, 30 minutes for General Awareness, 60 minutes for English) within the overall 2-hour test — you cannot freely move time between sections.
Who is exempt from the application fee?
Women candidates, and those from SC, ST, PwBD, and Ex-Servicemen categories, are fully exempt from the Rs. 100 fee that General/other category candidates must pay.
Important Links
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