The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has officially released the SSC Stenographer 2026 Recruitment notification for 731 vacancies across Stenographer Grade C (Group B Non-Gazetted) and Stenographer Grade D (Group C) posts in various Ministries, Departments, and Organizations of the Government of India. The online application process started on April 24, 2026, and the last date to apply is May 15, 2026 (11:00 PM). If you have passed Class 12 and possess stenography skills, this is one of the best central government job opportunities available right now for candidates across Assam and all of India.
Stenographers are posted across government offices in all states including Assam, making this a very relevant opportunity for Northeast candidates. The computer-based examination is tentatively scheduled for July–August 2026. Read every detail carefully before you apply — shortlisting is purely merit-based and competition is intense.
Table of Contents
SSC Stenographer Recruitment 2026 – Key Highlights
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization | Staff Selection Commission (SSC) |
| Post Names | Stenographer Grade C (Group B) & Stenographer Grade D (Group C) |
| Total Vacancies | 731 Posts (Tentative) |
| Educational Qualification | 12th Pass (Higher Secondary) from a recognized Board |
| Additional Requirement | Stenography skill (mandatory — tested in Skill Test) |
| Age Limit – Grade C | 18 to 30 years (as on August 1, 2026) |
| Age Limit – Grade D | 18 to 27 years (as on August 1, 2026) |
| Application Start Date | April 24, 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | May 15, 2026 (11:00 PM) |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | May 16, 2026 (11:00 PM) |
| Correction Window | May 20–21, 2026 |
| CBT Exam Date | July–August 2026 (Tentative) |
| Application Fee | ₹100 (General/OBC); NIL for Women/SC/ST/PwBD/Ex-SM |
| Pay Scale – Grade C | Pay Level-6: ₹35,400 – ₹1,12,400 |
| Pay Scale – Grade D | Pay Level-4: ₹25,500 – ₹81,100 |
| Official Website | ssc.gov.in |
What is SSC Stenographer? Why is it a Great Career?
SSC Stenographer posts are Group B and Group C central government positions where selected candidates work as stenographers (shorthand writers and typists) in central government Ministries and Departments across India. The role involves recording proceedings, preparing correspondence, drafting documents, and maintaining official records. For Assam candidates, postings are available across Northeast India offices of the Ministry of Finance, Home, Railways, Defence, and many others.
- Grade C posts are higher-ranked (Group B), offering a better salary of Pay Level-6 (₹35,400 basic) and greater career advancement opportunities including promotion to Personal Assistant (PA) and Private Secretary (PS) levels
- Grade D posts are Group C entry-level with a Pay Level-4 salary (₹25,500 basic) and a clear promotion path to Grade C over time
- Candidates can apply for both Grade C and Grade D in a single application — you will be considered for both based on merit
Eligibility Criteria for SSC Stenographer 2026
Educational Qualification
- Must have passed Class 12 (Higher Secondary or equivalent) from a recognized Board or University on or before August 1, 2026
- Degrees/Diplomas obtained through Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode are accepted, provided the institution is approved by the Distance Education Bureau, UGC
- A separate stenography skill certificate is NOT required at the application stage — but you must be able to demonstrate the skill in the Skill Test stage of selection
Age Limit (as on August 1, 2026)
- Stenographer Grade C: 18 to 30 years (born between August 2, 1996 and August 1, 2008)
- Stenographer Grade D: 18 to 27 years
- OBC/MOBC: +3 years upper age relaxation
- SC/ST: +5 years upper age relaxation
- PwBD (UR): +10 years
- Ex-Servicemen: As per Government of India rules
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS (Male) | ₹100 |
| Women (All Categories) | NIL |
| SC / ST | NIL |
| PwBD | NIL |
| Ex-Servicemen | NIL |
Fee is paid online via BHIM UPI, Net Banking, Visa/MasterCard/Maestro/RuPay Debit or Credit Card. Fee once paid is non-refundable.
SSC Stenographer 2026 – Selection Process
Stage 1 – Computer Based Test (CBT)
The CBT is an objective-type (MCQ) examination with the following structure:
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 50 | 50 | 30 minutes |
| General Awareness | 50 | 50 | 30 minutes |
| English Language & Comprehension | 100 | 100 | 60 minutes |
| Total | 200 | 200 | 120 minutes |
- Negative marking: 0.25 marks per wrong answer
- Minimum qualifying marks: 30% for UR/EWS; 25% for OBC; 20% for SC/ST/PwBD
- Sectional timing of 30 minutes each for Parts 1 and 2, and 60 minutes for Part 3 (English)
- Paper set in Hindi and English, except the English Language section
Stage 2 – Stenography Skill Test (Qualifying)
Candidates shortlisted from CBT will be called for the Stenography Skill Test, which is a qualifying test (pass/fail only — marks are NOT added to the final merit).
| Post | Speed Required | Dictation Duration | Transcription Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade C | 100 words per minute | 10 minutes | 40 min (English) / 55 min (Hindi) |
| Grade D | 80 words per minute | 10 minutes | 50 min (English) / 65 min (Hindi) |
Candidates who fail the Skill Test are eliminated from the recruitment. There is no second attempt — practice your stenography speed rigorously before the exam.
Stage 3 – Document Verification
Candidates who clear both CBT and Skill Test are called for Document Verification by the respective User Departments. Final merit is based solely on CBT performance (category-wise).
Salary & Career Growth
| Post | Pay Level | Basic Pay | Approx. In-hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stenographer Grade C | Level-6 | ₹35,400/month | ~₹50,000–₹55,000/month |
| Stenographer Grade D | Level-4 | ₹25,500/month | ~₹35,000–₹40,000/month |
Both posts include DA, HRA, TA, medical benefits, and pension. Grade D Stenographers are promoted to Grade C after clearing a Departmental Stenography Test. Grade C Stenographers can be promoted to Personal Assistant (Level-7) and further to Private Secretary (Level-8) within the same department.
How to Apply for SSC Stenographer 2026
- Visit the official SSC website at ssc.gov.in
- Complete your One-Time Registration (OTR) if you haven’t done it yet — use your Aadhaar for smooth verification. Note: OTR created on the old ssc.nic.in site is NOT valid; register fresh on the new portal
- Log in and navigate to the “Stenographer Grade C & D Examination 2026” application link
- Fill in personal, academic, and contact details. Select Grade C, Grade D, or both
- The new SSC portal captures a live photograph via webcam — sit in a well-lit area with a plain light background when filling the form
- Upload your scanned signature (10–20 KB, JPEG format)
- Pay the fee (₹100 for General/OBC males; NIL for others) via online mode
- Submit the form and download the confirmation page
- Use the correction window (May 20–21, 2026) if any detail needs to be fixed after submission
⚠️ Warning: Posts under this recruitment carry All India Service Liability (AISL) — meaning you can be posted anywhere in India. If you prefer a specific region, indicate your preferred exam centres during the application carefully.
Preparation Tips for SSC Stenographer CBT 2026
- English is 50% of the paper — master it: 100 out of 200 marks are from English Language & Comprehension. Focus on error spotting, fill in the blanks, reading comprehension, synonyms/antonyms, and cloze tests. This is where Assam candidates need extra effort — practice daily.
- General Awareness is mostly static + current affairs: Revise history, geography, polity, economy, and science from Class 10-level NCERT books. Read one current affairs summary daily.
- Reasoning is scorable: Number series, analogy, classification, coding-decoding, and syllogisms repeat regularly. Practice 30 questions daily for 30 days to achieve near-perfect scores.
- Start stenography practice NOW: The Skill Test at 80/100 wpm is where many well-prepared candidates lose out. Use free steno software like Stenograph or practice with a mentor. Build your speed gradually — 3 weeks before the exam, you should be comfortably hitting 90+ wpm.
- Sectional timing is strict: You have only 30 minutes for Reasoning and 30 for GA. Practice time-bound mock tests from the very beginning.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. What is the last date to apply for SSC Stenographer 2026?
The last date to submit your online application for SSC Stenographer Recruitment 2026 is May 15, 2026 (11:00 PM). The last date for online fee payment is May 16, 2026. A correction window will be open May 20–21, 2026.
Q2. Can candidates from Assam apply for SSC Stenographer 2026?
Yes, absolutely. SSC Stenographer 2026 is a national-level recruitment open to all eligible Indian citizens including candidates from Assam and Northeast India. Exam centres are available in Guwahati and other NE cities. Selected candidates may be posted anywhere in India.
Q3. Is stenography experience required to apply for SSC Stenographer 2026?
No prior certificate or experience is needed at the application stage. However, candidates must be able to demonstrate stenography skills in the Skill Test stage — 80 wpm for Grade D and 100 wpm for Grade C. Without passing the Skill Test, you cannot be selected regardless of your CBT score.
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AssamJobHive will update this page with the SSC Stenographer 2026 admit card, exam date, answer key, and result as soon as they are officially released. Bookmark this page and share it with every 12th pass aspirant you know!
