SSC Stenographer 2026
SSC Stenographer Grade C & Grade D Examination — Complete Official Handbook: Notification, Syllabus, Age Eligibility, Salary Hierarchy & Cut-Off Analysis.
Official SSC Stenographer Portals & Candidate Document Preparation
SarkariPaper strictly directs aspirants to primary government commission portals for online registration, fee payment, and official corrigenda. Use our client-side tools below to prepare required photo and signature dimensions before applying.
SSC Stenographer 2026 Overview
SSC Stenographer is a specialized recruitment examination conducted by the Staff Selection Commission to select Stenographers Grade 'C' (Group 'B' Non-Gazetted) and Stenographers Grade 'D' (Group 'C' Non-Gazetted) for appointment across Central Ministries, Departments, Attached Offices, and Tribunals across India.
SSC Stenographer 2026 has declared approximately 2,006 vacancies across central government organizations including the Central Secretariat Stenographers Service (CSSS), Armed Forces Headquarters (AFHQ), CBDT, and CBIC. The examination format does not include a Mathematics section, consisting solely of a Computer-Based Test (200 marks in 2 hours: 50 marks Reasoning, 50 marks General Awareness, and 100 marks English Language) followed by a mandatory Shorthand Skill Test.
Selected Grade 'C' stenographers join at Pay Level 6 (₹35,400 basic) while Grade 'D' stenographers start at Pay Level 4 (₹25,500 basic). In-hand salaries range from ₹35,000 to ₹58,000 per month, with career advancement leading to Personal Assistant (PA) and Private Secretary (PS) ranks.
SSC Stenographer 2026 Important Dates
| Notification Release | 1 June 2026 |
| Application Opens | 1 June 2026 |
| Application Last Date | 15 October 2026 |
| Tier 1 Exam Date | 20 November 2026 |
| Official Website | https://ssc.gov.in |
SSC Stenographer Eligibility Criteria 2026
Educational Qualification
12th Pass (Intermediate) from a recognized Board + Shorthand transcription ability in English or Hindi
Age Limit
18–30 years (as on 1st January 2026)
Grade C: 18–30 years; Grade D: 18–27 years (OBC: +3 yrs, SC/ST: +5 yrs, PwD: +10 yrs)
Nationality
Indian Citizen
Check Your SSC Stenographer Eligibility
Official Norms: Grade C: 18–30 years; Grade D: 18–27 years (OBC: +3 yrs, SC/ST: +5 yrs, PwD: +10 yrs)
SSC Stenographer Selection Process
Computer Based Test (CBT): 200 marks, 2 hours (No Maths section)
Shorthand Skill Test on Computer (Qualifying: Grade C @ 100 WPM, Grade D @ 80 WPM)
Document Verification
SSC Stenographer Exam Pattern 2026
Computer Based Examination (CBT)
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 50 | 50 |
| General Awareness | 50 | 50 |
| English Language & Comprehension | 100 | 100 |
| Total | 200 | 200 |
SSC Stenographer Syllabus 2026
Full Syllabus →General Intelligence & Reasoning
General Awareness
English Language & Comprehension
Download the complete SSC Stenographer topic-wise syllabus PDF →Premium (₹199/yr)
SSC Stenographer Posts — Which is Best?
SSC Stenographer offers 2+ posts across different departments. Here's a comparison to help you decide your target post before filling the form.
| Post | Salary | Promotion |
|---|---|---|
Stenographer Grade C Pay Level 6 (Group B) TOP PICK | ₹48,000 – ₹58,000 | fast |
Stenographer Grade D Pay Level 4 (Group C) | ₹34,000 – ₹42,000 | medium |
SSC Stenographer Salary Structure
Salary varies based on post, city tier (X/Y/Z) for HRA, and DA rate. Figures above are indicative for 2026 DA rates.
SSC Stenographer Cut-off Marks & Predictor
All Cut-offs →Check Your Selection Probability
Input your raw marks & shift details for instant normalized score estimate and category rank band prediction.
SSC Stenographer 2025 Tier 1 Cut-off
Cut-offs vary by post. Detailed post-wise cut-offs (2015–2026) available withSarkariPaper Premium →
SSC Stenographer Preparation Strategy
Phase 1: English & Reasoning Mastery (Month 1–2)
- ›English carries 100 marks — master grammar rules, active/passive voice, and direct/indirect speech
- ›Practice 50 reasoning questions daily focusing on analogies and classification
- ›Take 10 minutes of daily shorthand dictation at 70–80 WPM
- ›Read daily editorials to improve reading speed for cloze tests
Phase 2: Shorthand Speed & CBT Mocks (Month 3)
- ›Push shorthand dictation speed to 90–110 WPM to handle exam stress variations
- ›Practice transcribing audio dictations directly on computer within time limits
- ›Solve full 200-question CBT mocks 3 times a week
- ›Revise 6 months of current affairs and static general awareness
SSC Stenographer Frequently Asked Questions
Is mathematics included in the SSC Stenographer exam?▼
What is the required stenography speed for SSC Steno?▼
What is the difference between Grade C and Grade D Stenographer?▼
Mohit Verma
✓ Verified ExpertSSC, Railways & Technical Recruitment Specialist · 8+ Years in Central Recruitment & CBT Analytics
Mohit has tracked over 100+ Staff Selection Commission and Railway Recruitment Board cycles. He focuses on quantitative reasoning strategies, multi-shift CBT score normalization, and defense/police recruitment procedures.