The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has officially published the competitive recruitment notification for the Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination, 2026 (CHSL 2026). This nationwide recruitment drive aims to fill an estimated 2,536 vacancies across diverse Ministries, Departments, Constitutional Bodies, and Attached or Subordinate Offices under the Government of India. The SSC CHSL examination serves as one of the most prominent entry points for candidates who have completed intermediate education to secure permanent central government employment.

Recruitment Scope & Available Posts

Through the CHSL 2026 examination, recruitment will be conducted for several key ministerial and administrative clerical roles, primarily including:

• Lower Division Clerk (LDC) / Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA): Deployed across various central secretariats, attached offices, and administrative directorates to handle document management, routine correspondence, record keeping, data processing, and dispatch responsibilities.
• Postal Assistant (PA) / Sorting Assistant (SA): Deployed in Department of Posts under the Ministry of Communications to manage mail management, delivery oversight, registry systems, and logistical sorting operations.
• Data Entry Operator (DEO) & DEO Grade 'A': Assigned to technical divisions, statistical directorates, and specialized offices such as the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (C&AG) for database handling, entry operations, and electronic document validation.

Pay Scale & 7th CPC Salary Structure

Selected candidates will receive remunerations strictly as per the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC). The pay structures according to levels are detailed below:

• Lower Division Clerk (LDC) / Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA): Pay Level-2 (Rs. 19,900 to Rs. 63,200). Approximate initial gross emoluments range from Rs. 32,000 to Rs. 38,000 per month depending on classification of city (X, Y, or Z).
• Data Entry Operator (DEO) / DEO Grade 'A': Pay Level-4 (Rs. 25,500 to Rs. 81,100) and Pay Level-5 (Rs. 29,200 to Rs. 92,300). Approximate gross monthly salary ranges between Rs. 42,000 and Rs. 54,000.
• Allowances: In addition to basic pay, employees are entitled to Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), Transport Allowance (TA), Children Education Allowance (CEA), National Pension System (NPS) benefits, and Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) coverage.

Career Progression & Service Guidelines

Successful candidates enjoy high job security, structured annual increments, and promotional avenues. Clerical staff can advance to positions such as Senior Secretariat Assistant (SSA), Assistant Section Officer (ASO), and Section Officer (SO) via Limited Departmental Competitive Examinations (LDCE) and senioritybased promotions. Central Government reservation guidelines for SC, ST, OBC (NonCreamy Layer), EWS, PwBD, and ExServicemen (ESM) candidates are applicable across all posts as per DoPT notifications.