SSC CHSL Age Limit 2026: Quick Answer
As per the official SSC CHSL 2026 notice, the SSC CHSL age limit is 18 to 27 years as on 01-08-2026, so you must be born not before 02-08-1999 and not later than 01-08-2008. OBC candidates get 3 years and SC/ST candidates 5 years of relaxation, and PwBD candidates get 10 to 15 years depending on category. The minimum qualification is 12th pass (or equivalent) from a recognised board, with Science and Mathematics needed only for a few DEO posts.
Key takeaway: Students who appeared in 12th could also apply, but the result must have been declared on or before 07-10-2026. Mere processing of the result by the board on that date does not count.
Official source: SSC CHSL 2026 Notice (PDF) on ssc.gov.in. Paragraph numbers below refer to this notice.
SSC CHSL Eligibility 2026 at a Glance
| Criterion | Official requirement | Para |
|---|---|---|
| Nationality | Citizen of India, or a subject of Nepal or Bhutan, or an eligible person of Indian origin (non-citizens need a Government of India eligibility certificate) | 4 |
| Age (as on 01-08-2026) | 18 to 27 years | 5.1 |
| Date of birth | Not before 02-08-1999 and not later than 01-08-2008 | 5.1 |
| Qualification (as on 07-10-2026) | 12th Standard or equivalent from a recognised Board or University | 8.2 |
| DEO in three offices | 12th in Science stream with Mathematics (see below) | 8.1 |
| Gender rule | Only male candidates for any LDC vacancy in the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) | 4.4 |
| Application fee | ₹100; nil for women, SC, ST, PwBD and eligible Ex-Servicemen | 10 |
| Tentative vacancies | About 2,536 | 2.1 |
SSC CHSL Age Limit 2026 and Date of Birth Range
| Category | Maximum age | Born on or after | Born on or before |
|---|---|---|---|
| General / EWS | 27 years | 02-08-1999 | 01-08-2008 |
| OBC | 30 years | 02-08-1996 | 01-08-2008 |
| SC / ST | 32 years | 02-08-1994 | 01-08-2008 |
| PwBD (Unreserved) | 37 years | 02-08-1989 | 01-08-2008 |
| PwBD (OBC) | 40 years | 02-08-1986 | 01-08-2008 |
| PwBD (SC/ST) | 42 years | 02-08-1984 | 01-08-2008 |
The General/EWS row is printed in the notice. The other rows add the official relaxation (below) to the 27-year limit: each extra year of relaxation moves the earliest birth date back by one year. Your date of birth is taken from your 10th (Matriculation) certificate and cannot be changed later (Para 5.3).
SSC CHSL Age Relaxation 2026 (Para 5.2)
| Code | Category | Relaxation beyond the upper age limit |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | SC / ST | 5 years |
| 02 | OBC | 3 years |
| 03 | PwBD | 10 years |
| 04 | PwBD (OBC) | 13 years |
| 05 | PwBD (SC/ST) | 15 years |
| 06 | Ex-Servicemen | 3 years after deducting military service from actual age as on 01-08-2026 |
| 08 | Defence personnel disabled in operations and released as a result | 3 years |
| 09 | Same, SC/ST | 8 years |
| 10 | Central Government civilian employees with at least 3 years' regular, continuous service | Up to 40 years of age |
| 11 | Same, SC/ST | Up to 45 years of age |
| 12 | Widows / divorced women / judicially separated women not remarried | Up to 35 years of age |
| 13 | Same, SC/ST | Up to 40 years of age |
Note: age relaxation is not available to sons, daughters or dependants of Ex-Servicemen (Para 5.10), so they must not mark the ESM category.
How the Ex-Servicemen age relaxation works
Take your actual age on 01-08-2026, subtract your years of military service, and the result must not exceed 27 + 3 = 30 years. For example, a 38-year-old ex-serviceman with 10 years of service has an effective age of 28, which is within 30, so he is eligible on age.
SSC CHSL Educational Qualification 2026 (Para 8)
| Post | Essential qualification (as on 07-10-2026) |
|---|---|
| LDC / JSA | 12th Standard or equivalent from a recognised Board or University |
| DEO / DEO Grade 'A' (most offices) | 12th Standard or equivalent from a recognised Board or University |
| DEO / DEO Grade 'A' in Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Staff Selection Commission and Ministry of Culture | 12th Standard in Science stream with Mathematics from a recognised Board |
- Appearing candidates could apply, but they must hold the qualification on or before 07-10-2026, and the result must have been declared by then (Para 8.3 and 8.6).
- Candidates with an equivalent qualification must produce an equivalence certificate at document verification (Para 8.7).
- Degrees, diplomas and certificates from open and distance learning are accepted only if the university had the required UGC Distance Education Bureau approval for that period (Para 8.4).
SSC CHSL Posts and Pay Level 2026 (Para 1)
| Post | Pay level |
|---|---|
| Lower Division Clerk (LDC) / Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA) | Level 2 (₹19,900 to ₹63,200) |
| Data Entry Operator (DEO) | Level 4 (₹25,500 to ₹81,100) and Level 5 (₹29,200 to ₹92,300) |
| Data Entry Operator Grade 'A' | Level 4 (₹25,500 to ₹81,100) |
SSC CHSL Application Fee 2026 (Para 10)
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS men | ₹100 |
| Women, SC, ST, PwBD and Ex-Servicemen eligible for reservation | Exempted |
The fee is paid online (BHIM UPI, net banking or debit card) and is not refunded. Corrections in the form cost ₹200 the first time and ₹500 the second time for every candidate (Para 11.4).
SSC CHSL 2026 Exam Pattern (Linked to Eligibility)
| Stage | What it is | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Tier-I | English, General Intelligence, Quantitative Aptitude and General Awareness: 25 questions each, 2 marks each, 60 minutes; 0.50 negative mark per wrong answer | 200 |
| Tier-II Section-I | Mathematical Abilities 30 Q + Reasoning 30 Q, 1 hour | 180 |
| Tier-II Section-II | English 40 Q + General Awareness 20 Q, 1 hour | 180 |
| Tier-II Section-III | Computer Knowledge Test, 15 Q, 15 minutes (qualifying) | 45 |
| Tier-II Section-IV | Skill Test (DEO) or Typing Test (LDC/JSA), qualifying | Qualifying |
Source: Para 13.8 and 13.9 of the notice. For last year's cut-offs, see SSC CHSL cut-off.
How to Check Your SSC CHSL Eligibility (Step-by-Step)
- Read your date of birth from your 10th certificate. Compare it with the range for your category. Both 02-08-1999 and 01-08-2008 are inside the General limit.
- Pick your relaxation code. SC/ST and PwBD (SC/ST) are separate codes, so an SC candidate with a benchmark disability uses code 05 (15 years), not 5 + 10 added by hand.
- Confirm your 12th result date. It must be declared on or before 07-10-2026.
- Check the stream rule for DEO. If you want a DEO post in the three offices listed above, you need Science with Mathematics in 12th; for every other post, any stream is fine.
- Keep certificates ready. OBC candidates must not be in the creamy layer on the closing date, and EWS candidates need an Income & Asset Certificate valid for 2026-27 based on 2025-26 income (Para 6.4 and 6.5).
Example: is this candidate eligible?
Meena is an OBC candidate born on 15-03-1997 who passed 12th in the Arts stream. The OBC upper limit is 27 + 3 = 30 years, so she may be born as early as 02-08-1996. Her birth date, 15-03-1997, is inside that range, and 12th in any stream qualifies her for LDC/JSA and most DEO posts. She is eligible, but not for the DEO posts that need Science with Mathematics.
SSC CHSL Eligibility: Common Mistakes
- Using the application date for age. Age is counted as on 01-08-2026.
- Adding PwBD and caste relaxation by hand. Use the combined codes 04 and 05 (13 and 15 years).
- Assuming any 12th stream works for every DEO post. Three offices need Science with Mathematics.
- Marking ESM as a dependant. Children and dependants of Ex-Servicemen get no relaxation.
- Women opting for BRO. Only male candidates are eligible for BRO vacancies.
SSC CHSL Eligibility and Age Limit FAQs
What is the SSC CHSL age limit in 2026?
18 to 27 years as on 01-08-2026, so you must be born not before 02-08-1999 and not later than 01-08-2008.
What is the SSC CHSL age limit for OBC and SC/ST?
30 years for OBC and 32 years for SC/ST, after the official relaxation of 3 and 5 years.
Is 12th pass enough for SSC CHSL?
Yes. 12th Standard or equivalent from a recognised board is the qualification for LDC/JSA and most DEO posts. DEO posts in three named offices need 12th with Science and Mathematics.
Can 12th appearing students apply for SSC CHSL 2026?
They could apply, but the 12th result had to be declared on or before 07-10-2026.
What is the SSC CHSL application fee for 2026?
₹100. Women, SC, ST, PwBD and Ex-Servicemen eligible for reservation pay no fee.
Is there negative marking in SSC CHSL Tier-I?
Yes, 0.50 marks are deducted for each wrong answer in Tier-I.
How many vacancies are there in SSC CHSL 2026?
The notice gives about 2,536 tentative vacancies. Final post-wise figures are published later on the SSC website.
Practice Next for SSC CHSL
- Tests: SSC CHSL 2025 Tier 1 Question Paper 15 November Shift 1, SSC CHSL Quantitative Aptitude Sectional Mock Test 01 and SSC CHSL General Intelligence Sectional Mock Test 01.
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