The SSC Stenographer exam rewards one skill above all others: taking dictation in shorthand and transcribing it accurately on a computer. The written test decides your rank, but the skill test decides whether you are selected at all.
This guide is built from the Notice of Stenographer Grade 'C' & 'D' Examination, 2026, which the Staff Selection Commission uploaded on 24 April 2026. It also uses SSC's tentative vacancy list dated 4 June 2026. Every number below comes from those two documents unless stated otherwise.
Key dates and current status
| Event | As printed in the 24 April 2026 notice |
|---|---|
| Online applications | 24 April to 15 May 2026 (23:00) |
| Last date for online fee payment | 16 May 2026 |
| Correction window | 20–21 May 2026 |
| Computer Based Examination (CBE) | July–August 2026 (tentative) |
The application window has closed. SSC can and does reschedule exams. Check the notice board on ssc.gov.in for the admit card, answer key and result notices rather than relying on dates quoted elsewhere.
Keep preparing
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- Stenographer Grade 'C' is a Group 'B' non-gazetted post.
- Stenographer Grade 'D' is a Group 'C' post.
The tentative vacancy list shows the pay level for each department:
| Post | Pay level in the vacancy list | Tentative vacancies (as on 04.06.2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Stenographer Grade 'C' | Level-6 in most departments; Level-7 in some (for example the Ministry of External Affairs, Intelligence Bureau, Central Vigilance Commission and Election Commission entries) | 149 |
| Stenographer Grade 'D' | Level-4 | 1,021 |
That makes 1,170 tentative vacancies in total. The April notice had said "approx 731" while vacancies were still being collected. SSC does not collect state-wise or zone-wise vacancies; for those, you have to contact the user department.
The pay matrix ranges are Level-4: ₹25,500–81,100, Level-6: ₹35,400–1,12,400 and Level-7: ₹44,900–1,42,400, as printed in central recruitment notices. Allowances are added on top according to current orders. If you are choosing between departments for Grade 'C', the pay level column in the vacancy list matters.
Eligibility (as on 1 August 2026)
- Education: Class 12 or equivalent from a recognised board, passed on or before 1 August 2026.
- Age, Grade 'C': 18–30 years. You must be born between 2 August 1996 and 1 August 2008.
- Age, Grade 'D': 18–27 years. You must be born between 2 August 1999 and 1 August 2008.
- Relaxations include: SC/ST 5 years, OBC 3 years, PwBD (UR/EWS) 10 years and ex-servicemen as per rules.
- Fee: ₹100. Women, SC, ST, PwBD and eligible ex-servicemen are exempt.
The notice says only candidates who have skills in stenography are eligible to apply. No separate shorthand certificate is listed as an essential qualification. Your speed is tested directly in the skill test.
The computer-based exam
| Part | Subject | Questions | Marks | Sectional time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | General Intelligence and Reasoning | 50 | 50 | 30 minutes |
| II | General Awareness | 50 | 50 | 30 minutes |
| III | English Language and Comprehension | 100 | 100 | 60 minutes |
- Total: 200 questions, 200 marks, 2 hours, with a sectional timer for each part.
- Negative marking: 0.25 marks for each wrong answer.
- Normalisation: marks are normalised if the exam runs in multiple shifts.
- Minimum qualifying marks: UR 30%, OBC/EWS 25%, all other categories 20%.
Because the sectional timer is fixed, every part works out to the same pace: 36 seconds per question (30 minutes ÷ 50, and 60 minutes ÷ 100). You cannot borrow time from Reasoning to spend on English, so practise each section under its own clock.
The skill test: the real filter
Candidates shortlisted from the CBE take one 10-minute dictation in English or Hindi, whichever they chose in the application form:
- Grade 'C': 100 words per minute
- Grade 'D': 80 words per minute
You then transcribe the matter on a computer within these limits (standard candidates):
| Post | English transcription | Hindi transcription |
|---|---|---|
| Grade 'D' | 50 minutes | 65 minutes |
| Grade 'C' | 40 minutes | 55 minutes |
The skill test is mandatory but qualifying. SSC fixes category-wise qualifying standards for each post. Among candidates who qualify, final selection follows CBE merit. One more rule matters: if you take the test in Hindi, you must learn English stenography after appointment, and vice versa. Otherwise your probation may not be cleared.
Worked example: the typing pace the skill test demands
A 10-minute dictation produces roughly this many words to transcribe:
- Grade 'C': 10 × 100 = 1,000 words
- Grade 'D': 10 × 80 = 800 words
| Post and medium | Words | Time allowed | Minimum average pace | Pace if you keep 10 minutes for proofreading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 'C', English | 1,000 | 40 min | 25.0 wpm | 1,000 ÷ 30 = 33.3 wpm |
| Grade 'C', Hindi | 1,000 | 55 min | 18.2 wpm | 1,000 ÷ 45 = 22.2 wpm |
| Grade 'D', English | 800 | 50 min | 16.0 wpm | 800 ÷ 40 = 20.0 wpm |
| Grade 'D', Hindi | 800 | 65 min | 12.3 wpm | 800 ÷ 55 = 14.5 wpm |
These are typing paces from your own shorthand notes. The harder part is reading your outlines back correctly. Train both: take dictation at the target speed, then transcribe against the clock.
A weekly practice plan (illustrative)
| Day | Shorthand | CBE |
|---|---|---|
| Mon, Wed, Fri | Two 10-minute dictations at target speed, plus a timed transcription of one of them | English: 50 questions in 30 minutes |
| Tue, Thu | One dictation 10 wpm above target (to build headroom), with outline drills for errors | Reasoning: 25 questions in 15 minutes; General Awareness revision |
| Sat | Full mock: dictation, timed transcription, error count | Full 200-question mock with sectional timers |
| Sun | Review the error log: misread outlines, spelling and punctuation | Analyse the mock; note slow question types |
Use previous papers for the CBE (our guide on using previous-year papers well explains how). Use passages of official-style prose for dictation, such as parliamentary or ministry press releases read aloud at a measured speed.
Before you apply next time
- Decide whether to take the skill test in Hindi or English. Remember the post-appointment rule for the other language.
- Check the age band for each grade separately. Grade 'D' ends at 27.
- Note which Grade 'C' departments sit at Level-7, and use that when filling preferences.
- Keep the notice PDF and every later corrigendum. The vacancy count changed between April and June 2026, and other details can change too.