• Updated on 4 Jun, 2026 by Gazal Arora
What's new?
SSC CHSL Latest news and articles
SSC CHSL Eligibility Criteria 2026 has been prescribed by the Staff Selection Commission for candidates seeking recruitment to posts such as Lower Division Clerk, Junior Secretariat Assistant, Postal Assistant, Sorting Assistant, and Data Entry Operator. Candidates must satisfy all eligibility requirements related to age limit, educational qualification, nationality, age relaxation, and physical disability criteria before applying for the examination. Only candidates who fulfil the prescribed SSC CHSL Eligibility Criteria 2026 will be considered eligible to participate in the recruitment process.
SSC CHSL Eligibility Criteria 2026: Age Limit
SSC CHSL Age Limit 2026 requires candidates to be between 18 and 27 years of age as per the cutoff date specified in the official notification. Candidates belonging to reserved categories are eligible for age relaxation as per the Government of India rules. The age of candidates will be calculated based on the date of birth mentioned in the Matriculation or Secondary School Examination Certificate. Candidates born not before 02 August 1999 and not later than 01 August 2008 are eligible to apply for SSC CHSL 2026. Below is the required age limit for SSC CHSL Eligibility Criteria 2026:
| SSC CHSL Age Limit 2026 | |
| Minimum Age | Maximum Age |
| 18 years | 27 years |
SSC CHSL Eligibility Criteria 2026: Age Relaxation
SSC also provides some special age relaxations for candidates in special categories like SC/ST, OBC, etc. Candidates can check the table below for the category-wise age relaxation in the table below.
| Category | Age Relaxation |
| SC/ST | 5 years |
| OBC | 3 years |
| PwBD + Unreserved | 10 years |
| PwBD + OBC | 13 years |
| PwBD + SC/ST | 15 years |
| Ex-servicemen | 03 years after deducting the military service rendered from the actual age as of the closing date. |
| Candidates who were usually resident in Jammu and Kashmir between January 1, 1980 and December 31, 1989. | 5 years |
| Defence personnel who are handicapped while on duty during hostilities with any foreign country or in a troubled area and are subsequently released. | 3 years |
| Defence personnel who are handicapped while on duty during hostilities with any foreign country or in a disturbed area and are subsequently released (SC/ST). | 8 years |
| Central Government Civilian Employees: Who have delivered not less than three years of regular and continuous service as of the closing date for acceptance of online applications (SC/ST). | Up to 40 years of age |
| Central Government Civilian Employees: Those who have served for at least three years on a regular and continuous basis as of the closing date for online applications (SC/ST). | Up to 45 years of age |
| Women who are widowed, divorced, or judicially separated and have not remarried. | Up to 35 years of age |
| Women who are widowed, divorced, or judicially separated and have not remarried (SC/ST). | Up to 40 years of age |
SSC CHSL Eligibility Criteria 2026: Nationality
SSC CHSL Nationality Criteria 2026 specifies that a candidate must be a citizen of India or belong to one of the categories recognised by the Government of India. To be eligible for SSC CHSL 2026, a candidate must be:
- a resident of India, or
- a subject of Nepal, or
- A subject of Bhutan or
- a Tibetan refugee who moved over to India before the 1st of January, 1962, to be permanently settled in India,
- a person of Indian heritage who has migrated from Burma, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the East African republics of Kenya, the United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, Zaire, Ethiopia, Zambia, Malawi, and Vietnam to permanently settle in India.
SSC CHSL Eligibility Criteria 2026: Educational Qualification
SSC CHSL Educational Qualification 2026 varies depending on the post applied for. Candidates must possess the required qualification from a recognised Board or University on or before the prescribed cutoff date. Candidates appearing in the qualifying examination may also apply, provided they possess the required qualification by the date specified in the official notification. The candidates must fulfil the educational criteria mentioned below to be eligible for the exam:
| Posts | Educational Qualifications |
| For Data Entry Operator (DEO)/ DEO Grade ‘A’ in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and the Ministry of Culture. | Must have cleared or appeared for 10+2 or its equivalent from any recognised board. |
| For LDC/JSA and DEO/DEO Grade ‘A’ (except DEOs in the Department/ Ministry). | Qualified: 10+2, possessing a Science Stream with Mathematics as a compulsory subject, or its equivalent from any recognised board. |
SSC CHSL Eligibility Criteria 2026: Physical Disability
SSC CHSL Physical Disability Criteria 2026 allows Persons with Benchmark Disabilities to apply for various posts under the examination. Candidates with eligible benchmark disabilities such as locomotor disability, visual impairment, hearing impairment, cerebral palsy, dwarfism, muscular dystrophy, acid attack victims, and other specified disabilities can apply for the posts as per the suitability criteria prescribed by SSC. Candidates can check the table below to know the post-wise physical disabilities:
| Posts | Physical Disability Criteria |
| Lower Division Clerk/Junior Secret Assistant. | One Arm affected, Both Arms affected, One Leg affected, and Both Legs. |
| One Arm One Leg affected, Cerebral Palsy, Leprosy Cured, Dwarfism, Acid Attack Victim, Muscular Dystrophy, Spinal Deformity/Spinal Injury. | |
| Low Vision & Blind. | |
| Deaf, Hard of Hearing. | |
| Data Entry Operator | One Arm affected, Both Arms affected, One Leg affected, and Both Legs. |
| One Arm One Leg affected, Cerebral Palsy, Leprosy Cured, Dwarfism, Acid Attack Victim, Muscular Dystrophy, Spinal Deformity/Spinal Injury. | |
| Low Vision & Blind. | |
| Deaf, Hard of Hearing. |
SSC CHSL Eligibility Criteria 2026 FAQs
Who is eligible for SSC CHSL 2026?
Candidates must have passed their 10+2 (Higher Secondary) from a recognized board. Additionally, the age limit for general category candidates is between 18 and 27 years as of January 1, 2026, with age relaxations for reserved categories.
How many attempts for SSC CHSL?
There are no restrictions on the number of attempts for SSC CHSL exam. Candidates can apply till they meet the age criteria.
Which is better, CGL or CHSL?
SSC CGL is better compared to SSC CHSL exam. CGL has higher designation (Group B) posts. In terms of exams, CGL is harder when compared to CHSL as the SSC CHSL exam consists of higher secondary-level questions, whereas SSC CGL consists of graduate-level questions.
What is the release date of SSC CHSL Application Form 2026?
SSC CHSL Application Form 2026 is expected to be released in June 2026, on the official website at ssc.gov.in