The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has uploaded the Tentative Answer Key(s) along with Candidates’ Response Sheet(s) of the Stenographer Grade ‘C’ & ‘D’ Examination, 2026 (CBE) through a notice dated 23 September 2026. The Computer Based Examination was conducted on 9 September 2026 to 12 September 2026 and 15 September 2026 at various centres across the country. Candidates could see the key and their own recorded answers by logging in on the SSC website with their Registration Number and Password.
The window to challenge the key ran from 23.09.2026 (23:00 hours) to 26.09.2026 (23:00 hours), at a fee of ₹50 per question/answer challenged — the notice says the fee “has been reduced from earlier Rs.100/- to Rs.50/-“. That window closed on 26 September 2026 at 11:00 PM. The notice is clear that “Representations received after 26.09.2026 (23:00 hours) shall not be entertained under any circumstances”, so there is nothing more you can submit on this answer key.
| Event | Date / Detail |
|---|---|
| Computer Based Examination held | 9 – 12 September 2026 and 15 September 2026 |
| Tentative Answer Key & Response Sheet notice | 23 September 2026 |
| Objection window | 23.09.2026 (23:00 hrs) to 26.09.2026 (23:00 hrs) — Closed |
| Challenge fee | ₹50 per question/answer (reduced from ₹100) |
| Representations after 26.09.2026 (23:00 hrs) | Not entertained under any circumstances |
| Addendum on Hindi Skill Test font | 23 September 2026 |
| CBE result and Skill Test date | Not given in these notices |
What the answer key notice told candidates:
Big change for Hindi-medium candidates — Mangal font only. An Addendum dated 23 September 2026 adds a new provision to Para 15 (Skill Test in Stenography) of the notice. In SSC’s words: “Candidates opting for Hindi as the medium for the Typing/Skill Test for the post of Stenographer Grade ‘C’ and ‘D’ shall be required to type in Mangal Font only. The script typed by a candidate using any font other than Mangal Font shall not be evaluated, and such candidate shall be treated as not qualified in the Typing/Skill Test … Consequently, the candidature of such candidate shall not be considered for further stages of the recruitment process for the examination.” All other provisions of the notice stay unchanged. So if you chose Hindi, start practising your transcription in Mangal font from today — one wrong font setting can end your candidature even after a good CBE score.
What comes next? The Skill Test is only for candidates shortlisted from the CBE, so the next milestone is the CBE result. Neither 23 September notice gives a date for it, so keep checking the SSC login and our answer key updates on GovtJobsAlert.in.
The Staff Selection Commission has issued a notice dated 31 August 2026 confirming that the examination city details for the Stenographer Grade ‘C’ & ‘D’ Examination, 2026 (Tier-I) could be viewed through the designated candidate login module on the Commission’s website. That notice scheduled the Tier-I Computer Based Examination from 9 September 2026 to 12 September 2026 (the later notice of 23 September 2026 records that the CBE was conducted on 9 to 12 September and 15 September 2026), with the Admission Certificate (admit card) tentatively available for download two to three (02/03) days before each candidate’s examination date, through the same login module. For the ‘Own Scribe’ facility, the Commission changed the rules and set a deadline of 7 September 2026.
The same 31 August 2026 notice also covers the Combined Hindi Translator Examination, 2026 (Tier-I), which is held on 8 September 2026 with a Scribe OTR mapping deadline of 6 September 2026. Every date quoted here is the Stenographer one — do not mix the two up.
The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has officially released the SSC Stenographer Grade ‘C’ and Grade ‘D’ Examination 2026 notification on 24 April 2026. There are approximately 731 tentative vacancies across various Ministries, Departments and Organisations of the Government of India. Applications closed on 15 May 2026; eligibility was a 12th standard pass with stenography skill, age 18–30 for Grade ‘C’ and 18–27 for Grade ‘D’. Check out more SSC recruitment notifications on GovtJobsAlert.in.
Online applications were open from 24 April 2026 to 15 May 2026. The Tier-I Computer Based Examination, first planned for July – August 2026, was conducted on 9 September 2026 to 12 September 2026 and 15 September 2026 (Updated), and the tentative answer key came out on 23 September 2026. Stenographer Grade ‘C’ is a Group ‘B’ Non-Gazetted post and Grade ‘D’ is a Group ‘C’ post. Don’t worry if this is your first SSC attempt — this article covers every detail of the recruitment, from eligibility and fee to exam pattern and selection process. The complete eligibility, fee, exam pattern and selection details from the original notification are retained in this article for reference on GovtJobsAlert.in.
The Commission is still collecting final vacancy details from user departments. Approximate figures are shared below, and the final post-wise and category-wise breakdown will be uploaded on the official SSC website under “For Candidates → Tentative Vacancy”. State-wise or zone-wise vacancies are not collected by the Commission for this exam.
| Post Name | Group | Tentative Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| Stenographer Grade ‘C’ | Group B (Non-Gazetted) | To be notified (part of 731) |
| Stenographer Grade ‘D’ | Group C | To be notified (part of 731) |
| Total | — | 731 (tentative) |
Reservation will be provided for SC, ST, OBC, EWS, Ex-Servicemen and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) as per existing Government of India orders. Vacancies for Ex-Servicemen are reserved only for the Grade ‘D’ (Group C) post.
If you belong to this education bracket, also check our running list of 12th pass government jobs on GovtJobsAlert.in for more parallel opportunities.
Age Relaxation (on upper age limit):
| Category | Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC / ST | 5 years |
| OBC | 3 years |
| PwBD (Unreserved / EWS) | 10 years |
| PwBD (OBC) | 13 years |
| PwBD (SC / ST) | 15 years |
| Ex-Servicemen | 03 years after deducting military service |
| Defence personnel disabled in operation during hostilities or in a disturbed area, and released as a consequence | 3 years |
| Defence personnel disabled in operation during hostilities or in a disturbed area, and released as a consequence (SC / ST) | 8 years |
| Central Govt. civilian employees with 3+ years regular service (Grade ‘D’ only) | Up to 40 years |
| Central Govt. civilian employees with 3+ years regular service, SC / ST (Grade ‘D’ only) | Up to 45 years |
| Widows / divorced / judicially separated women, not remarried (Grade ‘D’ only) | Up to 35 years |
| Widows / divorced / judicially separated women, not remarried, SC / ST (Grade ‘D’ only) | Up to 40 years |
The notice prints no pay level, pay matrix figure or allowance details. Stenographer Grade ‘C’ is a Group ‘B’ Non-Gazetted post, while Grade ‘D’ falls under Group ‘C’.
Selection runs through the Computer Based Examination, the Skill Test, an online Post Preference form and Document Verification; only those scoring the minimum qualifying marks below reach the Skill Test. For a complete SSC exam syllabus & preparation strategy, check our study resources on GovtJobsAlert.in.
| Rule | What Applies |
|---|---|
| Shortlisting for the Skill Test | Category-wise, on the basis of marks scored in the CBE — the qualifying percentage alone does not guarantee a call |
| Minimum qualifying marks in the CBE — UR | 30% |
| Minimum qualifying marks in the CBE — OBC / EWS | 25% |
| Minimum qualifying marks in the CBE — all other categories | 20% |
| Document Verification | Conducted by the user departments / organisations after the final result is declared |
| Multi-shift normalisation | Marks are normalised using the procedure published by the Commission vide notice dated 02-06-2025, and the normalised scores fix merit and cut-offs |
| Answer-key representations | ₹50 per question, non-refundable; there is no re-evaluation or re-checking of scores at any stage. For this exam the window ran from 23.09.2026 (23:00 hrs) to 26.09.2026 (23:00 hrs) and has closed |
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence & Reasoning (Part I) | 50 | 50 |
| General Awareness (Part II) | 50 | 50 |
| English Language & Comprehension (Part III) | 100 | 100 |
| Total | 200 | 200 |
| Candidate | Total Duration | Sectional Timer |
|---|---|---|
| Candidates not eligible for a scribe | 2 hours | 30 minutes each for Part I and Part II; 60 minutes for Part III |
| Candidates eligible for a scribe (Para 7.1, 7.2, 7.3) | 2 hours 40 minutes | 40 minutes each for Part I and Part II; 80 minutes for Part III |
Questions are objective-type MCQs and the paper is set in English and Hindi. There is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer.
Shortlisted candidates from the CBE are given one dictation of 10 minutes in English or Hindi (as chosen in the form):
The matter is transcribed on a computer within these limits.
| Post / Language | Transcription Time | If Eligible for Scribe |
|---|---|---|
| Grade ‘D’ — English | 50 minutes | 70 minutes |
| Grade ‘D’ — Hindi | 65 minutes | 90 minutes |
| Grade ‘C’ — English | 40 minutes | 55 minutes |
| Grade ‘C’ — Hindi | 55 minutes | 75 minutes |
Final merit is based on marks in the CBE; the Skill Test is qualifying in nature and must be cleared to be considered for appointment.
Hindi medium? Mangal font only (Addendum, 23 September 2026). Candidates opting for Hindi as the medium for the Typing/Skill Test for Stenographer Grade ‘C’ and ‘D’ must type in Mangal Font only. A script typed in any other font shall not be evaluated, the candidate is treated as not qualified in the Skill Test, and the candidature is not considered for further stages of the recruitment. All other provisions of the notice remain unchanged.
The application window for this recruitment has closed — the steps here are kept only as a record of how the form was submitted. Applications were accepted only on the SSC website or the ‘my SSC’ mobile application.
The Window for Application Form Correction was open from 20 May 2026 to 21 May 2026 (till 23:00 hrs) on payment of correction charges, and it has also closed. Admit Cards will be released only online; no hard copies are sent by post.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release Date | 24 April 2026 |
| Online Application Start Date | 24 April 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 15 May 2026 (23:00 hrs) |
| Last Date for Online Fee Payment | 16 May 2026 (23:00 hrs) |
| Application Correction Window | 20 May 2026 to 21 May 2026 |
| Computer Based Examination (Tier-I) | July – August 2026 09 – 12 September 2026 and 15 September 2026 (Updated) |
| Tentative Answer Key & Response Sheets | 23 September 2026 |
| Answer Key Objection Window | 23 September 2026 (23:00 hrs) to 26 September 2026 (23:00 hrs) — Closed |
| Addendum — Hindi Skill Test in Mangal Font | 23 September 2026 |
| CBE Result / Skill Test | Not yet notified |
| Crucial Date for Age & Qualification | 01 August 2026 |
| Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS (Male) | ₹100 |
| Women (All Categories) | Nil (Exempted) |
| SC / ST / PwBD, and Ex-Servicemen eligible for reservation | Nil (Exempted) |
| Ex-Servicemen already re-employed in a Group ‘C’ or ‘D’ civil post on ESM reservation | ₹100 (no fee concession) |
| Application form correction — first re-submission (payable by all candidates, irrespective of gender or category) | ₹200 |
| Application form correction — second re-submission (maximum two corrections) | ₹500 |
Fee is payable online only through BHIM UPI, Net Banking, or a Visa, Mastercard, Maestro or RuPay Debit card. No offline challan mode is available. Once paid, the fee is non-refundable.
| Situation | What the Notice Says |
|---|---|
| Married to a person who already has a living spouse, or married while having a living spouse | Not eligible for appointment to the service, unless the Central Government grants an exemption under the proviso to this rule |
| Canvassing in any form for your candidature | You are disqualified from the recruitment |
| Not in good mental and bodily health, or a physical defect likely to interfere with duties | Ineligible for appointment |
| A woman applying for Stenographer Grade ‘D’ vacancies in the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) | Only male candidates are eligible for BRO Grade ‘D’ vacancies |
| Failing the BRO Physical Efficiency Test or its medical standards | Candidature cancelled and the Commission makes no re-allocation to any other post or department |
| Your examination city / centre details are still not visible one week before your exam date | Contact the concerned SSC Regional Office immediately with proof of having submitted the application — failure to do so forfeits any claim for consideration. Any communication to the Commission must carry your Registration-ID, registered Email-ID, mobile number, name, date of birth and the name of the examination, or it is not entertained |
| Reaching the centre without the Medical Certificate / Undertaking, a photocopy of the scribe’s photo ID proof and the Scribe Entry Pass | Not allowed to appear in the examination |
| Not submitting the online Post Preference Option Form within the stipulated time | Not considered for any post in the tentative allocation / result; options once submitted can never be changed |
| You could not authenticate yourself with Aadhaar | Report two hours before the scheduled time with two passport-size photographs and an original valid photo ID; a date-of-birth mismatch with the Admission Certificate bars entry |
| Asking to change your examination centre after allotment | No request for change of centre is considered at any stage, under any circumstances |
| Class XII result only being processed by the Board on 01 August 2026 | Educational qualification not met — the result must have been declared on or before the cut-off date |
| Claiming a reserved category or age relaxation but not producing the certificate in the prescribed Annexure format when it is sought at Document Verification | The SC, ST, OBC, EWS, PwBD or ESM claim is not entertained and the candidature is cancelled, with no claim for consideration under any other category; certificates in any other format are liable to be rejected, and a PwBD candidate cannot change the PwBD category chosen in the form |
| Not an Indian citizen — a subject of Nepal or Bhutan, or a person of Indian origin who migrated from the countries listed in the notice | Eligible only if a certificate of eligibility has been issued in your favour by the Government of India |
| Not learning the other stenography language after appointment | Probation may not be cleared; you work as an English or Hindi stenographer as the user office requires, whatever your Skill Test medium |
| A scribe whose qualification is not one step below yours, or who assists another candidate in the same examination | Scribe not permitted |
| Engaging a scribe who is on the Commission’s list of debarred persons, or a false declaration about the scribe | Candidate and scribe debarred from the Commission’s examinations for three to five years |
| Your own scribe is not Aadhaar-authenticated | Under the April notice the Commission provides a scribe or assistive technology instead of your own — but the 31 August 2026 notice has since made Aadhaar authentication compulsory for scribe registration, and no Entry Pass is generated without Scribe OTR mapping |
| More than one application detected from the same candidate | All applications rejected and candidature cancelled; appearing more than once means debarment |
| Fraudulently claiming SC, ST, OBC, EWS, PwBD or ESM status | Debarment from the examinations conducted by the Commission |
| Holding an Admission Certificate and appearing for the exam | Admission at every stage is purely provisional — if verification at any time, before or after the exam, shows an eligibility condition is not met, the candidature is cancelled |
| Typing the Hindi Skill Test in any font other than Mangal | Script not evaluated; treated as not qualified in the Skill Test and candidature not considered for further stages (Addendum dated 23 September 2026) |
The Computer Based Examination is over and the answer key objection window closed on 26 September 2026 (23:00 hrs). The next milestone is the CBE result, followed by the Skill Test for shortlisted candidates — and if you chose Hindi, practise in Mangal font from now on. Keep visiting GovtJobsAlert.in for SSC result and Skill Test alerts for this exam.
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