SSC Stenographer 2026: exam date, skill test, pattern, syllabus and how to apply
The SSC Stenographer Grade 'C' and 'D' Examination is how the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) recruits stenographers for central government ministries, departments and their offices. Grade 'C' is a Group 'B' non-gazetted post and Grade 'D' a Group 'C' post. Where things stand now: the computer-based test (CBT) of the 2026 exam was held on 9 to 12 and 15 September 2026, and SSC has published its tentative answer keys. The next step is the shorthand skill test, for which we found no date on ssc.gov.in when we checked on 20 October 2026. This guide covers the dates, how to apply, the pattern, the syllabus and how to use the time until the skill test or the 2027 cycle.
SSC Stenographer at a glance
| Conducting body | Staff Selection Commission (SSC), Government of India |
| What it is for | Stenographer Grade 'C' (Group B) and Grade 'D' (Group C) posts in central government |
| Stages | Computer-based test, then a qualifying skill test in shorthand |
| Mode | CBT at an SSC exam centre; transcription typed on a computer |
| Questions | 200 multiple-choice questions in 2 hours |
| Marking | +1 for a right answer, −0.25 for a wrong one |
| Languages | English and Hindi (the English part is in English) |
| Eligibility | Class 12 pass; age 18 to 30 (Grade C) or 18 to 27 (Grade D) |
| How often | Once a year, on SSC's calendar |
| Official website | ssc.gov.in |
SSC Stenographer exam date
From SSC's own notices, read on 20 October 2026:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online applications | 24 April to 15 May 2026 |
| Computer-based test | 9 to 12 and 15 September 2026 (held) |
| Tentative answer keys and challenges | 23 to 26 September 2026 |
| Skill test | Not announced on ssc.gov.in as of 20 October 2026 |
SSC first set the CBT for 9 to 12 September and then added 15 September in a corrigendum of 31 August 2026. The answer key notice of 23 September 2026 confirms those dates. The CBT result and the skill test schedule will appear on ssc.gov.in under notices and results.
If you missed the 2026 exam: the 2027 cycle has not been announced. In SSC's 2026-27 calendar the 2026 notice was planned for April and the CBT for August to September; the 2027-28 calendar will show the next one. We track dates on our SSC Stenographer exam-dates page.
How to apply for SSC Stenographer
The 2026 applications are closed. The 2026 notice describes this process, and the next cycle is likely to work the same way:
- Make your One-Time Registration (OTR) on ssc.gov.in. OTRs from the old ssc.nic.in site do not work.
- Fill in the form on the website or the mySSC app. Choose Grade 'C', Grade 'D' or both, and the medium of your skill test (English or Hindi).
- Choose your exam centres.
- Pay the fee online. The 2026 notice set it at ₹100, with women, SC, ST, PwBD and eligible ex-servicemen candidates exempt (read in the notice on 20 October 2026).
Keep ready: your Class 10 certificate for the date of birth, your Class 12 certificate (you must have passed by 1 August of the exam year), and your category certificate if you claim one. Only apply if you can already take shorthand: the notice says so itself.
SSC Stenographer exam pattern
Computer-based test (sectional timer):
| Part | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | 50 | 50 | 30 minutes |
| General Awareness | 50 | 50 | 30 minutes |
| English Language and Comprehension | 100 | 100 | 60 minutes |
| Total | 200 | 200 | 2 hours |
Each wrong answer loses 0.25. The minimum qualifying marks are 30% for UR, 25% for OBC and EWS and 20% for others. Marks from different shifts are normalised, and candidates are shortlisted category-wise for the skill test.
Skill test (qualifying only):
| Grade 'C' | Grade 'D' | |
|---|---|---|
| Dictation | 10 minutes at 100 words a minute | 10 minutes at 80 words a minute |
| Transcription (English) | 40 minutes | 50 minutes |
| Transcription (Hindi) | 55 minutes | 65 minutes |
Final selection is by CBT merit among those who qualify the skill test.
SSC Stenographer syllabus
- Reasoning: analogies, classification, number and figure series, coding-decoding, space visualisation, problem solving, arithmetical reasoning.
- General Awareness: current events, everyday science, India and its neighbours (history, culture, geography, economy, sport), polity and the Constitution.
- English: synonyms, antonyms, spelling, one-word substitution, idioms; error spotting, fill in the blanks, sentence improvement; active-passive and direct-indirect speech, sentence rearrangement; cloze passages and comprehension.
English is half the CBT marks, so it carries the most weight. Full topics are on our SSC Stenographer syllabus page.
A plan for the weeks ahead
If you took the 2026 CBT: work out your score from the answer key (+1 right, −0.25 wrong), then put your hours into shorthand. Take a 10-minute dictation at your grade's speed every day and transcribe it within your grade's time limit on a computer, not on paper. Check every transcript word by word and keep a list of your common slips (outlines, punctuation, numbers). Build speed a little above the required one so the real test feels easier.
If you are preparing for the next cycle: use the waiting months well.
- Every week: one full SSC Stenographer mock test under the real sectional timer, then a review as in how to analyse a mock test.
- English, daily: 20 new words and one set of grammar questions; English alone is 100 marks.
- Reasoning and GA: three sessions a week each, with current affairs from the last year.
- Shorthand, daily: at least one dictation and transcription, as above.
With 60 minutes for 100 English questions you have 36 seconds a question. Do the one-line questions first and leave passages for later in the section.
Useful links
- SSC website: login, results and notices
- Stenographer Grade 'C' and 'D' Examination 2026 notice (PDF, ssc.gov.in)
- Answer key notice of 23 September 2026 (PDF, ssc.gov.in)
- Free SSC Stenographer mock tests
- SSC Stenographer syllabus
- SSC Stenographer exam dates
- Negative marking: when to guess
- SSC Selection Post: exam date and how to apply
Frequently asked questions
When is the SSC Stenographer skill test 2026?
SSC had not published a skill test date on ssc.gov.in when we checked on 20 October 2026. It comes after the CBT result, which lists the candidates shortlisted for it.
Is there negative marking in SSC Stenographer?
Yes. Each question carries 1 mark and a wrong answer loses 0.25. Unanswered questions score nothing. The skill test is qualifying and has no marks in the merit.
What is the qualification for SSC Stenographer?
Class 12 or equivalent, passed by 1 August of the exam year. The age limit in the 2026 notice was 18 to 30 for Grade 'C' and 18 to 27 for Grade 'D' on 1 August 2026, with the usual relaxations.
Can I take the SSC Stenographer skill test in Hindi?
Yes. You choose English or Hindi in the application form. A candidate who qualifies in Hindi must learn English stenography after appointment, and the other way round.
What is the speed for SSC Steno Grade C and Grade D?
Grade 'C' needs 100 words a minute and Grade 'D' 80 words a minute, in one 10-minute dictation. Transcription time depends on the grade and the language.
Can I apply for both Grade C and Grade D?
Yes. If you are shortlisted for both, you take the skill test at the speed of each grade.