The SSC CHSL exam is conducted by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) in India. It is a national-level competitive exam that aims to recruit candidates for various posts in government ministries, departments, and organizations. The exam is conducted annually to fill vacancies for the positions of Lower Divisional Clerk (LDC)/Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA), Postal Assistant (PA)/Sorting Assistant (SA), and Data Entry Operator (DEO).
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the SSC CHSL exam, candidates must fulfill certain criteria regarding nationality, age limit, and educational qualifications. The following are the eligibility requirements:
- Nationality: Candidates must be either: a) a citizen of India, or b) a subject of Nepal/Bhutan, or c) a Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962, to settle permanently, or d) a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania (formerly Tanganyika and Zanzibar), Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, and Vietnam to settle permanently in India.
- Age Limit: The age limit for the SSC CHSL exam is generally between 18 and 27 years. However, age relaxations are provided for candidates belonging to certain categories, such as SC/ST, OBC, PwD (Persons with Disabilities), etc.
- Educational Qualifications: Candidates must have completed their 10+2 (or equivalent) examination from a recognized board or university.
Exam Pattern
The SSC CHSL exam consists of three stages: Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3. Let's discuss each stage in detail:
- Tier 1 (Computer-Based Examination):
- Mode: Online (Computer-Based Test).
- Duration: 60 minutes.
- Total Marks: 200.
- Subjects/Sections: The exam consists of four sections -
i) General Intelligence and Reasoning
ii) General Awareness
iii) Quantitative Aptitude iv) English Comprehension. - Question Type: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs).
- Negative Marking: 0.50 marks deducted for each incorrect answer.
- Language: The exam is conducted in both English and Hindi, except for the English Comprehension section.
- Tier 2 (Descriptive Paper):
- Mode: Pen and Paper mode (Offline).
- Duration: 60 minutes.
- Total Marks: 100.
- Paper Type: It is a descriptive paper in which candidates have to write an essay (200-250 words) and a letter/application (approximately 150-200 words).
- Language: The paper can be attempted in either English or Hindi.
- Tier 3 (Skill Test/Typing Test):
- Mode: Skill Test for DEO and Typing Test for LDC/JSA and PA/SA.
- Skill Test: For candidates applying for the Data Entry Operator (DEO) post, a skill test is conducted to check their data entry speed.
- Typing Test: For candidates applying for the Lower Divisional Clerk (LDC)/Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA) and Postal Assistant (PA)/Sorting Assistant (SA) posts, a typing test is conducted to assess their typing speed.
- Language: The typing test is conducted in both English and Hindi.
Syllabus
The syllabus for the SSC CHSL exam varies for each tier. Here is a brief overview of the topics covered:
- Tier 1 Syllabus:
- General Intelligence and Reasoning: Analogy, Classification, Coding-Decoding, Puzzle, Matrix, Word Formation, Venn Diagram, Direction & Distance, Blood Relation, Series, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning, etc.
- General Awareness: Current Affairs, History, Geography, Indian Polity, Economics, Science, etc.
- Quantitative Aptitude: Number System, Simplification, Ratio & Proportion, Percentage, Average, Profit & Loss, Time & Work, Speed, Distance & Time, Mensuration, Geometry, Trigonometry, Data Interpretation, etc.
- English Comprehension: Reading Comprehension, Fill in the Blanks, Spellings, Phrase or Idiom Meaning, One-word Substitution, Sentence Improvement, Error Spotting, etc.
- Tier 2 Syllabus:
- Essay Writing: Candidates need to write an essay on a given topic, covering aspects like social issues, current affairs, or any general topic of interest.
- Letter/Application Writing: Candidates need to write a formal letter or application based on a given scenario.
Note: The syllabus mentioned above is not exhaustive and may vary. Candidates are advised to refer to the official SSC CHSL notification for the detailed syllabus.
Application Process
The application process for the SSC CHSL exam is conducted online through the official website of the Staff Selection Commission. Candidates need to fill out the application form, upload necessary documents, and pay the required application fee.
Admit Card and Result
The admit card for each stage of the SSC CHSL exam is released separately on the official website. Candidates can download their admit cards using their registration number and date of birth. Similarly, the results of each stage are declared on the official website, and candidates can check their results by logging in with their credentials.
