SSC SSA Recruitment 2026 – Apply Online
Post Name : Senior Secretariat Assistant (SSA) / Upper Division Clerk (UDC)
Total Vacancies : 65
Important Dates
Eligible departmental candidates applying for the SSC Senior Secretariat Assistant Recruitment 2026 must keep these dates in mind. The application window is open for approximately three weeks, and hard copies of the submitted application must separately reach SSC Northern Region within the forwarding deadline. Missing the departmental forwarding deadline makes the candidature void even if the online application was submitted on time
Notification Published : 25 June 2026
Online Application Start Date : 25 June 2026
Last Date to Apply Online : 16 July 2026 (up to 11:00 PM / 2300 hours)
Last Date for Receipt of Hard Copy (General) : 23 July 2026 (up to 6:00 PM / 1800 hours)
Last Date for Hard Copy from Abroad / A&N / Lakshadweep : 30 July 2026 (up to 6:00 PM / 1800 hours)
Computer Based Examination (Tentative) : August 2026
341 Posts: SSC ASO Recruitment 2026, Apply Online
The last date to submit the SSC SSA online application is 16 July 2026. After online submission, the printed application with all documents must be forwarded through the Head of Department or Head of Office to the Regional Director, SSC (Northern Region), New Delhi, reaching by 23 July 2026 (6:00 PM).
Post-Wise Details
The SSC UDC Vacancy 2026 covers 65 seats in the Central Secretariat Clerical Service (CSCS) under the Department of Personnel and Training. Category-wise breakup (UR/SC/ST/PwBD) has not been mentioned in the notification – the notice states that category-wise vacancies will be informed in due course. Candidates should check the official SSC website for the updated category-wise vacancy details.
| Sl. No. | Service / Cadre | Total Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central Secretariat Clerical Service (CSCS), DoPT | 65 |
Note: Category-wise vacancy details (UR, SC, ST, PwBD) will be communicated by the Service/Cadre Controlling Authority in due course.
Eligibility Criteria 2026 – Who Can Apply
The SSC SSA / UDC Limited Departmental Competitive Examination 2025 is open only to regularly appointed Lower Division Clerks (JSA/LDC) serving in the Central Secretariat Clerical Service (CSCS) cadre of DoPT. The crucial date for counting approved service is 1 August 2025. Candidates must satisfy all the following conditions before applying.
Length of Service Requirement
A candidate must have rendered not less than five years’ approved and continuous service in the Lower Division Clerk Grade as on 01 August 2025. However, if the candidate was appointed to the LDC grade through a competitive examination (including a Limited Departmental Competitive Examination), the results of such examination must have been declared at least five years before the crucial date and the candidate must have rendered at least four years of approved and continuous service in that grade.
Typewriting Test Condition
Unless exempted, the candidate must have passed the typewriting test held by UPSC or SSC for confirmation in the Lower Division Clerk grade on or before the date of this notification. Candidates who have been granted exemption from the typewriting test must quote the order number and date of such exemption in the application form.
Deputation and Transfer Provisions
LDCs on deputation to ex-cadre posts with the approval of the competent authority are eligible to apply if they otherwise fulfill all eligibility criteria. However, a candidate who has been appointed to an ex-cadre post or another service on transfer without retaining a lien in the LDC grade is not eligible. A candidate who resigns, quits service, or whose services are terminated after applying will not be eligible for appointment on the result of this examination.
Step-by-Step Process :
The SSC SSA Apply Online 2026 process is carried out in two stages on the SSC portal – first by completing One Time Registration (OTR), then by filling the actual examination application. Candidates who registered on the old SSC website (ssc.nic.in) must create a new OTR on the new website (ssc.gov.in), as the old OTR is not compatible with the new portal. After submitting online, a hard copy must also be forwarded through the department.
Visit the official SSC website: https://ssc.gov.in
Complete One Time Registration (OTR) on the new SSC website if not already done. Click “Register Now” under Login or Register.
Opt for Aadhaar-Based Authentication during OTR as advised by SSC.
After successful OTR, log in using your Registration Number and password.
Click the “Apply” link under “Senior Secretariat Assistant / Upper Division Clerk Grade Limited Departmental Competitive Examination, 2025 (CSCS, DoPT)” in the Live Exam tab.
Select your Service/Cadre as Central Secretariat Clerical Service, DoPT.
Enter your joining date in the feeder service and length of service. Verify eligibility as per Para 30 of the Notice.
Provide details of typewriting test – date passed, roll number, or exemption order details (S. No. 30.1 to 30.4 in the application form).
Capture a live photograph using your webcam or smartphone as instructed – no pre-existing photograph is permitted.
Upload your scanned signature in JPEG format (10-20 KB, dimensions: 6 cm × 2 cm).
Upload mandatory documents: Service Book first page, service particulars, and disability certificate (if applicable).
Preview all entries carefully and submit the application by clicking Submit Application.
Take a printout of the submitted application.
Forward the printed application with required documents through your Head of Department / Head of Office to SSC (NR), New Delhi, reaching by 23 July 2026 (6:00 PM).
Critical reminder: Only those applications forwarded by the Head of Department/Head of Office will be considered for admission to the examination. Online submission alone is not sufficient.
Scheme of Examination :
The SSC Senior Secretariat Assistant exam 2026 is conducted in two parts. Part-I is a Computer Based Examination (CBE) of 200 marks with four subjects, each carrying 50 marks and 50 questions. Part-II is an evaluation of service records (APARs) worth 100 marks. The final rank of the candidate is determined by adding both Part-I and Part-II scores.
Part-I: Computer Based Examination (200 Marks)
| Subject | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comprehension and General English | 50 | 50 | 3 hours (4 hours for eligible scribe candidates) |
| Parliamentary Procedure | 50 | 50 | |
| General Knowledge | 50 | 50 | |
| Noting and Drafting | 50 | 50 | |
| Total | 200 | 200 |
All questions are of Objective Type Multiple Choice format. There is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer. Candidates must attempt the examination in the language (English or Hindi) opted in the application form, except the “General English” section of the first subject, which must be attempted in English only. No Braille question paper will be provided.
Syllabus for Part-I CBE
| Subject | Syllabus |
|---|---|
| Comprehension and General English | Simple composition and Applied Grammar |
| Parliamentary Procedure | Simple questions on Parliament sessions and handling of Parliament questions |
| General Knowledge | Current events, everyday observation and general information about India |
| Noting and Drafting | Questions from Chapters 7, 8, and 9 of the latest CSMOP – Guidelines on Noting, Communication, Forms, Channels, Procedure, and Drafting of Communications |
Part-II: Evaluation of Record of Service (100 Marks)
One hundred marks are earmarked for evaluation of Annual Performance Appraisal Reports (APARs). Only candidates who qualify Part-I (CBE) will be called for APAR evaluation. Marks from Part-II are added to the Part-I score to determine final merit. Once APARs are evaluated, no request for change in grading will be entertained.
Selection Process 2026
The SSC SSA / UDC selection process 2026 is a two-stage merit-based system. Candidates must first clear the Computer Based Examination and are then shortlisted for APAR evaluation. The final rank is based on the combined aggregate of both stages. This is a competitive examination – success does not confer any right to selection unless the cadre authority is also satisfied about the candidate’s suitability.
Stage 1 – Computer Based Examination (Part-I): 200 marks across 4 objective-type subjects. The Commission may fix minimum qualifying marks at its discretion.
Stage 2 – Evaluation of Service Records (Part-II): 100 marks based on APAR evaluation. Only Part-I qualifiers are considered.
Final Merit: Aggregate of Part-I (200 marks) + Part-II (100 marks) = 300 marks total. Names of selected candidates will be arranged in order of merit for inclusion in the Select List of SSA/UDC of CSCS cadre.
Tie-Breaking Rules
When two or more candidates secure equal aggregate marks, ties are resolved in this order: (i) Marks in CBE overall, (ii) Marks in Comprehension and General English, (iii) Marks in Parliamentary Procedure, (iv) Marks in General Knowledge, (v) Date of birth – older candidate ranked higher, (vi) Alphabetical order of names.
Pay Scale – SSC SSA UDC Salary 2026
Candidates selected through the SSC Senior Secretariat Assistant Recruitment 2026 will be placed in the Pay Level-4 of the 7th Pay Commission Pay Matrix. The pay range for this Group C Non-Gazetted post is Rs. 25,500 to Rs. 81,100 per month. In addition to basic pay, all applicable central government allowances such as DA, HRA, and TA are admissible as per government rules.
Documents Required for SSC SSA UDC Application 2026
Candidates must upload the following documents during the online application process and also enclose self-attested photocopies (not originals) with the printed hard copy forwarded through the department. The application will be rejected if documents are missing or incomplete.
| Document | Required For |
|---|---|
| Certified true copy of first page of Service Book (attested by HoD/HoO) | All candidates |
| Certified particulars of service (posts held, scale of pay, nature of appointment) | All candidates |
| Typewriting test details – date, roll number, or exemption order number and date | All candidates (unless exempted) |
| Certificate of Disability (as per Annexure-VII or Annexure-VIII) | PwBD candidates only |
| Certificate for physical limitation to write (Annexure-II or Annexure-III) | Candidates availing scribe under Para 35(b)/(c) |
| Live photograph captured via webcam/smartphone on portal | All candidates |
| Scanned signature in JPEG format (10-20 KB) | All candidates |
Common Mistakes to Avoid – SSC SSA UDC Apply Online 2026
Based on the structure and requirements of this departmental exam, candidates must avoid the following errors that commonly lead to rejection or disqualification from the SSC Upper Division Clerk Limited Departmental Exam 2026.
Skipping the typewriting test details: The application requires specific information about whether the typewriting test was passed or exempted, including roll number and date. Leaving this blank or providing incorrect details is a common reason for application rejection.
Not creating a new OTR on ssc.gov.in: The OTR created on the old website (ssc.nic.in) is not valid on the new SSC website. Trying to log in with old credentials will fail – create a fresh OTR on ssc.gov.in.
Missing the departmental forwarding deadline: Submitting the online application on time is not enough. The printed copy must reach SSC (NR), New Delhi by 23 July 2026 through the HoD/HoO. Many candidates miss this step assuming online submission is sufficient.
Uploading a pre-existing photograph: The portal only accepts live photographs captured at the time of application. Uploading a pre-taken photo leads to summary rejection of the application.
Miniature or blurred signatures: The signature must be clearly visible and occupy at least 80% of the allocated box. Miniature, faded, or rotated signatures are the leading reasons for application rejection.
Applying without verifying service eligibility: Candidates must confirm that they have rendered at least five years of approved and continuous service in the LDC/JSA grade as on 01 August 2025 before applying.
Name/date of birth mismatch: Details in the application – name, father’s name, date of birth – must exactly match the Matriculation certificate. Any discrepancy can cancel candidature.
Carrying electronic devices to the exam: Possession of mobile phones, Bluetooth devices, or any electronic gadget in the examination hall attracts a debarment of 3-5 years from all SSC examinations.
Changing appearance before the exam: Candidates must ensure their appearance on exam day closely matches the photograph in the application form. Examination staff can deny entry if there is a visible mismatch.
Territorial Army Recruitment Rally 2026
Important Links :
Apply Online: Click here
Official Notification : Click here
Official Website: Click here
Join JK Updates WhatsApp Channel