Updates as of September 22, 2026
The computer-based examination for the Stenographer Grade C and D Examination 2026 was held from 9 to 15 September 2026 across multiple shifts, with admit cards released on 7 September. The answer key is expected within roughly a fortnight of the last exam day. Neither the computer-based test result nor the skill test schedule has been announced.
Adda247 (as reported)Vacancies for the cycle have been revised to 1,170, comprising 1,021 Stenographer Grade C posts and 149 Stenographer Grade D posts. The Commission's original notice advertised approximately 731 vacancies, so the revised figure is materially larger and changes the likely cut-off arithmetic.
Adda247 (as reported)The official notice of advertisement opened applications on 24 April 2026 and closed them at 23:00 on 15 May 2026, with online fee payment closing at 23:00 on 16 May. The application fee is Rs 100, with women and SC, ST, PwBD and eligible ex-servicemen candidates exempt. The notice indicated a July to August 2026 examination.
SSC notice of advertisement (official PDF)Age is reckoned as on 1 August 2026 and differs by grade: 18 to 30 years for Stenographer Grade C and 18 to 27 years for Grade D, with relaxations of five years for SC and ST, three years for OBC, three years after service deduction for ex-servicemen and ten to fifteen years for PwBD candidates depending on category.
SSC notice of advertisement (official PDF)Applications for this cycle went through SSC's rebuilt portal with a One-Time Registration using Aadhaar-based authentication and live photograph capture. Candidates carrying registrations from the Commission's previous system needed to complete the new OTR before the form could be submitted.
Testbook (as reported)SSC Stenographer paper and skill test at a glance
| Stage | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| CBT: General Intelligence and Reasoning | 50 | 50 | Part of a 2-hour paper (30 minutes indicated) |
| CBT: General Awareness | 50 | 50 | Part of a 2-hour paper (30 minutes indicated) |
| CBT: English Language and Comprehension | 100 | 100 | Part of a 2-hour paper (60 minutes indicated) |
| Negative marking in the CBT | All 200 | 0.25 deducted per wrong answer | Not applicable |
| Skill test, Stenographer Grade C | Dictation then transcription | Qualifying, 100 words per minute | 40 minutes English, 55 minutes with scribe |
| Skill test, Stenographer Grade D | Dictation then transcription | Qualifying, 80 words per minute | 50 minutes English, 70 minutes with scribe |
The English section alone carries 100 of the 200 CBT marks, which is why this recruitment rewards language accuracy more than most SSC papers. The skill test is qualifying rather than score-bearing, but it is the stage that removes most candidates. The language for the skill test, English or Hindi, is chosen at the time of application and cannot be changed later.
Source: SSC notice of advertisement
Dates and windows
| What | When | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Online application window | 24 April to 15 May 2026, 23:00 | Closed |
| Last date for online fee payment | 16 May 2026, 23:00 | Closed |
| Exam window indicated in the notice | July to August 2026 | Closed |
| Admit card for the computer-based test | 7 September 2026 | Closed |
| Computer-based examination (revised) | 9 to 15 September 2026 | Closed |
| Provisional answer key | Expected roughly 10 to 15 days after the exam | Tentative |
| CBT result and final merit list | Not yet announced | Tentative |
| Stenography skill test | Not yet announced | Tentative |
The examination slipped from the July to August window stated in the notice to 9 to 15 September 2026. Skill test dates for this cycle have not been declared; for the preceding cycle the skill test was reported as held on 28 and 29 January 2026, which gives a rough sense of the interval between the paper and the skill test rather than a forecast.
What this means for your preparation
Candidates routinely treat the computer-based paper as the exam and the skill test as a formality that can be picked up afterwards. The opposite is true. The written paper is a screening stage of modest difficulty by SSC standards, and the shorthand test at 100 or 80 words per minute is what eliminates most of those who clear it.
The skill test is where the recruitment is decided
Shorthand is dictated for ten minutes and then transcribed on a computer, with Grade C dictated at 100 words per minute and Grade D at 80. Grade C candidates get 40 minutes to transcribe in English and Grade D get 50 minutes, extended to 55 and 70 minutes respectively for candidates using a scribe. The test is qualifying only, so no advantage accrues from exceeding the speed, but the permitted error margin is narrow and transcription accuracy, not raw dictation speed, is the usual cause of failure. A candidate who can take dictation but cannot read back their own outlines under time pressure will not clear it.
English carries half the written paper
The computer-based test has 200 questions for 200 marks, but the split is uneven: 100 questions come from English Language and Comprehension against 50 each from General Intelligence and Reasoning and General Awareness. Half the paper therefore turns on grammar, error spotting, vocabulary, cloze and comprehension. Negative marking is 0.25 per wrong answer. For candidates coming from a shorthand background rather than a competitive-exam background, this is the section that repays preparation most, and it is also the section whose skills transfer directly into the transcription stage, where spelling and punctuation are marked.
Grade C and Grade D are two different competitions
The two grades differ in more than speed. The age band for Grade C is 18 to 30 years against 18 to 27 for Grade D, reckoned as on 1 August 2026, and the revised vacancy position is heavily weighted to Grade C at 1,021 posts against 149 for Grade D. That distribution runs against the intuition that the lower-speed grade is the easier route, because far fewer Grade D posts are available. Candidates who can hold 100 words per minute reliably should not be planning around Grade D on the assumption that it is the softer target in this cycle.
The language choice is locked at application
The skill test can be taken in English or Hindi, and the choice is made on the application form rather than on the day. Transcription times differ by language, and the notice sets out separate durations. A candidate who has practised Hindi shorthand but ticked English, or the reverse, has no remedy at the skill test stage. This is one of several irreversible choices made during a three-week application window, alongside post preferences and category, which is the practical argument for completing the form early rather than on the final evening.
What to do in the gap before the skill test
The CBT was written in the week of 9 to 15 September 2026 and neither the result nor a skill test date exists yet. Judging by the previous cycle, where the skill test was reported for late January, the interval can run to several months, but it can also be short once results appear. The sensible use of the period is daily dictation practice at slightly above target speed followed by timed transcription, because transcription is the trained skill that decays fastest. Checking the provisional answer key inside the objection window is the only other action available now.
Common questions
What is the typing and shorthand speed required for SSC Stenographer?
Shorthand is dictated for ten minutes at 100 words per minute for Stenographer Grade C and 80 words per minute for Grade D. It is then transcribed on a computer: Grade C candidates get 40 minutes in English and Grade D get 50 minutes, extended to 55 and 70 minutes respectively for candidates permitted a scribe. The test is qualifying, so exceeding the required speed earns no extra marks, but transcription errors beyond the permitted margin disqualify.
How many vacancies are there in SSC Stenographer 2026?
The revised vacancy position reported is 1,170 posts, made up of 1,021 Stenographer Grade C and 149 Stenographer Grade D. The Commission's original notice of advertisement carried approximately 731 vacancies, so the revision is substantial. The revised split is heavily weighted towards Grade C, which means the higher-speed grade has by far the larger number of openings in this cycle. The revised figure comes from coaching-site reporting rather than a fetched Commission document.
When is the SSC Stenographer 2026 skill test?
No date has been announced. The computer-based test was held from 9 to 15 September 2026, and the skill test follows the CBT result, which has not been declared. For the preceding cycle the skill test was reported as conducted on 28 and 29 January 2026, which suggests the gap can run to several months, but that is a previous cycle's schedule and not a forecast for this one. Watch the Commission's notice board for the shortlisting notice.
Is there negative marking in the SSC Stenographer written exam?
Yes, 0.25 marks are deducted for each wrong answer in the computer-based test. The paper has 200 questions for 200 marks over two hours, split as 50 questions of General Intelligence and Reasoning, 50 of General Awareness and 100 of English Language and Comprehension. There is no negative marking in the stenography skill test, which is assessed as qualifying or not qualifying on transcription accuracy against the permitted error margin rather than on marks.
What is the age limit for SSC Stenographer Grade C and Grade D?
Reckoned as on 1 August 2026 under the current notice, Stenographer Grade C requires 18 to 30 years and Grade D requires 18 to 27 years. Relaxations are five years for SC and ST candidates, three years for OBC, three years after deduction of military service for ex-servicemen, and ten to fifteen years for persons with benchmark disabilities depending on the category combination. The narrower Grade D band means some candidates are eligible for Grade C only.
Can I choose Hindi for the SSC Stenographer skill test?
Yes, the skill test may be taken in English or Hindi, but the choice is made on the application form and cannot be changed afterwards. Transcription durations differ between the two languages under the notice, so the time available on the day depends on what was selected months earlier. Candidates who practise in one language and have selected the other on the form have no remedy at the skill test stage, which makes this one of the more consequential entries on the form.
