SSC Stenographer
Recruits stenographers for central ministries and departments — Grade 'C' (Group B, non-gazetted) and Grade 'D' (Group C) — combining a written exam with a shorthand skill test.
Eligibility
Candidates must have passed Class 12 from a recognised board. Age limits are 18 to 30 years for Grade 'C' and 18 to 27 years for Grade 'D', with standard category relaxations. Shorthand proficiency in English or Hindi is essential since the skill test is eliminatory; there is no attempt limit within the age window.
Age limit: 18–30 years (Grade C); 18–27 years (Grade D); standard relaxations
Exam pattern
Stage one is a computer-based exam: 200 questions, 200 marks, 2 hours — General Intelligence and Reasoning (50), General Awareness (50) and English Language and Comprehension (100) — with 0.25 mark deducted per wrong answer. Stage two is the qualifying-but-eliminatory skill test: a 10-minute dictation at 100 words per minute for Grade 'C' and 80 wpm for Grade 'D' (English or Hindi), transcribed on a computer within 40–55 minutes depending on grade and language. Final merit is drawn from CBE marks among skill-test qualifiers.
Syllabus at a glance
English carries half the paper: grammar, vocabulary, synonyms-antonyms, sentence structure, error spotting and comprehension. Reasoning covers verbal and non-verbal items — analogies, series, coding, judgement. General Awareness includes current affairs, polity, history, geography, economy and general science. The skill test assesses shorthand speed and transcription accuracy rather than academic knowledge.
Upcoming dates
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Notification released | 24 Apr 2026 | confirmed |
| Application window (closed) | 24 Apr – 15 May 2026 | confirmed |
| Computer-based exam (Grade C & D) | 9–12 Sep 2026 | confirmed |
| Answer key and result | Oct–Nov 2026 | expected |
| Shorthand skill test | Dec 2026 – Jan 2027 | expected |
Expected dates follow the usual calendar; confirm on the official notification before planning.
Free prep material
Standard books
- Objective General English — S.P. Bakshi
- A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning — R.S. Aggarwal
- Lucent's General Knowledge — Dr Binay Karna et al.
- Kiran's SSC Stenographer Grade C & D Solved Papers — Kiran Prakashan
- Word Power Made Easy — Norman Lewis
How toppers play it
- English alone is 100 of 200 marks — treat grammar rules, vocabulary and comprehension as the core syllabus, not a side section.
- Take daily timed dictations at 10 wpm above your target speed (110 for Grade C, 90 for Grade D) so exam-day dictation feels slow.
- Practise transcription on a computer, not on paper — the skill test is typed, and keyboard fluency loses candidates as often as shorthand speed.
- With 200 questions in 120 minutes and 0.25 negative marking, keep a strict 35-second-per-question rhythm and skip rather than wrestle.
- Apply for both grades if age-eligible; the CBE is common and preferences are set later.