SSC Stenographer
Recruits Stenographer Grade C (Group B, non-gazetted) and Grade D (Group C) to take dictation and prepare transcripts for officers across central ministries and departments — a shorthand-skill-based route into the central secretariat after Class 12.
Eligibility
Passed Class 12 from a recognised board, with working shorthand skill in English or Hindi. Age 18–27 years for Grade D and 18–30 years for Grade C (reckoned as on 1 August 2026), with standard category relaxations. No attempt limit within the age band.
Age limit: 18–27 years (Grade D); 18–30 years (Grade C)
Exam pattern
Stage 1 is a computer-based exam: 200 questions, 200 marks, 2 hours — General Intelligence & Reasoning (50 marks), General Awareness (50 marks) and English Language & Comprehension (100 marks), with minus 0.25 per wrong answer. Stage 2 is a qualifying stenography skill test: a 10-minute dictation at 100 wpm for Grade C or 80 wpm for Grade D, transcribed on computer within 40/55 minutes (English/Hindi) for Grade C and 50/65 minutes for Grade D. Permissible transcription errors are roughly 7% for Grade C and 10% for Grade D. Merit is drawn from the written exam among skill-test qualifiers.
Syllabus at a glance
The written paper is half English — grammar, vocabulary, sentence correction, comprehension — making it the decisive section. Reasoning covers standard verbal/non-verbal types and General Awareness is static-GK-heavy with current affairs. The shorthand skill itself (Pitman-style outlines, speed building, accurate transcription) is tested separately and must be built over months of dictation practice.
Upcoming dates
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Notification released | 24 Apr 2026 | confirmed |
| Application window (closed) | 24 Apr – 15 May 2026 | confirmed |
| Computer-based exam | Jul–Aug 2026 (exact dates awaited) | expected |
| Stenography skill test | Late 2026 – early 2027 | tba |
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 Mirror of Common Errors — Ashok Kumar Singh
- Word Power Made Easy — Norman Lewis
- Lucent's General Knowledge — Binay Karna & Manwendra Mukul
- Pitman Shorthand Instructor and Key — Isaac Pitman
- Kiran's SSC Stenographer Grade C & D Solved Papers — Kiran Prakashan
How toppers play it
- English is 100 of the 200 written marks — grammar rules, vocabulary and comprehension speed are what actually build your merit rank.
- Train dictation at 10 wpm above your target speed (110 for Grade C, 90 for Grade D) so exam-day dictation feels slow; speed built any other way collapses under pressure.
- The skill test is about transcription accuracy, not raw shorthand speed — the 7%/10% error caps are strict, so always practise the full cycle: dictation, outline reading, computer transcription.
- Transcribe on a computer from the start; many candidates who practise on paper lose minutes to unfamiliar typing during the timed transcription window.
- With minus 0.25 negative marking in the written paper, attempt reasonably freely, and mine GA PYQs — SSC recycles static-GK themes across its exams.