SSC Exams 2024: Everything You Need To Know

The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) is a prominent gateway to secure government jobs in India. It conducts a variety of examinations to recruit staff for Group B (non-gazetted) and Group C (gazetted) positions across numerous ministries, departments, and subordinate offices under the Government of India.

These positions span diverse sectors like finance, railways, postal services, and many more. For this purpose, the Staff Selection Commission organizes SSC exams every year, including SSC Stenographer, SSC GD, SSD JHT, SSC CHSL, SSC CGL, SSC MTS, SSC JE, etc.

What is the SSC Exam?

The SSC Exam isn’t a single exam but rather a series of examinations conducted by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) of India. These exams recruit staff for various Group B (non-gazetted) and Group C (gazetted) positions in government ministries, departments, and offices.

There are multiple SSC exams, each tailored to a specific educational background and targeted towards different levels of government positions.

List of SSC Exams

SSC conducts a wide range of exams, as summarized in the following table:

SSC Exam Name	Educational Qualification	Minimum Exam Stages	Target Positions
Combined Graduate Level (CGL)	Graduation (Bachelor’s Degree)	Four	Assistant Section Officer (ASO), Income Tax Inspector, Sub-Inspector in Central Excise
Combined Higher Secondary Level (CHSL)	10+2 (Higher Secondary)	Three	Lower Division Clerk (LDC), Data Entry Operator, Postal Assistant
Junior Engineer (JE)	Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering (Civil, Mechanical, or Electrical)	Two	Junior Engineer (Civil, Mechanical, or Electrical)
Stenographer Grade ‘C’ and ‘D’	Graduation (for Grade C), 10+2 (for Grade D)	Two (Written Test & Skill Test)	Stenographer
Multi Tasking Staff (MTS)	Matriculation (10th Pass)	One (Computer Based Test)	Multi Tasking Staff
Selection Post (SI)	Bachelor’s Degree	Three (may include PET, ME, PBT, and Interview)	Sub-Inspector (SI) in Central Police Organizations (CPOs) and Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASIs) in Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs)

Let’s discuss each of these exams in more detail –

Combined Graduate Level (CGL)

The SSC Combined Graduate Level (CGL) Examination is a multi-tiered exam conducted by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) of India. It’s a highly sought-after exam by graduates seeking prestigious Group B and Group C positions in various government ministries, departments, and organizations.

Eligibility

Open to graduates (bachelor’s degree holders) of any stream from a recognized university. Age limits and other eligibility criteria may vary slightly each year.

Exam Pattern

The CGL Exam is conducted in three stages:

Tier-I (Computer Based Test)

This is a computer-based online exam with multiple-choice questions (MCQs) testing General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, and English Comprehension. It’s a qualifying exam, and marks obtained here are not counted for the final merit list.

Here are the subjects you need to prepare for this exam –

S.No.	Sections	No. of Questions	Total Marks	Time Allotted
1	General Intelligence and Reasoning	25	50	A cumulative time of 60 minutes
2	General Awareness	25	50
3	Quantitative Aptitude	25	50
4	English Comprehension	25	50
Total		100	200

Note: There will be a negative marking of .50 marks for each wrong answer.

Tier-II

Another computer-based online exam with MCQs. It may have sections on Statistics, Economics, and/or English Language Comprehension (depending on the post applied for). This tier carries weightage for the final merit list.

There would be up to two exams, depending on the post you applied for –

S.No.	Papers	Time Allotted
1	Paper I: (Compulsory for all posts)	2 hours 30 minutes
2	Paper II: Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) and Statistical Investigator Gr. II	2 hours

Here are the subjects you need to prepare for these exams –

SSC CGL Tier 2 Exam Pattern [Paper 1]
Sessions	Sections	Modules	Subject	No. of Questions	Marks	Weightage	Duration
Session I	Section I	Module-I	Mathematical Abilities	30	90	23%	1 hour
		Module-II	Reasoning and General Intelligence	30	90	23%
	Section II	Module-I	English Language and Comprehension	45	135	35%	1 hour
		Module-II	General Awareness	25	75	19%
	Section III	Module-I	Computer Knowledge Test	20	60	Qualifying	15 minutes
Session II		Module-II	Data Entry Speed Test	One Data Entry Task		Qualifying	15 minutes

SSC CGL Tier 2 Exam Pattern [Paper 2]
Papers	Sections	No. of question	Maximum Marks	Duration
Paper II	Statistics	100	200	2 hours

Note: When taking the SSC exam, incorrect answers in Sections I, II, and Module I of Section III of Paper-I will result in a deduction of 1 mark each. Paper-II follows a similar system but with a penalty of 0.50 marks for each wrong answer.

Tier-III (Skill Test/ Document Verification)

This final stage may involve a skill test (typing, computer proficiency) for specific posts and document verification to confirm your eligibility.

SSC CGL Updates:

• SSC CGL Exam Date and Exam Pattern 2024
• SSC CGL Tier 1 Result 2024: Result to be Announced
• Download SSC CGL Admit Card 2024
• SSC CGL Recruitment 2024 for Various Posts

Combined Higher Secondary Level (CHSL)

The Combined Higher Secondary Level (CHSL) Examination, conducted by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC), is your ticket to a government job in India if you have a 10+2 (Higher Secondary) qualification.

Eligibility

Open to candidates who have completed 10+2 (Higher Secondary) education from a recognized board. Age limits and other eligibility criteria may vary slightly each year, so be sure to check the official SSC website for the latest information.

Exam Pattern

The CHSL Exam consists of two tiers:

Tier-I (Computer Based Exam)

SSC CHSL Tier 1 Exam
Section	Subject	No of Questions	Max Marks	Exam Duration
1	General Intelligence	25	50	60 minutes (80 Minutes for PWD candidates)
2	General Awareness	25	50
3	Quantitative Aptitude (Basic Arithmetic Skill)	25	50
4	English Language (Basic Knowledge)	25	50
Total		100	200

Note: There would be a negative marking of 0.50 marks for each incorrect answer.

Tier-II

SSC CHSL Tier 2 Exam Pattern 2024
Session	Section	Modules	Subject	No. of Questions	Marks	Time
Session-I (2 hours and 15 minutes)	Section 1	Module-1	Mathematical Abilities	30	60*3 = 180	1 hour
		Module-2	Reasoning and General Intelligence	30
	Section 2	Module-1	English Language and Comprehension	40	60*3 = 180	1 hour
		Module-2	General Awareness	20
	Section 3	Module-1	Computer Knowledge Module	15	15*3 = 45	15 minutes
Session-II	Section 3	Module-2	Skill Test/ Typing Test Module- Part A- Skill Test for DEOs in Department/ MinistryPart B: Skill Test for DEOs except in Department/ MinistryPart C: Typing Test for LDC/ JSA	—	—	15 minutes15 minutes10 minutes

Note: There will be a Session I negative marking of 1 mark for each wrong answer in Section 1, Section 2, and Module I of Section 3.

SSC Junior Engineer (JE)

The SSC Junior Engineer (JE) Examination is a gateway for engineering graduates to secure coveted technical positions within the Indian government. Conducted by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC), this exam caters specifically to engineers in three main disciplines: Civil, Mechanical, and Electrical.

Eligibility

You must possess a valid bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Civil, Mechanical, or Electrical) from a recognized university.

The SSC JE Exam is a two-tiered process:

Tier-I (Computer-Based Test)

This online exam consists of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) testing your knowledge in various engineering disciplines relevant to your chosen field (Civil, Mechanical, or Electrical). It may also include sections on General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Awareness, and Basic English Comprehension. This tier is qualifying, and marks obtained here are not considered for the final merit list.

Subject	Number of Questions	Maximum Marks	Duration & Timings
General Awareness	50	50	2 Hours
General Intelligence and Reasoning	50	50
Part A- General Engineering (Civil & Structural) or Part B- General Engineering (Electrical) or Part C- General Engineering (Mechanical) or	100	100
Total	200	200

There will be a negative marking of 0.25 marks (revised) for each wrong answer in Paper-I.

Tier-II (Technical Paper)

If you qualify for Tier-I, you’ll proceed to this pen-and-paper exam that focuses heavily on the technical aspects of your engineering discipline. The specific syllabus will vary depending on your chosen field (Civil, Mechanical, or Electrical).

Subjects	No. of Questions	Maximum Marks	Duration & Timings
Part A- General Engineering(Civil & Structural) OR Part B- General Engineering (Electrical) OR Part C- General Engineering (Mechanical)	100	300	2 Hours

Stenographer Grade ‘C’ and ‘D’

The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) conducts the Stenographer Grade ‘C’ and ‘D’ Examination to recruit stenographers for various government offices across India. This exam caters to candidates with strong stenography skills, allowing them to build a stable career in the government sector.

Eligibility

• Educational Qualification: You’ll need a minimum educational qualification depending on the grade you’re applying for:
  • Stenographer Grade ‘C’: Graduation (Bachelor’s Degree) in any stream from a recognized university.
  • Stenographer Grade ‘D’: 10+2 (Higher Secondary) education from a recognized board.
• Stenography Skills: This is the most crucial aspect. You must possess a minimum shorthand speed of:
  • Stenographer Grade ‘C’: 100 words per minute (wpm) in English or Hindi (as opted by you).
  • Stenographer Grade ‘D’: 80 words per minute (wpm) in English or Hindi (as opted by you).

Exam Pattern

The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) conducts the Stenographer exam in two stages as part of the SSC Stenographer Selection Process:

• Written Test: This online exam consists of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) testing your knowledge in:
  • General Intelligence & Reasoning
  • General Awareness
  • English Language & Comprehension
• Skill Test: This is the heart of the exam. You’ll be given a dictation passage for 10 minutes in English or Hindi (based on your choice during application) at the designated speed (100 wpm for Grade C, 80 wpm for Grade D). You’ll then be required to transcribe the passage accurately within the stipulated time.

SSC MTS

The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) conducts the Multi Tasking Staff (MTS) Examination to recruit staff for various Group C posts across numerous Indian government ministries, departments, and offices. This exam is a popular option for candidates seeking a stable government job without requiring a higher educational qualification.

Eligibility

• Educational Qualification: You’ll need a minimum qualification of Matriculation (10th pass) from a recognized board.

Exam Pattern

The SSC MTS Exam is a single-tier, computer-based online exam:

• Computer Based Test (CBT): This online exam consists of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) testing your knowledge in:
  • General Intelligence & Reasoning
  • General Awareness
  • Numerical Ability
  • Basic Computer Knowledge

Selection Post (SI)

The SSC Sub-Inspector (SI) Examination, also known as the Selection Post (SI) Examination, is conducted by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) to recruit candidates for prestigious Group B posts as Sub-Inspectors (SI) in Central Police Organizations (CPOs) and Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASIs) in Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).

Eligibility

• Educational Qualification: A Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university is mandatory.
• Physical Requirements: Candidates must meet specific physical standards like height, weight, chest expansion, and eyesight.
• Age Limits: Age limits vary based on category (General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS) and can change slightly each year.

Exam Pattern

The SSC SI Exam is a multi-tier process, typically consisting of three stages:

• Stage-I: Computer Based Test (CBT): This online exam tests your knowledge in:
  • General Intelligence & Reasoning
  • General Awareness
  • Quantitative Aptitude
  • English Language Comprehension
• Stage-II: Depending on the post you applied for, you may have a:
  • Physical Efficiency Test (PET): This stage assesses your physical fitness through activities like running, long jump, high jump, and shot put.
  • Medical Examination (ME): A thorough medical examination is conducted to ensure your physical fitness for the demanding job profile.
• Stage-III (For Specific Posts): Certain SI posts might require a:
  • Paper-Based Test (PBT): This written exam focuses on specific knowledge relevant to the chosen CPO/CAPF.
  • Personality Test/Interview: This stage evaluates your personality, communication skills, leadership potential, and suitability for the role.

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