SSC Stenographer
Recruits Stenographers in central ministries, departments and attached offices: Grade C (Group B) and Grade D (Group C).
Eligibility
Class 12 or equivalent. Grade C takes ages 18-30 and Grade D takes ages 18-27, as on 1 August of the exam year, with category relaxations. Shorthand skill is tested only after the CBT, but you need it in either English or Hindi.
Age limit: 18-30 years (Grade C) / 18-27 years (Grade D)
Exam pattern
A 2-hour computer-based test of 200 MCQs worth 200 marks: General Intelligence and Reasoning (50), General Awareness (50) and English Language and Comprehension (100). Wrong answers cost 0.25 marks. CBT marks decide the merit list. Shortlisted candidates take a qualifying skill test: 10 minutes of dictation at 100 words per minute (Grade C) or 80 (Grade D). Transcription on computer is allowed 40 minutes in English or 55 in Hindi for Grade C, and 50 in English or 65 in Hindi for Grade D.
Syllabus at a glance
English is half the paper: grammar, error spotting, vocabulary, idioms, sentence improvement and comprehension. Reasoning covers standard SSC verbal and non-verbal topics. General Awareness covers static GK, science, polity, history, geography and current affairs. The skill test requires Pitman (English) or Rishi Pranali (Hindi) shorthand and fast, accurate typing.
Upcoming dates
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Stenographer 2026 CBT result (CBT was held 9-15 Sep 2026) | Nov-Dec 2026 | expected |
| Stenographer 2026 skill test | Jan-Feb 2027 | expected |
| Stenographer 2027 notification | Apr-May 2027 | expected |
Expected dates follow the usual calendar; confirm on the official notification before planning.
Free prep material
Standard books
- Pitman Shorthand Instructor and Key – Isaac Pitman
- Objective General English – S.P. Bakshi (Arihant)
- Plinth to Paramount – Neetu Singh
- A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning – R.S. Aggarwal
- Lucent's General Knowledge – Lucent Publications
- SSC Stenographer Grade C & D Previous Year Solved Papers – Kiran Prakashan
How toppers play it
- English is 100 of 200 marks and decides merit, so grammar and vocabulary accuracy is the single biggest lever.
- Build shorthand speed beyond the target: practise at 110-120 words per minute so that 100 words per minute (Grade C) or 80 (Grade D) feels comfortable under exam pressure.
- Practise transcription on a computer within the official time limits. Many candidates who take dictation well fail on typing speed or spelling errors.
- With only a 0.25-mark penalty, attempt most CBT questions, but keep about 20 minutes for the 100 English questions, which take longest.
- Choose the shorthand language (English or Hindi) at application stage based on where you are actually faster. It cannot be changed later.