SSC Stenographer 2026 — Answer Key Challenge Closed, Result Next
Tentative Answer Key Challenge Closed; Final Answer Key and CBE Result Awaited. SSC released the Stenographer Grade C & D 2026 tentative answer keys and response sheets on 23 September 2026, and challenges (₹50 per question/answer) closed on 26 September 2026 at 11:00 PM. As of 7 October 2026, the final answer key, CBE result and Skill Test schedule have not been released. Hindi Skill Test candidates must type in Mangal font (SSC addendum, 23 September 2026).
Complete Details
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Notification Released | 24 April 2026 | Done |
| Online Application Window | 24 April–15 May 2026 | Closed |
| Online Fee Payment Deadline | 16 May 2026, 11:00 PM | Done |
| Application Correction Window | 20–21 May 2026, 11:00 PM | Done |
| Exam-Date Corrigendum | 31 August 2026 | Done |
| Computer Based Examination | 9–12 and 15 September 2026 — completed | Done |
| Tentative Answer Key & Response Sheet Notice | 23 September 2026 — released | Done |
| Challenge Window Opens | 23 September 2026, 11:00 PM | Done |
| Challenge Window Closes (₹50 per question/answer) | 26 September 2026, 11:00 PM — closed | Closed |
| Mangal Font Addendum (Hindi Skill Test) | 23 September 2026 | Done |
| Final Answer Key | Awaited — not released as of 7 October 2026 | Tba |
| CBE Result | Awaited — not released as of 7 October 2026 | Tba |
| Skill Test Schedule | Not announced as of 7 October 2026 | Tba |
SSC Stenographer 2026 Educational Qualification
Candidates must have passed the 12th Standard or an equivalent examination from a recognised Board or University on or before 01 August 2026.
The SSC notice states that only candidates who have skills in stenography are eligible for this examination. The stenography requirement is tested through the mandatory Skill Test after candidates are shortlisted from the Computer Based Examination.
SSC Stenographer 2026 Age Limit
- Stenographer Grade C: 18 to 30 years as on 01 August 2026.
- Stenographer Grade D: 18 to 27 years as on 01 August 2026.
Category-wise upper-age relaxation applies according to the official SSC notification.
SSC Stenographer 2026 Application Fee
The application window is closed. The examination fee in the 2026 notification was Rs. 100 for candidates who were not exempt.
Women candidates and candidates belonging to SC, ST, PwBD and eligible Ex-Servicemen categories were exempt from payment of the examination fee as specified by SSC.
SSC Stenographer 2026 Selection Process
- Computer Based Examination — held on 09–12 and 15 September 2026; tentative answer keys released on 23 September 2026.
- Shortlisting for the Skill Test based on CBE marks and category-wise criteria.
- Mandatory Skill Test in Stenography — qualifying in nature.
- First Round of Tentative Allocation / final allocation based on CBE merit and merit-cum-preference, subject to qualifying the Skill Test and meeting post-specific requirements.
- Document Verification by the concerned User Department / Organisation after the final result.
Computer Based Examination Pattern
| Part / Subject | Questions / Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|
| I. General Intelligence & Reasoning | 50 / 50 | 30 min |
| II. General Awareness | 50 / 50 | 30 min |
| III. English Language & Comprehension | 100 / 100 | 60 min |
Total duration is 2 hours for candidates not using the scribe provisions specified in the notification. SSC applies negative marking of 0.25 mark for each wrong answer. Where the CBE is conducted in multiple shifts, normalized scores are used for final merit and cut-off purposes.
Stenography Skill Test
| Post | Dictation | Transcription (English / Hindi) |
|---|---|---|
| Grade C | 100 wpm, 10 min | 40 min / 55 min |
| Grade D | 80 wpm, 10 min | 50 min / 65 min |
Hindi-medium Skill Test candidates must type in Mangal font only (SSC addendum, 23.09.2026).
The Skill Test is mandatory but qualifying in nature. Candidates who qualify it are considered for allocation/final selection on the basis of their CBE merit and applicable preferences.
Answer Key and Response Sheet — Where Things Stand
- SSC posted the tentative answer keys and candidates' response sheets in the candidate login at ssc.gov.in on 23 September 2026.
- The online challenge window ran from 23 September 2026 (23:00) to 26 September 2026 (23:00 IST) at ₹50 per question or answer. It has closed, and SSC says representations received after that will not be entertained.
- SSC said response sheets would not be available after that time and that individual requests for copies will not be entertained.
- The tentative key is not the final answer key or result. Watch ssc.gov.in for the final answer key, the CBE result and the Skill Test schedule.
The application window closed on 15 May 2026; there is no application step left in this cycle.
Full Details
Current Status: Answer-Key Challenge Closed, Result Next
The CBE for the SSC Stenographer Grade C & D Examination 2026 is over. It was held on 9–12 and 15 September 2026. SSC released the tentative answer keys and candidates’ response sheets on 23 September 2026. The challenge window closed on 26 September 2026 at 11:00 PM, and SSC says representations after that will not be entertained.
As of 7 October 2026, SSC has not released the final answer key, the CBE result or the Skill Test schedule.
What Changed
SSC released the Stenographer Grade C & D 2026 tentative answer keys and response sheets on 23 September 2026. The challenge window closed on 26 September 2026 at 23:00 IST. As of 7 October 2026, SSC has not released the final answer key, CBE result or Skill Test schedule.
Last Verified: 7 October 2026, against the SSC notice board, the tentative answer-key notice dated 23 September 2026 and the Mangal-font addendum dated 23 September 2026
Official Authority: Staff Selection Commission
Previous Status: Tentative answer key released; challenge window open (23–26 September 2026)
Current Status: Tentative answer key challenge closed; final answer key and CBE result awaited
Tentative Answer Key & Response Sheet: What Happened
SSC’s notice of 23 September 2026 put the tentative answer keys and individual response sheets in the candidate login at ssc.gov.in. The challenge window ran from 23 September 2026 (11:00 PM) to 26 September 2026 (11:00 PM), at ₹50 per question or answer challenged. SSC said response sheets would not be available after the deadline, and individual requests for copies will not be entertained. The answer-key challenge link is no longer active. Do not try to submit a new challenge.
What Happens Next: CBE Result and Skill Test
The next official step is SSC’s CBE result, with the list of candidates shortlisted for the Skill Test in Stenography. SSC has not announced a date. Do not rely on unofficial result dates or predicted Skill Test dates unless SSC publishes them.
- Keep your SSC registration details and application records ready.
- Keep the response sheet you saved during the challenge window.
- Watch ssc.gov.in for the CBE result and the Skill Test shortlist and schedule.
- Keep practising dictation and transcription at your grade’s speed: 100 wpm for Grade C and 80 wpm for Grade D.
Mangal Font Rule for the Hindi Skill Test
SSC published an addendum on 23 September 2026 to Para 15 of the examination notice. Candidates who have opted for Hindi as the medium of the Typing/Skill Test must type in Mangal font only.
A script typed in any other font will not be evaluated. That candidate will be treated as not qualified in the Skill Test and will not be considered for further stages of this recruitment. All other provisions of the notice are unchanged.
If you chose Hindi, practise transcription in Mangal font now, so that the font rule does not cost you the Skill Test.
Career Growth & Work Profile
SSC recruits Stenographer Grade C as a Group B, Non-Gazetted post and Stenographer Grade D as a Group C post across Central Government ministries, departments, attached/subordinate offices and statutory bodies. The work centres on taking dictation, transcribing it and providing office support to the officers concerned. The exact office and responsibilities depend on the User Department or Organisation to which a candidate is allocated.
The notification adds two practical details candidates often miss:
- Selected candidates carry All India Service Liability and may be allotted a State, Union Territory or Zone by the concerned User Organisation.
- A candidate who takes the Skill Test in Hindi may be required to learn English stenography after appointment, and vice versa, depending on the office’s functional needs.
Historical Cut-Off Trends
No official SSC Stenographer 2026 CBE cut-off has been released yet.
The notification sets minimum qualifying marks in the CBE: 30% for UR, 25% for OBC/EWS and 20% for all other categories. These are minimum qualifying standards, not the final selection or shortlisting cut-offs. Do not read 30% as the 2026 cut-off.
Actual competition depends on normalized CBE performance, category-wise shortlisting for the Skill Test, qualifying the mandatory Skill Test, and post/department preferences.
Post-Specific Selection Nuances
- The Skill Test is mandatory but qualifying. It carries no merit marks, but a strong CBE score does not help if you fail it.
- Grade speeds differ: 100 wpm for Grade C and 80 wpm for Grade D. Transcription times also differ by grade and language.
- Final allocation depends on CBE merit, Skill Test qualification and post/department preferences. If a candidate is allotted a preferred post but fails a post-specific physical, medical, educational or other requirement, SSC will not automatically shift them to a lower preference.
- Hindi Skill Test candidates must use Mangal font (SSC addendum, 23 September 2026).
- Some Stenographer Grade D posts in the Border Roads Organisation have additional physical, medical and Physical Efficiency Test requirements.
Related: SSC CHSL 2026 · SSC CGL 2026 · Answer Keys · Exam Calendar
Important Links
Downloads
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The challenge window closed on 26 September 2026 at 11:00 PM.
SSC published the tentative answer-key / response-sheet notice on 23 September 2026.
No. SSC stated that representations after the notified deadline would not be entertained.
Candidates should wait for SSC’s CBE result / Skill Test-related notice. No verified 2026 result or Skill Test date was found in the SSC sources checked on 7 October 2026.
Not yet. As of the 7 October 2026 check of SSC’s official notice board, SSC has not published the final answer key or a result notice for this examination.
SSC published an addendum on 23 September 2026 making Mangal font mandatory for candidates taking the Typing/Skill Test in Hindi. A script typed in any other font will not be evaluated, and the candidate will be treated as not qualified in the Skill Test.
SSC made response sheets available in the candidate login only during the challenge period. It said they would not be available after 26 September 2026 (11:00 PM) and that individual requests for copies will not be entertained.
The Skill Test is mandatory but qualifying in nature. Candidates who qualify it are considered for allocation/final selection on the basis of their CBE merit and post/department preferences.
100 words per minute for Grade C and 80 words per minute for Grade D, with a 10-minute dictation.
No. 30% for UR is the minimum qualifying mark in the CBE, not the selection cut-off. The 2026 cut-off has not been released.