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The SSC CHSL application process is conducted entirely online through the official SSC portal at ssc.gov.in. There is no offline mode and no third-party application portal. Every candidate must register on the SSC portal, complete the One-Time Registration (OTR), fill the CHSL-specific application form, upload required documents, select post preferences, and pay the application fee within the window specified in the official notification.
For 2026, the notification is expected in May 2026 with the application window opening simultaneously. The last date to apply is expected to be approximately June 2026, approximately 30 days after notification release. Candidates who have previously registered for any SSC exam (SSC CGL, MTS, GD, or others) using OTR can use the same login credentials for CHSL; no fresh OTR is needed.
| Event Expected Date | |
| Notification Release | May 2026 |
| Online Application Opens | May 2026 (with notification) |
| Last Date to Apply | Approximately June 2026 |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | Same as application deadline |
| Application Correction Window | A few days after closing date |
| Tier 1 Admit Card | 3 to 5 days before exam date |
| SSC CHSL Tier 1 Exam | July to September 2026 |
The exact dates will be confirmed in the official notification. Candidates should apply within the first two weeks of the window opening to avoid last-day server overload, which has caused submission failures in previous cycles.
| Category Fee | |
| General (UR) and OBC (Male) | Rs 100 |
| Women (all categories) | Nil (Exempted) |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | Nil (Exempted) |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | Nil (Exempted) |
| Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD) | Nil (Exempted) |
| Ex-Servicemen (ESM) | Nil (Exempted) |
The fee of Rs 100 is non-refundable under all circumstances, including withdrawal, non-appearance, or disqualification. Payment modes include Net Banking, Debit Card, Credit Card, and UPI.
SSC's One-Time Registration system eliminates the need for candidates to re-enter their basic details for every exam application. Registration is done once and the credentials are used for all future SSC exams.
Candidates who have never applied for any SSC exam before must complete OTR. Those who have previously registered for SSC CGL, MTS, GD Constable, or any other SSC exam already have OTR credentials and can skip directly to Step 2.
| Step Action | |
| 1 | Visit ssc.gov.in |
| 2 | Click on "Register Now" or "One Time Registration" |
| 3 | Enter name, date of birth, mobile number, and email |
| 4 | Set a password |
| 5 | An OTP will be sent to your registered mobile and email; enter to verify |
| 6 | Log in with the generated Registration ID |
| 7 | Complete the profile: personal details, educational details, category, and Aadhaar |
| 8 | Upload photograph and signature as per specifications |
| 9 | Submit and save your Registration ID and Password securely |
The OTR Registration ID and Password are your permanent SSC credentials. Losing them makes admit card downloads and future applications difficult. Save them securely in multiple locations.
| Field Category Fields | |
| Personal Details | Full name (as on Class 10 certificate), date of birth, gender, father's name, mother's name |
| Contact Details | Mobile number, email address, permanent and correspondence address, PIN code |
| Academic Details | Class 10 details (board, year, marks), Class 12 details (board, year, marks, stream), graduation (if applicable) |
| Identity | Aadhaar number (recommended), PAN or Voter ID |
| Category | UR/OBC/SC/ST/EWS/PwBD/ESM as applicable |
Once OTR is completed, these details carry forward automatically to every SSC exam application. Changes in the profile are permitted but subject to document verification restrictions.
After OTR is complete (or using existing credentials), candidates apply for the CHSL-specific exam.
| Step Action | |
| 1 | Log in to ssc.gov.in using OTR Registration ID and password |
| 2 | On the dashboard, find the SSC CHSL 2026 notification and click "Apply Now" |
| 3 | OTR profile details are pre-filled; verify all information |
| 4 | Fill exam-specific fields: exam city preference, post preferences (in order) |
| 5 | Declare category-specific eligibility conditions |
| 6 | Upload any additional documents required |
| 7 | Review the complete application on the preview page |
| 8 | Pay the application fee |
| 9 | Submit the form and download the confirmation page |
Post preference is one of the most important and most overlooked decisions in the CHSL application. Candidates select the posts they wish to be considered for and rank them in order of preference. The preference order is used during post allocation if a candidate qualifies.
| Post Pay Level Who Should Prefer | ||
| PA / SA | Level 4 | Candidates wanting higher pay scale; available if Class 12 from any stream |
| DEO / DEO Grade A | Level 4 | Candidates with Class 12 Science and Mathematics; highest cutoff |
| LDC / JSA | Level 2 | Available for all Class 12 pass candidates; lower cutoff; large number of vacancies |
Important: Candidates must not select DEO or DEO Grade A if they do not have Class 12 in Science with Mathematics. Doing so leads to disqualification at document verification even after clearing both exam tiers.
Candidates with Science + Mathematics background should rank PA/SA and DEO high, as these posts carry Pay Level 4. Candidates without this background should rank LDC/JSA and PA/SA posts (PA/SA also has no stream restriction).
Candidates must upload a photograph and signature during the application. Some cycles also require a scanned hand-written declaration (check the 2026 notification for exact requirements).
| Specification Requirement | |
| Format | JPEG or JPG |
| File Size | 20 KB to 50 KB |
| Dimensions | 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm (passport size) |
| Background | White or light coloured |
| Age of photograph | Taken within the last 3 months |
| Requirements | Clear face, no cap, no sunglasses, no heavy jewellery |
| Specification Requirement | |
| Format | JPEG or JPG |
| File Size | 10 KB to 20 KB |
| Style | Candidate's actual signature in black ink on white paper |
| Not accepted | Signature in capital/block letters |
A photograph with a coloured background, an image that is too dark or blurry, or a signature in block capital letters will be rejected during scrutiny. Rejection of documents can lead to cancellation of candidature even after exam qualification.
After reviewing the complete application, proceed to fee payment. Accept payment through Net Banking, Debit Card, Credit Card, or UPI. After successful payment, the portal generates an e-receipt and changes the application status to "Submitted."
Candidates who are fee-exempt (Women, SC, ST, PwBD, ESM) do not make any payment. Their applications are confirmed upon final submission without a payment step.
After fee payment, submit the application form. A system-generated confirmation page appears with application reference details. Download this page and save it. Print a hard copy for records.
The confirmation page and the application PDF serve as proof of application and may be needed if any discrepancy arises later.
SSC provides a brief correction window after the application deadline. During this window, candidates can edit certain fields.
| Correctable Non-correctable | |
| Photograph (if incorrect) | Name |
| Signature (if incorrect) | Date of birth |
| Exam centre preference | Category |
| Some contact details | Post preferences |
| Academic details (in some cycles) | Educational qualification stream |
Name, date of birth, and category are locked from the moment of initial submission. Errors in these fields that are discovered after the correction window closes cannot be rectified. The application will either be accepted as-is (potentially causing issues at document verification) or rejected.
Candidates select their preferred exam city during the application. SSC assigns a specific exam centre within the chosen city based on availability. The assigned centre is printed on the admit card.
| Factor Consideration | |
| Distance from home | Tier 1 and Tier 2 may require travel on early mornings; choose a city you can reach without overnight stay if possible |
| Familiarity | Unfamiliar cities add navigation stress on exam day |
| Centre availability | Apply early; popular cities fill up and candidates may be assigned alternate cities |
| Future convenience | Tier 2 is also conducted at the same centre category; a sensible choice now saves re-planning |
If the selected city is fully allocated, SSC assigns the nearest alternative. This is printed on the admit card and cannot be changed after release.
Uploading an incorrect or non-compliant photograph: The most common rejection reason is a photograph that does not meet specifications (wrong background, blurry, old, or wrong size). Always prepare and preview the photograph before uploading.
Signing in block letters: SSC explicitly requires a cursive-style signature. Block letter or printed-style signatures are rejected.
Selecting DEO without Science + Mathematics in Class 12: This is the most expensive mistake in CHSL applications. Disqualification at document verification, after months of preparation, is the consequence.
Name mismatch with Class 10 certificate: The name in the OTR profile and application must match the Class 10 certificate exactly, including initials, spacing, and spelling. Even minor differences create complications at document verification.
Claiming OBC without a valid NCL certificate: Candidates who claim OBC benefits in the application must hold a valid Non-Creamy Layer certificate in the Central Government format. Without this, the OBC claim is rejected at document verification and the candidate may be disqualified if the OBC relaxation was the basis of their age eligibility.
Choosing an exam city without considering travel logistics: Many candidates impulsively select a major city they do not live in, creating unnecessary travel burden on exam day. Choose the nearest city with a good exam centre availability.
Submitting at the last moment: SSC portal traffic spikes sharply near the application deadline. Server overloads have caused submission failures and payment processing errors. Apply within the first two weeks.
Not downloading the confirmation page: After submission, the confirmation page is the only proof of completed application. Without it, verifying application status or raising disputes is difficult.
Candidates often apply for SSC CHSL and SSC CGL in the same cycle. Since both use the same OTR login, applying for both requires separate CHSL and CGL application forms. The same OTR credentials are used for both. The application fee is separate for each exam: Rs 100 for each if applicable.
If the exam dates overlap, a candidate cannot appear in both on the same date. SSC does not provide reschedule options for date conflicts between its own exams. Check the exam calendar before applying for multiple SSC exams in the same cycle.
While only a photograph and signature are uploaded during the application, the following original documents must be ready for the document verification stage after final selection.
| Document Purpose | |
| Class 10 Certificate and Marksheet | Date of birth proof |
| Class 12 Certificate and Marksheet | Qualification proof |
| SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS/PwBD Certificate | Category verification |
| Aadhaar Card | Identity verification |
| Valid Photo ID (PAN, Voter ID, Passport, Driving Licence) | Additional identity |
| No Objection Certificate | If employed in government or PSU |
| Character Certificate | From Gazetted Officer |
| Application Confirmation Page | Proof of application |
| All Call Letters (Tier 1 and Tier 2 admit cards) | Proof of exam participation |
Can I apply for SSC CHSL from my mobile phone? Yes. The SSC portal is accessible on mobile browsers. For document upload and form verification, a desktop or laptop is recommended to avoid upload errors.
What if the fee payment failed but my bank was debited? Log back into the portal after 24 to 48 hours. If the deducted amount is not reflected, contact your bank for a transaction reference and email SSC customer support with details.
Can I change my post preference after submission? Post preferences can be changed only during the correction window, which opens a few days after the application deadline. After the correction window closes, preferences are locked.
Is OTR mandatory for SSC CHSL 2026? Yes. OTR is mandatory for all SSC exams. Candidates who have not done OTR must complete it before applying. Existing SSC registrants use their existing credentials.
What if my photograph is rejected after submission? The correction window allows photograph re-upload. If the issue is discovered after the correction window, contact SSC support immediately with your registration number.