SSC Stenographer Syllabus 2026 PDF, Check Exam Pattern For Grade C & D

Oct 17 2026

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The SSC Stenographer Syllabus 2026 covers the subject-wise topics for the Computer-Based Examination (CBT), exam pattern, and stenography skill test for Grade C and Grade D posts. Candidates can download the official syllabus PDF to understand the topics, marking scheme, shorthand dictation requirements, and permissible errors. This guide provides a detailed overview of the syllabus and examination pattern to help candidates plan their preparation effectively. For details on important dates, eligibility criteria, vacancies, and the application process, refer to the SSC Stenographer Notification 2026.

SSC Stenographer Syllabus 2026

The exam has two stages: an objective CBT that decides merit, and a qualifying shorthand skill test. The key facts of the 2026 cycle are below.

Particulars	Details
Exam name	SSC Stenographer Grade C and D Examination 2026
Conducting body	Staff Selection Commission (SSC)
Posts	Stenographer Grade C (Pay Level 6/7) and Grade D (Pay Level 4)
Vacancies	1,275 revised tentative (Grade D 1,129, Grade C 146)
CBT date	9 to 15 September 2026 (held)
Answer key	Tentative key released 23 September 2026; objections closed 26 September 2026
Current status (17 Oct 2026)	CBT result and skill test dates awaited
Age limit (as on 1 August 2026)	Grade C: 18 to 30 years; Grade D: 18 to 27 years
Selection process	CBT, Stenography Skill Test (qualifying), document verification
CBT subjects	General Intelligence and Reasoning, General Awareness, English Language and Comprehension
CBT questions and marks	200 questions, 200 marks
CBT duration	2 hours (2 hours 40 minutes for scribe-eligible candidates)

SSC Stenographer Exam Pattern 2026

The CBT has 200 objective questions of one mark each. English alone makes up half the paper, which is why it deserves the largest share of study time.

Part	Subject	Questions	Marks	Time
I	General Intelligence and Reasoning	50	50	30 minutes
II	General Awareness	50	50	30 minutes
III	English Language and Comprehension	100	100	60 minutes
Total	3 sections	200	200	2 hours

A few rules shape how the paper is scored:

0.25 marks are deducted for every wrong answer; unattempted questions carry no penalty.
Questions are set in English and Hindi, except Part III, which is in English only.
Scores are normalised when the CBT runs in multiple shifts, as it did in 2026.
Candidates eligible for a scribe get 2 hours 40 minutes in total.

Attempt SSC Practice Quiz Here

SSC Stenographer Syllabus 2026 PDF

The SSC Stenographer Syllabus 2026 PDF can be accessed through the official notification released by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC). Candidates should visit ssc.gov.in, open the examination notifications section, and download the Stenographer Grade C and D Examination 2026 notification. The PDF provides details of the syllabus and examination scheme, helping candidates understand the topics covered in the exam and plan their preparation accordingly.

SSC Stenographer Subject-Wise Syllabus 2026

The official syllabus in the notification describes each subject in broad terms rather than as a topic list. The tables below start from that official scope and break it into the topics that regularly appear in the paper, with free practice PDFs where available.

General Intelligence and Reasoning Syllabus

SSC says this section includes verbal and non-verbal questions on analogies, similarities and differences, space visualisation, problem solving, analysis, judgement, decision making, visual memory, discriminating observation, relationship concepts, arithmetical reasoning, figure classification, number series and non-verbal series. In practice, the questions fall into these topics.

Topic	What to expect
Analogy	Word, letter, number and figure pairs with the same relationship
Classification	Odd one out among words, numbers or figures
Coding-Decoding	Letter, number and symbol codes
Number Series	Missing or next term in arithmetic and mixed series
Alphabet Series	Letter and alphanumeric patterns
Blood Relation	Family trees and coded relations
Direction Sense	Direction and distance from a starting point
Order and Ranking	Positions from top, bottom, left and right
Puzzle	Short arrangement and decision-making sets
Syllogism	Statement-conclusion logic
Venn Diagram	Relationship between groups
Mirror Image	Mirror, water image and other non-verbal figures

General Awareness Syllabus

The official scope covers awareness of the environment and its application to society, current events, and everyday science, with emphasis on India and its neighbours: history, culture, geography, economic scene, general polity including the Indian Constitution, and scientific research. These topics carry most of the marks.

Topic	What to expect
Current Affairs	National and international events of the last 6 to 8 months
Static GK	Capitals, currencies, dances, festivals, national parks
History	Ancient, medieval, modern India and the freedom struggle
Polity	Constitution, Parliament, fundamental rights, amendments
Geography	Indian and world physical geography, rivers, soils
Economy	Budget, banking basics, five-year plans, economic terms
Physics, Chemistry, Biology	Everyday science up to Class 10 level
Books and Authors	Recent and classic books
Awards	National and international honours
Sports	Tournaments, venues, winners, trophies
Important Days	National and international days and themes
Schemes	Central government schemes and missions

English Language and Comprehension Syllabus

SSC tests understanding of the English language, its vocabulary, grammar, sentence structure, synonyms, antonyms and correct usage, along with writing ability. With 100 questions, this section decides most merit ranks.

Topic	What to expect
Reading Comprehension	Passages with direct, inference and vocabulary questions
Cloze Test	Passage with blanks to fill in context
Error Spotting	Grammatical errors in a sentence part
Sentence Improvement	Replacing the underlined phrase correctly
Para Jumbles	Arranging sentences or parts in logical order
Fill in the Blanks	Single and double fillers
Spelling	Spotting correctly or wrongly spelt words
Synonyms-Antonyms	Word meanings and opposites
Grammar rules	Tenses, articles, prepositions, subject-verb agreement
Idioms and Phrases	Meaning of common idioms
One Word Substitution	One word for a group of words
Voice	Active to passive and back
Narration	Direct to indirect speech and back

Download Free SSC Practice PDFs Here

SSC Stenographer Skill Test 2026

Candidates who clear the CBT cut-off are called for the Stenography Skill Test. A passage is dictated for 10 minutes, candidates take it down in shorthand, and then type the transcription on a computer. If you are new to shorthand, this guide on what stenography involves explains the basics.

Particulars	Details
Test mode	Shorthand dictation, then transcription on computer
Language	English or Hindi (option chosen in the application form)
Dictation time	10 minutes
Grade C speed	100 words per minute (about 1,000 words)
Grade D speed	80 words per minute (about 800 words)
Nature	Qualifying; final merit is decided by CBT marks

SSC Stenographer Transcription Time

Transcription time depends on the grade, the language chosen and whether the candidate is allowed a scribe. Hindi gets more time than English in both grades, and Grade D gets more time than Grade C.

Post	Language	Transcription time	Time for candidates allowed a scribe
Stenographer Grade D	English	50 minutes	70 minutes
Stenographer Grade D	Hindi	65 minutes	90 minutes
Stenographer Grade C	English	40 minutes	55 minutes
Stenographer Grade C	Hindi	55 minutes	75 minutes

How Many Mistakes Are Allowed in the SSC Stenographer Skill Test

Qualifying the skill test is about accuracy, not just speed. SSC sets a maximum mistake percentage for each grade and category, counted against the words in the dictated passage. Based on the limits SSC applied in its recent Stenographer results, the numbers work out as below.

Grade	Words dictated	UR limit	Max mistakes (UR)	Reserved category limit	Max mistakes (reserved)
Grade C	About 1,000	5%	50	7%	70
Grade D	About 800	7%	56	10%	80

The usual ways candidates lose words are omitted words, added words, wrong words and spelling slips while typing. Since a Grade C UR candidate can afford only about 50 slips in a 1,000-word passage, typing accuracy and spelling matter as much as shorthand speed.

SSC Stenographer Grade C vs Grade D Syllabus

Both grades write the same CBT, so the written syllabus does not change. The differences sit in the skill test, age limit and pay level.

Point	Grade C	Grade D
CBT syllabus and pattern	Same for both	Same for both
Dictation speed	100 wpm	80 wpm
Transcription time (English / Hindi)	40 / 55 minutes	50 / 65 minutes
Allowed mistakes (UR / reserved)	5% / 7%	7% / 10%
Age limit	18 to 30 years	18 to 27 years
Pay level	Level 6/7	Level 4
Revised tentative vacancies 2026	146	1,129

CBT Qualified vs Skill Test Qualified: What Each Stage Means

Many candidates assume clearing the CBT means selection. It does not. Each stage does a different job, and knowing this helps you plan what to practise after the CBT.

Stage	What it decides	What happens next
CBT qualified	You are above the category-wise cut-off and shortlisted for the skill test	You appear for the skill test in the grade(s) you are shortlisted for
Skill test qualified	Your transcription is within the allowed mistake limit	Your CBT marks decide your merit rank and post allotment
Final selection	Merit-cum-preference based on CBT marks	Document verification and allocation of department

The practical takeaway: a high CBT score is wasted if shorthand is weak, and strong shorthand cannot make up for a low CBT score. Prepare both together.

8-Week Study Plan for CBT and Shorthand Together

This plan runs written preparation and shorthand practice side by side, so neither falls behind. Give about 3 hours a day to the CBT and at least 1.5 hours to shorthand.

Week	CBT focus	Shorthand target
1	Grammar rules, Analogy, Classification, Static GK basics	Revise outlines; dictation at 50 to 60 wpm
2	Error Spotting, Fill in the Blanks, Coding-Decoding, Series	60 to 70 wpm; type every transcription
3	Reading Comprehension, Cloze Test, Blood Relation, Direction Sense, History	70 to 80 wpm
4	Synonyms-Antonyms, Idioms, Puzzle, Polity; first full mock	80 wpm steady (Grade D target)
5	Sentence Improvement, Para Jumbles, Geography, Economy	85 to 90 wpm; count mistakes per passage
6	Voice, Narration, Syllogism, Science; two mocks	90 to 100 wpm (Grade C target)
7	Current affairs of last 6 to 8 months; weak-area revision	100 wpm with mistakes under 5%
8	Three full mocks; error log revision	100 to 110 wpm for a safety margin

Attempt SSC Practice Quiz Here

How to Prepare for SSC Stenographer 2026

These steps work for both CBT candidates waiting for the result and aspirants planning for the next cycle. Before starting, confirm you meet the SSC exam eligibility criteria, and track upcoming dates on the SSC exam calendar.

Start with English: it is half the CBT and also cuts spelling errors in transcription.
Revise current affairs weekly instead of cramming in the last month.
Practise reasoning topic-wise first, then in timed mixed sets.
Take dictation daily and always type the transcription on a computer, not by hand.
Count your mistakes after every passage and keep them under your grade's limit.
Practise 10 to 20 wpm above your target speed so the real test feels comfortable.
Take a full-length mock every week and review every wrong answer.

SSC Stenographer Syllabus 2026 FAQs

Q1. What is the SSC Stenographer Syllabus 2026?

The SSC Stenographer Syllabus 2026 has two stages. The CBT tests General Intelligence and Reasoning, General Awareness and English Language and Comprehension through 200 objective questions. Candidates who clear it take a qualifying Stenography Skill Test, where they write a 10-minute dictation in shorthand and transcribe it on a computer.

Q2. What are the subjects in the SSC Stenographer exam?

The CBT has three subjects: General Intelligence and Reasoning with 50 questions, General Awareness with 50 questions, and English Language and Comprehension with 100 questions. Each question carries one mark, so the paper totals 200 marks. Questions are set in English and Hindi, except the English section.

Q3. Is the SSC Stenographer syllabus the same for Grade C and Grade D?

Yes. Grade C and Grade D candidates write the same CBT with the same syllabus and pattern. The difference lies in the skill test: Grade C dictation is at 100 words per minute and Grade D at 80 words per minute, and transcription time and allowed mistakes also differ between the grades.

Q4. What is the SSC Stenographer exam pattern 2026?

The SSC Stenographer CBT 2026 has 200 multiple-choice questions for 200 marks, to be solved in 2 hours, or 2 hours 40 minutes for scribe-eligible candidates. It has 50 questions each in Reasoning and General Awareness and 100 in English, with 0.25 negative marking and normalisation across shifts.

Q5. Is there negative marking in the SSC Stenographer CBT?

Yes. The CBT deducts 0.25 marks for every wrong answer, so four wrong answers cancel one correct answer. Unattempted questions carry no penalty. The skill test has no negative marking, but candidates must keep transcription mistakes within the permitted percentage for their grade and category to qualify.

Q6. What is the SSC Stenographer Skill Test?

The skill test checks shorthand and transcription ability. A passage is dictated for 10 minutes in English or Hindi, and candidates take it down in shorthand. They then type the transcription on a computer within a fixed time. The test is qualifying only, and final merit depends on CBT marks.

Q7. What is the dictation speed required for Grade C and Grade D?

Grade C candidates take dictation at 100 words per minute, which means a passage of about 1,000 words, while Grade D candidates face 80 words per minute, or about 800 words. Dictation lasts 10 minutes for both grades. Practising slightly above the target speed builds a useful safety margin.

Q8. How can I download the SSC Stenographer Syllabus 2026 PDF?

The official syllabus is part of the SSC Stenographer 2026 notification released by the Staff Selection Commission. Visit ssc.gov.in, open the Notice Board, find the Stenographer Grade C and D 2026 notification, download the PDF and refer to its scheme of examination and syllabus section.

Q9. Which subjects carry the highest weightage in the SSC Stenographer exam?

English Language and Comprehension carries the highest weightage, with 100 of the 200 questions, or half the paper. Reasoning and General Awareness carry 50 questions each. Strong English also helps in the skill test, because accurate spelling and grammar reduce mistakes during transcription.

Q10. How should I prepare for the SSC Stenographer exam?

Cover the CBT syllabus subject-wise, give English the most time and revise current affairs every week. Practise shorthand daily from the first day, raising dictation speed in small steps and typing every transcription. Take full-length mock tests weekly and review mistakes in both the CBT and transcription practice.