SSC CHSL Eligibility Criteria 2025
The Staff Selection Commission conducts the Combined Higher Secondary Level (SSC CHSL) Exam across India to recruit eligible candidates who have completed their Higher Secondary education for a variety of roles in central government offices and departments.
These roles include Lower Divisional Clerk (LDC), Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA), Postal Assistant (PA), Sorting Assistant (SA), Data Entry Operator (DEO), and Data Entry Operator (Grade A). Held almost every year, the SSC CHSL exam remains a gateway for lakhs of aspirants seeking secure government employment.
The SSC CHSL 2025 notification has been released on June 23, 2025 and it will remain open till July 18, 2025. As always, candidates interested in applying must ensure they meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the official notification.
The eligibility requirements include specifications regarding age limits, applicable age relaxations for reserved categories, and minimum educational qualifications. Meeting these criteria is mandatory to proceed with the application process and be considered for the recruitment.
Before filling out the SSC CHSL 2025 application form, candidates should carefully verify all eligibility details to avoid disqualification. Educationally, applicants must have passed the 10+2 (Higher Secondary) examination from a recognised board or university.
Additional qualifications may be required for specific posts such as Data Entry Operator in certain ministries. Age limits and relaxation policies vary depending on category and government norms. A detailed overview of the SSC CHSL eligibility criteria will be included in the official notification, and all candidates are encouraged to consult it thoroughly before proceeding with their application.
SSC CHSL Eligibility Criteria 2025: Educational Qualifications
To apply for the SSC CHSL 2025 examination, candidates must meet the educational qualifications outlined in the eligibility criteria prescribed by the Staff Selection Commission.
For those applying to the roles of Data Entry Operator (DEO) or DEO Grade ‘A’ specifically in departments such as the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (C&AG), the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and the Ministry of Culture, it is mandatory to have passed the 12th standard from a recognised board with a science stream that includes Mathematics as a subject. This specific academic requirement is an essential eligibility condition for these specialised positions.
For other posts under the SSC CHSL exam, including Lower Divisional Clerk (LDC), Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA), and general DEO positions (excluding the departments mentioned above), the educational qualification is broader. Candidates applying for these posts must have successfully passed the 12th standard or an equivalent examination from any recognised board or university, regardless of the stream or subjects studied.
Additionally, candidates who have appeared for their 12th standard examinations and are awaiting results are also eligible to apply, provided they acquire the required qualifications before the cutoff date specified in the official SSC CHSL 2025 notification. This provision ensures a wider range of applicants can participate in the recruitment process, giving final-year students an equal opportunity to compete.
The educational eligibility requirements are the first and most fundamental criteria that all applicants must meet in order to proceed with their applications. Ensuring compliance with these conditions is crucial, as any deviation or ineligibility can result in disqualification. The eligibility criteria are uniformly enforced for all candidates across posts, and understanding them in detail is key to beginning a successful application for the SSC CHSL 2025 exam.
| Name of the Post | Educational Qualification (As on 01-01-2026) |
|---|---|
| Data Entry Operator (DEO)/ DEO Grade ‘A’ in the Office of Comptroller and Auditor General of India (C&AG), Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and Ministry of Culture | 12th Standard pass in Science stream with Mathematics as a subject from a recognized Board or equivalent. |
| LDC/ JSA and DEO/ DEO Grade ‘A’ (except DEOs in Department/ Ministry | Candidates must have passed 12th Standard or equivalent examination from a recognized Board or University |
| The candidates who have appeared in their 12th Standard or equivalent examination can also apply, however they must possess Essential qualification on or before the cutoff date i.e. 01-01-2026. | |
SSC CHSL Eligibility Criteria 2025: Age Limit (As of 01-01-2026)
If you are planning to apply for the SSC CHSL 2025 exam, it is crucial to understand and meet the eligibility criteria for SSC CHSL, especially with regard to the age limit. The SSC CHSL eligibility criteria include specific conditions that every candidate must fulfill to be eligible for the exam.
One of the key aspects of the eligibility criteria is the age limit, which is clearly defined in the official notification released by the SSC. To ensure fairness and transparency, the SSC outlines both a minimum and maximum age limit that candidates must fall within.
If you do not meet the SSC CHSL eligibility criteria concerning the age limit, you may not be permitted to take part in the exam process. Therefore, it is essential that you review these conditions carefully before applying.
For your convenience, we have provided a table below that details the age requirements as per the eligibility criteria. This will help you quickly verify whether you meet the necessary conditions to apply for the SSC CHSL 2025 exam.
| Post | Age Criteria (As on 01-01-2026) |
|---|---|
| Lower Division Clerk (LDC)/ Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA), Data Entry Operator (DEO), Data Entry Operator, Grade "A" | Minimum Age - 18 years / Maximum Age - 27 years Candidates born not before 02-01-1999 and not later than 01-01-2008 are eligible to apply |
SSC CHSL Age Relaxation
SSC CHSL eligibility criteria specify the general upper and lower age limits. They also provide specific relaxations in the upper age limit for candidates belonging to specific reserved categories. These are important relaxations which form part of eligibility criteria, striving for equal opportunities to candidates from different backgrounds.
If you come under any of the categories that have age relaxation available, you would be granted additional years based on the eligibility criteria above the standard age limit. You need to thoroughly screen the eligibility criteria to check if any relaxations apply to you.
Candidates who fall in the age relaxation category of SSC CHSL, must know the relaxations specified by SSC. Upper age limit relaxation SSC fixes permissible relaxations within such discretionary limits that are subject to government guidelines. These are subject to category variations, especially for SC, ST, OBC, or others.
You must scrutinize the SSC CHSL eligibility criteria properly so that you do not miss out on any of these benefits. Following is a complete list of the SSC CHSL age relaxations:
| S.No. | Category | Upper Age Relaxation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Other Backward Classes (OBC) | 3 years |
| 2 | Scheduled Caste / Scheduled Tribe | 5 years |
| 3 | PwBD |
|
| 4 | Ex-Servicemen (ESM) | 03 years after deduction of the military service rendered from the actual age as on closing date of receipt of online application |
| 5 | Defence Personnel disabled in operation during hostilities with any foreign country or in a disturbed area and released as a consequence thereof |
|
| 6 | Central Government Civilian Employees: Who have rendered not less than 3 years regular and continuous service as on closing date for receipt of online applications |
|
| 7 | Widows/ Divorced Women/ Women judicially separated and who are not remarried |
|
Certain conditions that need to be fulfilled for the 2024 SSC CHSL eligibility when it comes to nationality must be met if you want to sit for the exam. Aspirants have Indian citizenship and provide proof of it to for the nationality condition of the SSC CHSL eligibility criteria to be fullfilled. They have to belong from one of the following nationalities to take the exam and a candidate may be either:
- A resident of India, or
- A subject of Nepal, or
- A subject of Bhutan or
- A Tibetan refugee who moved over to India before the 1st of January, 1962, to be permanently settled in India,
- A person of Indian heritage who has migrated from Burma, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the East African republics of Kenya, the United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, Zaire, Ethiopia, Zambia, Malawi, and Vietnam to permanently settle in India.
SSC CHSL Disability and Ex-Servicemen Criteria
Those with some physical disabilities such as low vision & blindness, deafness or being hard of hearing are also eligible to apply for LDC or DEO posts as specified in SSC CHSL eligibility criteria 2024. Such candidates can check the table below to know about other physical disabilities which are mentioned by official authorities.
Besides that, former servicemen are also included in the eligibility criteria age relaxation norms. Those servicemen who have 3 years after deduction of the military service from their actual age as on closing date of online application will qualify for age relaxation conditions.
Besides that, age relaxation in the SSC CHSL eligibility criteria also applies to any defence personnel who was disabled in operation during hostilities with any foreign country or in a disturbed area and released. These personnel have an age limit of 3 years for the General Category and 8 for the OBC category.
SSC CHSL Documents Needed for Verification.
Candidates who are seeking to fill the SSC CHSL vacancies and are seeking consideration for this post based on the relaxation criteria given above have to bring their documents for verification. These documents need to be certified and approved by the appropriate authorities and failing to do so can result in disqualification despite belonging to any of the SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwBD/ESM categories.
Candidates in these categories need to submit the given below documents for the SSC CHSL eligibility criteria and are required to submit copies of various documents as outlined below:
- Matriculation/Secondary Certificate.
- Educational Qualification Certificate.
- Caste/Category Certificate, if belonging to reserved categories.
- Persons with Disabilities Certificate in the prescribed format, if applicable.
- For Ex-Servicemen (ESM): Serving Defence Personnel Certificate , if applicable.
- Discharge Certificate, if discharged from the Armed Forces.
- Relevant Certificate if seeking any age relaxation.
- No Objection Certificate, if already employed in Government/Government undertakings.
Please Note: While candidates are encouraged to carry their photo ID like Aadhar, PAN, Driving License or Passport, the Ration Card will not be seen as a proof of self-identity. More details on the SSC CHSL eligibility criteria can be seen on the notificaiton.
Conclusion
The SSC CHSL eligibility criteria is a very important aspect determining whether a candidate is eligible to apply for the SSC CHSL exam. So, it is essential to carefully review and understand the age limit, educational qualification, nationality, and number of attempts allowed before applying. Aspiring candidates should regularly check the official website for any updates or changes to the SSC CHSL eligibility criteria.
ixambee aims to assist potential candidates in their exam preparation journey and so provides access to pocket-friendly and effective study materials, including the SSC Super Pack Online Course and the SSC CHSL mock tests, to ensure your preparation is comprehensive and exhaustive. Best of luck with your preparation!
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