SSC STENOGRAPHER EXAM (EVERYTHING ABOUT)
SSC STENOGRAPHERS (GRADE ‘C’ & GRADE ‘D’) EXAM
The full name of this exam is STENOGRAPHERS (GRADE ‘C’ & ‘D’) EXAMINATION. SSC conducts this exam every year; for aspirants who are 12th standard pass. The process of the exam completes in two stages; namely
1. Written Exam (online)
2. Skill Test in Stenography
NOTE: Copies of the certificate, etc. will be sought at the time of Skill Test of Stenography.
POSTS UNDER SSC STENOGRAPHERS (GRADE ‘C’ & ‘D’) EXAM
1. Stenographer Grade-C
This is a group-B service normally in the pay scale of pay level 6 (Rs 35,400 – 1,12,400) [6th CPC Grade Pay of Rs 4200].
2. Stenographer Grade-D
This is a group-C service normally in the pay scale of pay level 4 (Rs 25,500 – 81,100) [6th CPC Grade Pay of Rs 2400].
NOTE: Vacancies for Ex-servicemen are reserved for only Group ‘C’ posts.
CURRENT SALARIES FOR POSTS UNDER STENO EXAM
CLICK HERE TO SEE/DOWNLOADTable for classification of cities in various classes i.e. Class-X, Class-Y & Class-Z for HRA
[From 01.07.2017 (Latest)]
PERMISSIBLE DISABILITIES FOR POSTS UNDER STENO EXAM
For Grade-C Stenographer
- One Arm affected (OA)
- One Leg affected (OL)
- Both Legs affected (BL)
- Blind (B)
- LV (Low vision)
For Grade-D Stenographer (except for BRO)
- One Arm affected (OA)
- One Leg affected (OL)
- One Arm and Leg affected (OAL)
- Both Legs affected (BL)
- Blind (B)
- LV (Low vision)
NOTE-I: PwD candidates having HH and Cerebral Palsy disabilities may also apply.
NOTE-II: As the “Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016” has come into force with effect from 19.04.2017 and new categories of disabilities such as Autism, Dwarfism, Acid Attack victims, Muscular Dystrophy, Intellectual Disability, Specific Learning Disability, Mental Illness and Multiple Disabilities, etc have been included. Therefore, the candidates with such disabilities may also apply giving details of their disabilities in the online Application Form. However, their selection will be subject to identification of posts suitable for these categories as well as reporting of vacancies by the Indenting Departments. Candidates suffering from various disabilities as identified vide DoP&T OM No: 36035/02/2017-Estt (Res) dated 15-01-2018 (para- 2.2) may select following PwD categories in the online Registration/ Application Form at https://ssc.nic.in.
Stenographer Posts in BRO
Candidates may ensure that they fulfill all the required standards before opting for the post of Stenographer in BRO. Posts once allocated as per merit-cum-preference given by the candidates will not be changed subsequently due to failure of the candidates to qualify in these Standards.
NOTE: Only male candidates are eligible for the post of Stenographer Grade ‘D’ in the Border Roads Organization (BRO).
Provision of Compensatory Time and assistance of scribe
a) In case of persons with benchmark disabilities in the category of blindness, locomotor disability (both arm affected-BA) and cerebral palsy, the facility of scribe is provided, if desired by the candidate. Since the posts are not identified suitable for persons with BA and cerebral palsy disabilities, therefore facility of scribe will not be admissible to such candidates.
b) In case of remaining categories persons with benchmark disabilities, the provision of scribe will be provided on production of a certificate at the time of examination to the effect that the person concerned has physical limitation to write, and scribe is essential to write examination on his/ her behalf, from the Chief Medical Officer/ Civil Surgeon/ Medical Superintendent of a Government health care institution.
c) The candidate will have the discretion of opting for his/ her own scribe or the facility of scribe provided by the Commission. Appropriate choice in this regard will have to be given by the candidate in the online application form.
d) In case the candidate opts for his/ her own scribe, the qualification of the scribe should be one step below the qualification of the candidate taking the examination.
e) A compensatory time of 20 minutes per hour of examination will be provided to the persons who are allowed use of scribe.
f) The candidates who are allowed use of scribe but not availing the facility of scribe will also be given compensatory time of 20 minutes per hour of examination.
g) No attendant other than the scribe for eligible candidates will be allowed inside the examination hall.
h) One eyed candidates and partially blind candidates who are able to read the normal Question Paper set with or without magnifying glass and who wish to write/ indicate the answer with the help of magnifying glass will be allowed to use the same in the Examination Hall and will not be entitled to a Scribe. Such candidates will have to bring their own Magnifying Glass to the Examination Hall.
i) The PwD candidates who have availed the facility of Scribes/ Passage Reader and/ or compensatory time must produce relevant documents for the eligibility of scribe/ compensatory time at the time of Document Verification. Failure to produce such supporting documents will lead to cancellation of their candidature for the examination.
AGE LIMITS IN STENOGRAPHERS EXAM
1. Stenographer Grade ‘C’: 18 to 30 years
2. Stenographer Grade ‘D’: 18-27 years
Permissible relaxation in upper age limit and category codes for claiming age relaxation are as follows:

Permissible relaxation in upper age limit

Permissible relaxation in upper age limit
NOTE-I:Ex-servicemen (ESM) who have already secured employment in civil side under Central Government in Group ‘C’ & ‘D’ posts on regular basis after availing of the benefits of reservation given to ex-servicemen for their re-employment are not eligible for reservation in ESM category and fee concession.
However, he/she can avail of the benefit of reservation as ex-serviceman for subsequent employment if he/she immediately after joining civil employment, gives self declaration/undertaking to the concerned employer about the date-wise details of application for various vacancies for which he/she had applied for before joining the initial civil employment as mentioned in the OM No.36034/1/2014-Estt (Res) dated 14th August 2014 issued by DOPT.
NOTE-II: The period of “Call up Service” of an Ex-Serviceman in the Armed Forces shall also be treated as service rendered in the Armed Forces for purpose of age relaxation as per rules.
NOTE-III: Age relaxation is not admissible to sons, daughters and dependents of Ex-Servicemen. Therefore , such candidates should not indicate their category as ex-servicemen.
OBC
A person seeking appointment on the basis of reservation to OBCs must ensure that he/ she possesses the caste/ community certificate and does not fall in creamy layer on the crucial date. The crucial date for this purpose will be the closing date for receipt of online application.
NOTE: Crucial date for claim of SC/ ST/ OBC/ EWS/ PwD status will also be closing date for receipt of online applications.
ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS IN STENOGRAPHERS EXAM
12th standard pass from a recognized board or university
12th standard pass from a recognized board or university
NOTE-I: As per Ministry of Human Resource Development Notification dated 10.06.2015 published in the Gazette of India all the degrees/ diplomas/ certificates awarded through Open and Distance Learning mode of education by the Universities established by an Act of Parliament or State Legislature, Institutions Deemed to be Universities under Section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 and Institutions of National Importance declared under an Act of Parliament stand automatically recognized for the purpose of employment to posts and services under the Central Government provided they have been approved by the Distance Education Bureau, University Grants Commission. However, such degrees should be recognized for the relevant period when the candidate acquired the said qualification.
NOTE-II: As per UGC (Open and Distance Learning) Regulations, 2017 published in official Gazette on 23-06-2017, under Part-III (8) (v), the programmes in engineering, medicine, dental, nursing, pharmacy, architecture and physiotherapy etc are not permitted to be offered under Open and Distance Learning mode. However, pursuant to the Hon‟ble Supreme Court Order dated 11-03-2019 in MA No. 3092/2018 in W.P. (C) No. 382/2018 titled Mukul Kumar Sharma & others Vs AICTE and others, B. Tech. degree/ diploma in Engineering awarded by IGNOU to the students who were enrolled up to academic year 2009-10 shall be treated as valid, wherever applicable.
NOTE-III: The candidates who are able to prove, by documentary evidence, that the result of the qualifying examination was declared on or before the cut-off date and he/ she has been declared passed, will also be considered to meet the educational qualification. It is reiterated that the result of requisite educational qualification must have been declared by the concerned Board by the specified date. Mere processing of the result by the Board by the crucial cut-off date does not fulfill the EQ requirement.
NOTE-IV: NO EDUCATIONAL/PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE IS NEEDED FOR STENOGRAPHY TEST.
SCHEME OF EXAMINATION OF STENOGRAPHERS EXAM
i) Written Objective Paper (online)
It consists of 200 questions to be attempted in 2 hours.
1. | Reasoning | 50 Questions | 50 Marks |
2. | General Knowledge | 50 Questions | 50 Marks |
3. | English | 100 Questions | 100 Marks |
NOTE-I: Negative marking of 0.25 marks for each incorrect answer
NOTE-II: Visually handicapped (VH) candidates with visual disabilities of 40% and cerebral palsy candidates can avail the assistance of Scribe to be provided by the Commission in the written examination subject to such request of scribe being made in the application form. Maximum time for such candidates is 2 hours and 40 minutes.
NOTE-III: Marks scored by candidates in the online Examinations, if conducted in multiple shifts, will be normalized and such normalized scores will be used to determine final merit.
NOTE-IV: Minimum qualifying marks in online Examination, are as follows:
1. | UR | 30% |
2. | OBC / EWS | 25% |
3. | All other categories (SC / ST / PwD / ESM, etc. | 20% |
ii) Skill Test
The candidates will have to appear for the stenography test. The candidates will be given one dictation for 10 minutes in English/Hindi at the speed of 100 wpm for the post of Stenographer Grade-C and 80 wpm for the post of Stenographer Grade-D. The matter will have to be transcribed (typing back) on computer only. The transcription time is as follows:
1. For Stenographer Grade-D: 50 minutes (English); 65 minutes (Hindi)
2. For Stenographer Grade-C: 40 minutes (English); 55 Minutes (Hindi)
NOTE-I: Skill test will be of qualifying nature.
NOTE-II: There is no exemption from skill test for any category of candidates.
NOTE-IV: Candidates who opt to take the Stenography Test in Hindi will be required to learn English Stenography and vice versa after their appointment.
Method of Evaluation of Stenography Scripts

SYLLABUS OF STENOGRAPHERS EXAM
GK
Questions will be designed to test the ability of the candidates general awareness of the environment around him and its application to society. Questions will also be designed to test knowledge of current events and of such matters of everyday observation and experience in their scientific aspects as may be expected of an educated person.
The test will also include questions relating to India and its Neighboring countries especially pertaining to Sports, History, Culture, Geography, Economic scene, General Polity including Indian Constitution, and Scientific Research etc. These questions will be such that they do not require a special study of any discipline.
REASONING
It would include questions of both verbal and non-verbal type. This component may include questions on analogies, similarities and differences, space visualization, spatial orientation, problem solving, analysis, judgement, decision making, visual memory, discrimination, observation, relationship concepts, arithmetical reasoning, verbal and figure classification, arithmetical number series, non-verbal series etc. The test will also include questions designed to test the candidate‟s abilities to deal with abstract ideas and symbols and their relationship, arithmetical computation and other analytical functions.
TOPICS NORMALLY ARE:
1. Semantic Analogy
2. Symbolic/Number Analogy
3. Figural Analogy
4. Semantic Classification
5. Symbolic/Number Classification
6. Figural Classification
7. Semantic Series
8. Number Series
9. Figural Series
10. Problem Solving
11. Word Building
12. Coding and de-coding
13 Numerical operations
14. Symbolic operations
15 Trends
16. Space Orientation
17. Venn Diagrams
18. Drawing inferences
19. Punched hole/pattern-folding & unfolding
20. Figural Pattern – folding and completion
21. Indexing
22. Address matching
23. Date & city matching
24. Classification of centre codes/roll numbers
25. Small & Capital letters/numbers coding, decoding and classification
26. Embedded figures
27. Critical Thinking
28. Emotional Intelligence
29. Social Intelligence
30. Other sub-topics, if any
NOTE: For VH candidates of 40% and above visual disability opting for scribe there will be no component of Maps/ Graphs/ Diagrams/ Statistical Data in the Reasoning or GK Paper.
ENGLISH
English Language and Comprehension: In addition to the testing of candidates’ understanding of the English Language, its vocabulary, grammar, sentence structure, synonyms, antonyms and its correct usage, etc. his/her writing ability, would also be tested.
TOPICS
1. Spot the Error
2. Fill in the Blanks
3. Synonyms
4. Antonyms
5. Spellings/Detecting Mis-spelt words
6. Idioms & Phrases
7. One word substitution
8. Improvement of Sentences
9. Active/Passive Voice of Verbs
10. Conversion into Direct/Indirect narration
11. Shuffling of Sentence parts
12. Shuffling of Sentences in a passage
13. Cloze Passage
14. Comprehension Passage