The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has officially released the recruitment advertisement for the Grade ‘C’ Stenographers Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE) 2025. This cycle offers 326 vacancies across vital central government cadres.
Below is the exhaustive advertisement breakdown including vacancy distribution, eligibility, and the selection process.
1. Important Dates
Aspirants must adhere to the following schedule for the 2025 cycle:
- Notification Release & Application Start: December 22, 2025.
- Last Date to Apply (Online): January 11, 2026 (until 11:00 PM).
- Tentative CBT Exam Date: February 2026.
- Official Website: ssc.gov.in.
2. Official Vacancy Distribution (326 Total)
The vacancies are distributed among the following central services:
| Service / Cadre | UR | SC | ST | PwBD | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Secretariat Stenographers Services (CSSS) | 195 | 48 | 24 | 11 | 267 |
| Armed Forces Headquarters (AFHQ) | 21 | 09 | 07 | 04 | 37 |
| Indian Foreign Service Branch (B) | 11 | 01 | 01 | 02 | 13 |
| Railway Board Secretariat | 03 | 02 | 03 | 01 | 08 |
| Election Commission of India (ECI) | 00 | 00 | 01 | 00 | 01 |
| Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) | – | – | – | – | TBA |
3. Eligibility Criteria
This examination is a Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE), meaning it is strictly for currently serving employees seeking promotion.
- Crucial Date for Eligibility: July 1, 2025.
- Educational Qualification: Must have passed 12th Standard or equivalent from a recognized board or university.
- Service Requirement:
- Regularly appointed Stenographers Grade ‘D’ of the participating services.
- Minimum 3 to 6 years of approved and continuous service in Grade ‘D’, depending on specific cadre rules.
- Registration: Mandatory One-Time Registration (OTR) on the new SSC portal (ssc.gov.in) is required before applying.
4. Scheme of Examination
The selection process consists of two major stages:
Stage 1: Computer-Based Test (CBT)
- Subjects: 200 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs).
- Part I: General Awareness (50 Qs / 50 Marks).
- Part II: English Language & Comprehension (100 Qs / 100 Marks).
- Part III: General Intelligence & Reasoning (50 Qs / 50 Marks).
- Duration: 2 Hours.
- Negative Marking: 0.25 marks deducted for each wrong answer.
- Location: The exam will be conducted only in Delhi.
Stage 2: Stenography Skill Test
Candidates qualifying for the CBT must undergo a dictation and transcription test:
- Dictation Speed: 100 words per minute (wpm) for 10 minutes.
- Transcription Time: 40 minutes (English) or 55 minutes (Hindi) on a computer.
- Nature: Qualifying only; however, candidates must meet accuracy standards (typically up to 7% mistakes for UR and 10% for reserved categories).
5. Salary and Pay Scale
Successful candidates will be promoted to Stenographer Grade ‘C’.
- Pay Band: ₹9,300 – ₹34,800.
- Grade Pay: ₹4,200 or ₹4,600 (depending on the cadre).
- Gross Salary: Approximately ₹51,000 per month plus applicable allowances (DA, HRA, TA).
6. How to Apply
- Visit the SSC Official Portal.
- Complete One-Time Registration (OTR).
- Log in and find the link for “Grade ‘C’ Stenographers LDCE, 2025”.
- Upload your latest photograph and signature.
- Submit the application and download the confirmation page before January 11, 2026
8. Important Links