SSC Stenographer Syllabus 2026 & Exam Pattern

SSC Stenographer Syllabus 2026 & Exam Pattern

The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has released the SSC Stenographer Syllabus 2026 along with the detailed exam pattern for both Grade C and Grade D posts. This article breaks down the official syllabus, exam structure, and provides practical steps to download the documents.

Short Information

The recruitment is conducted by the Staff Selection Commission for Stenographer Grade C and Grade D posts in various Central Government ministries and offices. A total of 5 vacancies (UR category) have been announced for 2026. The selection consists of a Computer‑Based Test (CBT) followed by a qualifying Shorthand Skill Test.

Exam Pattern

The exam is divided into two tiers. Tier‑1 is the CBT, while Tier‑2 is the Shorthand Skill Test. Both tiers have distinct formats and marking schemes.

Tier‑1: Computer‑Based Test (CBT)

• Marking Scheme: +1 for each correct answer, –0.25 for each wrong answer. No penalty for unattempted questions.
• Qualifying Marks: Not specified in the official notification; candidates must refer to the latest SSC notice for category‑wise cut‑off.

Tier‑2: Shorthand Skill Test

• Qualifying Criteria (Permissible Mistakes):
  • General category – Grade C: 5 %, Grade D: 7 %
  • OBC/SC/ST/Ex‑servicemen – Grade C: 5 %, Grade D: 10 %
• The Skill Test is qualifying only and does not contribute to the final merit list.

Subject‑wise Syllabus

The CBT syllabus is identical for both Grade C and Grade D. For clarity, separate sub‑headings are provided for each post.

Stenographer Grade C

General Intelligence & Reasoning

• Space Visualization
• Problem‑Solving
• Similarities & Differences
• Analysis, Judgement
• Discriminating Observation
• Decision Making
• Visual Memory
• Coding‑Decoding
• Direction & Distance
• Blood Relation
• Order & Ranking
• Puzzle
• Venn Diagram
• Non‑Verbal Reasoning
• Number Series
• Verbal Reasoning

General Awareness

• Static Awareness
• Current Affairs
• History
• Culture
• Geography
• General Polity
• Economic Scene
• Scientific Research
• Sports
• Indian Constitution
• Science & Technology

English Language & Comprehension

• Spellings
• Phrases & Idiom Meaning
• Active & Passive Voice
• Reading Comprehension
• Synonyms & Antonyms
• Fill in the Blanks
• Direct & Indirect Speech
• Error Spotting
• Para Jumble & Sentence Jumble
• Phrase Replacement / Sentence Correction

Shorthand Skill Test Syllabus

• President’s Speech
• Topics on Natural Calamities
• Speech Given in the Parliament
• Editorial Columns of Newspapers
• Railway Speech
• Employment/Unemployment in India
• Topics of National Interest
• Budget Speech
• Topics on Science and Technology
• Any Other Topic of National Interest

Stenographer Grade D

General Intelligence & Reasoning

• Space Visualization
• Problem‑Solving
• Similarities & Differences
• Analysis, Judgement
• Discriminating Observation
• Decision Making
• Visual Memory
• Coding‑Decoding
• Direction & Distance
• Blood Relation
• Order & Ranking
• Puzzle
• Venn Diagram
• Non‑Verbal Reasoning
• Number Series
• Verbal Reasoning

General Awareness

• Static Awareness
• Current Affairs
• History
• Culture
• Geography
• General Polity
• Economic Scene
• Scientific Research
• Sports
• Indian Constitution
• Science & Technology

English Language & Comprehension

• Spellings
• Phrases & Idiom Meaning
• Active & Passive Voice
• Reading Comprehension
• Synonyms & Antonyms
• Fill in the Blanks
• Direct & Indirect Speech
• Error Spotting
• Para Jumble & Sentence Jumble
• Phrase Replacement / Sentence Correction

Shorthand Skill Test Syllabus

• President’s Speech
• Topics on Natural Calamities
• Speech Given in the Parliament
• Editorial Columns of Newspapers
• Railway Speech
• Employment/Unemployment in India
• Topics of National Interest
• Budget Speech
• Topics on Science and Technology
• Any Other Topic of National Interest

How to Download Syllabus

1. Open the official SSC website: https://ssc.gov.in.
2. Navigate to the “Recruitment” or “Latest Notifications” section.
3. Locate the notification titled “SSC Stenographer 2026”.
4. Click on the “Syllabus” link provided within the notification page.
5. The PDF will open in a new tab; right‑click and select “Save As” to download it to your device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What subjects are covered in the SSC Stenographer CBT syllabus?
A: The CBT includes three subjects – General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Awareness, and English Language & Comprehension – each with a detailed list of topics as shown above.

Q2. How many questions are there in the CBT and what is the total duration?
A: The CBT consists of 200 objective questions to be answered in 2 hours (200 minutes for PwBD candidates).

Q3. Is there negative marking in the CBT?
A: Yes. For every wrong answer, 0.25 marks are deducted. No marks are deducted for unanswered questions.

Q4. What is the dictation speed for the Shorthand Skill Test?
A: Grade D candidates are tested at 80 words per minute for 8 minutes, while Grade C candidates face 100 words per minute for 10 minutes.

Q5. Are the Skill Test results added to the final merit list?
A: No. The Skill Test is qualifying only; the final merit list is based solely on CBT scores, provided the candidate clears the Skill Test.