The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has officially published the notification for the Senior Secretariat Assistant/Upper Division Clerk Grade Limited Departmental Competitive Examination, 2025 (SSA/UDC LDCE 2025). This recruitment drive aims to fill a total of 227 vacancies for Group 'C' Non-Gazetted posts (Pay Level-4).
This is a Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE), meaning it is an internal, departmentally-conducted exam open only to eligible serving government employees. It provides a significant career advancement opportunity for Junior Secretariat Assistants (JSA) and Lower Division Clerks (LDC) working in the specified 10 participating services or cadres.
The online application window is open from 5 June 2026 to 26 June 2026. The Computer-Based Examination is tentatively scheduled for July-August 2026.
| Organization | Staff Selection Commission (SSC) |
|---|---|
| Post Name | Senior Secretariat Assistant (SSA) / Upper Division Clerk (UDC) |
| Total Vacancies | 227 |
| Application Mode | Online (For Departmental Employees Only) |
| Exam Name | SSA/UDC Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE) 2025 |
| Official Website | ssc.gov.in |
| Event | Date & Time |
|---|---|
| Online Application Start Date | 5 June 2026 |
| Last Date for Online Applications | 26 June 2026 (23:00 hours) |
| Last Date for Receipt of Printed Application (General) | 3 July 2026 (18:00 hours) |
| Last Date for Receipt of Printed Application (Remote Areas) | 10 July 2026 (18:00 hours) |
| Tentative Schedule of Computer Based Examination (Paper-I) | July – August 2026 |
| Written Examination (Paper-II) | To be notified later |
Candidates are advised to verify all dates from the official SSC website.
| Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| All Candidates | NIL (No Fee) |
The age criteria vary by cadre. Candidates should not exceed the age prescribed by their respective cadre on the crucial date.
| Category | Age Limit |
|---|---|
| General (Cadre-specific) | Varies by Cadre (e.g., 50 years for Railway Board, 45 years for Defence Estates) |
| SC/ST | 5 years relaxation (as applicable) |
| Defence PWD in Operations (General) | 3 years relaxation (as applicable) |
| Defence PWD in Operations (ST/SC) | 8 years relaxation (as applicable) |
Crucial Date & Service Requirements: The exact crucial date and service requirements are specified in the official notification and vary by cadre. Candidates must refer to the official notice for their specific cadre's details.
A total of 227 vacancies have been announced across 10 participating services/cadres.
| S. No. | Participating Service / Cadre | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central Passport Organisation, Ministry of External Affairs | 76 |
| 2 | Armed Forces Headquarters Clerical Service | 42 |
| 3 | Office of Development Commissioner (MSME) | 28 |
| 4 | Central Administrative Tribunal | 24 |
| 5 | Railway Board Secretariat Clerical Service | 19 |
| 6 | Election Commission of India | 12 |
| 7 | National Technical Research Organisation | 08 |
| 8 | Directorate General, Defence Estates | 08 |
| 9 | Central Vigilance Commission | 06 |
| 10 | Forest Survey of India | 04 |
| Total | 227 |
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Educational Qualification | Bachelor's Degree from a recognized university or equivalent |
| Service Requirement | Minimum 3–6 years of regular service in the Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA)/Lower Division Clerk (LDC) Grade, depending on the cadre |
| Typewriting Test | Mandatory for Railway Board Secretariat Clerical Service (unless exempted) |
Note: The exact service requirements and crucial dates are cadre-specific and are detailed in the official notification.
| Participating Service / Cadre | Eligibility Criteria |
|---|---|
| Central Passport Organisation, MEA | JSA with 6 years of service and a Bachelor's degree |
| Armed Forces Headquarters Clerical Service | Minimum 5 years of approved continuous service in JSA Grade |
| Railway Board Secretariat Clerical Service | Length of service & typewriting test (where applicable) |
| Central Administrative Tribunal | 5 years regular service in LDC Grade |
| Central Vigilance Commission | 5 years regular service in the level of pay matrix |
| Election Commission of India | JSA/LDC with minimum 3 years regular service |
| Forest Survey of India | 5 years regular service |
| National Technical Research Organisation | 5 years regular service |
| Directorate General, Defence Estates | 5 years regular service; Hindi Typist requirement |
| Office of Development Commissioner, MSME | 5 years regular service in Level-2 |
The selection process consists of two parts:
| Paper | Type | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper-I | Computer Based Examination (CBE) / Objective | 200 |
| Paper-II | Written Examination / Descriptive | 100 |
| Component | Details | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| APARs / Service Records | Evaluation of Annual Performance Appraisal Reports / Service Records | 100 |
Total Marks: 400. The final merit list is prepared based on the combined performance in Part-I and Part-II.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Pay Level | Pay Level-4 (7th Central Pay Commission) |
| Pay Scale | ₹25,500 – ₹81,100 per month |
| Post Group | Group 'C' Non-Gazetted |
The application process has two main steps: Online Submission and Forwarding of the Hard Copy.
Ans: No. This is a Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE), which is strictly an internal examination for serving government employees. Candidates from the general public cannot apply.
Ans: The last date to submit the online application is 26 June 2026, by 11:00 PM.
Ans: No. The notification does not prescribe any application fee for this departmental examination.
Ans: The post comes under Pay Level-4 with a pay scale of ₹25,500 – ₹81,100 per month.
Ans: The selection process consists of Part-I (Computer Based Examination + Written Examination) and Part-II (Evaluation of Service Records/APARs).
Ans: The Computer Based Examination (Paper-I) is tentatively scheduled for July-August 2026. The Written Examination (Paper-II) date will be notified later.