The Estimates Committee of Parliament, in its 47th Report (1967-68), recommended the setting up of a Services Selection Commission for conducting examinations for recruitment to lower categories of posts. Pursuant to this, and as an interim measure, an Examination Wing was initially added to the Secretarial Training School, subsequently renamed as the Institute of Secretariat Training and Management (ISTM).

The Administration Reforms Commission (ARC), in its Report on Personnel Administration, drew pointed attention to the fact that bulk of the staff of the government at the Centre and in the States belonged to class III and class IV categories. Referring, in particular, to the identical nature of qualifications stipulated for entry into such posts in various offices, the Commission advocated pooling of the requirements of non-technical posts by different departments and selection of personnel either by joint recruitment or through a recruitment board. It was in pursuance of this recommendation that the Government of India decided to constitute a Subordinate Services Commission under an Executive Resolution-No. 46/1/(S)/74-esstt. (B) dt. 4th November, 1975 (Appendix 1). It was renamed as Staff Selection Commission (SSC) on September 26, 1977.

The Staff Selection Commission is an attached office of the Department of Personnel and Training and comprises of Chairman, two Members and a Secretary-cum-Controller of Examinations who are appointed on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the Central Government from time to time. The Commission is provided such supporting staff as considered necessary by the Central Government.

Functions of Commission:

1. To make recruitment to (i) all Group “B” posts in the various Ministries/Departments of the Govt. of India and their Attached and Subordinate Offices which are in the pay scales the maximum of which is Rs.10,500 or below and (ii) all non-technical Group “C” posts in the various Ministries/Departments of the Govt. of India and their Attached and Subordinate Offices, except those posts which are specifically exempt from the purview of the Staff Selection Commission.

2. To conduct examinations and/or interviews, whenever required for recruitment to the posts within its purview. The examinations would be held as far as possible at different centres and successful candidates posted, to the extent possible, to their home State/Region.

3. In particular, to hold Open Competitive Examinations for recruitment to the posts of:

(i) Lower Division Clerks in the various Ministries/Departments, Attached and Subordinate Offices of the Government of India including those participating in the Central Secretariat Clerical Service /Indian Foreign Service (B), Railway Board Secretariat Clerical Service and the Armed Forces Headquarters Clerical Service;

(ii) Grade “C” and Grade ‘D” Stenographers of the Central Secretariat Stenographers Service and equivalent Grades of Indian Foreign Service (B) Railway Board Secretariat Stenographers Service/Armed Forces Head quarters Stenographers Service and to the posts of Stenographers in other Departments including Attached and Subordinate Offices of the Government of India not participating in the aforesaid Services;

(iii) Assistants in the various Ministries/Departments including Attached and Subordinate Offices of the Government of India including those participating in the Central Secretariat Service/ IFS (B)/ Railway Board Secretariat Service/Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service;

(iv) Inspectors of Central Excise in different Collectorates of Central Excise, Inspectors of Income-Tax in different charges of the Commissioners of Income-Tax, Preventive Officers and Examiners in different Custom Houses, Assistant Enforcement Officers in Directorate of Enforcement;

(v) Sub-Inspectors in , Central Bureau of Investigation and Central Police Organisations;

(vi) Divisional Accountants, Auditors and Accountants under the Office of Comptroller and Auditor General of India and other Accounts Departments and Upper Division Clerks in Attached and Subordinate Offices of the Government of India.

(vii) Junior Engineer (Civil & Electrical) in CPWD, a Group ‘C’ Non-Gazetted, Non-Ministerial, General Central Services (Technical) post.

(viii) Statistical Investigators, Grade IV of Subordinate Statistical Service (SSC), a Group ‘C’ non-gazetted, non-ministerial post in the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation

(ix) Tax Assistant ( a Group C non – Gazetted Ministerial post in various Commissionerates of Central Board of Direct Taxes ( CBDT) and Central Board of Excise and Customs )

(x) Section Officer ( Commercial Audit), a Group “B” Non-gazetted post in the Indian Audit and Accounts Department

(xi) Section Officer (Audit) , a Group B Non-Gazetted post in the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General

(4). The Commission also holds Departmental Examination for promotion from:

(i) Group “D” to Lower Division Clerk Grade of the Central Secretariat Clerical Service and equivalent grades in Indian Foreign Service (B)/Railway Board Secretariat Clerical Service/Armed Force Hqrs. Clerical Service;

(ii) Lower Divisional Clerks to Upper Divisional Clerks Grade of the Central Secretariat Clerical Service and equivalent Indian Foreign Service (B)/Railway Board Secretariat Clerical Service/Armed Forces Hqrs. Clerical Service;

(iii) Stenographers Grade “D” to Stenographers Grade “C” of the Central Secretariat Stenographers Service and equivalent grades in Indian Foreign Service (B)/Railway Board Secretariat Stenographers Service/Armed Forces Hqrs. Stenographers Service.

5. The Commission conducts periodical Typewriting Tests in English and Hindi.

6. The Commission prepares schemes for recruitment to all Group “B” posts which are in the pay scale of Rs 9300 to 34800 with a grade pay of Rs 42000 or below and Group “C” non-technical posts in the Ministries/Departmental of the Govt. of India including its Attached and Subordinate Offices in consultation with the Departments concerned.

7. The Commission conducts examinations/selections for recruitment to all Group “B” posts which are in the pay scales the maximum of which is Rs.10, 500 or below and all Group “C” non-technical posts in the Ministries/Departments of the Govt. from time to time.

8. The Commission performs such other functions as may be entrusted to it by the Central Govt. from time to time.

List of Open Examinations:

List of Departmental Examinations:

Selection Procedure:

Besides recruitment through All India Open Competitive Examinations, Staff Selection commission also makes recruitment to Group ‘C’ Non-Technical and Group ‘B’ Non-gazetted Posts which are not covered by any of the Open Examinations conducted by the Commission. Such vacancies generally are small in number and qualification for such posts vary from department to department.

The selection process adopted by the Commission for recruitment to such isolated posts, known as Selection Posts, includes the following elements:-

1. Selection through short-listing of candidates on the basis of percentage of marks obtained in the Essential Qualification followed by interview.
2. Selection through short-listing of candidates on the basis of a screening test followed by interview.
3. Selection through Proficiency Test in the relevent subject/discipline which is essential for the post(s) in question followed by interview.
4. Selection through short-listing on the basis of percentage of marks obtained in the Essential Qualification followed by Skill Test/Interview.

In order to select the right candidates for the right job keeping in view job recruitments, the Staff Selection Commission has made the interview process effective by structuring it in such a way that proper and scientific assessment of the candidate is made by judging his academic qualifications, knowledge of the subjects studied, personality and his aptitude and suitability for the post under consideration.

Notice for recruitment to Selection Posts is issued in the Employment News/Rozgar Samachar and also hosted on the website of the Commission/Regional Offices of the Commission. Notice for Group'C' posts is issued by the Regional Offices of the Commission and Notice for Group'B' posts is issued by the Headquarters of the Commission.

Important Links:

• SSC Results
• Examination Notices
• SSC Online Application   | SSC Online: Contact

Info Links:

• SSC Organisation Structure
• SSC: Regional/Sub-Regional Offices
• Official Contact Details (Regional Help Lines)
• SSC: Govt. of India - Official Website: http://ssc.nic.in

Courtesy: www.ssc.nic.in