Staff Selection Commission

The Stenographers Examination is conducted by the Staff Selection Commission for recruitment of:

1. Central Secretariat Stenographers Service- Grade C (for inclusion in the select list of the Grade);
2. Railway Board Secretariat Stenographers' Service Grade C (for inclusion in the select list of the Grade)
3. Indian Foreign Service (B)- Grade II of the Stenographers Cadre
4. Armed Forces headquarters Stenographers' Service -Grade C
5. Posts of Stenographers in other departments/organisations attached offices of the Govt. of India not participating in above services.

Eligibility

Age: A candidate must have attained the age of 18 years and must have attained the age of 25 years on the first day of the January of the year in which the examination is held.

The upper age may be relaxed in respect of scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes and such other categories of persons as may from time to time be notified in this behalf by the Government of India to the extent and subject to the conditions, notified in respect of category.

Educational Qualification: A candidate should have passed Matriculation examination or equivalent or higher examination from a recognised university or educational board.

Application: This examination is held once a year generally in the month of March. Blank application forms and other particulars are published in the Employment News in the month of October of previous year. The last date for submission of application is usually 4th week of November.

Selection

Plan of the Examination: The examination comprises of:

(a) a written test (b) Shorthand test in Hindi or English

Written Test: The subjects of the examination, the time allowed and the maximum marks for each subject will be as follows:

Shorthand test: For those who qualify in the written test

Note: (i) Paper II of the written examination shall be evaluated of only those candidates who attain a minimum qualifying standard in Paper I as may fixed at the discretion of the commission.

(ii) Paper in General Knowledge and General English will consist of the Objective Type Questions
(iii) Papers in Essay and General Knowledge will be set both in English and in Hindi

Syllabus:

General English: The paper is designed to test the candidates knowledge of English Grammar and Composition , and generally their power to understand and their ability to write correct English. The paper may include questions on the correct use of words, easy idioms and prepositions, direct and indirect speech etc.

General Knowledge: Some knowledge of the constitution of India, five-year plans, Indian History and culture, General and Economic Geography of India, current events, everyday science and such matters of everyday observation as may be expected to show their intelligence understanding of the questions and not the detailed knowledge of any text-book.

Essay: Candidates are required to write essays in English or in Hindi on two topics. A choice of subjects will be given. They are expected to keep close to the subject of the essay, to arrange their ideas in orderly fashion, and to write concisely. Credit is given for effective and exact expression.

Scheme of shorthand test:

The shorthand test in English will comprise two dictation tests, one of 120 words per minute for seven minutes and another at 100 words per minute for 10 minutes, which the candidates will be required to transcribe in 45 and 50 minutes respectively.

The shorthand test in Hindi comprises two dictation tests one at 120 words per minute for seven minutes and another at 100 words per minute for 10 minutes which the candidates are required to transcribe in 60 and 65 minutes respectively.