SSC Stenographer Answer Key 2026: Expected Date, Objection Fee and Last Year's Cut-Off
SSC Stenographer Grade C and D 2026 exam was held from 9 to 15 September and the provisional answer key is expected in late September or early October. Download steps, score calculation, objection fee and rules, and last year's cut-off marks.
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SSC Stenographer 2026 Answer Key: What to Expect
The SSC Stenographer Grade C and Grade D 2026 computer based exam was held from 9 to 15 September 2026, after the original 9 to 12 September window was extended. The provisional answer key and response sheet are the next step, and SSC has not yet announced the release date.
Based on SSC's usual practice of releasing the tentative key about two weeks after the exam ends, it is expected in late September or early October 2026.
This recruitment covers 1,170 vacancies for Stenographer Grade C and Grade D.
| Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam | Stenographer Grade C & D, 2026 |
| Conducting body | Staff Selection Commission (SSC) |
| Exam dates | 9 to 15 September 2026 |
| Answer key | Not released, expected late September / early October 2026 |
| Objection fee | ₹50 per question (SSC's current interim rate) |
| Total vacancies | 1,170 |
| Official website | ssc.gov.in |
How to Download the Answer Key and Response Sheet
- Go to ssc.gov.in.
- Open the Answer Key tab, which leads to the Challenge Management System.
- Log in with your registered User ID (registration number) and password.
- Download your response sheet and the tentative answer key.
- Note the question IDs where you believe the key is wrong.
The response sheet shows the question paper, your marked answer and the key's answer. It does not show your marks.
How to Calculate Your Score
SSC does not publish scores at this stage, so work it out yourself:
- +1 mark for each correct answer
- −0.25 mark for each wrong answer
- Paper-I is out of 200 marks
Count your correct answers, multiply the wrong ones by 0.25 and subtract. This estimate, compared against last year's cut-off, is a reasonable indicator of whether you are in contention for the skill test.
Objection Process
- The objection window opens along with the answer key. In recent SSC cycles the window has been about three days, usually closing at 6:00 PM on the last day.
- Fee: ₹50 per question or answer challenged, paid online. SSC reduced this from ₹100 as an interim measure and has said the ₹50 rate applies until a refund mechanism is built; once that is live, candidates whose challenges are accepted receive a full refund.
- Note: some websites still show ₹100. Check the exact figure in the notice published with the key.
- Challenges must be supported by evidence, cite a standard textbook, an authoritative source or a clear reasoning note. Objections without support are almost always rejected.
Only objections filed within the window and with the fee paid are examined. SSC's decision on each challenge is final.
Previous Year Cut-Off (For Reference)
These are 2025 cut-offs out of 200, use them only as a rough benchmark, not as a prediction for this year.
Grade C
| Category | Cut-off |
|---|---|
| UR | 142.43 |
| OBC | 141.77 |
| EWS | 137.83 |
| SC | 135.44 |
| ST | 120.38 |
Grade D
| Category | Cut-off |
|---|---|
| UR | 132.31 |
| OBC | 129.22 |
| EWS | 125.13 |
| SC | 117.77 |
| ST | 105.75 |
For further context, the 2024 Grade C cut-off for UR, OBC and EWS was 148.58, with SC at 138.17 and ST at 114.73.
What Comes Next
- Final answer key after objections are examined
- Paper-I result
- Skill Test, stenography dictation, which is qualifying
- Document verification
Dates for these stages have not been announced. Candidates expecting to clear Paper-I should start dictation practice now: Grade D requires 80 words per minute and Grade C requires 100 words per minute, with transcription on a computer within the prescribed time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Has the SSC Stenographer 2026 answer key been released? No. As of 20 September 2026 it is still awaited, and expected in late September or early October.
Q2. Where will it be released? On ssc.gov.in, through the Challenge Management System, using your registration number and password.
Q3. How much does an objection cost? ₹50 per question under SSC's current interim rate. Confirm the figure in the official notice when the key is released.
Q4. Will I get the objection fee back? SSC has stated that a refund will apply to accepted challenges once the refund mechanism is in place.
Q5. Does the response sheet show my marks? No. It shows your answers and the key's answers. You calculate the score yourself.
Q6. What is the marking scheme? +1 for a correct answer and −0.25 for a wrong one, out of 200 marks.
Q7. How many vacancies are there? 1,170 posts across Stenographer Grade C and Grade D.
Conclusion
The SSC Stenographer answer key is the last checkpoint before the Paper-I result. Download your response sheet as soon as it appears, calculate your score honestly against last year's cut-offs, and file objections only where you have solid evidence. Meanwhile, begin shorthand dictation practice, the skill test decides the final selection.
Disclaimer: As of 20 September 2026 SSC has not announced the answer key date or the objection window. The ₹50 objection fee is SSC's current interim rate and is reported differently on some websites. Cut-offs quoted here are from previous years. Confirm all details on ssc.gov.in.