SSC JHT 2026 Syllabus: Paper-I General Hindi and English, Paper-II translation and essay, 0.25 negative marking, merit rule and prep tips.

SSC JHT 2026 Syllabus
Junior Hindi Translator – Paper-I & Paper-II Exam Pattern, Topic-wise Syllabus & Preparation Tips
If you have a Master’s with Hindi and English and you enjoy translation, the SSC JHT 2026 Syllabus is short on paper but demanding in practice. The Combined Hindi Translators Examination recruits Junior Hindi Translators, Junior Translation Officers, Junior Translators and Senior Hindi Translators for central government offices, at Level-6 and Level-7 pay. The exam has just two papers: an objective computer based Paper-I in General Hindi and General English, and a descriptive Paper-II in translation and essay writing. Here is the complete exam pattern and syllabus as per the Combined Hindi Translators Examination, 2026 notice on ssc.gov.in, with practical tips on how to prepare for each part.
Posts Covered Under SSC JHT 2026
| Code | Post | Pay Level |
|---|---|---|
| A | Junior Translation Officer (JTO), Central Secretariat Official Language Service | Level-6 (₹35,400–1,12,400) |
| B | Junior Translation Officer (JTO), Armed Forces Headquarters | Level-6 (₹35,400–1,12,400) |
| C | Junior Hindi Translator / JTO / Junior Translator in various Ministries & Departments | Level-6 (₹35,400–1,12,400) |
| D | Senior Hindi Translator / Senior Translator / Senior Translation Officer | Level-7 (₹44,900–1,42,400) |
Vacancies: The 2026 notice lists 84 tentative vacancies; post-wise and category-wise updates are published under Tentative Vacancy on ssc.gov.in. Age limit is 18–30 years as on 01.08.2026, with relaxation for reserved categories.
SSC JHT 2026 Exam Pattern (Paper-I & Paper-II)
| Paper | Mode | Subject | Questions / Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper-I, Part-I (Objective) | Computer Based | General Hindi | 100 / 100 | 1 hour (sectional) |
| Paper-I, Part-II (Objective) | Computer Based | General English | 100 / 100 | 1 hour (sectional) |
| Paper-II (Descriptive) | Written answer book | Translation & Essay | 200 marks | 2 hours |
Scribe candidates: Paper-I is 2 hours 40 minutes (1 hour 20 minutes per part) and Paper-II is 2 hours 40 minutes for candidates eligible for a scribe.
Negative Marking & Qualifying Marks
- Paper-I: 1 mark per question, 0.25 marks deducted for every wrong answer.
- Paper-II: Descriptive, so there is no negative marking. The notice does not prescribe a separate qualifying percentage for Paper-II, but there may be separate category-wise cut-offs in both papers.
- Minimum qualifying marks in the CBE (Paper-I): UR 30%, OBC/EWS 25%, all other categories 20%.
- Shortlisting: Candidates are shortlisted category-wise for Paper-II based on Paper-I marks. Multi-shift scores are normalized.
- Final merit: 50% of Paper-I scores + 100% of Paper-II marks. Post and department are allotted on merit plus your preferences.
- Paper-II answer book rules: Write your roll number, signature and left-hand thumb impression only where asked on the cover. Writing your name, roll number, phone number or address inside the answer book is treated as unfair means and gets zero marks.
- No re-evaluation: There is no provision for re-checking or re-evaluation of scores.
SSC JHT 2026 Syllabus – Paper-I (General Hindi & General English)
The official syllabus for Paper-I is a single line: questions test your understanding of the languages and literature, correct use of words, phrases and idioms, and your ability to write the languages correctly, precisely and effectively. The questions are of degree level. In practice, that description translates into the areas below. This breakdown is our study guide based on the official description, not an SSC list.
| Part | Areas to Prepare (study guide) |
|---|---|
| General Hindi | संधि (Sandhi), समास (Samas), उपसर्ग-प्रत्यय, पर्यायवाची (synonyms), विलोम (antonyms), अनेकार्थी शब्द, वाक्यांश के लिए एक शब्द, मुहावरे और लोकोक्तियाँ (idioms & proverbs), वाक्य शुद्धि and वर्तनी (correct usage and spelling), लिंग-वचन, कारक, तत्सम-तद्भव, reading comprehension, and Hindi literature basics (major writers, works and periods). |
| General English | Grammar and error spotting, sentence improvement, fill in the blanks, synonyms and antonyms, one-word substitution, idioms and phrases, spelling, active/passive voice, direct/indirect speech, sentence arrangement, cloze test, reading comprehension, and basic English literature awareness (major authors and works). |
SSC JHT 2026 Syllabus – Paper-II (Translation & Essay)
Paper-II is where the real selection happens. As per the notice, it has four tasks that test your translation skill and your ability to write and understand both languages correctly, precisely and effectively. The level matches the prescribed educational qualification (Master’s degree).
| Section | What You Write |
|---|---|
| Translation 1 | One passage from Hindi to English |
| Translation 2 | One passage from English to Hindi |
| Essay 1 | One essay in Hindi |
| Essay 2 | One essay in English |
| Total | 200 marks, 2 hours |
Note: The notification does not give a marks split for each passage or essay. The split is shown on the question paper itself, so plan your time once you see it.
Preparation Tips for SSC JHT 2026
- Translate one passage every day, both ways. Pick editorials, PIB press releases or government reports, which are available in Hindi and English. Translate, then compare with the official version.
- Build an official-language glossary. Administrative terms like “अधिसूचना” (notification), “परिपत्र” (circular) and “कार्यालय ज्ञापन” (office memorandum) are worth knowing well. Keep a notebook and revise it weekly.
- Translate meaning, not words. Examiners look for natural, accurate sentences. Word-for-word translation usually reads badly in both languages.
- Practise essays with a time limit. Write on current topics like digital governance, environment, education and women empowerment, in both languages, within a fixed time.
- For Paper-I, accuracy over attempts. With 0.25 negative marking and a hard 1-hour limit per part, skip doubtful questions instead of guessing blindly.
- Improve handwriting and neatness. Paper-II is written in an answer book, so legible writing and clean paragraphs make a difference.
Exam Centres for Telangana & Andhra Pradesh
Telugu candidates fall under the SSC Southern Region (Chennai). For the 2026 exam, the notice lists Hyderabad and Warangal in Telangana, and Kurnool, Tirupathi, Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. The 2026 Paper-I CBE was held on 08.09.2026 and 13.09.2026 as per SSC’s answer key notice, so this syllabus is directly useful for Paper-II now and for the next cycle.
SSC JHT 2026 Syllabus – Frequently Asked Questions
What is the SSC JHT 2026 exam pattern?
Two papers. Paper-I is a computer based objective test with 100 questions each in General Hindi and General English (200 marks, 2 hours). Paper-II is a descriptive Translation & Essay paper of 200 marks and 2 hours.
Is there negative marking in SSC JHT 2026?
Yes, 0.25 marks for each wrong answer, in Paper-I only. Paper-II is descriptive.
How is the final merit calculated?
50% of the Paper-I score plus 100% of the Paper-II marks.
What is the minimum qualifying mark in Paper-I?
UR 30%, OBC/EWS 25% and all other categories 20%.
What comes in SSC JHT Paper-II?
One passage each for Hindi to English and English to Hindi translation, and one essay each in Hindi and English.
What is the age limit for SSC JHT 2026?
18 to 30 years as on 01.08.2026, with relaxation for reserved categories as per rules.
Quick Summary
| Exam | SSC Combined Hindi Translators Examination, 2026 |
| Posts | JTO, JHT, JT (Level-6) and SHT/ST/STO (Level-7) |
| Paper-I | General Hindi 100 Q + General English 100 Q / 200 Marks / 2 hours (1 hr per part) |
| Paper-II | Translation & Essay / 200 Marks / 2 hours |
| Negative Marking | 0.25 per wrong answer (Paper-I) |
| Qualifying Marks (Paper-I) | UR 30%, OBC/EWS 25%, Others 20% |
| Final Merit | 50% of Paper-I + 100% of Paper-II |
| Age Limit | 18–30 years as on 01.08.2026 |
| Official Website | ssc.gov.in |
SSC JHT 2026 SyllabusSSC JHT Exam Pattern 2026SSC Junior Hindi Translator SyllabusSSC CHT 2026 Paper 2SSC JHT Paper 1 Syllabus