SSC Senior Secretariat Assistant (SSA)
The position of Accountant/ Junior Accountant in the C&AG office is one of the best government jobs out there. However, if you want to attain this position, you will have to ensure that your competitive exam preparation is nothing short of perfect. Along with your study plan and preparation, if you have a clear idea regarding the job profile and salary structure of the position, then it will help you further. Read on to know more about the post of SSC CGL Accountant and Jr. Accountant.
SSC Senior Secretariat Assistant (SSA) Career Growth
| Post Name | Starting Salary (Approx.) | Promotions | Time Frame for Promotion | Responsibilities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Secretariat Assistant (SSA) | ₹35,000–₹45,000 | Assistant Section Officer (ASO) | 5–7 years | – Handling files and documents – Drafting letters and maintaining records – Coordinating with departments |
| Section Officer (SO) | 8–10 years | – Supervising SSA and ASO work – Policy implementation and monitoring – Managing departmental tasks | ||
| Under Secretary (US) | 10–12 years | – Assisting higher officials in decision-making – Drafting rules and preparing official correspondence | ||
| Deputy Secretary (DS) | 12–15 years | – Supervising multiple departments – High-level policy planning and execution | ||
| Director | 15–20 years | – Decision-making at a senior level – Representing the ministry or department in key meetings |
Key Highlights of Career Growth:
- Promotion Path: SSA → ASO → SO → US → DS → Director.
- Performance Matters: Promotions depend on seniority, work performance, and clearing departmental exams.
- Additional Responsibilities: Higher roles involve policy-making, supervising subordinates, and representing the department at key forums.
- Final Position: Director is the highest attainable position for an SSA through consistent promotions.
Growth Opportunities through Exams:
- Departmental Exams: Clearing these can expedite promotions, especially from SSA to ASO or ASO to SO.
- Training: On-the-job training helps improve skills for higher responsibilities.
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SSC Senior Secretariat Assistant (SSA) Eligibility Criteria
| Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| Educational Qualification | – Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized university or equivalent in any stream. |
| Age Limit | Minimum: 18 years Maximum: 27 years (as of the closing date of the application) |
| Age Relaxation | – SC/ST: 5 years – OBC: 3 years – PWD (General): 10 years – PWD (OBC): 13 years – PWD (SC/ST): 15 years |
| Nationality | Must be a citizen of India, or: |
| – A subject of Nepal or Bhutan, or – A Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1st January 1962, or – A person of Indian origin who has migrated from countries like Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, etc., with intent to settle permanently in India. | |
| Physical Standards | No specific physical standards are required for the SSA role. |
| Other Requirements | – Proficiency in computer applications (MS Office, Excel, etc.) is often desirable but not mandatory. – Good communication skills in English and Hindi. |
Important Points to Note:
- Educational Flexibility: A Bachelor’s degree is required, but the specific subject is not restrictive (any stream).
- Age Relaxation: For candidates from reserved categories (SC/ST/OBC/PWD), there are age relaxations as per government norms.
- Nationality: Candidates must fulfill nationality criteria as per the government’s norms.
SSC Senior Secretariat Assistant (SSA) Syllabus
1. Tier I – Preliminary Exam (Objective Type)
| Section | Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | – Analogies, Classification – Series (Number, Letter, Word) – Coding-Decoding – Blood Relations – Puzzle Solving – Non-verbal reasoning (Image-based) |
| General Awareness | – Indian History, Geography, Polity – Economy and Finance – Current Affairs – Static GK (Books, Awards, Sports) – Science and Technology |
| Quantitative Aptitude | – Simplification, Number Systems – Algebra, Geometry – Trigonometry, Mensuration – Time & Work, Speed & Distance – Data Interpretation |
| English Language | – Reading Comprehension – Vocabulary (Synonyms, Antonyms) – Error Spotting – Sentence Improvement – Cloze Test, Para-jumbles |
2. Tier II – Mains Exam (Objective Type)
| Subjects | Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| Paper I: Quantitative Abilities | – Advanced Maths (Algebra, Trigonometry, Geometry) – Arithmetic (Profit & Loss, Time & Work, SI & CI) – Data Interpretation (Bar Graphs, Pie Charts) |
| Paper II: English Language | – Advanced Grammar – Sentence Completion – Active-Passive Voice – Direct-Indirect Speech – Reading Comprehension – Vocabulary Building |
3. Tier III – Descriptive Exam (Offline Mode)
| Type | Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| Essay/Letter/Application Writing | – Essay writing (300 words) – Letter writing (Formal/Informal) – Application writing (Job applications, Leave applications, etc.) – Precis Writing |
4. Tier IV – Skill Test / Computer Proficiency Test (CPT)
| Test | Details |
|---|---|
| Computer Proficiency Test (CPT) | – Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint (Basic level tasks). |
| Data Entry Skill Test (DEST) | – Typing speed test with 2000 key depressions in 15 minutes. |
Key Focus Areas for SSA Exam:
- Tier I: General Knowledge, Reasoning, English, and Quantitative Aptitude are all part of the screening.
- Tier II: Focus on Quantitative Abilities and English Language, which are more advanced compared to Tier I.
- Tier III: The Descriptive Exam will test your ability to write clearly and accurately.
- Tier IV: Computer Skills and Data Entry Speed are mandatory, especially for SSA.
SSC Senior Secretariat Assistant (SSA) Exam Pattern
1. Tier I – Preliminary Exam (Objective Type)
- Mode of Exam: Online
- Type of Questions: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
- Duration: 1 hour (1 hour 20 minutes for PwD candidates)
- Total Marks: 200
- Total Questions: 100
- Marking Scheme: +2 for each correct answer, -0.50 for each incorrect answer
| Section | No. of Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 25 | 50 |
| General Awareness | 25 | 50 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 |
| English Language | 25 | 50 |
| Total | 100 | 200 |
2. Tier II – Mains Exam (Objective Type)
- Mode of Exam: Online
- Type of Questions: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
- Duration: 2 hours for each paper
- Total Marks: 400
- Marking Scheme: +2 for each correct answer, -0.50 for each incorrect answer
| Paper | Subjects | No. of Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I: Quantitative Abilities | Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Data Interpretation | 100 | 200 |
| Paper II: English Language | Advanced Grammar, Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary | 100 | 200 |
3. Tier III – Descriptive Exam (Offline Mode)
- Mode of Exam: Pen and Paper (Offline)
- Duration: 1 hour (1 hour 20 minutes for PwD candidates)
- Total Marks: 100
- Type of Questions: Essay, Letter Writing, Application Writing
- Marking Scheme: No negative marking
4. Tier IV – Skill Test / Computer Proficiency Test (CPT)
- Test Type:
- Computer Proficiency Test (CPT) – Testing proficiency in MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint
- Data Entry Skill Test (DEST) – Typing speed test (2000 key depressions in 15 minutes)
- Marking Scheme: No marks, just qualifying
Summary of Key Points:
- Tier I: Screening stage to shortlist candidates for further rounds.
- Tier II: Detailed testing on Quantitative Abilities and English Language.
- Tier III: Descriptive paper to test written communication and analytical writing skills.
- Tier IV: Mandatory proficiency test to check computer skills and data entry.
SSC Senior Secretariat Assistant (SSA) Salary Structure
1. Basic Pay
- Level 4 (7th Pay Commission)
- Basic Pay: ₹25,500 to ₹81,100 per month (initial pay is ₹25,500)
2. Additional Allowances
Besides the basic pay, an SSA receives various allowances:
| Allowance | Amount (Approx.) |
|---|---|
| Dearness Allowance (DA) | 34% of the Basic Pay (subject to revision) |
| House Rent Allowance (HRA) | 24% of the Basic Pay (for cities with a population above 50 Lakhs) |
| Transport Allowance (TA) | ₹3,600–₹7,200 per month (depending on the city of posting) |
| Medical Allowance | ₹1,000–₹2,000 per month (approx.) depending on the posting location |
| Other Allowances | Includes special allowances depending on the office/department |
3. Gross Salary
The gross salary for an SSA, after including the allowances, can range from ₹35,000 to ₹45,000 per month (depending on location, DA, and HRA).
4. In-Hand Salary
The in-hand salary varies, but it is approximately ₹35,000 to ₹45,000 after including all allowances and deductions like Provident Fund (PF), Professional Tax (PT), and Income Tax (if applicable).
5. Deductions:
- Provident Fund (PF)
- Tax Deduction at Source (TDS) (based on income)
- Other applicable deductions
Summary of SSA Salary Components:
| Component | Approx Value (Per Month) |
|---|---|
| Basic Pay | ₹25,500–₹81,100 |
| DA (34%) | ₹8,670 (approx.) |
| HRA (24%) | ₹6,120 (approx.) |
| Transport Allowance | ₹3,600–₹7,200 (depends on city) |
| Medical Allowance | ₹1,000–₹2,000 (approx.) |
| Gross Salary | ₹35,000–₹45,000 (approx.) |