Last Updated: 26 June 2026
Status as of this date: The official notification (Advt. No. 02/HSL/2026) has been released by the Andaman and Nicobar Administration. The online application process began on 15 June 2026 at 12:00 Noon and will continue until 5 July 2026 at 12:00 Midnight. The exam date, admit card, answer key, result, and cut-off are all pending as of 26 June 2026.
About This Recruitment
The Andaman and Nicobar Administration conducts its own Combined Higher Secondary Level (CHSL) exam — completely separate from the SSC CHSL conducted by the Staff Selection Commission for central government posts. Many candidates confuse the two. This one is a UT-level recruitment, conducted by and for departments operating under the Andaman and Nicobar Administration at Sri Vijayapuram (Port Blair). Posts are posted within the Union Territory only, and anyone selected must be willing to serve there.
The Administration has officially released the Combined Higher Secondary Level (CHSL) Recruitment 2026 notification (Advt. No. 02/HSL/2026) to fill 716 vacancies across 38 different posts in various departments. This is one of the largest recruitment drives in 2026 for 10th/12th/ITI/Diploma/Graduate pass candidates in the Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Important Dates 2026
| Event | Date / Details |
|---|---|
| Notification Released | 5 June 2026 (official notification, Advt. No. 02/HSL/2026) |
| Application Opens | 15 June 2026 at 12:00 Noon |
| Last Date to Apply | 5 July 2026 at 12:00 Midnight |
| Exam Date | Not announced yet |
| Admit Card | Not released yet |
| Cut-Off / Result | Not released yet |
Applicants must indicate their preference of zone while filling the online application form. The A&N Administration will not entertain any request for change in Examination Centre/zone at a later stage. The exact date and venue will be intimated through SMS/e-mail to registered candidates.
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Vacancy 2026 Details
A total of 716 vacancies have been announced across 38 Group B (NG) and Group C posts in various departments under the Andaman & Nicobar Administration.
| Post Name | Total Vacancies |
| Lower Division Clerk (LDC) | 242 |
| Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA) | 126 |
| Stenographer Grade-III | 38 |
| Patwari | 71 |
| Police Constable (Executive) | 92 |
| Police Constable (Driver) | 12 |
| Forest Guard / Forester | 18 |
| Agriculture Field Assistant | 14 |
| Soil Conservation Field Assistant | 11 |
| Veterinary Compounder | 22 |
| Laboratory Assistant | 17 |
| Other CHSL Level Posts | 53 |
| Total Posts | 716 |
Posts included in this recruitment span a wide range — not just clerical roles. Vacancies include LDC, Stenographer, Patwari, Forester, Laboratory Assistant, Store Keeper, Veterinary Compounder, Field Assistant, Village Level Worker, and IT Analyst, among others.
Since 38 posts are involved and the vacancy count runs to 716, the distribution is uneven — some posts may have just 2–3 vacancies while others carry larger numbers. The complete post-wise and category-wise breakup is in the official notification PDF available on erecruitment.andamannicobar.gov.in. Check it before applying, because the post you pick determines the eligibility criteria, the Tier-II test type (if any), and the pay level.
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| important links | |
| Apply Online | click here |
| Download notification | click here |
| Official Website | click here |
| notification 24 jobs | click here |
A note on the “tentative” nature of vacancies
The number of vacancies is tentative and may increase or decrease. This is stated in the official notification itself. The final number gets confirmed post-application, based on administrative clearances.
Eligibility Criteria
Education Qualification
The minimum requirement varies by post. Candidates must have passed Higher Secondary (10+2) from a recognized Board. Additional qualifications such as typing, shorthand, technical diploma, IT qualifications, fisheries, agriculture or related qualifications may be required depending on the post.
Some posts under this CHSL notification also accept ITI, Diploma, or Graduation holders — this is different from the standard CHSL model where 10+2 is the uniform benchmark. Before applying, read Annexure-I in the official notification, which lists post-wise qualification requirements in detail.
Age Limit
For most posts, the age limit ranges between 18 to 33 years. Age relaxation applies as per A&N Administration rules — reserved category candidates get standard central government relaxations. Ex-servicemen are entitled to deduct their period of military service from their actual age, subject to residual age not exceeding the upper limit by more than three years.
Application Fee
Male candidates from General, OBC, and EWS categories are required to pay ₹100/- through Net Banking, VISA/Master/Rupay/Credit/Debit Card, or UPI Payment/QR Code. Female candidates, ST candidates, and Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD) are fully exempted from payment of the examination fee.
The fee is non-refundable in all cases.
Selection Process 2026
The selection process for A&N Administration CHSL Recruitment 2026 consists of Tier-I: Online TBT (Tablet Based Test) and Tier-II: Physical Standard Examination/Physical Measurement & Endurance/Skill/Trade Test (for specific posts, qualifying in nature only). Candidates will be short-listed on the basis of their merit in the TBT Examination and post preference. Tier-II will only be of qualifying nature. No interview will be conducted. Final selection will be based on merit in TBT (Tier-I), subject to qualifying the Skill/Trade Test (Tier-II) wherever applicable.
This matters significantly for preparation strategy: your entire rank is determined by TBT performance alone. Even if your Tier-II (physical/trade test) is strong, it cannot improve your position in the merit list — it only qualifies or disqualifies you.
Tie resolution: (1) Date of birth — older candidate gets preference; (2) Alphabetical order of first names.
Exam Pattern 2026
Tier-I: Online Tablet Based Test (TBT) — 200 Marks (Objective Type). Tier-II: Physical Standard / Physical Endurance / Skill / Trade Test (Qualifying in nature for specific posts).
| Subject | Marks |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 25 |
| General Awareness | 25 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 |
| English Language | 25 |
| Total | 100 |
| Test Details | |
| Particular | Details |
| Exam Mode | Tablet Based Test (TBT) |
| Total Questions | 100 |
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Question Type | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) |
| Marks per Question | 1 Mark |
| Negative Marking | 0.25 Mark |
| Exam Duration | 2 Hours |
| Qualifying Nature | Merit Based |
| Note: Candidates who qualify in the TBT may be required to appear for Skill Test, Typing Test, Trade Test, PST/PET, or other post-specific tests as applicable. | |
The TBT is conducted on tablets provided at the examination centre — candidates do not need any device of their own. Three examination zones are available: South Andaman, North & Middle Andaman, and Nicobar Districts.
There will be negative marking of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer. Questions in respect of subjects at Sl. No. (ii), (iii) & (iv) will be set in English and Hindi languages only. For Visually Handicapped (VH) candidates of 40% and above visual disability opting for Scribe, there will be no component of Maps/Graphs/Diagrams/Statistical Data in the General Awareness section.
Syllabus 2026
The Tier-I TBT covers four broad subject areas, as per the official notification (Advt. No. 02/HSL/2026):
1. General Intelligence and Reasoning Analogies, similarities and differences, spatial visualization, spatial orientation, problem solving, analysis, judgment, decision making, visual memory, discrimination, observation, relationship concepts, arithmetical reasoning, verbal and figure classification, arithmetical number series, non-verbal series, coding-decoding, statement and conclusions, syllogistic reasoning.
2. General Awareness Questions designed to test awareness of the environment and its application to society. Topics include current events of national and international importance, India’s history, geography, culture, economic scene, general policy, scientific research, and the A&N Islands specifically — which matters for this exam. A general awareness question about the A&N Islands (geography, ecology, tribal communities, administration) is more likely here than it would be in SSC CHSL.
3. Quantitative Aptitude Number systems, computation of whole numbers, decimals, fractions, relationship between numbers, fundamental arithmetical operations, percentages, ratio and proportion, profit and loss, discount, partnership, mixture and alligation, time and distance, work and time, mensuration, basic algebra and geometry.
4. English Language Basics of grammar, vocabulary, comprehension, synonyms, antonyms, sentence structure, error detection, and reading comprehension.
Questions in respect of subjects (ii), (iii) & (iv) will be set in English and Hindi languages only. The reasoning section, however, is language-neutral by design (figure-based questions, number series, etc.).
There is no separate syllabus for individual posts at Tier-I — all candidates appear for the same TBT paper regardless of which post they applied for. Post-differentiation happens at Tier-II.
Salary 2026
Pay scales under this recruitment follow the 7th Central Pay Commission. The exact pay level varies by post — broadly, Group C posts fall between Pay Level 2 and Pay Level 6 under 7th CPC, while some specialized posts may go higher. The official notification lists the applicable pay level against each post code.
Salary in A&N Islands comes with an Island Special Duty Allowance (ISDA), which is a significant addition not applicable to central government posts in mainland cities. This substantially improves the actual take-home compared to mainland postings at the same pay level — a practical advantage of A&N Administration jobs that most articles on this recruitment do not mention. Check the current ISDA rate applicable under the 7th CPC orders from the Ministry of Finance before calculating expected in-hand pay.
Reservation and the ST / OBC Catch
This is where many candidates from outside the islands make a costly error. Only Local Scheduled Tribe candidates covered under the category of “Tribes” as specified under the A&N Islands Scheduled Tribe Order 1959 are eligible to apply for vacancies under the Schedule Tribe (ST) quota. Other ST candidates from outside the Union Territory of A&N Islands will be considered only for Unreserved (UR) Vacancies. Similarly, only Local OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) candidates covered under the relevant Gazette Notification are eligible for OBC reservation.
If you hold an ST certificate issued by a mainland state, it has no reservation value here. You will be treated as a General/Unreserved candidate. Apply and compete accordingly — or do not apply at all if you were banking on ST category benefits for this recruitment.
Candidates found fraudulently claiming ST/OBC/EWS/ESM/PwD status shall be permanently debarred from examinations conducted by the A&N Administration.
How to Apply
Applications are accepted only through the official online portal. Visit erecruitment.andamannicobar.gov.in, click on the link for “CHSL Recruitment 2026,” register and fill out the application form with accurate details, upload necessary documents (photo, signature, educational certificates), pay the application fee (if applicable) and submit the form. Download the confirmation page for future reference.
Candidates must complete all six sections of the application form including payment of fees (if applicable) for the application to be considered complete. An incomplete form — even one where all sections except payment are filled — will not be considered. This has been a common rejection reason in past A&N Administration recruitments.
Required Documents for Application
At the time of filling the online form, keep the following scanned copies ready:
- Recent passport-size photograph (as per portal specifications)
- Signature (in prescribed format)
- Class 10 mark sheet / certificate (for age proof)
- Class 12 mark sheet / certificate (for education qualification)
- Additional qualification certificate, if applicable (ITI, Diploma, Degree)
- Category certificate — SC/ST/OBC/EWS, as applicable (OBC-NCL certificate must not be older than two years from the application closing date as per A&N Administration rules)
- PwBD certificate with at least 40% benchmark disability (if applicable)
- Ex-serviceman discharge certificate (if applicable)
- Valid ID proof
Do not upload low-resolution scans. Portal upload errors at the final step — often caused by file size exceeding limits — have caused rejections in earlier cycles. Compress files if needed, but ensure the text in certificates remains legible.
Job Profile
Selected candidates join government departments under the A&N Administration and serve at their allotted post within the Union Territory. Roles vary by post: Lower Grade Clerks handle office administration and file management; Stenographers handle dictation, transcription, and correspondence; IT Analysts support digital infrastructure in government offices; Foresters work in field roles under the Department of Environment and Forests; and so on across 38 post types.
All postings are within Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Transfers between departments are intra-UT. Candidates must factor in the remote geography before applying — this is a career commitment to serving in the islands, not a backdoor to a mainland central government posting.
Previous Year Cut-Off
| Year | Cut Off (UR / General) |
| 2024 | 157 – 160 |
| 2023 | 153 – 156 |
| 2022 | 156 – 160 |
| 2021 | 140 – 145 |
| 2020 | 140 – 142 |
| This is SSC CHSL Tier-1 trend (used as reference for A&N CHSL 2026)Actual cut-off varies based on vacancies, difficulty level, and normalization | |
The official cut-off for 2026 has not been released (exam has not yet taken place). Cut-off data from previous A&N Administration CHSL cycles is not publicly available in a consolidated form on the official portal, and figures circulating on third-party sites are unverified. Do not rely on cut-off estimates from unofficial sources for this recruitment. Once the result is declared, the official merit list and cut-off will be published on erecruitment.andamannicobar.gov.in.
FAQs
Q1. I hold a mainland OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) certificate from a state like UP or Bihar. Can I get OBC reservation in this recruitment?
No. OBC candidates from states other than A&N Islands applying under OBC reservation will not get the benefit — they will be treated as Unreserved (UR) category candidates. Only Local OBC (NCL) candidates as per specified Gazette Notifications of A&N Administration are eligible for OBC quota. Apply under General/UR if you are from outside the Islands.
Q2. Can I choose any exam centre, including one in a mainland city like Chennai or Delhi?
No. The Tablet Based Test (TBT) examination will be held at designated centres located at South Andaman, North & Middle Andaman, and Nicobar Districts only. All centres are within the Islands. If travel to Andaman for the exam is not feasible, factor that in before applying.
Q3. I applied for three different posts in this recruitment. Will I have to appear for the TBT three times?
The official notification does not explicitly confirm multi-post TBT scheduling details. Candidates applying for multiple posts must confirm from the official notification and the exam schedule (when released) whether separate sittings are required per post or whether a common TBT is held. Do not assume either way — check the notification or the A&N Administration’s official clarification.
Q4. The notification says “716 vacancies across 38 posts.” Does that mean roughly 18–19 vacancies per post?
No. The distribution is uneven and post-specific. Some posts may have just 2–3 vacancies while others (like Lower Grade Clerk) likely carry far larger numbers. Check the official vacancy list in the notification PDF — applying for a post with only 2 vacancies is a different competition than one with 80.
Q5. My Tier-II (skill/trade test) performance is excellent. Will it help my final rank?
No. Tier-II will only be of qualifying nature. It determines whether you are eligible for appointment after clearing the TBT merit list — it does not add marks to your total. Your position in the final merit list depends entirely on TBT (Tier-I) marks.
Disclaimer: All dates (notification date: 5 June 2026; application window: 15 June – 5 July 2026), vacancy count (716 posts, 38 post types), application fee (₹100 for General/OBC/EWS males; exemption for females, ST, PwBD), negative marking (0.25 per wrong answer), and TBT marks structure (200 marks) are sourced from the official A&N Administration notification (Advt. No. 02/HSL/2026). Exam date, admit card, cut-off, and result are not yet released as of 26 June 2026. Island Special Duty Allowance figures mentioned are general information and not stated in this specific notification. For all official and updated information, visit the one correct source: https://erecruitment.andamannicobar.gov.in
