SSC JHT Syllabus 2026: Paper-I and Paper-II Topic Guide
The SSC JHT syllabus covers two papers in the Combined Hindi Translators Examination conducted by the Staff Selection Commission. Paper-I is an objective computer-based test of General Hindi and General English, and Paper-II is a descriptive paper of translation and essay writing. This guide follows the 2026 notification, with Paper-I scheduled for 8 September 2026.
SSC publishes only a short indicative syllabus for this exam. It names what each paper tests but does not give a topic-wise list. The topic lists below are built from the official indicative syllabus and from the kind of questions asked in previous years. Use them as a working checklist, not as an official list.
Table of Contents
SSC JHT Syllabus at a Glance
What the Official Syllabus Says
Key Points to Know
Paper-I Syllabus: General Hindi
Paper-I Syllabus: General English
Paper-II Syllabus: Translation and Essay
Overlap Between Paper-I and Paper-II
Is There an Interview?
How to Cover the Syllabus
SSC JHT Syllabus at a Glance
Stage | Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Paper-I (computer-based) | Part-I: General Hindi | 100 | 100 | 1 hour |
Paper-I (computer-based) | Part-II: General English | 100 | 100 | 1 hour |
Paper-II (descriptive) | Translation and Essay | Descriptive | 200 | 2 hours |
Paper-I has a sectional timer and a negative marking of 0.25 marks per wrong answer. For timing rules for scribe-eligible candidates and how merit is calculated, see the SSC JHT exam pattern page.
What the Official Syllabus Says
According to the SSC notification for 2026, Paper-I questions test your understanding of the languages and literature, the correct use of words, phrases and idioms, and your ability to write the languages correctly, precisely and effectively. The questions are of degree level.
Paper-II contains two passages for translation, one from Hindi to English and one from English to Hindi, and an essay each in Hindi and English. It tests your translation skills and your ability to write and understand both languages correctly, precisely and effectively. Its level matches the educational qualification prescribed for the posts, which is a Master's degree.
Key Points to Know
Literature is part of Paper-I: The official wording mentions literature, so do not prepare grammar alone. Basic questions on Hindi and English literature can appear.
Degree-level difficulty: Expect vocabulary and usage questions that are harder than school-level grammar tests.
Paper-II has no published mark split: SSC gives 200 marks for the whole paper but does not officially publish marks for each translation passage and essay. Check the question paper instructions on exam day.
Separate timers: The Hindi and English parts of Paper-I are timed separately, so plan your preparation for each part as a full one-hour test.
Paper-I Syllabus: General Hindi
Section | Topics to cover | Start with |
|---|---|---|
Grammar | Varna and vartani (spelling), sandhi, samas, upsarg and pratyay, ling, vachan, karak, sarvanam, visheshan, kriya, kaal, vachya | Sandhi, samas and vartani |
Vocabulary | Paryayvachi (synonyms), vilom (antonyms), anekarthi shabd, anek shabdon ke liye ek shabd, tatsam and tadbhav, deshaj and videshi shabd, shabd-yugm | Paryayvachi, vilom and one-word substitution |
Usage | Muhavare and lokoktiyan, vakya shuddhi (sentence correction), vakya rachna | Muhavare and vakya shuddhi |
Comprehension | Apathit gadyansh (unseen passages) | One passage a day |
Literature | Periods of Hindi literature, major poets and writers and their works, ras, chhand and alankar | Major works and authors |
Official language | Rajbhasha provisions of the Constitution and standard administrative terminology (paribhashik shabdavali) | Common administrative terms |
Grammar and vocabulary usually make up the bulk of the Hindi part, so build them first. Literature and official-language questions are fewer, but they are quick marks once you have revised a short list of authors, works and terms.
Paper-I Syllabus: General English
Section | Topics to cover | Start with |
|---|---|---|
Grammar | Parts of speech, tenses, subject-verb agreement, articles, prepositions, conjunctions, active and passive voice, direct and indirect speech | Tenses, articles and prepositions |
Error-based questions | Spotting the error, sentence improvement, fill in the blanks | Spotting the error |
Vocabulary | Synonyms, antonyms, one-word substitution, idioms and phrases, spelling, phrasal verbs | Idioms and one-word substitution |
Comprehension | Reading comprehension, cloze test, sentence rearrangement | Reading comprehension |
Literature | Well-known English authors and their works, basic literary terms and devices | Major authors and works |
Error spotting, sentence improvement and vocabulary carry over directly into translation, because the same accuracy is needed when you write English in Paper-II. Treat English grammar as preparation for both papers.
Paper-II Syllabus: Translation and Essay
Component | What is tested | How to prepare |
|---|---|---|
Translation: Hindi to English | Accurate meaning, natural English, correct grammar and terminology | Translate Hindi news reports, government press releases and circulars into English |
Translation: English to Hindi | Accurate meaning, standard Hindi usage, correct administrative terms | Translate English editorials, reports and official notices into Hindi |
Essay in Hindi | Structure, argument, language quality | Write on governance, society, environment, science and culture |
Essay in English | Structure, argument, language quality | Use the same topic list and write in a different language each week |
What Examiners Look For in Translation
Meaning first: Carry the full sense of the passage, not a word-by-word rendering.
Standard terminology: Use accepted Hindi equivalents for administrative and technical terms.
Clean grammar: Tense, gender and number errors cost marks even when the meaning is right.
Essay Writing
A good essay has a clear introduction, three to five developed points with examples, and a balanced conclusion. Practise writing within a fixed time, because you have to fit two translations and two essays into two hours.
Overlap Between Paper-I and Paper-II
Area | Paper-I | Paper-II | How to plan |
|---|---|---|---|
Hindi grammar | Objective questions | Accuracy in English to Hindi translation and Hindi essay | Study once, then apply in daily translation |
English grammar | Error spotting and improvement | Accuracy in Hindi to English translation and English essay | Use your error log from mocks to fix writing errors |
Vocabulary and idioms | Synonyms, antonyms, idioms | Precise word choice | Keep one bilingual word list for both papers |
Comprehension | Passages in both languages | Understanding the source passage | Read one Hindi and one English editorial daily |
Is There an Interview?
No. The 2026 notification has no interview or personality test. Selection is based on Paper-I and Paper-II, followed by document verification by the user department. Posts in organisations with physical standards, such as the Border Roads Organisation if any vacancies are reported there, carry separate physical and medical requirements.
How to Cover the Syllabus
Weeks 1 to 6: Build grammar and vocabulary in both languages. Start one short translation each way every day from week 1.
Weeks 4 to 8: Add Hindi and English literature basics and administrative terminology. Write one essay a week, alternating languages.
Weeks 6 to 10: Take topic-wise tests and timed 60-minute sectional tests for each part of Paper-I.
Weeks 10 to 12: Take full-length Paper-I mocks with both sectional timers, analyse each one the same day, and keep an error log.
After Paper-I: Switch fully to timed Paper-II practice: two translations and two essays in two hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to practice? Explore SSC JHT mock tests from top educators.
Browse SSC JHT Mock Tests