Overview and Quick Snapshot

716 vacancies are now open under the Andaman & Nicobar Administration Combined Higher Secondary Level (CHSL) Examination 2026, covering how many OBC vacancies in A&N CHSL 2026 and other category details across 38 different post types in departments ranging from Animal Husbandry to Shipping Services. This is a rare Union Territory recruitment offering permanent government posts at Pay Levels 2 through 6 under the 7th Pay Commission. Higher Secondary (12th pass) candidates are eligible for most posts, making this accessible to a large applicant pool across India, with local ST and OBC domicile rules applying to reserved seats.

Based on official notification No. 02/HSL/2026 by Andaman & Nicobar Administration. Verified: June 2026.

Quick Eligibility Check

This recruitment has a critical OBC certificate freshness rule – the OBC-NCL certificate must not be older than two years from 05/07/2026, which means certificates issued before 05/07/2024 will be rejected even if otherwise valid.

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Important Dates

The erecruitment.andamannicobar.gov.in portal has historically shown heavy load near closing midnight – submit your application at least 3 days before 5 July to avoid payment gateway timeouts.

Vacancy and Category Analysis

OBC candidates hold the largest share of reserved seats with 280 posts – nearly 39% of total vacancies – making this one of the stronger OBC-friendly UT recruitments of 2026. The Lower Grade Clerk post alone accounts for 426 of 716 vacancies (59.5%), making it the single most important post in this notification. PwD candidates have 25 reserved seats spread across select posts; candidates should verify post-wise PwD suitability at the disability affairs portal referenced in the notification. With 716 total vacancies and approximately 1.5–2 lakh expected applicants based on similar A&N CHSL editions in 2023–24, the selection ratio stands at roughly 1 in 210. ST candidates face lower competition due to the strict domicile requirement – only Local Scheduled Tribe candidates of A&N Islands qualify for ST quota, sharply limiting that applicant pool.

Salary and In-Hand Calculation

Standard deduction breakdown (Level 2 example – Lower Grade Clerk):

• Basic Pay: ₹19,900
• DA @ 55% (current rate as of mid-2026): ₹10,945
• HRA: Port Blair qualifies as Y-class city – 20% of Basic = ₹3,980
• TA: ₹1,350 (Level 1–2 approximate)
• NPS deduction: ~10% of Basic = ₹1,990
• CGHS/Other deductions: ~₹500–₹800
• Approximately ₹18,000–₹20,500 per month in-hand after all standard deductions

Compared to an SSC CHSL LDC post at the same Pay Level 2 which offers approximately ₹21,000–₹23,000 in-hand in Delhi (X-class HRA), this A&N post offers slightly lower take-home due to Port Blair’s Y-class HRA classification, but compensates with a significantly lower cost of living in the islands.

Application Fee

A common mistake on this portal: candidates who pay fee and then discover they are not locally domicile-eligible for reserved category cannot get a refund – verify your category eligibility before completing payment.

Age Limit

Age is calculated as on the closing date: 05/07/2026. Example: a General male candidate applying for a Group C post must have been born on or after 06/07/1993 and on or before 05/07/2008. OBC male Group C candidates must have been born on or after 06/07/1990.

Eligibility Criteria

Post-specific qualifications are listed in Annexure-I of the vacancy notice – candidates must verify their post’s exact educational requirement there, as the main notification directs all qualification details to that annexure. Final year students are not confirmed as eligible – the notification requires qualification to be possessed as on the closing date (05/07/2026). Equivalent qualifications are subject to the respective Recruitment Rules for each post.

Selection Process

Tier I – Tablet Based Test (TBT)

All candidates who submit valid applications will be called for the TBT online examination. This is a merit-based stage with a cut-off set separately for each post at the sole discretion of A&N Administration. Prepare all four subjects evenly – no single subject can be dropped.

Tier II – Physical Standard / Skill / Trade Test

Applicable only to specific posts (such as Forester, shipping cadre, and other technical posts) as prescribed in Annexure-I. This stage is qualifying in nature only – it does not add marks to the merit list. Confirm whether your target post has a Tier II before exam day to avoid surprises.

Document Verification

Shortlisted candidates upload original certificates online via the A&N portal. Candidature struck off if documents are not uploaded on the scheduled date – no second chance is given.

Your first 7 days after applying:

1. Save your registration number and password in two places – all communications including admit card are sent only to your registered email
2. Check your spam/junk folder and whitelist rect.examcell.ana@gmail.com immediately
3. Begin TBT preparation with English Language and General Intelligence – combined 100 marks and historically decisive
4. Gather your OBC-NCL certificate and verify the issue date is after 05/07/2024
5. Note your preferred exam zone (South Andaman, North & Middle Andaman, or Nicobar) – zone preference cannot be changed after submission

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Exam Syllabus

TBT Exam Pattern

Syllabus

English Language

• Spot the Error, Fill in the Blanks, Synonyms/Homonyms, Antonyms, Spellings/Mis-spelt words
• Idioms & Phrases, One word substitution, Improvement of Sentences
• Active/Passive Voice, Direct/Indirect Narration, Shuffling of Sentence parts
• Shuffling of Sentences in a passage, Close Passage, Comprehension Passage

General Intelligence

• Semantic & Symbolic Analogy, Symbolic Operations, Trends, Figural Analogy
• Space Orientation, Semantic/Symbolic/Number Classification, Venn Diagrams
• Drawing Inferences, Figural Classification, Punched hole/Pattern-folding
• Number Series, Embedded Figures, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, Word Building, Coding-Decoding

Quantitative Aptitude

• Number Systems, Fundamental Arithmetic Operations, Percentages, Ratio & Proportion
• Averages, Interest, Profit & Loss, Discount, Time & Distance, Time & Work
• Algebra, Geometry, Mensuration, Trigonometry, Statistical Charts (Histogram, Bar, Pie)

General Awareness

• Current Events, India and neighbouring countries – History, Culture, Geography, Economic Scene
• General Policy, Scientific Research, Everyday observation and experience

How to Apply

1. Go to erecruitment.andamannicobar.gov.in from 15/06/2026 (12:00 Noon) – the link goes live only at noon, not at midnight
2. Register with your active personal email ID and mobile number – these cannot be changed once submitted
3. Fill Personal Details (Section 1) and select your post preferences in order (Section 2) – post preference order cannot be changed later
4. Enter Education Qualification details (Section 3) and Experience if applicable (Section 4)
5. Upload Photograph (20–50 KB, 200×230 px, JPG/JPEG, white/off-white background, no cap/glasses) and Signature (10–20 KB, 140×60 px, JPEG, black ink on white paper)
6. Pay application fee ₹100 via Net Banking / UPI / Debit/Credit Card (Female/ST/PwBD candidates are exempt)
7. Review all six sections – once submitted, no change is permitted including category correction
8. Save your Registration Number and Password securely – all future communications (admit card, e-call letter) are sent only to your registered email

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the approximate in-hand salary after deductions for A&N CHSL 2026 posts?

Approximately ₹18,000–₹20,500 per month for entry-level Pay Level 2 posts like Lower Grade Clerk after deducting NPS (10% of basic), CGHS, and other standard deductions. Under 7th Pay Commission, Level 5 posts like Forester yield approximately ₹30,000–₹35,000 in-hand. Verify exact figures from the official pay rules as individual deductions vary.

What is the last date to apply for A&N Administration CHSL 2026?

The application window closes on 5 July 2026 at 12:00 Midnight on erecruitment.andamannicobar.gov.in, which opened from 15 June 2026 at 12:00 Noon. Submit at least 2–3 days early to avoid server load issues near the deadline.

How many total vacancies are there and which post has the most seats?

As per notification 02/HSL/2026, there are 716 tentative vacancies across 38 post types. Lower Grade Clerk in the Secretariat alone accounts for 426 vacancies – more than 59% of all posts – making it the single most important post to target in this recruitment.

Is Higher Secondary (12th pass) sufficient for most posts in A&N CHSL 2026?

Candidates with Higher Secondary qualification are eligible for the majority of posts including Lower Grade Clerk, Field Assistant, Typist, Godown Keeper, and similar Group C positions. Shipping cadre posts (Master 1st/2nd Class, Chief Engine Driver) require maritime-specific certifications as per respective Recruitment Rules in Annexure-I.

What is the age limit and relaxation for OBC candidates in this recruitment?

Based on the official notification, OBC candidates get 3 years relaxation beyond the upper age limit – maximum 36 years for Group C Male and 41 years for Group C Female as on 05/07/2026. Only Local OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) domiciled in A&N Islands qualify for OBC reservation; outside-UT OBC candidates are treated as UR.

Is the OBC certificate validity rule different for A&N CHSL compared to central recruitments?

According to the notification, the OBC-NCL certificate must not be older than two years from the closing date of 05/07/2026 – meaning certificates issued before 05/07/2024 are not valid for this recruitment. This is a strict A&N Administration rule; candidates must obtain a fresh certificate if theirs is older. Apply for a fresh OBC-NCL certificate from the Revenue Department of A&N Administration immediately if needed.

Is there negative marking in the A&N CHSL TBT examination?

As per the notification, there is negative marking of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer in the Tablet Based Test. The exam has 200 questions carrying 200 marks across four subjects, with a duration of 120 minutes. Attempt only those questions you are confident about to avoid mark deductions affecting your merit position.