SSC Hindi Translator Syllabus 2026 (CHTE): Paper 1 & Paper 2 Complete Guide
SSC CHTE 2026 is a two-paper exam that tests both your Hindi and English language skills. Paper 1 is a 200-question Computer-Based Test that you must clear at the qualifying cutoff. Paper 2 is where your actual rank is decided — a 200-mark descriptive exam on translation and essay writing. Here is the complete syllabus for both papers with a preparation strategy.
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Exam Structure Overview
| Paper | Mode | Questions / Marks | Duration | Nature |
|---|
| Paper 1 | Computer Based Test (CBT) | 200 MCQ / 200 marks | 120 minutes (160 with scribe) | Qualifying — minimum marks required |
| Paper 2 | Descriptive (Pen & Paper) | Descriptive / 200 marks | 120 minutes (160 with scribe) | Merit — counted in final ranking |
| Final Merit | — | Combined score | — | 50% of Paper 1 + 100% of Paper 2 (weighted) |
Paper 1 — General Hindi Syllabus (100 Questions)
This section tests your formal Hindi language proficiency — grammar, vocabulary, and comprehension.
व्याकरण / Grammar
| Topic | Key Points to Study |
|---|
| संज्ञा (Noun) | Types: व्यक्तिवाचक, जातिवाचक, भाववाचक, समूहवाचक, द्रव्यवाचक |
| सर्वनाम (Pronoun) | Types: पुरुषवाचक, निश्चयवाचक, अनिश्चयवाचक, प्रश्नवाचक, संबंधवाचक |
| क्रिया (Verb) | सकर्मक vs अकर्मक, कालभेद, प्रेरणार्थक, संयुक्त क्रिया |
| काल (Tense) | भूत, वर्तमान, भविष्य — सभी उपभेद |
| कारक (Case) | विभक्ति चिह्न — ने, को, से, के लिए, में, पर, का/के/की, हे/अरे |
| संधि | स्वर संधि (दीर्घ, गुण, वृद्धि, यण्, अयादि), व्यंजन संधि, विसर्ग संधि |
| समास | तत्पुरुष, कर्मधारय, द्विगु, द्वंद्व, बहुव्रीहि, अव्ययीभाव |
| वाक्य शुद्धि | त्रुटि पहचान और सुधार |
| वाच्य (Voice) | कर्तृवाच्य, कर्मवाच्य, भाववाच्य — परिवर्तन |
शब्द भंडार / Vocabulary
| Topic | Study Approach |
|---|
| पर्यायवाची शब्द | 50–100 common synonyms — रात, जल, पानी, आँख, मुख, पर्वत, राजा, etc. |
| विलोम शब्द | Antonyms for administrative/literary words: कठिन–सरल, लाभ–हानि, etc. |
| एकार्थी और अनेकार्थी शब्द | Words with multiple meanings |
| तत्सम-तद्भव | Sanskrit origin words and their evolved Hindi forms |
| देशी-विदेशी शब्द | Arabic, Persian, English words absorbed into Hindi |
| मुहावरे और लोकोक्तियाँ | At least 100 common ones: meaning + sentence usage |
अपठित बोध / Reading Comprehension
A passage of ~200–300 words followed by 5–8 questions. The passage can be literary, administrative, or current-affairs based. Questions test main idea, inference, vocabulary in context, and author's tone.
राजभाषा नीति / Official Language Policy
- राजभाषा अधिनियम 1963 — भाषायी क्षेत्रों का वर्गीकरण (क, ख, ग)
- राजभाषा नियम 1976 — अनुच्छेद 3, 5, 8 important
- संविधान के अनुच्छेद 343–351 (Official Language provisions)
- Parliamentary Committee on Official Language (Rajbhasha)
- Hindi Divas (14 September), Hindi Month activities
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Paper 1 — General English Syllabus (100 Questions)
Grammar
| Topic | Key Areas |
|---|
| Tenses | All 12 tenses — identification and usage in context |
| Articles (a, an, the) | Definite, indefinite, zero article — rules and exceptions |
| Prepositions | In/at/on/by/with/for — nuanced usage in administrative language |
| Subject-Verb Agreement | Collective nouns, indefinite pronouns, inverted sentences |
| Voice (Active/Passive) | Conversion across all tenses |
| Narration (Direct/Indirect) | Conversion: all tenses, reporting verbs, time/place references |
| Conditionals | Zero, first, second, third conditional + mixed |
| Modals | Can/could/may/might/shall/should/will/would/must/ought to |
Vocabulary
| Topic | Focus Areas |
|---|
| Synonyms (Similar Meaning) | Administrative, formal, and literary vocabulary |
| Antonyms (Opposite Meaning) | Formal English word pairs |
| One Word Substitution | At least 150 common ones |
| Idioms and Phrases | Formal idioms used in official writing |
| Fill in the Blanks | Grammar-based and vocabulary-based |
| Error Detection | Grammar errors — tense, preposition, article, subject-verb |
| Sentence Improvement | Correcting awkward or wrong phrasing |
| Cloze Test | Paragraph with multiple blanks — vocabulary and logic |
Paper 2 — Descriptive Exam (200 Marks)
Translation: Hindi → English (75–100 marks)
You will receive a Hindi passage of ~200–300 words (typically in formal/official style — like a government press release, committee report, or editorial) and translate it into English.
What examiners look for:
- Accuracy — does the translation convey the exact meaning?
- Idiomaticity — does the English read naturally or does it sound like word-for-word translation?
- Handling of Hindi-specific terms — सरकार → Government (not "the sarkar"), आदेश → Order/Directive, मंत्रालय → Ministry
- Register match — official Hindi passages must produce formal English, not casual English
Translation: English → Hindi (75–100 marks)
An English passage of ~200–300 words (official/news style) translated into Hindi.
Key skills:
- Use proper Hindi administrative vocabulary: Parliament → संसद, Amendment → संशोधन, Notification → अधिसूचना, Gazette → राजपत्र, Ministry → मंत्रालय
- Avoid using English words in Hindi translation where a Hindi equivalent exists
- Match the register: a formal English passage should produce formal Hindi, not bhaasha Hindi
Essay Writing (25–50 marks)
Write an essay of ~600–800 words on a given topic. Recent essay topics have included social issues, national policy themes, and language/culture topics. Possible topics: Digital India, Climate Change and India, Women's empowerment, Importance of Official Language, India's role in UN, National Education Policy 2020.
Preparation Strategy
| Component | Best Preparation Method |
|---|
| Paper 1 — Hindi Grammar | Study: Hardev Bahri's "Aadhunik Hindi Vyakaran" or Vasudeva Nandan Prasad's grammar book. Practice 50 MCQs daily. |
| Paper 1 — English Grammar | Wren & Martin's "High School English Grammar" — cover all chapters. 50 MCQs daily. |
| Paper 2 — Translation | Practice: PIB (Press Information Bureau) press releases in Hindi and English. Translate 2 passages daily in both directions. |
| Paper 2 — Essay | Write one essay per week on a national/social topic. Keep a vocabulary notebook for formal Hindi and English words. |
| Official language | Read NIC Hindi glossary and Central Hindi Training Institute (CHTI) materials. |
| Mock Tests | Attempt at least 10 full-length Paper 1 mocks. Time yourself: 100 Hindi in 40 min + 100 English in 40 min. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Paper 1 just qualifying, or do its marks matter for final rank?
Paper 1 is qualifying only — you must score the minimum (30% for UR/EWS, 25% for OBC, 20% for SC/ST/PwBD/Ex-SM) to proceed to Paper 2. Your Paper 1 marks are not added to the final merit. The rank is decided entirely by Paper 2 marks (with Paper 1 marks weighted at 50% for normalization purposes in some SSC processes — confirm from the official notice).
Q: Are Paper 1 and Paper 2 on the same day?
No. Paper 1 (CBT) is conducted first, results are declared, and qualifying candidates are called for Paper 2 (descriptive). Paper 2 is typically scheduled 2–3 months after Paper 1.
Q: What is the cut-off for Paper 1?
SSC sets post-exam cut-offs. For UR/EWS, the qualifying mark is 30% of 200 = 60 marks. But the actual cut-off to be shortlisted for Paper 2 is typically higher (80–120 range for UR category) based on the number of candidates shortlisted per post. SSC announces this after Paper 1.
Q: Is Paper 2 written in Hindi, English, or both?
Paper 2 requires translation in both directions (Hindi → English and English → Hindi) plus an essay. You write both languages in the same exam. Medium is bilingual — the question paper will specify which passage goes which direction.
Q: What resources does SSC recommend for CHTE preparation?
SSC does not officially recommend books. The most widely used resources are: Hardev Bahri (Hindi), Wren & Martin (English), PIB releases for translation practice, and CHTI (Central Hindi Training Institute) study material for official language topics.
Paper 1: General Hindi — Topic-wise Breakdown
Paper 1 carries 200 marks — 100 from General Hindi and 100 from General English. The Hindi section tests both grammar and comprehension of Hindi as a language, not Hindi literature per se. Topics that consistently appear:
| Topic | Sub-topics | Approx Questions |
|---|
| Sandhi (संधि) | Swar Sandhi (Ayadi, Guṇ, Vṛddhi), Vyanjan Sandhi, Visarg Sandhi — identify and form sandhis from given words | 8–10 |
| Samas (समास) | Tatpurush, Dvandva, Bahuvrihi, Avyayibhav, Karmadharaya, Dvigu — identify samas and vigrah | 8–10 |
| Karak (कारक) and Vibhakti | The 8 karakas and their vibhakti markers, correct use of परसर्ग | 5–6 |
| Synonyms (पर्यायवाची) and Antonyms (विलोम) | Standard word pairs from general vocab and occasionally literary terms | 8–10 |
| Muhavare and Lokoktiyaan | Common idioms and proverbs — meaning and usage in context | 5–8 |
| Alankar (अलंकार) | Upama, Rupak, Utpreksha, Atishayokti, Anupras — identify from given lines | 5–6 |
| Ras (रस) and Chhand (छंद) | 9 Rasa identification, Doha, Soratha, Chaupai, Savaiya — theoretical and applied | 4–5 |
| Tatsam-Tadbhav | Identify tatsam forms from tadbhav words and vice versa | 4–5 |
| Sentence correction | Identify grammatical errors in Hindi sentences — agreement, vibhakti, verb forms | 8–10 |
| Translation comprehension | Short passages with questions on meaning, inference | 5–8 |
The key insight for Paper 1 Hindi is that it rewards candidates who can identify and apply grammatical rules systematically, not just those who read Hindi literature. Study grammar rules from a standard Hindi Vyakaran book (e.g., Kailash Chandra Bhatia's Saral Hindi Vyakaran or Hardev Bahri's Hindi Shabdkosh).
Paper 1: General English — Topic-wise Breakdown
| Topic | Sub-topics | Approx Questions |
|---|
| Vocabulary | Synonyms, antonyms, one-word substitution, fill in the blanks with appropriate word | 15–18 |
| Grammar | Articles, prepositions, verb-subject agreement, tense errors, question tags, modals | 15–18 |
| Error Detection | Identify the grammatically incorrect part of a sentence (4-part format) | 10–12 |
| Sentence Improvement | Replace underlined part with the correct option | 8–10 |
| Idioms and Phrases | Meaning of common English idioms and phrases | 8–10 |
| Comprehension Passage | 1–2 reading comprehension passages with 5 questions each | 8–10 |
| Spelling Correction | Identify correctly/incorrectly spelled word from a set | 5–6 |
| Cloze Test | Fill blanks in a connected passage | 5–6 |
English carries equal marks to Hindi in Paper 1. Since many Hindi-stream candidates under-prepare for English, consistently scoring 70%+ in English is a practical shortcut to a higher Paper 1 total. Wren & Martin's High School English Grammar plus 2–3 SSC mock tests per week for vocabulary is the minimum preparation.
Paper 2: Translation and Essay — Marking Scheme
Paper 2 is descriptive and carries 200 marks. The format:
| Component | Marks | Duration | What Is Tested |
|---|
| Translation: English to Hindi | 60 | — | Accuracy, naturalness of expression, correct Hindi idiom, avoidance of word-for-word translation |
| Translation: Hindi to English | 60 | — | Correct English grammar, appropriate register, faithful rendering of meaning |
| Essay in Hindi | 40 | — | Structure, vocabulary range, relevance to topic, command of Hindi prose |
| Précis Writing (Hindi) | 40 | — | Condensing a Hindi passage to 1/3rd length — main ideas, accuracy, no personal opinion |
Paper 2 is written at a government examination hall (offline/pen-and-paper format). It is available in both Hindi and English medium but the content you produce is fixed — Hindi translation goes in Hindi, English translation goes in English. Candidates often lose marks in translations by being too literal. Good translation reads naturally in the target language while remaining faithful to the source meaning.
Paper 1 vs Paper 2: Marks Distribution and Merit
A critical point that many candidates miss: Paper 1 is qualifying only. You must score minimum marks in Paper 1 to be eligible to have your Paper 2 evaluated, but Paper 1 marks are not added to the merit list. Your final rank is based entirely on Paper 2 marks (200) plus any interview component (if applicable for the specific post).
This means: even if you score 180/200 in Paper 1, it does not help your rank. Conversely, someone who barely clears Paper 1 qualifying marks (say 60/200) but scores 185/200 in Paper 2 will rank above you. Allocate your preparation time accordingly — Paper 2 is where the selection actually happens.
Recommended Books and Resources
| Paper | Resource | For What |
|---|
| General Hindi | Kailash Chandra Bhatia — Saral Hindi Vyakaran | Grammar rules (Sandhi, Samas, Karak, Alankar) |
| General Hindi | Arihant SSC Hindi — Samanya Hindi | Practice questions by topic |
| General English | Wren & Martin — High School English Grammar | Grammar foundation |
| General English | Norman Lewis — Word Power Made Easy | Vocabulary expansion |
| Translation (Paper 2) | Hindi Granth Ratnagar — Translation Practice | Hindi-English bidirectional practice passages |
| Official Language Policy | GoI — Official Language Act 1963 + Rules 1976 | Background for Paper 2 essay topics |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Paper 1 conducted online (CBT) or offline?
Paper 1 is a Computer Based Test (CBT) — objective type MCQ conducted online at SSC exam centres. Paper 2 is a descriptive written test conducted offline (pen and paper). Both papers are held on separate dates. The Paper 1 result is announced first; only qualifying candidates are called for Paper 2.
Q: What is the minimum qualifying mark in Paper 1?
SSC publishes category-wise qualifying marks after each exam. Historically, the Paper 1 cutoff for JHT has ranged from 50–65% for General candidates and 40–55% for SC/ST. The exact cutoff varies by the year's exam difficulty and number of vacancies. Focus on scoring 75%+ in Paper 1 to be safe, since Paper 2 is what actually determines your rank.
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