Andaman CHSL Recruitment 2026: 716 Posts for 12th Pass, Apply by 30 July

The Andaman and Nicobar Administration is filling 716 posts at 12th-pass level across 38 post codes, from Lower Grade Clerk to Forester to ship Master, and the application window has been re-opened after it had already closed. The form is live until 30 July 2026. Before you apply from the mainland, though, read the reservation section below carefully: 382 of those 716 seats are effectively closed to non-islanders, and the exam is held only in the islands.

Andaman CHSL 2026: Quick Facts

What Mainland Candidates Need to Know First

Any Indian national may apply, and there is no permanent residence certificate requirement to fill the form. But the reservation rules make this substantially a local recruitment, and it is only fair to say so plainly:

• The ST quota (42 posts) is open only to local Scheduled Tribes notified under the Constitution (Andaman and Nicobar Islands) Scheduled Tribe Order, 1959. ST candidates from elsewhere would compete as unreserved candidates.
• The OBC quota (280 posts) is open only to local OBCs notified in the Administration’s own gazette notifications. A central OBC non-creamy-layer certificate does not work here, and outside OBC candidates would compete as unreserved candidates.
• The EWS quota (60 posts) requires an income and asset certificate issued by the Revenue Department of the A&N Administration.
• The notice also states that reserved vacancies are filled from eligible ST, OBC and EWS candidates who are domiciled in the A&N Islands.

So for a mainland candidate the realistic field is the 334 unreserved posts, competing without any category relaxation. Add to that the practical point that the tablet-based exam is conducted only at centres in South Andaman, North and Middle Andaman and Nicobar districts, with no mainland centre, and you should apply only if you are prepared to travel to the islands for the test. One more clarification: this recruitment has no SC category at all; the reservation columns are only UR, ST, OBC and EWS, because the islands have notified Scheduled Tribes rather than Scheduled Castes. Separately, 25 posts are reserved horizontally for persons with benchmark disabilities and 2 for ex-servicemen, and the notice states all vacancy numbers are tentative and may increase or decrease.

Why the Window Re-Opened

The window opened on 15 June 2026 and had already closed before this reopening. According to local news reports, including the Andaman Chronicle of 16 July 2026, candidates faced repeated portal failures while submitting applications, and local representatives and community bodies asked the Administration to reopen it. The press note itself, dated 20 July 2026, gives only the new dates and states no reason. The current window for these Higher Secondary Level posts runs from 21 to 30 July 2026, midnight. A correction window will open after the last date, but its dates have not been announced yet. Note that the separate Matric Level advertisement is a different recruitment with its own deadline, so do not mix the two.

One caveat on eligibility dates: the notice reckons age and qualification as on the closing date of applications, and the 20 July press note extended that closing date without restating the crucial date. If you are borderline on age or your result date, treat it as unsettled and check the portal before relying on it.

The 716 Posts: Where the Numbers Actually Are

One post dominates this notification. Of the 716 seats, 426 are Lower Grade Clerk in the A&N Secretariat, which is nearly 60% of the entire recruitment. The other larger blocks:

The rest are spread thinly across Patwari, Depot Clerk, IT Analyst, Laboratory Assistant, Marine Radio Operator, Typist, Sales Assistant, Weaving Instructor and more, many with just one or two seats. Pay runs from Level 2 (₹19,900 to ₹63,200) up to Level 6 (₹35,400 to ₹1,12,400) for the two Group B shipping posts. Note that this notification has no Data Entry Operator or Multi Tasking Staff posts; those belong to the separate Matric Level advertisement.

Qualification: 12th Pass, Plus a Skill for Many Posts

Class 12 is the base for almost every post, but a large share also demand a tested skill:

• Lower Grade Clerk and Lower Division Clerk: 12th pass plus typing at 35 words per minute in English or 30 in Hindi on a computer (or 30 and 25 on a manual typewriter). A typing skill test applies.
• Stenographer (OG): 12th pass plus shorthand at 80 words per minute and typing at 40 (manual) or 45 (computer), with a trade test.
• Forester: 12th in Science, plus physical standards for height and chest, and an endurance walk of 25 km for men or 14 km for women within 4 hours.
• Shipping posts: Master 1st Class, Master 2nd Class and Chief Engine Driver need the relevant Certificate of Competency under the Inland Vessels Act; Marine Radio Operator needs a GMDSS certificate and normal colour vision, and some shipping posts include a swimming test.
• IT Analyst and Computer Assistant: a computer diploma or certificate route plus a data entry speed of at least 6,000 key depressions per hour.

You may apply for more than one post in order of preference if eligible, but the preference cannot be changed later.

The Tablet-Based Exam and What Follows

Selection begins with a tablet-based test taken by everyone who applies, since applications are not scrutinised beforehand. The paper is 200 questions for 200 marks in 120 minutes, one mark each, with 0.25 negative marking, split evenly across English Language, General Intelligence, Quantitative Aptitude and General Awareness at 50 questions each. Questions other than English are set in English and Hindi.

After that come the post-specific stages: a physical standard or endurance test, or a skill or trade test where the recruitment rules prescribe one. These are qualifying in nature only and do not add marks. Document verification follows for shortlisted candidates. The notice prescribes no interview, and no medical examination is mentioned. Ties are broken in favour of the older candidate, and then by alphabetical order of names.

Fee and How to Apply for Andaman CHSL 2026

1. Register at erecruitment.andamannicobar.gov.in under Candidate Corner; your registration number begins with 35.
2. Complete all six sections of the form: personal details, post selection, education, experience, payment and uploads. Partial forms can be saved but must be completed before the last date.
3. Pay the fee: ₹100 for all other candidates, including OBC and EWS male candidates, and nil for all women candidates, all ST candidates and all PwBD candidates. Payment is by net banking, card, UPI or QR code.
4. Upload your photograph (20 to 50 KB) and signature (10 to 20 KB) in the specified sizes. No certificates are uploaded at this stage.
5. Submit before 30 July 2026, midnight. Applications by post or email are rejected outright.

This is our first Andaman and Nicobar Islands post, joining the wider state and central jobs we track.

Should You Apply for Andaman CHSL 2026?

For a 12th-pass candidate living in the islands, this is a rare opening at scale: 716 posts across roughly twenty departments, a ₹100 fee that women, ST and PwBD candidates do not pay at all, no interview, and 426 clerk seats in the Secretariat alone. For a mainland candidate, be realistic about what you are entering: only the 334 unreserved seats are genuinely open to you, your category certificate from your home state will not buy you a reserved seat, and you will need to travel to the islands to sit the exam. If that maths works for you, the form closes on 30 July.

Andaman CHSL 2026: Common Questions

Can mainland candidates apply for Andaman CHSL 2026?

Yes, any Indian national may apply, but reserved seats under ST, OBC and EWS require A&N local certificates and island domicile, so mainland candidates realistically compete only for the 334 unreserved posts. The exam is also held only at centres in the islands.

How many posts are in Andaman CHSL 2026 and which is the biggest?

716 posts across 38 post codes. The largest by far is Lower Grade Clerk in the Secretariat with 426 seats, followed by Forester (36) and Stenographer (33).

What is the Andaman CHSL application fee?

₹100 for all candidates other than the exempt groups, including OBC and EWS male candidates. All women candidates, all ST candidates and all PwBD candidates pay nothing.

What is the Andaman CHSL exam pattern?

A tablet-based test of 200 questions for 200 marks in 120 minutes, with 0.25 negative marking, covering English Language, General Intelligence, Quantitative Aptitude and General Awareness at 50 questions each.

Why was the Andaman CHSL last date extended?

The window had already closed before the reopening. Local news reports, including the Andaman Chronicle of 16 July 2026, describe repeated portal failures faced by applicants and requests from local representatives to reopen it. The Administration’s press note of 20 July re-opened the link until 30 July 2026 without stating a reason.

Is there an SC quota in Andaman CHSL 2026?

No. The reservation columns in this notification are only UR, ST, OBC and EWS. The islands have notified Scheduled Tribes rather than Scheduled Castes, so no SC vacancies are listed.

✍️ Written & reviewed byLokesh Rathore

Lokesh Rathore is a content writer with over 4 years of experience covering Government Jobs, Sarkari Result, Admit Card and Sarkari Yojana. He turns complex official notifications into clear, accurate and easy-to-follow updates for job seekers across India - with every post cross-checked against official government sources.

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