DDA Junior Secretariat Assistant Syllabus, Exam Pattern

Stage I is a 2-hour objective CBT of 150 questions. Computer knowledge only qualifies and its marks are left out of the merit list. Stage II is a typing test, also qualifying. Each wrong answer costs one-third of the marks for that question.

DDA's own syllabus runs to school-level mathematics and general ability.

• Mathematical Abilities: number systems, percentages, ratio, interest, profit and loss, time and work, algebra, geometry, mensuration, trigonometry, statistics and probability.
• Reasoning: verbal and non-verbal items such as analogies, series, coding-decoding, Venn diagrams, figure folding and embedded figures.
• English: vocabulary, grammar, error spotting, idioms, voice and narration, cloze and comprehension passages.
• General Awareness: current events, history, culture, geography, economy and polity.
• Computer Knowledge: hardware basics, MS Office, internet and email, networking and cyber security.

• Age: 18 to 27 years on the closing date. DDA employees get relaxation up to 40, and the usual SC, ST, OBC, PwBD and ex-servicemen relaxations apply.
• Education: 12th class pass or equivalent from a recognised board or university.
• Typing: 35 w.p.m. in English or 30 w.p.m. in Hindi on a computer, which is about 10,500 or 9,000 key depressions an hour.

You pick English or Hindi typing on the form and cannot change it later. Two-thirds of the posts are set aside for English typists and one-third for Hindi typists.

1. Stage I CBT, normalised if held in several shifts. DDA shortlists candidates in each category for Stage II.
2. Stage II typing test of 10 minutes, qualifying only. Candidates with a permanent physical disability can claim exemption with a medical certificate.
3. Document verification. Merit is then made from Stage I marks alone, and ties go to the older candidate, then to alphabetical order.

The minimum qualifying marks in the CBT are 40% for UR, 35% for OBC (NCL) and EWS, and 30% for SC and ST. There is no interview for this post.

Level 2 of the 7th Pay Commission matrix, with an entry basic pay of ₹19,900 a month, plus the usual central dearness and house rent allowances.

The 2025 fee was ₹2,500 for UR, OBC (NCL) and EWS candidates and ₹1,500 for women, SC, ST, PwBD, ex-servicemen and transgender candidates. Payment was online only, through the SBI gateway. The ₹1,500 fee is refunded, minus bank charges, to those who actually sat the exam. Anyone applying for two posts pays twice.

Applications go through the Jobs section of dda.gov.in, and the link stays live only for the window in the advertisement. You need a personal email address and mobile number that stay active for the whole process, because DDA sends the e-application status, admit card and document verification calls only to those.

E-admit cards are downloaded from the DDA website, using the registered email and mobile number. For the 2023 round DDA put the Stage II link up 72 hours before the test. The typing test has its own instruction notice.

DDA publishes a PDF list with roll number, score and the category in which each person is selected. For DR 2025 the provisional JSA list is dated 6 April 2026, preceded by the Stage II shortlist on 24 February. Waitlist operations follow when selected candidates do not join or do not appear for verification, as happened in the 2023 round on 27 March 2026.

Stage I cut-offs for DR 2023 (post code 09), as published on 20 March 2024; 4,402 candidates were shortlisted.

For DR 2025, DDA has not issued a separate cut-off notice, but the select list shows the score of every selected candidate.

The CBT is school-level, so speed matters more than depth: work the maths and reasoning sets under a 2-hour limit and keep the 1/3 negative marking in mind. Practise typing in the language you choose on the form, because it cannot be changed, and aim well above 35 or 30 words a minute with few errors, since every wrong word costs ten words of speed in DDA's formula.

• DDA Latest Jobs page
• DR 2025 detailed notification
• Short advertisement 09/2025
• Provisional select list, April 2026
• Document verification schedule
• Recruitment rules

How many JSA vacancies did DDA advertise in 2025?

199, at level 2. The 2023 round had 194.

Is the typing test part of merit?

No. It only qualifies. Merit comes from the Stage I CBT.

Can I change my typing language after applying?

No. DDA treats the choice made on the application form as final.

Is there negative marking?

Yes, one-third of a mark for each wrong answer.