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SSC CPO 2026 cycle

Graduate-level recruitment by the Staff Selection Commission for Sub-Inspector in Delhi Police and the Central Armed Police Forces, decided by two computer papers, a physical test and a medical exam.

Exam scheduled4 stagesSectional timing1 free mock test

Overview

Conducting body
SSCssc.gov.in
Age limit
20 to 25 years
Application fee
₹0 to ₹100
Vacancies
To be announced
First stage duration
2 hr
Negative marking
1/4 mark per wrong answer

Staff Selection Commission Sub-Inspector in Delhi Police and Central Armed Police Forces Examination is conducted by Staff Selection Commission. Selection runs through 4 stages: Paper I (Computer Based Examination), Physical Endurance Test and Physical Standard Test (PET/PST), Paper II (Computer Based Examination), Detailed Medical Examination.

  1. Sit Paper I, a computer-based objective test whose marks count towards the final merit and decide the physical-stage call.
  2. Clear the Physical Endurance and Physical Standard Test, which is qualifying.
  3. Sit Paper II, a computer-based English paper, for candidates who clear Paper I and the physical stage.
  4. Pass the Detailed Medical Examination and Document Verification.
  5. The final merit list is built from Paper I and Paper II marks together, subject to the physical and medical stages.

Important dates

Important dates
EventDateStatus
Notification released

The CPO 2026 notification was published on ssc.gov.in on 31 May 2026, alongside the online application link, for Sub-Inspector in Delhi Police and the CAPFs.

31 May 2026Closed
Online application window

Now closed. Applications ran from 31 May to 30 June 2026 through the One-Time Registration profile on ssc.gov.in.

31 May 2026 - 30 Jun 2026Closed
Last date for fee payment

Closed a day or two after the application window. Confirm the exact date from the notice.

Until 1 Jul 2026Expected
Paper I (Computer Based Examination)

Announced for the October–November 2026 window in the SSC calendar. Region-wise admit cards appear on the regional SSC websites a few days before each shift, carrying your exact date, shift and centre. Confirm on ssc.gov.in.

To be announcedNot announced
Physical Endurance and Standard Test (PET/PST)

Conducted for candidates who clear Paper I. The schedule is announced after the Paper I result.

To be announcedNot announced
Paper II (Computer Based Examination)

Held for candidates who clear Paper I and the physical stage. The date is announced later in the cycle.

To be announcedNot announced

Eligibility

Educational qualification

Open toGraduate

A Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university on the cut-off date stated in the notification.

For the post of Sub-Inspector in Delhi Police, male candidates must also possess a valid driving licence for a Light Motor Vehicle (car), though this is required at the time of the physical test rather than at application. Candidates must meet the physical standards for the force.

Age

20 to 25 years as on the cut-off date stated in the official notification, which has been 1 January of the exam year in recent cycles.

Upper age relaxation

  • SC and ST+5 years
  • OBC (non-creamy layer)+3 years
  • Ex-servicemen+3 years
  • Departmental candidates and specified categories+5 years

Nationality

A candidate must be one of the following:

  • A citizen of India
  • A subject of Nepal or Bhutan
  • A Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1 January 1962 intending to settle permanently
  • A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka or specified East African countries intending to settle permanently in India

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Application fee

CategoryFee
General, OBC and EWS

Paid online. The fee is non-refundable.

₹100
Women, SC, ST and Ex-servicemen

Exempt from the application fee, as per SSC rules.

₹0

Exam pattern

Stage by stage structure with question counts, marks, timing and the marking scheme.

Stage 1: Paper I (Computer Based Examination)

Computer based testSectional timing
SectionQuestionsMarksTime
General Intelligence and Reasoning505030 min
General Knowledge and General Awareness505030 min
Quantitative Aptitude505030 min
English Comprehension505030 min
Total2002002 hr

Duration: 2 hr|Negative marking: 1/4 mark per wrong answer

  • 200 questions for 200 marks in 120 minutes. From the 2026 cycle each of the four sections has its own 30-minute clock, so you cannot return to a section once its time is over.
  • Paper I marks are counted towards the final merit, so it is not merely qualifying.

Stage 2: Physical Endurance Test and Physical Standard Test (PET/PST)

Pen and paperQualifying only

Duration: Varies|Negative marking: None

  • Only candidates who clear Paper I are called. The PET has timed races, a long jump and a high jump; the PST measures height and, for men, chest.
  • Qualifying in nature: it does not add marks, but failing it ends the candidature.

Stage 3: Paper II (Computer Based Examination)

Computer based test
SectionQuestionsMarks
English Language and Comprehension200200
Total200200

Duration: 2 hr|Negative marking: 1/4 mark per wrong answer

  • 200 questions for 200 marks in 120 minutes, entirely on English language and comprehension, at a higher level than the English section of Paper I.
  • Taken by candidates who clear Paper I and the physical stage. Paper I and Paper II marks together decide the final merit.

Stage 4: Detailed Medical Examination

Document and medicalQualifying only

Duration: Varies|Negative marking: None

  • Vision, hearing and general fitness are checked against the standards for a uniformed post.
  • Followed by document verification of education, age, category and any relaxation claimed.

Syllabus

Every subject in the paper, topic by topic. Open a subject for its weightage in this exam, the full topic list and the mock tests, practice sets and notes that cover it.

General Intelligence & Reasoning

  • Analogies, similarities and differences
  • Coding and decoding
  • Series: number and figure
  • Syllogism and statement conclusions
  • Blood relations and directions
  • Non-verbal reasoning and figure classification
  • Venn diagrams and Boolean logic
  • Order, ranking and seating arrangement
General Intelligence & Reasoning guide & weightage →

General Awareness

  • Indian polity and Constitution
  • History and the freedom struggle
  • Indian and world geography
  • Economy and current schemes
  • General science: physics, chemistry, biology
  • Static general knowledge: awards, days, books
  • Current affairs of national and international importance
General Awareness guide & weightage →

Quantitative Aptitude

  • Number system and simplification
  • Percentage, ratio, proportion and averages
  • Profit, loss and discount
  • Simple and compound interest
  • Time and work, time, speed and distance
  • Mensuration, geometry and trigonometry
  • Data interpretation: bar, pie and tables
Quantitative Aptitude guide & weightage →

English Language

  • Reading comprehension
  • Cloze test and para jumbles
  • Error spotting and sentence improvement
  • Fill in the blanks
  • Synonyms, antonyms and one-word substitution
  • Idioms and phrases
  • Active and passive voice, direct and indirect speech (Paper II)
  • Spelling and vocabulary in depth (Paper II)
English Language guide & weightage →

How to apply

  1. Complete One-Time Registration (OTR) on ssc.gov.in

    SSC uses a single OTR profile across all its exams. Register once with your name, date of birth, an ID and contact details, and keep the registration number and password.

  2. Fill the CPO application form

    Log in, open the CPO notice, and complete the form with your education, category and force or post preferences. Upload the photograph and signature to the stated specifications.

  3. Pay the fee and submit

    Pay the fee online where applicable, or claim the exemption, then submit. Save the final printout and the payment receipt.

Documents to keep ready

  • Valid photo identity proof such as Aadhaar, PAN, passport, driving licence or voter ID
  • Matriculation certificate for date of birth
  • Graduation mark-sheets and the degree certificate
  • Category certificate (SC, ST, OBC, EWS) in the prescribed format, where applicable
  • Ex-servicemen or other relaxation certificate, where applicable
  • Valid LMV driving licence for male Delhi Police Sub-Inspector candidates, at the physical stage
  • Recent passport-size photograph and signature matching the uploads

Salary and job profile

Pay and allowances

Pay scale:
Pay Level 6 of the 7th Central Pay Commission (Rs 35,400 to Rs 1,12,400)
Initial basic pay:
To be announced
Approximate in-hand:
To be announced

Allowances

  • Dearness Allowance revised periodically
  • House Rent Allowance based on city class
  • Transport Allowance
  • Force-specific and risk or hardship allowances where applicable

Perks

  • Pension under the National Pension System
  • Medical cover and canteen facilities
  • Leave and other central government benefits

Entry basic pay is Rs 35,400 at Level 6, plus allowances that depend on the force and city of posting. Confirm the exact figures from the official notification.

What the job involves

  • A Sub-Inspector supervises a small team of constables and head constables in day-to-day policing or force duties.
  • In Delhi Police, duties include maintaining law and order, registering and investigating cases and field policing.
  • In the CAPFs, duties range from border guarding and internal security to installation protection, depending on the force.
  • Promotion is to Inspector and higher ranks through departmental channels.

Previous paper analysis

What was actually asked, topic by topic, so you can see where the marks live.

Free mock tests

Written to this exam's pattern, with the same interface, sectional locking and marking scheme you will face on exam day.

  • SSC CPO: 28-question practice mock

    28 questions | 28 min

    Start

How to prepare for SSC CPO

  • Paper I marks count, so unlike CGL you cannot treat the first paper as a mere threshold. Aim for a high, accurate score across all four sections.
  • Sectional timing rewards a fixed plan: decide in advance how many questions you will attempt in each 30-minute block and stick to it.
  • Start physical training from day one. The run and jumps are qualifying, but many strong written candidates fail here for lack of preparation.
  • Paper II is pure English at a higher level, so build vocabulary, grammar and comprehension speed steadily rather than cramming at the end.
  • Use full-length mocks under the exact sectional clock, and review each one for the questions you should have skipped, since 0.25 negative marking punishes over-attempting.

Practise SSC CPO by topic

Free question banks with worked solutions for the topics SSC CPO tests. Drill one topic at a time, then sit a full mock and keep a daily habit going.

Daily quiz

A fresh mixed set every day to keep every section warm.

Untimed practice drills

Learn a topic with the method shown after every question.

Current affairs

Daily, sourced digests for the general-awareness section.

Frequently asked questions

What posts does SSC CPO recruit for?

Sub-Inspector (Executive) in Delhi Police and Sub-Inspector (General Duty) in the Central Armed Police Forces — BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP and SSB.

Do Paper I marks count in the final merit?

Yes. Unlike SSC CGL Tier I, the CPO Paper I marks are counted in the final merit along with Paper II. The physical and medical stages are qualifying.

Is there sectional timing in Paper I?

Yes, from the 2026 cycle. Each of the four sections in Paper I has its own 30-minute clock, so you cannot move between sections freely.

What are the physical standards?

Minimum height is generally 170 cm for men and 157 cm for women, with relaxations for ST candidates and those from specified regions, plus a chest requirement for men and qualifying races and jumps. The binding figures are in the official notice.

Do I need a driving licence?

Only male candidates for the Delhi Police Sub-Inspector post need a valid Light Motor Vehicle driving licence, and it is required at the physical test stage, not at application.

Last verified 19 August 2026(37 days ago, by editorial)

Not yet confirmed for this cycle: the vacancy count, the schedule and age as on. Where we have a figure from previous cycles we show it and label it as expected; where we do not, the page says "to be announced". Check the official source below before you rely on any of it.

Official sources

Found something out of date? Tell us and we will correct it, citing the source.