The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has officially published the SSC CPO Recruitment 2026 Notification on 10 September 2026 for recruitment to 1,871 Sub-Inspector (SI) vacancies in Delhi Police, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), and Sub-Inspector (Fire) in CISF. Eligible male and female candidates can submit their online applications on the official website ssc.gov.in between 10 September 2026 and 30 September 2026 (up to 11:00 PM).
CRITICAL 2026 REVISED EXAM PATTERN WARNING
The official SSC CPO 2026 notification introduces a major structural change in the written examination pattern. Paper-I is now 100 questions for 100 marks (60 minutes with 15-minute sectional timers), while Paper-II has 160 questions for 320 marks covering 4 subjects (Reasoning, GK, Quant, and English). Candidates must not rely on old 200-question English-only exam pattern articles or books.
1. SSC CPO Recruitment 2026 – Quick Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | Sub-Inspector in Delhi Police and Central Armed Police Forces Examination, 2026 |
| Conducting Authority | Staff Selection Commission (SSC) |
| Posts Included | SI Executive (Delhi Police), SI GD (CAPFs), SI Fire (CISF) |
| Total Vacancies | 1,871 Tentative Vacancies |
| Application Mode | Online (ssc.gov.in) |
| Application Start Date | 10 September 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 30 September 2026 (11:00 PM) |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | 1 October 2026 (11:00 PM) |
| Correction Window | 8 October to 10 October 2026 (11:00 PM) |
| Computer Based Exam Date | To be notified officially by SSC |
| Educational Qualification | Graduation Degree for Delhi Police/CAPF SI; Science/Engineering for CISF SI Fire |
| Age Limit | 20–25 years for DP & CAPF; 18–30 years for SI Fire CISF (as on 01.08.2026) |
| Application Fee | Rs. 100 (Exempted for Women, SC, ST, ESM) |
| Pay Scale / Salary | Pay Level-6 (Rs. 35,400 to Rs. 1,12,400) |
| Selection Stages | Paper-I → PST/PET → Paper-II → Medical Exam → DV & Allocation |
| Official Website | ssc.gov.in |
2. What is SSC CPO Recruitment 2026?
SSC CPO stands for the Staff Selection Commission Central Police Organization examination. It is an all-India competitive examination conducted annually to recruit Sub-Inspectors (Group B Non-Gazetted and Group C) across major central security forces and law enforcement agencies:
Delhi Police
Sub-Inspector Executive (Male & Female). Group C post with metro urban policing posting in New Delhi.
CAPFs Security Forces
Sub-Inspector General Duty in BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, and SSB. Group B Non-Gazetted post serving nationwide.
CISF SI (Fire)
Sub-Inspector Fire in CISF for candidates with Science (PCM) degree or Engineering diplomas.
3. SSC CPO Vacancy 2026 (Post-wise & CAPF-wise)
The official notification announces a total of 1,871 tentative vacancies. The force-wise and category-wise breakdown is provided below:
Post-Wise Tentative Vacancies
| Post Name | Gender | Tentative Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| SI Executive – Delhi Police | Male | 205 |
| SI Executive – Delhi Police | Female | 112 |
| SI GD – CAPFs | Male | 1,173 |
| SI GD – CAPFs | Female | 147 |
| SI Fire – CISF | Male | 234 |
| Total Vacancies | 1,871 | |
CAPF-Wise Vacancy Breakdown
| Force | Male Vacancies | Female Vacancies | Total Vacancies |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) | 225 | 29 | 254 |
| BSF (Border Security Force) | 435 | 22 | 457 |
| ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police) | 159 | 28 | 187 |
| CISF (Central Industrial Security Force) | 200 | 50 | 250 |
| SSB (Sashastra Seema Bal) | 154 | 18 | 172 |
| Total CAPF SI(GD) | 1,173 | 147 | 1,320 |
4. Which Post Should You Choose?
1. SI Executive – Delhi Police
- Urban Delhi posting.
- Male & female eligible.
- Male Driving Licence Mandatory: Must possess a valid LMV (Motorcycle + Car) driving licence on the PE&MT date. Candidates without DL remain eligible for CAPF SI.
2. SI GD – CAPFs
- Includes BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, SSB.
- All India service liability.
- Group B Non-Gazetted post.
- No driving licence required for CAPF SI posts.
3. SI Fire – CISF
- Age limit relaxation: 18 to 30 years.
- Requires B.Sc (Physics, Chemistry, Maths) OR 3-Year Diploma in Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, Automobile, Chemical, Mining, Aeronautical, or Telecommunication Engineering.
5. SSC CPO 2026 Important Dates
| Recruitment Event | Official Date |
|---|---|
| Official Notification Release Date | 10 September 2026 |
| Online Application Start Date | 10 September 2026 |
| Last Date to Submit Online Application | 30 September 2026 (11:00 PM) |
| Last Date for Online Fee Payment | 1 October 2026 (11:00 PM) |
| Application Form Correction Window | 8 October to 10 October 2026 (11:00 PM) |
| Paper-I Computer Based Test (CBT) | To be announced officially by SSC |
| PST / PET Physical Examination | To be announced after Paper-I results |
| Paper-II Examination | To be announced after PST/PET |
6. Eligibility Criteria & Age Limit 2026
A. Educational Qualification (Cut-off Date)
For Delhi Police SI and CAPF SI: Candidates must possess a Bachelor's degree from a recognized university. Final-year degree students may apply, but their qualifying degree result must have been declared by the prescribed cut-off date.
For CISF SI (Fire): Candidates must possess either a Bachelor's Degree in Science with Physics, Chemistry & Mathematics OR Matriculation + 3-year Diploma in Mechanical/Civil/Electrical/Automobile/Chemical/Mining/Aeronautical/Telecommunication engineering.
B. Age Limit (Calculated as on 1 August 2026)
| Post Name | Prescribed Age Limit | Allowed DOB Range |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi Police SI & CAPF SI | 20 to 25 Years | Born between 02.08.2001 and 01.08.2006 |
| SI Fire CISF | 18 to 30 Years | Born between 02.08.1996 and 01.08.2008 |
Category-Wise Age Relaxation
- SC / ST Candidates: 5 Years upper age relaxation.
- OBC Candidates: 3 Years upper age relaxation.
- Delhi Police Departmental Candidates: UR/EWS up to 30 years, OBC up to 33 years, SC/ST up to 35 years (with min 3 years continuous service).
7. Application Fee
| Candidate Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS Male Candidates | Rs. 100/- |
| All Female Candidates (All Categories) | Rs. 0/- (Exempted) |
| SC / ST Candidates | Rs. 0/- (Exempted) |
| Eligible Ex-Servicemen (ESM) | Rs. 0/- (Exempted) |
Fee can be paid online using BHIM UPI, Net Banking, or Debit Cards up to 1 October 2026 (11:00 PM).
8. SSC CPO Exam Pattern 2026 – Major Revised Changes
The 2026 official notification contains a complete overhaul of both Paper-I and Paper-II written examinations.
A. SSC CPO Paper-I Exam Pattern 2026
Paper-I consists of 100 questions for 100 marks with a total duration of 60 minutes. Each section has a 15-minute sectional timer.
| Subject / Section | Questions | Marks | Sectional Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 25 | 25 | 15 minutes |
| General Knowledge & General Awareness | 25 | 25 | 15 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 25 | 15 minutes |
| English Comprehension | 25 | 25 | 15 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 minutes |
Negative Marking in Paper-I: 0.25 marks deducted for every wrong answer.
B. SSC CPO Paper-II Exam Pattern 2026
Paper-II is no longer an English-only paper. It consists of 160 questions for 320 marks covering 4 subjects with a higher difficulty level.
| Subject / Part | Questions | Marks | Sectional Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 20 | 40 | 20 minutes |
| General Knowledge & General Awareness | 20 | 40 | 20 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 20 | 40 | 20 minutes |
| English Comprehension | 100 | 200 | -- |
| Total | 160 | 320 | Overall Timed |
Negative Marking in Paper-II: 0.50 marks deducted for every wrong answer.
9. Subject-Wise Syllabus Summary
The indicative syllabus for SSC CPO 2026 covers:
- Reasoning: Analogies, classification, series, coding-decoding, space orientation, Venn diagrams, pattern folding, syllogism.
- General Awareness: Current affairs, history, culture, geography, Indian economy, general polity, Indian constitution, scientific research.
- Quantitative Aptitude: Number systems, percentages, ratio & proportion, average, profit & loss, algebra, geometry, mensuration, trigonometry, data interpretation.
- English Comprehension: Error recognition, fill in the blanks, vocabulary, spellings, grammar, sentence structure, idioms, reading comprehension.
Looking for the Complete Topic-Wise Syllabus PDF?
Explore our detailed, subject-by-subject SSC CPO 2026 Syllabus article with topic weightage and preparation modules.
10. Physical Standards (PST & PET Details)
PST and PET are qualifying and elimination in nature. No marks are awarded for clearing physical tests.
A. PET Requirements for Male Candidates
- 100 Metre Race: 16 seconds
- 1.6 Km Race: 6.5 minutes
- Long Jump: 3.65 metres (3 chances)
- High Jump: 1.2 metres (3 chances)
- Shot Put (16 lbs): 4.5 metres (3 chances)
B. PET Requirements for Female Candidates
- 100 Metre Race: 18 seconds
- 800 Metre Race: 4 minutes
- Long Jump: 2.7 metres (3 chances)
- High Jump: 0.9 metres (3 chances)
C. Height & Chest Standards (PST)
| Category | Male Height | Male Chest (Unexpanded / Expanded) | Female Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Candidates | 170 cm | 80 cm / 85 cm | 157 cm |
| Hill Areas (Garhwal, Kumaon, HP, Gorkha etc.) | 165 cm | 80 cm / 85 cm | 155 cm |
| ST Candidates | 162.5 cm | 77 cm / 82 cm | 154 cm |
11. Medical Test Requirements
Candidates who qualify Paper-II must undergo Detailed Medical Examination (DME):
- Visual Standards: Near vision N6 (better eye) / N9 (worse eye). Distant vision 6/6 (better eye) / 6/9 (worse eye). No corrective glasses or surgical correction (e.g. LASIK).
- Physical Deformities: Free from knock knee, flat foot, varicose veins, squint, or colour blindness.
12. Selection Process & Final Merit Calculation
- Stage 1: Paper-I Computer Based Examination.
- Stage 2: Physical Standard Test (PST) & Physical Endurance Test (PET) (Qualifying).
- Stage 3: Paper-II Computer Based Examination.
- Stage 4: Detailed Medical Examination (DME) / Review Medical Examination (RME).
- Stage 5: Document Verification (DV) & Final Post/Force Allocation.
NCC Certificate Bonus Marks
- NCC 'C' Certificate: 5% bonus marks in each paper.
- NCC 'B' Certificate: 3% bonus marks in each paper.
- NCC 'A' Certificate: 2% bonus marks in each paper.
13. Salary & Pay Scale (Level-6)
All three categories of Sub-Inspector posts carry Pay Level-6 (Rs. 35,400 to Rs. 1,12,400) under 7th CPC. In addition to basic pay, selected candidates receive Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), Transport Allowance (TA), Ration Money, and Uniform Allowance.
14. How to Apply Online Step-by-Step
- Visit the new official portal: ssc.gov.in.
- Complete One Time Registration (OTR) (Old ssc.nic.in credentials will not work).
- Log in using Registration Number and Password.
- Under "Latest Notifications", select Sub-Inspector in Delhi Police and CAPFs Examination 2026.
- Enter educational details, graduation cut-off declarations, and driving licence details.
- Live Photo Capture: Capture a real-time photograph using a webcam or mobile camera in good lighting against a plain background without caps, masks, or spectacles.
- Upload signature image (10 KB – 20 KB in JPEG/JPG format, ~6cm x 2cm).
- Pay Rs. 100 online fee (if applicable) and submit the form.
15. Application Correction Window
The correction window will be open from 8 October to 10 October 2026 (up to 11:00 PM). Candidates can correct application data up to two times:
- First Correction Charge: Rs. 200/-
- Second Correction Charge: Rs. 500/-
16. SSC Regional Examination Centres
Candidates can select three examination centres within the same regional office network (e.g. Western Region: Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Rajkot, Surat, Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune, Nashik, Panaji).
17. Required Documents Checklist
- Class 10th Certificate for DOB verification.
- Graduation Degree / Provisional Certificate / Marksheets.
- Category Certificate (OBC-NCL / EWS / SC / ST).
- Valid LMV Driving Licence (for male Delhi Police SI candidates).
- Relevant Science/Engineering Degree/Diploma (for CISF SI Fire).
- Government Photo ID (Aadhaar, Voter ID, PAN Card, Driving Licence).
18. Admit Card & Exam Hall Rules
Admission Certificates will be uploaded on SSC regional websites. Candidates must carry their printed Admission Certificate, 2 passport photos, and an original valid Photo ID card.
19. 2026 Preparation Strategy & Tips
- Paper-I Speed: Practice 15-minute timed sectional mocks to handle 25 questions per section.
- Paper-II Preparation: Prepare Reasoning, GK, Maths, and English from Day 1 because Paper-II carries 320 marks across 4 subjects.
- Physical Fitness: Start running and high jump practice gradually from Day 1.
20. 8 Critical Mistakes Candidates Must Avoid
- Relying on old exam pattern articles (Paper-II is NOT English-only in 2026).
- Ignoring Paper-II sectional subjects during early preparation.
- Delaying PET running practice until Paper-I results.
- Ignoring medical vision/flat foot guidelines.
- Submitting post preferences casually (preferences are permanent).
- Applying without verifying the graduation result cut-off date.
- Forgetting the Delhi Police SI male driving licence requirement.
- Waiting for the last day to submit online applications.
21. SSC CPO 2026 FAQs
22. Important Links & Direct Portals
| Purpose / Portal | Direct Official URL |
|---|---|
| SSC Official Website | ssc.gov.in |
| Online Application Portal | Apply Online Portal |
| SSC CPO Detailed Syllabus Guide | Open Subject Syllabus Guide |
Final Verdict: Should You Apply for SSC CPO 2026?
Yes! SSC CPO 2026 is one of the premier police recruitment examinations in India. With 1,871 Level-6 Sub-Inspector vacancies, it offers an incredible opportunity to serve in Delhi Police, BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, or SSB. Prepare for written exam, PET physical fitness, and medical eligibility simultaneously from Day 1!