SSC CPO 2026: Exam Date, Syllabus, PET/PST & Free Mocks

SSC CPO is the Staff Selection Commission examination for recruitment to Sub-Inspector posts in Delhi Police and in the Central Armed Police Forces — BSF, CISF, CRPF, ITBP and SSB. A Sub-Inspector is the first supervisory rank in the police hierarchy, responsible for leading a section, conducting investigations and commanding personnel in the field.

The selection process is distinctive. Paper I is a conventional four-section objective test, but Paper II is entirely English Language and Comprehension across 200 marks. Between them sits the Physical Endurance Test and Physical Standard Test, so candidates must clear the physical stage before ever sitting Paper II.

SSC CPO is popular because it offers direct entry to a supervisory police rank at Pay Level 6 with a basic pay of ₹35,400, combining the authority of a uniformed officer role with a graduate-level entry requirement.

Sub-Inspector is a genuine command position from day one — leading personnel, conducting investigations and exercising statutory powers. For candidates seeking a uniformed career with real authority rather than an administrative desk role, few graduate-entry options compare.

The Delhi Police posting in particular is highly sought after for its urban location, exposure to high-profile policing and the career trajectory it offers. CAPF postings carry additional allowances for field and hardship locations.

• Direct entry to a supervisory police rank at Pay Level 6
• Statutory investigative powers and command responsibility
• Choice between Delhi Police and five Central Armed Police Forces
• Field, risk and hardship allowances in CAPF postings

Expected schedule for the 2026 cycle, based on the Commission’s annual calendar.ssc.gov.in — Examination Calendar

The most recent SSC CPO cycle carried approximately Notified per cycle vacancies.

SSC CPO vacancies are published separately for Sub-Inspector in Delhi Police and Sub-Inspector in the CAPFs, and further split by force and by gender where applicable. Confirm the current post-wise breakdown in the official notification on ssc.gov.in.

Vacancies are notified post-wise and force-wise in the official notification.ssc.gov.in — Official Notification

To apply for SSC CPO 2026 a candidate must hold a bachelor’s degree in any discipline and be between 20 and 25 years of age as on the cut-off date, must meet the prescribed physical standards, and male candidates applying for Delhi Police must additionally hold a valid driving licence for motorcycle and car.

Educational Qualification

A bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised university or equivalent.

• Male candidates applying for Sub-Inspector in Delhi Police must possess a valid Learner’s Licence or Driving Licence for LMV (motorcycle and car) as on the date fixed for the Physical Endurance and Standard Test.
• The driving licence requirement does not apply to female candidates or to CAPF Sub-Inspector posts.
• Candidates must possess the degree as on the cut-off date stated in the notification.

Age Limit

The age limit for SSC CPO is 20 to 25 years. The age band is narrow compared with other SSC examinations. Age is reckoned as on the cut-off date specified in the notification, which the Commission states each cycle.

Nationality

• A citizen of India, or
• A subject of Nepal or Bhutan, or
• A Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1 January 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India.

Physical Standards

Physical Standard Test (PST): male candidates require a height of 170 cm with a chest of 80 cm and 5 cm expansion; female candidates require a height of 157 cm. Relaxed heights apply to candidates from hill regions including Garhwal, Kumaon, Himachal Pradesh, Gorkhas, Dogras, Marathas, Kashmir Valley, Leh and Ladakh, and to Scheduled Tribe candidates. Physical Endurance Test (PET) for men: 100 metres in 16 seconds, 1.6 km in 6 minutes 30 seconds, long jump 3.65 metres in three attempts, high jump 1.2 metres in three attempts, and shot put of 16 lbs thrown 4.5 metres in three attempts. PET for women: 100 metres in 18 seconds, 800 metres in 4 minutes, long jump 2.7 metres in three attempts, and high jump 0.9 metres in three attempts.

SSC CPO has two computer-based papers of 200 marks each separated by the physical tests — Paper I is a four-section objective test in 2 hours, and Paper II is entirely English Language and Comprehension in 2 hours, both with 0.25 negative marking.

1. 1Online application on the SSC portal with post and force preferences.
2. 2Paper I — computer-based examination used to shortlist for the physical tests.
3. 3Physical Endurance Test (PET) — running, long jump, high jump and shot put for men.
4. 4Physical Standard Test (PST) — height and chest measurement against the prescribed standards.
5. 5Paper II — the 200-mark English Language and Comprehension paper.
6. 6Detailed Medical Examination.
7. 7Final merit list based on the combined Paper I and Paper II scores, and allocation of force.

The SSC CPO syllabus covers General Intelligence, General Knowledge, Quantitative Aptitude and English in Paper I, with Paper II devoted entirely to English Language and Comprehension at graduate difficulty across 200 marks.

SSC CPO Sub-Inspector posts are placed in Pay Level 6 under the Seventh Pay Commission with a basic pay of ₹35,400 to ₹1,12,400, giving an approximate in-hand salary of ₹45,000 to ₹52,000 per month depending on posting and force.

Allowances and Benefits

• Dearness Allowance (DA) — revised twice a year
• House Rent Allowance (HRA) or force accommodation
• Transport Allowance (TA)
• Ration Money Allowance
• Risk and Hardship Allowance for field postings
• Free medical treatment for the employee and family
• Pension under the National Pension System (NPS)

The decisive SSC CPO strategy is to build genuine English depth, because Paper II is 200 marks of English alone and together with Paper I’s English section accounts for 250 of the 400 total marks that decide the merit.