SSC GD Constable 2026: Exam Date, Syllabus, PET & Free Mocks

SSC GD Constable is a national-level recruitment examination conducted by the Staff Selection Commission to fill Constable (General Duty) posts in the Central Armed Police Forces — BSF, CISF, CRPF, ITBP and SSB — along with Rifleman (General Duty) in Assam Rifles, Constable in the Special Security Force, and Sepoy in the Narcotics Control Bureau.

It is the single largest recruitment the Commission runs. Recent cycles have carried well over 39,000 vacancies, and because the minimum qualification is only Class 10, it attracts several million applications. Selection involves a computer-based test followed by physical efficiency and standard tests and a detailed medical examination.

SSC GD is popular because it offers a uniformed central government job to candidates who have only passed Class 10, with over 39,000 vacancies in a typical cycle — by far the highest of any SSC examination.

For candidates from rural and semi-urban India, SSC GD is often the most realistic route into central government service. The academic bar is low, the paper is set at Class 10 difficulty, and the sheer volume of vacancies means the statistical odds are far better than for graduate-level examinations.

Beyond pay, the post carries ration allowance, free accommodation or house rent allowance, medical cover for the family, and a defined promotion ladder to Head Constable, Assistant Sub-Inspector and beyond through departmental examinations.

• Only Class 10 required — the lowest bar of any SSC exam
• 39,000+ vacancies in a typical recruitment cycle
• Paper available in 13 regional languages besides English and Hindi
• Uniformed service with ration, accommodation and family medical cover

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

The most recent SSC GD Constable cycle carried approximately 39,000+ vacancies.

SSC GD vacancy counts move substantially between cycles as the individual forces revise their requirements, and the Commission revises the tentative figure before the final result. Confirm the current number in the official notification on ssc.gov.in.

Vacancies announced in the most recent SSC GD notification.ssc.gov.in — Official Notification

To apply for SSC GD Constable 2026 a candidate must have passed Class 10 (Matriculation) from a recognised board and be between 18 and 23 years of age as on the cut-off date in the notification, and must additionally meet the prescribed physical standards.

Educational Qualification

Passed Matriculation or Class 10 examination from a recognised Board or University.

• No higher qualification is required, and no additional weightage is given for one.
• Candidates must possess the qualification as on the cut-off date stated in the notification.

Age Limit

The age limit for SSC GD Constable is 18 to 23 years. Age is reckoned as on the cut-off date specified in the official notification. Verify the exact date 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 minimum height of 170 cm and a chest of 80 cm with 5 cm expansion; female candidates require a minimum height of 157 cm. Relaxed standards apply to candidates from Scheduled Tribes, and to those from hill regions including Garhwal, Kumaon, Himachal Pradesh, Gorkhas, Dogras, Marathas, Ladakh, Sikkim and the North-Eastern states. Physical Efficiency Test (PET): male candidates must complete a 5 km run in 24 minutes and female candidates a 1.6 km run in 8 minutes 30 seconds, with separate standards for the Ladakh region.

SSC GD Constable has a single computer-based test of 80 questions carrying 160 marks, to be completed in 60 minutes, with 0.25 marks deducted for each wrong answer, followed by qualifying physical and medical tests.

1. 1Online application on the SSC portal within the notified window.
2. 2Computer Based Examination (CBT) — the only stage that carries merit marks.
3. 3Physical Efficiency Test (PET) — qualifying: 5 km run in 24 minutes for men, 1.6 km in 8 minutes 30 seconds for women.
4. 4Physical Standard Test (PST) — qualifying: height, chest and weight measurement against the prescribed standards.
5. 5Detailed Medical Examination (DME) — qualifying, including vision, hearing and general fitness.
6. 6Document verification and final merit list, followed by allocation of force.

The SSC GD syllabus covers four areas at Class 10 difficulty — General Intelligence and Reasoning, General Knowledge and Awareness, Elementary Mathematics, and English or Hindi language — each carrying 40 marks.

SSC GD Constable is a Pay Level 3 post under the Seventh Pay Commission with a basic pay of ₹21,700 to ₹69,100, giving an approximate in-hand salary of ₹28,000 to ₹32,000 per month depending on posting location and force.

Allowances and Benefits

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

The most effective SSC GD strategy is to treat the physical test as seriously as the written paper from day one, because the CBT is set at Class 10 level and most eliminations happen at the PET and PST stage.