SSC CPO 2026 (Sub-Inspector in Delhi Police and CAPFs)

SSC holds one exam to recruit Sub-Inspectors for Delhi Police and the five Central Armed Police Forces: CRPF, BSF, ITBP, CISF and SSB. SI (Executive) in Delhi Police is a Group C post, and SI (GD) in the CAPFs is Group B (non-gazetted). SI (Fire) in CISF is a separate Group B post for men with a science or engineering background. All of them start at pay Level-6, and the syllabus for both papers covers the same four subjects, at a harder level in Paper-II.^[1]

• It suits a graduate under 25 who wants a uniformed post at Level-6 and can run and jump to the PET standard. Everyone except ex-servicemen has to clear the PET.
• Strong English helps a lot here: English is 200 of Paper-II's 320 marks, and Paper-II decides the merit list.
• It is a hard fit if you need to stay near home. Every post except Delhi Police SI carries all-India service liability, so you can be posted anywhere in the country.
• Check your eyes before you prepare. Distant vision must be 6/6 in the better eye and 6/9 in the worse one without glasses or surgery, and squint, flat feet, knock knees and varicose veins rule you out.

Source^[1]

For Delhi Police and the CAPF posts you needed a bachelor's degree from a recognised university, with the result declared by 30 September 2026. Final-year students could apply only if their result was out by that date; a result that was still being processed doesn't count.

SI (Fire) has its own rule: a B.Sc. with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, or Class 10 plus a three-year diploma in Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, Automobile, Chemical, Mining, Aeronautical or Telecommunication Engineering. A B.Tech or M.Tech in a relevant field also counts, but only on top of that diploma.

You must be a citizen of India, or a subject of Nepal or Bhutan with a Government of India eligibility certificate. A man who wants Delhi Police must hold a valid LMV licence for both motorcycle and car on the day of the physical test; without it he can only be considered for the CAPFs. Class 10 pass ex-servicemen with 15 years' service can be considered only for the Delhi Police posts kept for ex-servicemen.^[1]

Paper-I is a one-hour computer-based test of 100 one-mark questions in four timed parts. SSC uses it to shortlist for the PST and PET, and it may set a different cut-off for each part.

The physical tests come next. Those who clear them sit Paper-II: 60 questions on reasoning, general knowledge and maths in one hour, then 100 English questions in a second hour. Paper-II shortlists for the medical, and the forces check your documents, preferably at the medical.

NCC certificate holders get bonus marks in each paper: 5% of the maximum marks for a 'C' certificate, 3% for 'B' and 2% for 'A'. There is no re-evaluation or re-checking of scores.^[1]

After the Paper-II result, SSC opens an online form where you rank the posts you want, using codes A to G: A Delhi Police, B BSF, C CISF, D CRPF, E ITBP, F SSB, G CISF Fire. The list is final once submitted, SSC won't consider you for a post you leave off, and if you miss the deadline you aren't considered for any post.

SSC then gives you the first post on your list that your Paper-II rank reaches and stops there. If you later fail that post's physical, medical or education standard, your candidature is rejected; SSC does not move you to your next choice. Put a post near the top only if you are sure you meet its standards.^[1]

The tie rule opens with candidates who have 'equal aggregate marks in Paper-I + Paper-II' and then breaks the tie on the Paper-II total, then English marks in Paper-II, then age (older first), then the alphabet. Para 16.8 says final selection rests on Paper-II alone; we quote both as printed.

New SIs serve two years' probation. During training they must pass seven obstacle events, including the Tarzan swing, the monkey crawl and the vertical rope, or they may not be kept in the force. Tattoos are allowed only within the notice's rules on content, place (inner left forearm or the back of the hand) and size.^[1]