Eligible candidates holding a Bachelor’s degree or relevant technical qualifications can register online through the official portal from September 10, 2026, to September 30, 2026. Below is a comprehensive guide detailing the selection process, structural vacancy breakdown, eligibility parameters, physical fitness standards, and step-by-step application instructions.

SSC CPO Recruitment 2026: Key Overview

Important Dates

Candidates preparing for the SSC CPO 2026 examination should carefully note the critical events and registration timeline:

• Official Notification Release & Application Start Date: September 10, 2026
• Last Date to Submit Online Application: September 30, 2026 (Up to 23:00 hrs)
• Last Date for Online Fee Payment: October 01, 2026
• Application Form Correction Window: October 08, 2026 to October 10, 2026

SSC CPO Vacancy Breakdown 2026

The total distribution of 2,861 vacancies is categorized across specific departments and gender categories as follows:

1. Sub-Inspector (Executive) in Delhi Police

• Male Candidates: 205 Posts (Open: 184, Ex-Servicemen: 12, Ex-Servicemen Special Category: 9)
• Female Candidates: 112 Posts (UR: 47, OBC: 30, SC: 16, ST: 8, EWS: 11)

2. Sub-Inspector (GD) in Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs)

• Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF): Male – 225 | Female – 29 | Total: 254
• Border Security Force (BSF): Male – 435 | Female – 22 | Total: 457
• Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP): Male – 159 | Female – 28 | Total: 187
• Central Industrial Security Force (CISF): Male – 200 | Female – 50 | Total: 250
• Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB): Male – 154 | Female – 18 | Total: 172
• Total CAPF Vacancies: Male – 1,173 | Female – 147 | Grand Total: 1,320

3. Sub-Inspector (Fire) in CISF (Male Only)

• Total Vacancies: 234 Posts (UR: 74, OBC: 75, SC: 52, ST: 16, EWS: 17)

Eligibility Criteria

1. Educational Qualifications

• For SI in Delhi Police & CAPFs (GD): Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline from a recognized university or equivalent institution. Candidates appearing in their final year of graduation are eligible provided they acquire the essential qualification on or before September 30, 2026.
• For SI (Fire) in CISF: A Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics, OR a 3-year Diploma in specified engineering streams (Mechanical, Electrical, Automobile, Chemical, Civil, Mining, etc.) from a recognized institution.
• Mandatory Driving License (Delhi Police SI – Male): Male candidates applying for SI in Delhi Police must hold a valid Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) Driving License (Motorcycle and Car) on the date fixed for Physical Endurance and Measurement Tests (PE&MT). A driving license is not required for CAPF posts.

2. Age Limit (As of August 01, 2026)

• For SI in Delhi Police & CAPFs: 20 to 25 years (Candidates born between August 02, 2001, and August 01, 2006).
• For SI (Fire) in CISF: 18 to 30 years (Candidates born between August 02, 1996, and August 01, 2008).
• Age Relaxation: Standard upper-age relaxations apply for reserved categories: SC/ST candidates get 5 years, OBC candidates get 3 years, Ex-Servicemen receive 3 years deduction post-military service, and specific relaxations exist for departmental candidates and widowed/divorced women as per rules.

Physical Standards Test (PST) & Physical Endurance Test (PET)

Physical fitness assessment is a qualifying stage and mandatory for progression to the subsequent phases of the examination.

Physical Standards (PST)

• General Male Candidates: Height: 170 cm | Chest: 80 cm (unexpanded) – 85 cm (expanded)
• Male Candidates from Hill Areas: Height: 165 cm | Chest: 80-85 cm
• ST Male Candidates: Height: 162.5 cm | Chest: 77-82 cm
• General Female Candidates: Height: 157 cm
• Female Candidates from Hill Areas: Height: 155 cm
• ST Female Candidates: Height: 154 cm

Physical Endurance Test (PET)

• Male Candidates:
  • 100-meter race in 16 seconds
  • 1.6 km race in 6.5 minutes
  • Long Jump: 3.65 meters (in 3 chances)
  • High Jump: 1.2 meters (in 3 chances)
  • Shot Put (16 lbs): 4.5 meters (in 3 chances)
• Female Candidates:
  • 100-meter race in 18 seconds
  • 800-meter race in 4 minutes
  • Long Jump: 2.7 meters (in 3 chances)
  • High Jump: 0.9 meters (in 3 chances)

Selection Process & Examination Pattern

The recruitment process comprises four major sequential stages:

1. Stage 1: Paper-I (Computer-Based Test)

   Consists of 100 Objective MCQs for 100 marks with a total duration of 1 hour (featuring 15-minute sectional timers).

   • General Intelligence & Reasoning: 25 Qs / 25 Marks
   • General Knowledge & Awareness: 25 Qs / 25 Marks
   • Quantitative Aptitude: 25 Qs / 25 Marks
   • English Comprehension: 25 Qs / 25 Marks
   • Negative Marking: 0.25 marks deducted per wrong response.
2. Stage 2: Physical Standard Test (PST) & Physical Endurance Test (PET)

   Qualifying in nature. Marks obtained here are not added to the final merit list.

3. Stage 3: Paper-II (Computer-Based Test)

   Consists of 4 sections designed to evaluate analytical and English language skills.

   • Part I: General Intelligence & Reasoning (20 Qs / 40 Marks)
   • Part II: General Knowledge & Awareness (20 Qs / 40 Marks)
   • Part III: Quantitative Aptitude (20 Qs / 40 Marks)
   • Part IV: English Comprehension (100 Qs / 200 Marks)
   • Negative Marking: 0.50 marks deducted per wrong response.
4. Stage 4: Detailed Medical Examination (DME) & Document Verification (DV)

   Conducted by military/government medical officers to confirm physical fitness, accompanied by final document verification.

NCC Bonus Marks: Holders of NCC certificates receive incentive marks in both Paper-I and Paper-II (NCC ‘C’ Certificate: 5% bonus; NCC ‘B’: 3% bonus; NCC ‘A’: 2% bonus).

Application Fee & Payment Methods

• Standard Application Fee: Rs. 100/-
• Exempted Categories: Women candidates, Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Ex-Servicemen (ESM) are exempt from fee payment.
• Payment Modes: Debit Card, Credit Card, or Net Banking.
• Correction Charges: Rs. 200/- for the first modification; Rs. 500/- for the second modification during the correction window (October 08–10, 2026).

How to Apply Online for SSC CPO Recruitment 2026

1. Visit the official portal at ssc.gov.in.
2. Locate the notification link for Sub-Inspector in Delhi Police and CAPFs Examination, 2026.
3. Carefully review the eligibility parameters and requirements in the official PDF notice.
4. Complete the One-Time Registration (OTR) or log in using existing credentials via the official portal.
5. Fill in the personal details, educational qualifications, and post preferences without errors.
6. Upload scanned copies of required certificates, photographs, and signatures adhering to specified dimension limits.
7. Pay the application fee of Rs. 100 online (if applicable).
8. Review all submitted parameters, finalize the submission, and download a printout of the completed form for future reference.

Important Links

• Official Notification PDF: Download SSC CPO 2026 Notification
• Online Application Portal: Apply Online Link
• Official Portal: ssc.gov.in