SSC CPO 2026 Complete Guide: Official Status, Paper-I Calendar, PET Standards, Syllabus & Strategy

The Staff Selection Commission Central Police Organisations (SSC CPO) examination is the primary national pathway to enter the commissioned police and central armed forces officer cadres as a Sub-Inspector (SI). Selected candidates are appointed directly as Sub-Inspector (Executive) in Delhi Police or Sub-Inspector (General Duty) in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), comprising the Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).

For live application dates and vacancy notices, visit our dedicated SSC CPO 2026 Exam Hub. This guide provides the deep, comprehensive blueprint for aspirants: official eligibility rules, physical endurance benchmarks, medical examination protocols, a structured 5-month preparation timeline, recommended reading, daily routines, historical cutoffs, and career comparisons.

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1. SSC CPO 2026 — Current Calendar Status (October 1, 2026)

The Staff Selection Commission operates under an annual examination calendar published on ssc.gov.in:

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                        SSC CPO 2026 CALENDAR & STAGE TRACKER                      |
+------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------+
| Parameter                          | Official Calendar Milestone                  |
+------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------+
| Official Examination Title         | Sub-Inspector in Delhi Police and CAPFs      |
|                                    | Examination, 2026                            |
| Recruiting Body                    | Staff Selection Commission (SSC)             |
| Calendar Advertisement Window      | May 2026                                     |
| Calendar Application Close         | June 2026                                    |
| Tentative Paper-I Exam Window      | October–November 2026                        |
| Examination Mode                   | Computer-Based Test (CBT) across India       |
| Official Portal                    | ssc.gov.in                                   |
+------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------+

Candidates should regularly monitor ssc.gov.in for the release of the specific examination timetable, city intimation slips, and regional e-Admit Cards.

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2. Post Profiles, Participating Forces & Salary Scales

The SSC CPO examination recruits for two distinct operational wings of Indian law enforcement:

1. Sub-Inspector (Executive) in Delhi Police (Male & Female)

• Role: Premier metropolitan policing under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Handles investigation of heinous crimes, law and order, VIP security, and traffic administration across the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
• Pay Scale: Pay Level 6 (7th CPC: ₹35,400 to ₹1,12,400).
• Metro Allowances: Posted exclusively in Delhi (Class 'X' city), receiving 27% House Rent Allowance (HRA), Transport Allowance (₹3,600 + DA), and Ration Money Allowance.
• Gross Monthly Remuneration: Approximately ₹68,000 – ₹75,000/month.

2. Sub-Inspector (General Duty) in CAPFs

• Border Security Force (BSF): Guarding the Indo-Pakistan and Indo-Bangladesh borders, counter-transborder crime.
• Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF): Internal security, counter-insurgency operations in Jammu & Kashmir and LWE (Naxal-affected) states.
• Central Industrial Security Force (CISF): Security of airports, seaports, nuclear installations, Delhi Metro, and vital public sector undertakings.
• Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP): High-altitude border guarding along the Indo-China LAC from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh.
• Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB): Border surveillance along the open, friendly borders of Nepal and Bhutan.
• Pay Scale: Pay Level 6 (₹35,400 to ₹1,12,400). Classified as Group 'B' Non-Gazetted.
• Allowances: Entitled to Special Duty Allowance (SDA), High Altitude Allowance, Counter-Insurgency Allowance, or Risk & Hardship Allowance (up to ₹17,300/month in designated operational zones).

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3. Official Vacancies: Previous Cycle Reference (CPO 2025)

Vacancies fluctuate between examination cycles depending on cadre retirements and force expansion. For verified comparative baseline, the official SSC CPO 2025 notification declared 3,073 vacancies:

Delhi Police Sub-Inspector (Executive) — 212 Vacancies

Gender / Cadre	Open / General	Ex-Servicemen	Departmental	Total Vacancies
Male Candidates	101	18	23	142
Female Candidates	70	—	—	70
Delhi Police Total	171	18	23	212

CAPF Sub-Inspector (GD) — 2,861 Vacancies

Force	Male Vacancies	Female Vacancies	Total Force Vacancies
Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)	1,164	130	1,294
Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)	1,006	23	1,029
Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)	198	35	233
Border Security Force (BSF)	212	11	223
Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)	71	11	82
CAPF Aggregate Total	2,651	210	2,861

Official Reference Note: The 3,073 vacancies represent the verified baseline of the preceding cycle. Candidates must not treat this as a confirmed ceiling for 2026; official force-wise quotas are published directly in the 2026 advertisement.

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4. Eligibility Criteria

A. Educational Qualification

• General Requirement: A Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline from a recognized University or an equivalent qualification recognized by the Central Government.
• Crucial Date: Candidates must have acquired the degree on or before the crucial date stipulated in the notification.

B. Mandatory Driving Licence Rule (Delhi Police Male SIs Only)

• Male candidates applying for Sub-Inspector in Delhi Police must possess a valid Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) Driving Licence (Motorcycle and Car) on the date fixed for Physical Endurance and Measurement Tests (PE&MT).
• Learners Licence is not accepted.
• Exception: Male candidates without an LMV licence remain fully eligible for all CAPF Sub-Inspector posts. Female candidates do not require a driving licence.

C. Age Limits & Relaxations

• Age Window: 20 to 25 Years as on the prescribed crucial date.
• Permissible Upper Age Relaxations:
  • Scheduled Castes / Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST): 5 Years (Up to 30 Years).
  • Other Backward Classes (OBC): 3 Years (Up to 28 Years).
  • Ex-Servicemen (ESM): 3 Years after deduction of the military service rendered from the actual age.
  • Departmental Candidates (Delhi Police): Up to 30 Years (General), 33 Years (OBC), and 35 Years (SC/ST) for personnel with at least 3 years of regular and continuous service.
  • Widows / Divorced Women: Up to 35 Years (General) and 40 Years (SC/ST).

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

The physical assessment consists of two distinct hurdles: Physical Standard Test (PST) (measurements) and Physical Endurance Test (PET) (athletic events). Both are qualifying in nature; no marks are awarded, but failure in any event results in immediate disqualification.

A. Physical Standard Test (PST) — Height & Chest Measurements

Category of Candidate	Height (Min)	Chest (Unexpanded)	Chest (Expanded)
Male Candidates (General / OBC / SC)	170 cm	80 cm	85 cm (min 5 cm)
Male Candidates (Hill Areas: Garhwal, Kumaon, Himachal, Gorkhas, Dogras, Marathas, NE)	165 cm	80 cm	85 cm (min 5 cm)
Male Candidates (All Scheduled Tribes - ST)	162.5 cm	77 cm	82 cm (min 5 cm)
Female Candidates (General / OBC / SC)	157 cm	N/A	N/A
Female Candidates (Hill Areas)	155 cm	N/A	N/A
Female Candidates (All Scheduled Tribes - ST)	154 cm	N/A	N/A

B. Physical Endurance Test (PET) — Athletic Benchmarks

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                        OFFICIAL SSC CPO PET PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS                |
+----------------------+-----------------------------+------------------------------+
| Event                | Male Standards              | Female Standards             |
+----------------------+-----------------------------+------------------------------+
| 100 Metres Sprint    | 16 Seconds (Single Chance)  | 18 Seconds (Single Chance)   |
| Endurance Run        | 1.6 Kilometres in 6.5 Mins  | 800 Metres in 4.0 Minutes    |
| Long Jump            | 3.65 Metres (In 3 Chances)  | 2.70 Metres (In 3 Chances)   |
| High Jump            | 1.20 Metres (In 3 Chances)  | 0.90 Metres (In 3 Chances)   |
| Shot Put (16 Lbs)    | 4.50 Metres (In 3 Chances)  | Not Applicable               |
+----------------------+-----------------------------+------------------------------+

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6. Selection Process Architecture

The SSC CPO examination follows a strict 4-stage sequential filter:

graph TD
    A["Stage 1: Paper-I CBT (200 Marks)<br/>4 Sections: Reasoning, GK, Maths, English<br/>Shortlists for Physical Test"] --> B["Stage 2: PET / PST (Qualifying)<br/>Physical Standards & Endurance Run/Jumps<br/>Administered by CAPF Nodal Force"]
    B --> C["Stage 3: Paper-II CBT (200 Marks)<br/>English Language & Comprehension<br/>Mandatory for Merit Ranking"]
    C --> D["Stage 4: Detailed Medical Exam (DME)<br/>Review Medical Examination (RME) + DV<br/>Final Merit computed on 400 Marks"]

1. Paper-I (Computer-Based Examination): 200 Questions, 200 Marks, 2 Hours.
2. Physical Standard Test (PST) & Physical Endurance Test (PET): Conducted at CAPF centres across India.
3. Paper-II (Computer-Based Examination): 200 Questions, 200 Marks, 2 Hours (English Language only).
4. Detailed Medical Examination (DME): Conducted by medical boards designated by the Nodal CAPF authority.
5. Final Merit List: Computed out of 400 Marks (Paper-I 200 + Paper-II 200) + applicable NCC bonus marks.

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7. Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme

Stage I: Paper-I (Objective CBT — 200 Marks)

Part	Subject / Domain	Questions	Maximum Marks	Duration	Negative Marking
Part A	General Intelligence & Reasoning	50 MCQs	50 Marks	Combined 2 Hours	0.25 Mark per wrong answer
Part B	General Knowledge & General Awareness	50 MCQs	50 Marks	(120 Minutes)	0.25 Mark per wrong answer
Part C	Quantitative Aptitude	50 MCQs	50 Marks		0.25 Mark per wrong answer
Part D	English Comprehension	50 MCQs	50 Marks		0.25 Mark per wrong answer
Total	Full Paper-I Composite	200 MCQs	200 Marks	120 Minutes	1/4th Deduction

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Stage II: Paper-II (English Language & Comprehension — 200 Marks)

Subject / Domain	Number of Questions	Maximum Marks	Duration	Negative Marking
English Language & Comprehension	200 MCQs	200 Marks	2 Hours (120 Mins)	0.25 Mark per wrong answer

NCC Bonus Marks Scheme:

Candidates holding National Cadet Corps (NCC) certificates are awarded bonus marks added to their aggregate score in the final merit list:

• NCC 'C' Certificate: 10 Marks (5% of 200 marks in each paper).
• NCC 'B' Certificate: 6 Marks (3% of 200 marks in each paper).
• NCC 'A' Certificate: 4 Marks (2% of 200 marks in each paper).

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8. Detailed Sectional Syllabus Breakdown

General Intelligence & Reasoning (50 Marks)

• Analogies, semantic classification, symbolic/number operations.
• Space orientation, spatial visualization, Venn diagrams.
• Critical thinking, problem-solving, emotional intelligence, social intelligence.
• Coding and decoding, arithmetic reasoning, figural classification, arithmetic number series.
• Non-verbal series, statement-conclusion, syllogisms, drawing inferences.

General Knowledge & General Awareness (50 Marks)

• Current Affairs: National & international developments, summit declarations, defence pacts, internal security policies.
• Indian History: Ancient, Medieval, and Modern Indian freedom struggle.
• Geography: Physiography, drainage systems, climate patterns, mineral reserves, wildlife corridors.
• Indian Polity & Constitution: Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles, Parliamentary procedure, Emergency provisions.
• General Science: Everyday physics, chemistry, biology principles, and space/defence technology (DRDO, ISRO).

Quantitative Aptitude (50 Marks)

• Arithmetic: Number systems, fractions, percentages, ratio & proportion, square roots, averages, interest (simple & compound), profit & loss, discount, partnership, mixtures & alligation, time & distance, time & work.
• Algebra: Basic algebraic identities, graphs of linear equations.
• Geometry: Triangle properties, congruence, circle chords, tangents, angles subtended by chords.
• Mensuration: Triangle, quadrilaterals, regular polygons, circle, right prism, right circular cone, cylinder, sphere, hemisphere, rectangular parallelepiped.
• Trigonometry: Trigonometric ratios, degree and radian measures, standard identities, heights and distances.
• Statistical Charts: Histograms, frequency polygons, bar diagrams, pie charts.

English Language & Comprehension (Paper-I: 50 Marks & Paper-II: 200 Marks)

• Error Recognition: Identifying grammatical inconsistencies in complex sentences.
• Fill in the Blanks: Prepositions, conjunctions, modal auxiliaries, phrasal verbs.
• Vocabulary: Synonyms, antonyms, homonyms, idiomatic expressions, one-word substitutions.
• Sentence Improvement: Active and passive voice, direct and indirect speech (narration).
• Reading Comprehension: Multiple extended comprehension passages testing thematic understanding, factual recall, and contextual inferences.
• Cloze Tests & Para Jumbles: Discourse coherence and logical sequencing.

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9. Comprehensive 5-Month Preparation Plan

A structured 5-month preparation timeline allows candidates to master both academic papers and maintain athletic conditioning for the PET:

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                        5-MONTH INTEGRATED SSC CPO ROADMAP                         |
+-------------+------------------------------------+--------------------------------+
| Phase       | Academic Focus                     | Physical Training Routine      |
+-------------+------------------------------------+--------------------------------+
| Month 1     | Foundation: Arithmetic basics,     | Base Aerobics: 3 km slow jog,  |
|             | Verbal Reasoning & Grammar rules   | core calisthenics, flexibility |
+-------------+------------------------------------+--------------------------------+
| Month 2     | Core Concepts: Advanced Algebra,   | Speed Work: 100m sprint drills,|
|             | Geometry, NCERT GK & Vocabulary    | 1.6 km pacing (aim for 7 mins) |
+-------------+------------------------------------+--------------------------------+
| Month 3     | Sectional Speed: Timed sectional   | Technique: Long Jump & High    |
|             | tests, DI, Modern History, Polity  | Jump runway drills & landings  |
+-------------+------------------------------------+--------------------------------+
| Month 4     | Paper-II Intensive: Daily 4 RC     | Race Simulation: 1.6 km under  |
|             | passages, Cloze tests & Narration  | 6.5 mins, full shot-put throws |
+-------------+------------------------------------+--------------------------------+
| Month 5     | Full Mocks & Revision: 3 full CBT  | Maintenance: Tapering, injury  |
|             | mocks weekly, error analysis       | prevention & recovery drills   |
+-------------+------------------------------------+--------------------------------+

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10. Daily Study Routine for Aspirants

Balancing physical conditioning with intense academic preparation requires a disciplined daily routine:

Time Slot	Scheduled Focus	Activity & Objectives
05:30 AM – 07:00 AM	Physical Training (PET)	Dynamic stretching, 1.6 km timed run or interval sprinting, long jump / high jump practice.
07:30 AM – 09:00 AM	General Awareness	Daily current affairs notes, Lucent GK static chapter revision (Polity / History).
09:30 AM – 11:30 AM	Quantitative Aptitude	Solve 40–50 questions focusing on arithmetic or advance maths, analyzing shortcut methods.
11:45 AM – 01:00 PM	Reasoning Ability	Solve 30–40 high-yield reasoning questions (syllogisms, analogies, coding, paper folding).
02:30 PM – 04:30 PM	English Language (Paper-I & II)	Grammatical rule practice, 20 new vocabulary words, 2 comprehension passages, cloze test.
05:00 PM – 06:30 PM	Sectional Timed Quiz	Online timed sectional test on a specific weak area with strict negative marking discipline.
08:00 PM – 09:30 PM	Full Mock Test / Analysis	Full-length mock test or thorough error analysis of previous years' official papers.

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11. Recommended Reference Books

Subject / Component	Recommended Standard Text	Author / Publisher
General Intelligence & Reasoning	A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning	Dr. R.S. Aggarwal (S. Chand)
Quantitative Aptitude	Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations	Dr. R.S. Aggarwal / Abhinay Sharma
General Awareness	General Knowledge (Static & Dynamic)	Lucent Publications
English Grammar & Rules	English for General Competitions (Vol 1 & 2)	Neetu Singh (KD Publication)
English Vocabulary & Idioms	Word Power Made Easy / Objective General English	Norman Lewis / S.P. Bakshi
Previous Years Solved Papers	SSC CPO Chapterwise & Sectionwise Solved Papers	Kiran Prakashan / Youth Competition Times

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12. Common Preparation Mistakes to Avoid

1. Neglecting Physical Conditioning Until After Paper-I: The most common mistake is waiting for Paper-I results before starting running. Preparing for a 1.6 km run in 6.5 minutes and high jump requires at least 2–3 months of conditioning.
2. Treating Paper-II English as Secondary: Paper-II carries 200 marks, exactly equal to Paper-I. Since Paper-II scores are factored directly into final cadre and force allocation, scoring 160+ marks in English is essential for securing Delhi Police or CISF.
3. Overlooking the LMV Driving Licence Deadline: Male candidates frequently pass Paper-I and PET but are disqualified from Delhi Police selection because their driving licence was issued after the PET date or is only a learner's permit.
4. Wild Guessing Against Negative Marking: With 0.25 mark deducted per wrong response, attempting speculative answers in GK or Quant destroys normalized percentiles.
5. Ignoring SSC One-Time Registration (OTR) Data: Inaccurate photo/signature uploads or incorrect category details on the new ssc.gov.in portal cannot be altered post-application closing.

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13. Detailed Medical Examination (DME) & Review Medical Standards

Medical scrutiny for Sub-Inspector posts in CAPFs and Delhi Police is governed by the uniform revised medical guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA):

• Visual Standards: Distant vision must be 6/6 in the better eye and 6/9 in the worse eye without optical aids or glasses. Near vision must be N6 in the better eye and N9 in the worse eye.
• Color Perception: High color perception (CP-III) is mandatory; candidates must correctly identify Ishihara color plates. Color blindness is an absolute disqualification.
• Refractive Surgery / LASIK Policy: Surgical correction of refractive error (LASIK, PRK, SMILE) is subject to strict CAPF medical board guidelines regarding visual acuity, corneal flap healing, and elapsed duration post-surgery.
• Orthopedic & Structural Defects: Must be completely free from knock-knees, flat foot, cubitus valgus (carrying angle > 15 degrees in males and > 20 degrees in females), varicose veins, hammer toes, or stammering.
• Tattoos Policy: Permissible only on traditional sites (inner aspect of forearm or dorsum of hands) depicting religious symbols or figures, with size not exceeding 1/4th of the limb surface.
• Review Medical Board (RME): If declared unfit during DME, candidates have the right to appeal before a Review Medical Board within the prescribed timeline.

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14. SSC CPO vs. UPSC CAPF (Assistant Commandant)

Aspirants often evaluate both central security officer examinations:

+------------------------------------+--------------------------+--------------------------+
| Parameter                          | SSC CPO Sub-Inspector    | UPSC CAPF (AC)           |
+------------------------------------+--------------------------+--------------------------+
| Entry Rank                         | Sub-Inspector (SI)       | Assistant Commandant (AC)|
| Cadre Classification               | Group 'B' Non-Gazetted   | Group 'A' Gazetted       |
| Pay Matrix Level                   | Level 6 (₹35,400 basic)  | Level 10 (₹56,100 basic) |
| Exam Pattern                       | 2 Objective CBT Papers   | Paper 1 (MCQ) +          |
|                                    | (200 M each) + PET       | Paper 2 (Descriptive)    |
| Personal Interview                 | **No Interview**         | Personality Test (150 M) |
| Career Progression Ceiling         | ACP / DCP equivalent     | DIG / IG / ADG level     |
+------------------------------------+--------------------------+--------------------------+

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14. Historical Cut-Off Trends & Scoring Benchmarks

Understanding past qualifying thresholds aids in setting realistic target scores:

Paper-I Cut-Off for Shortlisting to PET/PST (Out of 200 Marks)

Category	Typical Male Cut-Off Range	Typical Female Cut-Off Range
Unreserved (UR)	138.0 – 145.5 Marks	143.0 – 149.0 Marks
Other Backward Classes (OBC)	131.0 – 138.5 Marks	137.0 – 143.5 Marks
Economically Weaker Section (EWS)	129.0 – 136.0 Marks	134.0 – 141.0 Marks
Scheduled Castes (SC)	110.0 – 118.0 Marks	115.0 – 122.0 Marks
Scheduled Tribes (ST)	104.0 – 112.5 Marks	109.0 – 116.0 Marks

Final Selection Cut-Off Range (Paper-I + Paper-II Out of 400 Marks)

Preferred Service Cadre	UR Cut-Off Range	OBC Cut-Off Range	SC/ST Cut-Off Range
Delhi Police SI (Male)	335.0 – 348.0 Marks	322.0 – 335.0 Marks	285.0 – 305.0 Marks
Delhi Police SI (Female)	320.0 – 332.0 Marks	308.0 – 320.0 Marks	270.0 – 290.0 Marks
CISF Sub-Inspector	315.0 – 328.0 Marks	302.0 – 315.0 Marks	265.0 – 285.0 Marks
CRPF / BSF / ITBP / SSB SI	275.0 – 295.0 Marks	262.0 – 282.0 Marks	230.0 – 255.0 Marks

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15. Official Direct Links

Resource	Official Destination
Staff Selection Commission Portal	ssc.gov.in
SSC Official Examination Calendar	ssc.gov.in/examination-calendar
SSC CPO Exam Hub on ExamDetail	ExamDetail SSC CPO Hub
Official Notice Board & Admit Cards	ssc.gov.in/notice-board

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Last Verified: October 1, 2026 | Sourced directly from official advertisements, examination calendars, and gazette service rules of the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) and Ministry of Home Affairs.