SSC CPO 2026 Notification Out, 1871 SI Vacancies, Exam Date, Eligibility, Syllabus & Pattern

The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has released the SSC CPO 2026 Notification for recruitment to Sub-Inspector posts in Delhi Police, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and the newly introduced Sub-Inspector (Fire) post in CISF. A total of 1,871 tentative vacancies have been announced for SSC CPO 2026.

The online application process started on 10 September 2026, and eligible candidates can submit their applications through the official SSC website until 30 September 2026. The last date to pay the application fee is 1 October 2026, while the application correction window will be available from 8 to 10 October 2026.

The SSC CPO 2026 recruitment is different from the previous cycle in several important ways. SSC has revised the examination pattern, introduced sectional timing, changed the structure of Paper-II and added SI (Fire) in CISF as a new post.

SSC CPO 2026 Notification PDF

SSC has released the official SSC CPO Notification PDF along with application forms, announcing 1871 vacancies for Sub-Inspector (Executive) (Male/Female) in Delhi Police and Sub-Inspector in the Central Armed Police Forces. The notification PDF can be downloaded from the direct link below. 

SSC CPO Official Notification 2026 PDF- Click to Download

SSC CPO 2026 Exam Summary

What's New in SSC CPO 2026?

• SI Fire in CISF added as a post
• Revised Paper-I exam pattern: Paper-I now consists of 100 questions for 100 marks, with 25 questions from each of the four sections. The total duration is 1 hour, with a 15-minute sectional timer for each part.
• Paper-II also has sectional timing: Paper-II consists of 200 questions for 200 marks and has a total duration of 1 hour. Each of the first three sections has 20 questions, while English Comprehension has 100 questions.
• Different negative marking for Paper-I and Paper-II
• NCC bonus marks continue in both papers

Read More to know in detail- 7 Major Changes in SSC CPO 2026

SSC CPO 2026 Important Dates

The online registration dates for the SSC CPO 2026 (Sub Inspector in Delhi Police and CAPFs) have been notified with the release of the official notification. The window to submit the application is open from 10th to 30th September 2026. 

SSC CPO Vacancy 2026

As expected, a total of 1871 vacancies for Sub Inspector (Executive) in Delhi Police and Sub Inspector (General Duty) in CAPFs under the Sub-Inspector in Delhi Police and Central Armed Police Forces Examination, 2026, have been released along with the notification. 

Sub-Inspector (GD) in CAPFs

Sub-Inspector (Exe.) in Delhi Police-Male

Sub-Inspector (Exe.) in Delhi Police-Female

Sub-Inspector (Fire) in CISF-Male

How many security units are the part pf Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF)?

The Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) comprises of seven security units in India under the Ministry of Home Affairs that handle internal and border security. The 7 forces are CISF, BSF, SSB, CRPF, ITBP, Assam Rifles, NSG.

SSC CPO Year-wise Vacancy Trend

Check the previous years' vacancy trends from the table below.

Educational Qualification and Age Limit

SSC CPO SI Educational Qualification

For the post of Sub Inspector (GD) in Delhi Police & CAPFs- A candidate must have Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline from a recognised University.

For the post of Sub Inspector (Executive) in Delhi Police (Males only), male candidates must possess a valid driving licence for LMV (motorcycle and car) as of the date fixed for physical endurance and standard tests. Otherwise, they will not be allowed to undergo physical endurance and standard tests.

For SI Fire in CISF- A bachelor's degree in science with physics, chemistry and mathematics from a recognised university or equivalent; OR

Matriculation or equivalent along with a three-year diploma in mechanical, civil, electrical, automobile, chemical, mining, aeronautical or telecommunication engineering, or an equivalent qualification from a recognised university/board/institution.

SSC CPO SI Age Limit (as on 01/08/2026)

For all SSC CPO posts except SI Fire in CISF, the age limit is:

• Minimum Age Limit – 20 years
• Maximum Age Limit – 25 years
• Candidates must have not born earlier than August 2, 2001 and not later than August 1, 2006.

For SI Fire in CISF, the age limit is:

• Minimum Age Limit – 18 years
• Maximum Age Limit – 30 years

SSC CPO Age Relaxation:

SSC CPO SI Nationality/ Citizenship

A candidate must be either:

• Indian citizen or
• A subject of Nepal or Bhutan.
• Candidates from Nepal or Bhutan must have the required certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India.

SSC CPO 2026 Selection Process

The selection process has four stages. First, candidates will take Paper 1, a Computer-Based Test (CBT). Then, they must pass the Physical Standard Test (PST) and Physical Efficiency Test (PET). Next is Paper 2, another computer-based test (CBT), which is English comprehension. Finally, candidates who clear all previous stages will undergo a Detailed Medical Examination (DME). Each stage must be cleared to move to the next one.

New Exam Pattern

SSC has revised the exam pattern for both Paper 1 and Paper 2 of the SSC CPO (Sub-Inspector) exam. Paper I now consists of 100 questions for 100 marks, with 25 questions from each of the four sections. The sectional timing is introduced in both Paper 1 and Paper 2. Check the detailed pattern below.

Key Pointers: 

1. Questions asked in both Paper 1 and Paper 2 will be of the objective multiple-choice type.
2. Questions asked in Paper 1 will be bilingual, i.e., in both Hindi and English, except for the English subject.
3. 0.25 marks will be deducted for each incorrect answer marked by a candidate in Paper 1, while 0.50 marks will be deducted in Paper 2.

Negative Marking

• Paper-I: 0.25 marks for every wrong answer
• Paper-II: 0.50 marks for every wrong answer

SSC CPO 2026 Minimum Qualifying Marks

The minimum qualifying marks, without adding NCC bonus marks, are:

SSC CPO 2026 NCC Bonus Marks

Candidates holding valid NCC certificates can receive bonus marks in both Paper-I and Paper-II.

Online Application Form

The SSC CPO 2026 application form is available online through the SSC website from 10th to 30th September 2026. Candidates must first complete their One-Time Registration (OTR) on the new SSC website. The OTR created on the old SSC website will not be functional on the new website.

Applications can be submitted through the SSC website or the mySSC mobile application.

SSC CPO Apply Online 2026- Click to Apply

Application Form

Mode of Payment- Online only (Net-Banking, Credit/Debit cards and BHIM, UPI, etc)

• The SSC CPO application fee is ₹100.
• Women candidates and candidates belonging to SC, ST and eligible Ex-Servicemen categories are exempted from payment of the application fee.
• The payment of the application fee can be made only through online payment modes such as Net-Banking, Credit/Debit cards and BHIM, UPI etc.

Documents Required for SSC CPO 2026 Application

1. Aadhaar/Valid Identity Details
2. Class 10/Matriculation Certificate
3. Graduation Certificate/Degree
4. Graduation Marksheets
5. Category Certificate
6. PwBD Certificate
7. Ex-Servicemen Documents
8. Driving Licence
9. Scanned Signature
10. Photograph (Recent)
11. Active Mobile Number
12. Active Email ID
13. NCC Certificate

How to Apply for SSC CPO Recruitment 2026?

1. Go to the official SSC website at ssc.gov.in and open the application section.
2. Candidates who have not registered on the new SSC website must first complete their OTR using the required personal, contact and identification details.
3. After completing OTR, log in using the registered credentials.
4. Find the Sub-Inspector in Delhi Police and Central Armed Police Forces Examination, 2026 and click on the Apply option.
5. Fill in the required details, including:
   Personal information
   Educational qualification
   Category
   Nationality
   Address
   Examination centre preferences
   Post/force preferences
   Other applicable details
6. Complete Photograph and Signature Requirements. Candidates should ensure that the photograph and signature meet the prescribed requirements before submitting the application.
7.  Pay the Application Fee through online payment modes such as Net Banking, Credit/Debit Card and BHIM UPI.
8. Check all details carefully before final submission. Pay particular attention to name, date of birth, category, educational qualification and post/force preference.
9. Submit the application form and save/download a copy of the completed application and payment confirmation for future reference.

SSC CPO Application Correction Window

SSC will provide a correction window from 8th to 10th October 2026, up to 11:00 PM. Candidates can correct and resubmit the application up to two times during the correction window.

The correction charges are:

• First correction: Rs. 200
• Second correction: Rs. 500

These charges apply to all candidates irrespective of gender or category.

Exam Syllabus

Paper-1 and 2 will consist of four main sections: Reasoning, General Studies (GS), English, and Mathematics. Let’s take a look at the detailed syllabus for all these four sections:

SSC CPO Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2026- Click to Check

SSC CPO Salary Structure

Here is the salary and pay scale for SSC CPO Sub Inspector in Delhi Police and CAPF. The pay scale is according to the 7th Pay Commission. Candidates selected will receive a salary as per the government norms.

SSC CPO Previous Year Question Paper - Click to Check

SSC CPO Post and Force Preference

Candidates have to submit their preferences for posts/forces in order of priority. The available codes are

SSC CPO 2026 Preparation Tips

Candidates preparing for SSC CPO 2026 should plan their preparation according to the revised exam pattern.

1. Understand the new sectional timing: Paper-I has only one hour with a 15-minute timer for each section. Candidates should practise solving each section within the prescribed time instead of relying on extra time from another section.

2. Give extra attention to English for Paper-II: English Comprehension carries 200 out of 200 marks in Paper-II through 100 questions. Candidates should therefore devote substantial preparation time to English.

3. Practise with the revised pattern: Candidates should use mock tests that follow the new 100-question Paper-I and 200-question Paper-II structure.

4. Prepare for the physical stage early: PST/PET is qualifying in nature, but candidates must clear it to continue in the recruitment process. Physical preparation should therefore begin well before the examination.

5. Keep documents ready: Candidates should ensure that their educational, category, age-relaxation and other relevant documents are available and accurate.

6. Check post preferences carefully: Post/force preference is final and irreversible. Candidates should research the posts and forces before submitting their preferences.

SSC CPO Previous Year Cut Off

The SSC CPO Cut-Off 2026 will be released after the examination of each phase is complete, along with the SSC CPO Result. The cut-off for Paper-1 will be released first, followed by the cut-off for Paper-2. Candidates can evaluate their chances of clearing SSC CPO 2026 by matching their score with the previous year's cut-off marks list released by SSC. To get a better insight into the SSC CPO Cut-Off, let’s have a look at the SSC CPO Previous Year Paper-I Cut-Off for male and female candidates.

SSC CPO Previous Year Paper-I Cut Off:

SSC CPO Cut Off [Previous Year]- Click to Check

SSC CPO 2026 Admit Card

The SSC CPO Admit Card 2026 will be released separately for the different stages of the examination. Candidates who successfully submit their application and are eligible to appear in the examination will be able to download their admit card from the SSC website. The admit card is an important document and contains the details required to appear for the examination.

SSC CPO 2026 Result  & Answer Key

The SSC CPO Answer Key will be released by the Staff Selection Commission after the respective computer-based examination. SSC generally provides candidates with access to the provisional answer key along with their response sheet/question paper. The answer key allows candidates to compare their responses with the official answers and calculate their probable score.

The SSC CPO Result 2026 will be released separately for the different stages of the recruitment process. Since SSC CPO involves Paper-I, PET/PST, Paper-II and Detailed Medical Examination, candidates should track the result and qualifying status at every stage.

SSC CPO Paper 1 Result: The Paper-I result will identify candidates who qualify for the next stage, subject to the applicable cut-off and selection rules.

SSC CPO PET/PST Result: Candidates shortlisted from Paper-I will appear for the Physical Standard Test and Physical Endurance Test. Candidates who qualify the physical stage will proceed to the next stage as per SSC's recruitment rules.

SSC CPO Paper-II Result: Candidates who qualify the applicable earlier stages will appear for Paper-II, which focuses on English Comprehension under the revised 2026 pattern.

SSC CPO Final Result: The final result will be prepared after completion of the applicable selection stages, including the medical examination and other prescribed requirements.