SSC CPO 2026: complete exam guide
SSC CPO 2026: about 1,871 SI posts in Delhi Police, CAPFs and CISF. Notification, dates, new exam pattern, PET/PST, eligibility, salary, cut-off.
Updated 22 October 2026
SSC CPO at a glance
- Conducting body
- Staff Selection Commission (SSC)
- Posts
- SI (Exe.) Delhi Police; SI (GD) in BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, SSB; SI (Fire) in CISF
- Tentative vacancies (2026)
- ~1,871 (317 Delhi Police, 1,320 CAPF GD, 234 CISF Fire)
- Notification date
- 10-09-2026
- Application window
- 10-09-2026 to 30-09-2026
- Qualification
- Bachelor's degree (SI Fire: B.Sc. PCM or Class 10 + 3-year diploma)
- Age limit (as on 01-08-2026)
- 20–25 years; SI (Fire) 18–30 years
- Selection process
- Paper-I → PST/PET → Paper-II → Detailed Medical Examination
- Written papers
- Paper-I: 100 Q / 100 marks; Paper-II: 160 Q / 320 marks (online)
- Pay scale
- Pay Level-6 (₹35,400 – ₹1,12,400)
What is SSC CPO?
SSC CPO is the Staff Selection Commission's recruitment exam for Sub-Inspectors in the Delhi Police, the Central Armed Police Forces (BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP and SSB) and, this cycle, Sub-Inspector (Fire) in CISF. Every post sits in Pay Level-6 (₹35,400 – ₹1,12,400), and the job comes with a supervisory, uniformed role from day one.
SSC CPO 2026 at a glance
The 2026 notice was published on 10-09-2026. Online forms were accepted from 10-09-2026 to 30-09-2026, and the Commission has listed roughly 1,871 tentative vacancies:
| Post | Tentative vacancies |
|---|---|
| SI (Executive), Delhi Police | 317 |
| SI (GD) in CAPFs | 1,320 |
| SI (Fire), CISF | 234 |
| Total (approx.) | 1,871 |
The Paper-I date has not been announced yet. Full dates, fee and vacancy splits are on the SSC CPO notification page.
Who can apply?
Graduates aged 20–25 years (as on 01-08-2026) can apply for SI (Executive) and SI (GD). SI (Fire) in CISF has a wider band of 18–30 years and needs a B.Sc. with Physics, Chemistry and Maths, or Class 10 plus a three-year engineering diploma. See SSC CPO eligibility for relaxations and physical standards.
Selection stages
- Paper-I – computer-based test, 100 questions for 100 marks in 1 hour.
- PST/PET – physical standard and endurance tests (qualifying only).
- Paper-II – computer-based test, 160 questions for 320 marks.
- Detailed Medical Examination, followed by document verification.
Final merit is drawn from the combined Paper-I and Paper-II scores. The 2026 pattern is quite different from earlier cycles, so read the SSC CPO exam pattern before you plan your preparation.