SSC CPO is the exam through which the Staff Selection Commission recruits Sub-Inspectors for Delhi Police and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs). The SSC CPO 2026 Notification was released on 10 September 2026 with 1,871 tentative vacancies, and Paper-I is scheduled from 20 to 28 November 2026.
Applications have closed. If you applied, the next five weeks decide whether you reach the physical test. Below are the confirmed figures from the official notice, what changed this year, and how to use the time left.
SSC CPO 2026 Notification – Latest Updates
| Event | Date / Status |
| Notification released | 10 September 2026 |
| Online application | 10–30 September 2026 (closed) |
| Last date for fee payment | 1 October 2026 (closed) |
| Correction window | 8–10 October 2026 (closed) |
| Paper-I (Computer Based Exam) | 20–28 November 2026 (SSC exam schedule, 1 Oct 2026) |
| City slip / admit card | Expected about 10 days / 2–3 days before the exam (notice paras 13.4, 13.6); exact dates awaited |
| PST/PET, Paper-II, medical | Awaited |
Three changes stand out this year: a new post of Sub-Inspector (Fire) in CISF for men, a revised pattern for both papers (Paper-II now tests four subjects instead of English alone), and 0.50 negative marking in Paper-II, up from 0.25 in the 2025 cycle. Read the full notice on the SSC website.
SSC CPO 2026 Vacancy Details
| Post | Vacancies |
| SI (Executive), Delhi Police – Male | 205 |
| SI (Executive), Delhi Police – Female | 112 |
| SI (GD), CAPFs (1,173 male + 147 female) | 1,320 |
| SI (Fire), CISF – Male | 234 |
| Total | 1,871 |
Among CAPFs, BSF has the most posts (457), followed by CRPF (254), CISF (250), ITBP (187) and SSB (172). These are tentative and can change. CAPF posts carry all-India service liability; Delhi Police SI posts do not.
SSC CPO 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
For Delhi Police SI and CAPF SI (GD), you need a bachelor’s degree in any discipline. Final-year students could apply only if their result was declared by 30 September 2026.
SI (Fire) in CISF needs a B.Sc. with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, or Class 10 plus a three-year engineering diploma (Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, Automobile, Chemical, Mining, Aeronautical or Telecom).
Male candidates choosing Delhi Police must hold a valid LMV licence for both motorcycle and car on the date of the physical test. Without it, they are considered for CAPFs only.
Age Limit and Relaxation
Age is counted as on 1 August 2026.
| Post | Age limit | Date of birth range |
| All posts except SI (Fire) | 20–25 years | 2 Aug 2001 – 1 Aug 2006 |
| SI (Fire), CISF | 18–30 years | 2 Aug 1996 – 1 Aug 2008 |
Upper-age relaxation is 5 years for SC/ST and 3 years for OBC. Ex-servicemen get 3 years after deducting military service. For Delhi Police only, widowed, divorced or judicially separated women who have not remarried can apply up to 35 (40 for SC/ST).
Nationality Requirements
You must be an Indian citizen or a subject of Nepal or Bhutan. Nepal and Bhutan subjects need a Government of India eligibility certificate before appointment.
SSC CPO Physical Standards and PET
The PST and PET carry no marks, but failing either ends your candidature.
Height and Chest Requirements
| Category | Male height | Male chest (unexpanded–expanded) | Female height |
| General | 170 cm | 80–85 cm | 157 cm |
| Hill areas (incl. Himachal, Garhwal, Kumaon, Dogras, Kashmir Valley, Leh & Ladakh, North-East, Sikkim) | 165 cm | 80–85 cm | 155 cm |
| Scheduled Tribes | 162.5 cm | 77–82 cm | 154 cm |
Two details many aspirants miss. SI (Fire) applicants need a chest of 81–86 cm. In CAPFs, Gorkha men and North-Eastern ST men need 157 cm. Any relaxation requires a certificate in the prescribed format from your district authority, so arrange it early.
Physical Endurance Test Requirements
| Event | Men | Women |
| 100 m race | 16 seconds | 18 seconds |
| Long race | 1.6 km in 6.5 minutes | 800 m in 4 minutes |
| Long jump (3 chances) | 3.65 m | 2.7 m |
| High jump (3 chances) | 1.2 m | 0.9 m |
| Shot put, 16 lbs (3 chances) | 4.5 m | Not applicable |
The medical test checks distant vision of 6/6 and 6/9 without glasses or corrective surgery, and rules out knock knee, flat foot, varicose veins and squint.
SSC CPO 2026 Exam Pattern and Selection Process
| Paper | Sections | Questions / Marks | Time | Negative marking |
| Paper-I | Reasoning, GK, Quant, English | 100 / 100 (25 each) | 1 hour, 15-minute timer per section | 0.25 |
| Paper-II | Reasoning, GK, Quant (20 Qs, 40 marks each) + English (100 Qs, 200 marks) | 160 / 320 | 2 hours (20 min per section for the first three; 1 hour for English) | 0.50 |
The stages run Paper-I, PST/PET, Paper-II, then medical and document verification. Final selection and post allocation are based on Paper-II marks, along with your post preferences. Paper-I only shortlists you for the physical test.
Minimum qualifying marks are 30% (UR), 25% (OBC/EWS) and 20% (others). NCC ‘C’, ‘B’ and ‘A’ certificate holders get bonus marks of 5%, 3% and 2% in both papers. The notice also says Paper-II will be tougher than Paper-I.
How to Prepare for SSC CPO 2026
Build a Subject-Wise Study Plan
With about five weeks left, balance matters more than one strong subject. The sectional timer stops you from borrowing time, and SSC can set part-wise cut-offs in Paper-I. Here is a week-by-week plan up to the exam window:
| Week | Dates | Written preparation | Fitness |
| 1 | 15–21 Oct | Take one full mock; list your two weakest topics per section | Start 3 runs a week |
| 2 | 22–28 Oct | Quant (percentage, ratio, averages, profit and loss) and Reasoning weak topics; static GK (polity, history, geography) | Add short sprints |
| 3 | 29 Oct–4 Nov | English error spotting, fill-in-the-blanks, vocabulary; current affairs from April to October 2026 | Jump drills twice a week |
| 4 | 5–11 Nov | Full mock every alternate day with the 15-minute timer; error log | Timed 1.6 km / 800 m trial |
| 5 | 12–19 Nov | Revise notes and formulas; mocks at your exam shift time; download admit card | Light runs only |
Practise Previous-Year Papers and Mock Tests
Old CPO papers still show which topics repeat, but their timing no longer applies. Practise in 15-minute blocks per section. With 0.25 negative marking, attempt a doubtful question only if you can eliminate two options. Spend as long reviewing each mock as you spent taking it.
Improve Physical Fitness Alongside Written Preparation
PET follows the Paper-I result, which leaves little time later. Start now with three or four runs a week, building towards the 1.6 km or 800 m target, plus short sprints and jump drills. If you want Delhi Police, apply for your LMV licence now.
Paper-II gives English 200 of 320 marks, so keep 30 minutes of daily English reading even during Paper-I revision.
If you want structured guidance for both the written and physical stages, explore Paramount’s SSC CPO coaching in Chandigarh.
Frequently Asked Questions About SSC CPO 2026
Can I still apply for SSC CPO 2026?
No. Applications closed on 30 September 2026, and the correction window ended on 10 October.
Do Paper-I marks count in the final merit?
No. Paper-I shortlists candidates for PST/PET. Final selection uses Paper-II marks, including any NCC bonus.
Can women apply for SI (Fire) in CISF?
No, it is for male candidates only. Women can apply for Delhi Police SI and CAPF SI (GD).
Is there an exam centre in Chandigarh?
Yes. Chandigarh/Mohali is a listed centre under SSC’s North Western Region, along with Shimla, Jammu, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Patiala and Bathinda.
Who needs a driving licence?
Only male candidates who want Sub-Inspector posts in Delhi Police.
Conclusion
The SSC CPO 2026 Notification has changed both papers, and Paper-I is only weeks away. Download your admit card when it appears, practise with the new sectional timer, and start PET training now. Check ssc.gov.in regularly, as PST/PET and Paper-II dates are still awaited. For other upcoming exams, see our guide to upcoming SSC exams 2026.