SSC CPO SI 2026 — Sub-Inspector Delhi Police & CAPF

What is SSC CPO?

SSC CPO (Central Police Organisations) is one of the most sought-after exams conducted by the Staff Selection Commission. It recruits Sub-Inspectors for Delhi Police and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) — BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, SSB — and also Assistant Sub-Inspectors for CISF.

A career through SSC CPO means a uniformed central government job with real responsibility, structured career growth, and a salary that puts you in the top tier of government employment at the graduate level.

Posts and Organizations

Each organization has its own posting patterns, promotional channels, and working conditions. Delhi Police SI is a popular choice as it is mostly city-based posting. BSF/CRPF/ITBP/SSB involve border and conflict-zone deployments.

Vacancy Details 2026

Exact category-wise vacancy will be published in the official notification.

Eligibility Criteria

Age Limit

• Minimum: 20 years
• Maximum: 25 years (as on June 30, 2026)

Age Relaxation:

Educational Qualification

• Bachelor's Degree in any discipline from a recognised university
• Final year students who will complete degree before the cut-off date may also apply (subject to notification confirmation)

Physical Standards

For Male Candidates:

• Height: 170 cm (165 cm for candidates from hilly areas, SC/ST)
• Chest: 80 cm (unexpanded) — 85 cm (expanded), minimum expansion 5 cm

For Female Candidates:

• Height: 157 cm (152 cm for candidates from hilly areas, SC/ST)
• Weight: Proportionate to height as per medical standards

Special Requirements for Delhi Police SI (Male)

• Must possess a valid motor driving licence for Light Motor Vehicle at the time of document verification

Salary and Pay Scale

Monthly Take-Home (approximate):

Additional perks: CGHS medical facility, NPS pension, leave encashment, uniform allowance (for uniformed posts), free rail pass, and canteen facility.

Application Fee

Fee payment accepted online through the SSC portal (UPI, Net Banking, Debit/Credit Card).

Selection Process

Stage 1 — Paper I (Computer Based Test)

• Duration: 2 hours (2 hours 40 minutes for PwBD)
• Negative Marking: 0.25 marks per wrong answer

Stage 2 — PET & PST

Physical Endurance Test (qualifying):

Physical Standard Test: Height, Chest measurement, and Weight check.

Stage 3 — Paper II (Computer Based Test)

• Duration: 2 hours
• Negative Marking: 0.25 marks per wrong answer
• Focus areas: Reading Comprehension, Grammar, Vocabulary, Error Spotting, Para Jumbles

Stage 4 — Medical Examination

Final medical check covering:

• Vision standards (near and distant)
• Colour blindness test
• Overall physical fitness as per MHA standards

Exam Pattern & Syllabus

Paper I Syllabus

General Intelligence & Reasoning: Analogies, Similarities & Differences, Space Visualization, Spatial Orientation, Problem Solving, Analysis, Judgment, Decision Making, Visual Memory, Discrimination, Observation, Relationship Concepts, Arithmetical Reasoning, Figural Classification, Arithmetic Number Series, Non-Verbal Series, Coding and Decoding, Statement Conclusion, Syllogistic Reasoning

General Knowledge & General Awareness: Questions on India and its neighbouring countries, Sports, History, Culture, Geography, Economic Scene, General Polity, Indian Constitution, Scientific Research, Current Events (last 6 months)

Quantitative Aptitude: Number Systems, Computation of Whole Numbers, Decimals and Fractions, Percentages, Ratio & Proportion, Square Roots, Averages, Interest (Simple & Compound), Profit & Loss, Discount, Partnership, Mixture and Alligation, Time and Distance, Time & Work, Basic Algebra, Geometry (Triangles, Circles), Mensuration, Trigonometry, Statistical Charts

English Comprehension: English Language basics, Vocabulary, Grammar, Sentence Structure, Synonyms/Antonyms, Fill in the Blanks, Error Spotting, Reading Comprehension

Paper II Syllabus (English)

• Reading Comprehension (passages)
• Cloze Test
• Grammar rules — Tenses, Voice, Narration, Prepositions, Articles
• Vocabulary — Synonyms, Antonyms, One-word Substitution, Idioms & Phrases
• Sentence Rearrangement (Para Jumbles)
• Error Identification / Sentence Improvement
• Fill in the Blanks

Important Dates 2026

How to Apply Online

1. Visit ssc.gov.in
2. Click on Apply → SSC CPO 2026
3. Complete one-time registration if new user (Aadhaar-based OTP verification)
4. Log in with Registration Number and Date of Birth
5. Fill personal details, educational qualifications, and post preferences
6. Upload photo (passport size, white background, recent) and signature
7. Pay ₹100 fee online (UPI/Debit Card/Credit Card/Net Banking)
8. SC/ST/Female/Ex-Servicemen: select fee exemption — no payment required
9. Review all details before final submission
10. Download and print the Confirmation Page — keep it safe

Preparation Strategy

For Paper I (2 months):

• Reasoning: 30 minutes daily — SSC CPO previous year papers (2018–2025). Focus on: Direction, Blood Relations, Coding-Decoding, Series. These are repetitive and scoreable.
• Quantitative Aptitude: Maths is lighter in CPO vs CGL — focus on Percentage, Profit & Loss, Speed-Distance-Time, SI/CI. Avoid getting stuck on advanced geometry.
• GK: 15 minutes daily — current affairs for past 6 months + static GK (Polity, History, Science). SSC CPO GK leans toward defence/police/security-related current affairs.
• English: Grammar rules + 200-word reading comprehension daily. Paper I English is moderate — Paper II English is the real challenge.

For Paper II (6 weeks):

• Pure English paper. Practice reading comprehension (4–5 passages daily), cloze tests (2–3 daily), and 20 error-spotting questions daily.
• Read 1 English newspaper editorial daily — it directly improves reading speed and comprehension score.
• Use previous year SSC CPO Paper II papers (2018–2025). The question pattern is very stable.

For PET:

• Start running 5 km daily 2 months before the PET date. Build stamina gradually — do not skip this regardless of your Paper I score.
• Long Jump and High Jump can be practiced at a local athletics track or open ground.

Official Links