SSC CPO Notification 2026 Out: 1,871 Vacancies, Apply Online, New Exam Pattern, Eligibility and Salary

The Staff Selection Commission has released the SSC CPO Notification 2026 for recruitment to Sub-Inspector posts in Delhi Police, Central Armed Police Forces and CISF Fire. The notification lists 1,871 tentative vacancies, with online applications open from 10 September to 30 September 2026.

Candidates must submit their applications by 11:00 PM on 30 September 2026. The online fee payment deadline is 1 October 2026, 11:00 PM. The examination schedule will be notified separately.

Candidates should pay particular attention to the revised examination scheme: Paper-I contains 100 questions for 100 marks, while Paper-II contains 160 questions for 320 marks across four subjects. Download the official SSC CPO 2026 notification.

The vacancy total comprises 317 Delhi Police posts, 1,320 CAPF SI GD posts and 234 CISF SI Fire posts. Vacancies are tentative. Official notification, pages 1–3.

Save these dates before starting your application:

The fee payment deadline does not extend the application deadline. Submit the application by 30 September and complete any applicable fee payment within the prescribed period. Official application schedule.

The notification provides the following tentative vacancies:

CISF SI GD and CISF SI Fire are separate posts. Their eligibility requirements are different, so applicants should check the post-specific conditions carefully.

Reservation figures shown within the official vacancy tables should not be added again to the overall total. Official vacancy tables, pages 2–3.

Related guide: SSC CPO Eligibility Criteria: Qualification, Age Limit and Physical Standards

Eligibility depends on the post selected. Applicants must check educational qualification, age, nationality and physical requirements.

Educational Qualification

For CISF SI Fire, the notification lists diploma disciplines including Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, Automobile, Chemical, Mining, Aeronautical and Telecommunication Engineering.

The notification also addresses higher qualifications in relevant fields, subject to the stipulated basic diploma qualification. Candidates should read paragraph 7.2 before relying on a higher qualification alone.

Qualification cut-off: Candidates must possess the required qualification by 30 September 2026, the closing date for applications. Merely appearing in the qualifying examination is insufficient if the qualification is not acquired by this date. Official qualification rules, paragraph 7.

Driving Licence Requirement

For Delhi Police SI Male, candidates must possess a valid driving licence for LMV—Motorcycle and Car on the date fixed for the Physical Endurance and Measurement Tests.

The notification states that male candidates without this licence are eligible for CAPF SI posts only, subject to meeting the other requirements. Official driving licence rule, paragraph 7.8.

Nationality

Eligible nationality categories include:

• Citizens of India.
• Subjects of Nepal.
• Subjects of Bhutan.

Candidates from Nepal or Bhutan require a certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India, as prescribed in the notification. Official nationality conditions.

Check SSC CPO Age and Eligibility Requirements

Age is calculated as on 1 August 2026.

Age Relaxation

Do not apply the 20–25-year limit to CISF SI Fire. That post has a separate 18–30-year basic age limit. Official age provisions, paragraph 5.

Payment options specified in the notification include BHIM UPI, net banking and supported debit cards.

Fee payment deadline: 1 October 2026, 11:00 PM. Candidates required to pay must check that the payment status is successful; an unpaid application may remain incomplete. Official fee instructions.

Official application portal: Apply through the SSC website

Follow these steps:

1. Open the SSC website. Use the official portal for registration and application.
2. Complete One-Time Registration. An OTR created on the old SSC website is not valid on the new portal. An existing OTR on the new portal can be used.
3. Log in and select the examination. Choose the Sub-Inspector in Delhi Police and Central Armed Police Forces Examination, 2026.
4. Enter your details carefully. Check your name, date of birth, category, qualification and other application entries.
5. Capture your live photograph. Follow the application module’s instructions.
6. Upload your signature. Use the prescribed format and dimensions.
7. Pay the fee, if applicable.
8. Review and submit. Save the submitted application and payment acknowledgement.

The notification also permits applications through the mySSC mobile application. Official application instructions, paragraph 8.

Photograph and Signature Requirements

Do not photograph an existing printed photograph to complete the live capture step. Follow the portal’s Aadhaar authentication and upload instructions carefully. Official photograph and signature requirements.

Candidates can make permitted corrections from 8 to 10 October 2026, up to 11:00 PM on the final date.

The notification allows a maximum of two corrected submissions during the window. Correction charges apply irrespective of gender or category. Official correction rules, paragraph 10.

PST/PET and medical examination are mandatory qualifying stages. Eligible Ex-Servicemen are exempt from PET, but their PST is conducted.

Final selection and post/force allocation are based on Paper-II performance, including applicable NCC bonus marks, and candidates’ preferences, subject to qualifying the required stages. This is stated in paragraph 16.8 of the notification. Official selection procedure.

SSC CPO Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme

The 2026 notification contains a revised examination scheme. Candidates should prepare using the tables below.

SSC CPO Paper-I Exam Pattern 2026

Negative marking: 0.25 mark is deducted for each wrong answer.

Each part has its own 15-minute timer. Practise sectional tests so that you can manage all four parts effectively. Official examination scheme, page 16.

SSC CPO Paper-II Exam Pattern 2026

Negative marking: 0.50 mark is deducted for each wrong answer.

Paper-II includes all four subjects. English carries 200 of the 320 marks, so it requires substantial preparation alongside Reasoning, General Awareness and Quantitative Aptitude. Official Paper-II pattern, page 16.

Minimum Qualifying Marks

These minimum percentages exclude NCC bonus marks. Minimum qualifying marks are not the same as the competitive cut-off used for shortlisting. Official qualifying rules, paragraph 16.2.

NCC Bonus Marks

Candidates must meet the certificate-related conditions in the notification, including the applicable closing-date requirement. Official NCC provisions.

SSC CPO Syllabus: Subject-Wise Preparation Topics

Organise preparation around these four subjects:

This is a concise study summary. Candidates should read the full syllabus in paragraph 12.9 of the notification. SSC specifies that Paper-II will be more difficult than Paper-I. Official syllabus.

SSC CPO Physical Eligibility and Requirements

Physical standards vary by post, gender and eligible category.

Basic Standards Before Applicable Relaxations

These are the basic standards for candidates outside the listed relaxation categories. The notification provides separate relaxations for specified hill-area communities, Scheduled Tribes and other eligible groups.

CISF SI Fire has a different basic chest requirement from SI GD. Check the table applicable to your selected post. Official physical standards, pages 18–20.

Physical Endurance Test

PST/PET is qualifying in nature and carries no marks. Prepare for the written and physical stages together. Official PET requirements.

SSC CPO Salary: Pay Scale, Allowances and In-Hand Salary

₹35,400 is the starting basic pay in the stated pay scale, not a fixed in-hand salary. Actual take-home pay depends on applicable allowances, posting and deductions. Official pay scales.

The revised pattern makes it useful to prepare for both papers from the beginning.

A practical study session should include concept revision, timed practice and error review. Completing more questions helps only when you understand why your incorrect answers were wrong.