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SSC CPO 2026

Sub-Inspector recruitment for Delhi Police, the Central Armed Police Forces and, new this year, CISF Fire. The notification came on 10 September 2026 and the form closes on the 30th. The exam pattern has changed substantially, so read that part before you start preparing.

Checked against ssc.gov.in on 13 September 2026
Vacancies
1,871tentative
Apply by
30 Sep2026, 11:00 PM
Age on 1 Aug 2026
20–2518–30 for SI Fire
Paper 1
100 Q100 marks, revised

Where this exam stands today

The application window is open and short. Everything after it is unscheduled so far.

  1. Notification10 Sep 2026
  2. Apply onlinetill 30 Sep 2026
    You are here
  3. Correction8–10 Oct 2026
  4. Paper 1to be notified
  5. PST / PETto be notified
  6. Paper 2 & medicalto be notified

Important dates

Source: SSC Sub-Inspector in Delhi Police and Central Armed Police Forces Examination, 2026 notification dated 10 September 2026.
StageDate
Notification released10 September 2026
Online application opens10 September 2026
Last date to apply30 September 2026 (11:00 PM)
Last date to pay the fee1 October 2026 (11:00 PM)
Application correction window8 – 10 October 2026
Paper 1, PST/PET, Paper 2, medicalTo be notified separately

Vacancies

PostVacancies
Sub-Inspector (Executive), Delhi Police — male205
Sub-Inspector (Executive), Delhi Police — female112
Sub-Inspector (GD) in CAPFs — BSF, CISF, CRPF, ITBP, SSB1,320
Sub-Inspector (Fire) in CISF — new this year234
Total1,871

For context, this cycle is much smaller than last year’s 5,308 posts, and closer to the 1,876 advertised in 2023. Expect a higher cut-off than the 2025 papers suggest.

Who can apply

Educational qualification

This differs by post, and the Fire post is the one people get wrong.

PostQualification
Sub-Inspector (GD) in CAPFsBachelor’s degree in any stream from a recognised university.
Sub-Inspector in Delhi PoliceBachelor’s degree in any stream. Male candidates must also hold a valid light motor vehicle driving licence.
Sub-Inspector (Fire) in CISFBachelor’s degree in Science with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, or a degree or diploma in Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, Automobile, Chemical, Mining, Aeronautical or Telecommunication Engineering.

Age and physical standards

Application fee

CategoryFee
General / OBC / EWS₹100
SC / ST / PwBD / Ex-ServicemenNil
All women candidatesNil
Correction, first time₹200
Correction, second time₹500

Pay online through BHIM UPI, net banking or a Visa, MasterCard, Maestro or RuPay debit card. Confirm the payment status inside your SSC login rather than trusting the bank debit message — an unreceived fee leaves the form marked incomplete and it gets rejected.

Revised exam pattern

This is the part worth reading twice. SSC has reworked both papers for 2026, and a study plan built on the old pattern will send you in the wrong direction.

Paper 1 — 100 questions, 100 marks, 60 minutes

SectionQuestionsMarksTime
General Intelligence and Reasoning252515 min
General Knowledge and General Awareness252515 min
Quantitative Aptitude252515 min
English Comprehension252515 min
Total10010060 min

One mark per correct answer and 0.25 deducted per wrong answer. Sectional timing is new here too — each section closes after its 15 minutes.

Paper 2 — 160 questions, 320 marks

Paper 2 used to be an English paper. It is not any more. It now covers four subjects — General Intelligence and Reasoning, General Knowledge and General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude and English Comprehension — at two marks per question, with 0.50 deducted per wrong answer. English still carries the largest share. The section-wise split and timing are set out in the notification.

Paper 2 is now the paper that decides your rank. Under the old pattern candidates treated it as an English formality after clearing Paper 1. With 320 marks across four subjects, that approach will cost you a posting. Start Paper 2 preparation alongside Paper 1, not after it.

Selection process

  1. Paper 1 — computer based, qualifying you for the physical stage.
  2. PST and PET — physical standard and endurance tests, qualifying in nature. Ex-Servicemen are exempt from PET but still take PST.
  3. Paper 2 — computer based, and the main scoring stage.
  4. Detailed Medical Examination.
  5. Final merit list, based on Paper 2 performance and your post and force preference.

There is no interview at any stage.

How to apply

  1. Go to ssc.gov.in and complete One Time Registration if you have not already.
  2. Log in with your registration ID and password.
  3. Open the SSC CPO 2026 application link and fill in your details.
  4. Upload your photograph and signature to the stated specifications.
  5. Pay the fee if it applies to you and confirm the status inside your login.
  6. Preview, submit, and save a printout of the confirmation page.

Applications go through the SSC portal or the official mySSC app only. Do not leave it to the last day — the portal is slowest in the final 48 hours and a failed payment can leave your form marked incomplete.

Practise with Free SSC Previous Year Papers Attempt a Full-Length SSC Mock Test

Dedicated CPO mock tests are not on TrickySSC yet. Until they are, the CGL Tier 1 papers are the closest match for the reasoning, quantitative aptitude and English sections of CPO Paper 1, and they run with the same 15-minute sectional clock.

Frequently asked questions

What is the last date to apply?

11:00 PM on 30 September 2026. The fee can be paid until 11:00 PM on 1 October, and the correction window runs 8 to 10 October 2026.

How many vacancies are there?

1,871 tentative — 205 Delhi Police SI (male), 112 Delhi Police SI (female), 1,320 SI (GD) in CAPFs and 234 SI (Fire) in CISF.

Has the exam pattern really changed?

Yes, substantially. Paper 1 is down to 100 questions for 100 marks with a 15-minute sectional timer. Paper 2 is up to 160 questions for 320 marks and now covers four subjects rather than English alone.

What is the age limit?

20 to 25 years as on 1 August 2026 for most posts, and 18 to 30 years for Sub-Inspector (Fire) in CISF. Category relaxations apply.

When is the exam?

Not announced. Paper 1, PST/PET and Paper 2 dates will be notified separately by the commission.

Is there an interview?

No. Selection runs through Paper 1, PST/PET, Paper 2 and a detailed medical examination.

Every date and figure on this page comes from the official SSC notification and notices published at ssc.gov.in. Vacancy counts are tentative and schedules can change. Read the notification in full before you apply, particularly the physical standards and post preferences.