SSC CPO SI 2026 salary: Pay Level 6, basic pay ₹35,400, approximate in-hand ₹55,000 to ₹75,000 a month. See the full pay breakup, job profile, eligibility and exam pattern.
An SSC CPO Sub-Inspector (SI) is appointed in Pay Level 6 of the 7th Pay Commission matrix, with a starting basic pay of ₹35,400. The pay level runs from ₹35,400 to ₹1,12,400, so your basic pay rises steadily with each annual increment. Once you add Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA) and force allowances, the approximate in-hand salary ranges from about ₹55,000 to ₹75,000 per month. The take-home figure sits at the higher end in X-category cities like Delhi, where HRA is highest, and a little lower in smaller centres. Treat the in-hand as indicative, since DA is revised periodically and HRA depends on your posting city.
The SI role is offered in Delhi Police and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), so it combines a stable government pay scale with the identity and allowances of a uniformed service.
The table below shows an indicative monthly salary structure for a freshly appointed SI. Treat the allowance figures as approximate, since HRA changes with the class of city and DA is revised periodically.
| Component | Approximate Detail |
|---|---|
| Pay Level | Level 6 (7th CPC) |
| Basic Pay (starting) | ₹35,400 |
| Pay Range | ₹35,400 to ₹1,12,400 |
| Dearness Allowance (DA) | Percentage of basic, revised periodically |
| House Rent Allowance (HRA) | Varies by class of posting city |
| Force and other allowances | As applicable to the posting |
| Approximate In-hand | ₹55,000 to ₹75,000 |
Because the basic pay climbs within Pay Level 6 with every increment, the take-home keeps growing year on year even before any promotion. Postings in higher-class cities push the in-hand toward the upper end of that range.
Beyond the basic pay, an SI receives allowances and benefits typical of a central government uniformed post. These vary with the posting and the force, but commonly include:
A Sub-Inspector is a supervisory field officer in Delhi Police or a CAPF. The role is disciplined, active and public-facing, and it carries real responsibility from day one. Typical duties include:
The exact posting depends on whether you are allotted to Delhi Police or a specific CAPF such as BSF, CISF, CRPF, ITBP or SSB. All of them offer a structured chain of command and clear promotion prospects with experience and departmental exams.
SSC CPO is a graduate-level recruitment conducted by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC). The 2026 notification was released on 10 September 2026, and the application window is open from 10 September to 30 September 2026 (last date 30 September, 23:00), with fee payment till 1 October 2026 and a correction window from 8 to 10 October 2026. For the full breakdown, see our guide to the SSC CPO 2026 notification, vacancies and dates. Always confirm the notification and cycle dates on the official website. The key eligibility conditions and the current status of the cycle are:
The selection has multiple stages: Paper-1, then the Physical Standard Test and Physical Endurance Test (PST/PET), then Paper-2, and finally a medical examination. Paper-1 is computer-based with 100 questions for 100 marks in 1 hour, split into 4 sections of 25 questions each. From 2026 there is a 15-minute sectional timer per section, and there is a negative marking of 0.25 for each wrong answer.
| Paper-1 Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 25 | 25 |
| General Knowledge & General Awareness | 25 | 25 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 25 |
| English Comprehension | 25 | 25 |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
Candidates who clear PST/PET then sit Paper-2, restructured by the 2026 notification into a four-section paper of 160 questions for 320 marks in 2 hours with a 0.50 negative marking. Its four parts are General Intelligence & Reasoning (20), General Knowledge & General Awareness (20), Quantitative Aptitude (20) and English Comprehension (100), and with 320 marks Paper-2 is now the merit-decider. A medical examination is the final step before appointment.
For a graduate aged 20 to 25 who meets the physical standards, SSC CPO SI is one of the most attractive uniformed jobs in the country. You get a Pay Level 6 salary, a respected supervisory role, force allowances and long-term job security, along with a clear path to higher ranks through service and departmental exams. The trade-off is the physical demand and the disciplined posting life, so it suits candidates who want an active field career rather than a desk role.
To turn this target into a selection, you need a sharp attempt strategy for the new 15-minute sectional timer. Practise with structured SSC CPO mock tests on Quiz4Exam: full, sectional and topic-wise mocks, live mocks with all-India rank, detailed solutions and a trilingual interface in English, Hindi and Marathi, so you can benchmark a safe attempt-and-accuracy level before the real Paper-1 and Paper-2.
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Always confirm the latest exam dates, vacancies and pattern on the official website.
An SSC CPO Sub-Inspector is placed in Pay Level 6 with a basic pay of ₹35,400, in a range of ₹35,400 to ₹1,12,400. After DA, HRA and force allowances, the approximate in-hand salary is about ₹55,000 to ₹75,000 per month. The take-home is higher in X-category cities like Delhi.
Candidates need a Bachelor's degree from a recognised university and must be 20 to 25 years old, with category relaxations. Physical standards apply: minimum height 170 cm and chest 80 to 85 cm for male candidates and 157 cm for female candidates. Height and chest standards are relaxed for hill and tribal categories.
The SSC CPO 2026 notification was released on 10 September 2026, and the application window is open from 10 September to 30 September 2026, with fee payment till 1 October 2026 and a correction window from 8 to 10 October 2026. Paper-1 is expected in late 2026 with no confirmed date yet, and the notification lists 1,871 vacancies (the 2025 cycle had 3,073). The process then moves through PST/PET, Paper-2 and a medical examination.
Paper-1 is computer-based with 100 questions for 100 marks in 1 hour, across 4 sections of 25 questions each, and from 2026 it has a 15-minute sectional timer per section with 0.25 negative marking. Paper-2 was restructured by the 2026 notification into a four-section paper of 160 questions for 320 marks in 2 hours with a 0.50 negative marking, made up of General Intelligence & Reasoning (20), General Knowledge & General Awareness (20), Quantitative Aptitude (20) and English Comprehension (100), and with 320 marks it is the merit-decider.
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A Sub-Inspector is a supervisory field officer in Delhi Police or a CAPF who leads constables, maintains law and order, investigates cases and handles security duties. The posting depends on allotment to Delhi Police or a force such as BSF, CISF, CRPF, ITBP or SSB. It offers a structured chain of command and clear promotion prospects.
