SSC CPO Syllabus 2026: Paper 1 and Paper 2

SSC CPO Syllabus 2026: Paper 1 and Paper 2 Explained

The SSC CPO 2026 exam recruits Sub-Inspectors in Delhi Police and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs). Selection runs through a computer-based Paper 1, a Physical Standard Test and Physical Endurance Test (PST/PET), a computer-based Paper 2, and a final medical examination. This guide breaks down the complete SSC CPO syllabus for both papers, the marking scheme, and the eligibility you must meet.

The most important change this year is the timing. From 2026, Paper 1 introduces a strict 15-minute sectional timer for each of its four sections, so you can no longer borrow time from an easy section to rescue a hard one. Planning your speed section by section is now part of the strategy, and it rewards candidates who can leave difficult questions and move on without hesitation.

SSC CPO is a graduate-level recruitment conducted by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC). It is one of the few SSC exams that combines a written test with a physical qualifying stage, which means your preparation has to cover both books and fitness. The role of a Sub-Inspector is a uniformed, field-oriented posting, so the exam is designed to filter for both aptitude and physical readiness.

SSC CPO 2026 Important Dates

The SSC CPO 2026 notification was released on 10 September 2026, and the application window ran from 10 September to 30 September 2026 (last date 30 September, 23:00) and is now closed, with fee payment allowed till 1 October 2026. The correction window, 8 to 10 October 2026, is the only application stage a candidate can still act on. For a full breakdown, see our guide to the SSC CPO 2026 notification, vacancies and dates. Always confirm the latest dates on the official website:

• Notification: released on 10 September 2026
• Application window: 10 September to 30 September 2026, now closed (fee payment was allowed till 1 October 2026)
• Correction window: 8 to 10 October 2026
• Paper 1 (CBE): 20 to 28 November 2026 (proposed dates)
• Vacancies: 1,871 for 2026 (the 2025 cycle had 3,073 vacancies)

SSC CPO Paper 1 Exam Pattern and Syllabus

Paper 1 is a computer-based test of 100 questions for 100 marks in 1 hour. There are four sections of 25 questions each, every section now capped at its own 15-minute window. There is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer, so accuracy matters as much as speed.

Section	Questions	Marks	Time
General Intelligence & Reasoning	25	25	15 minutes
General Knowledge & General Awareness	25	25	15 minutes
Quantitative Aptitude	25	25	15 minutes
English Comprehension	25	25	15 minutes

General Intelligence & Reasoning

This section is largely non-verbal and verbal reasoning that rewards pattern recognition:

• Analogies, classification and series (number, alphabet, figure)
• Coding-Decoding and Blood Relations
• Syllogism, statement-conclusion and directions
• Non-verbal reasoning: mirror images, paper folding, embedded figures

General Knowledge & General Awareness

A wide-ranging static plus current-affairs section:

• Indian History, Geography and Polity
• Economy and general Science
• Static GK: awards, books, sports, important days
• Current affairs of the last 8 to 12 months

Quantitative Aptitude

Arithmetic and data interpretation dominate here:

• Percentage, Ratio, Average, Profit & Loss
• Time & Work, Speed-Distance-Time, Interest
• Geometry, Mensuration and Trigonometry
• Data Interpretation: tables, bar and pie charts

English Comprehension

Grammar accuracy and reading speed decide this section:

• Reading Comprehension and Cloze Test
• Error Spotting and Sentence Improvement
• Fill in the blanks and Para Jumbles
• Synonyms, antonyms, idioms and one-word substitution

SSC CPO Paper 2 Exam Pattern and Syllabus

Candidates who clear Paper 1 and the PST/PET sit for Paper 2. The 2026 notification restructured Paper 2 into a four-section paper of 160 questions for 320 marks in 2 hours, with a negative marking of 0.50 marks per wrong answer, per the official SSC notification dated 10 September 2026. It is no longer an English-only paper. Because it carries 320 marks, far more than Paper 1's 100 marks, Paper 2 is now the merit-decider, and the official note states that the difficulty level of Paper 2 will be higher than that of Paper 1.

Part	Subject	Questions	Marks
Part I	General Intelligence & Reasoning	20	40
Part II	General Knowledge & General Awareness	20	40
Part III	Quantitative Aptitude	20	40
Part IV	English Comprehension	100	200
Total	Four sections	160	320

The timing is split: Parts I, II and III share 1 hour, with a 20-minute sectional timer for each of those three parts, and Part IV English Comprehension has a separate 1 hour, for a total of 2 hours. English Comprehension still dominates the paper with 100 of the 160 questions, so the English depth below applies to that part.

Paper 2 tests English Language & Comprehension in far greater depth than Paper 1, covering advanced grammar, error detection, comprehension passages, active-passive and direct-indirect speech, vocabulary and sentence structure. Expect a heavier load of reading comprehension, fill in the blanks, sentence correction and one-word substitution than you saw in Paper 1.

• Error Detection and Sentence Correction
• Reading Comprehension and Cloze passages
• Fill in the blanks and sentence rearrangement
• Active-Passive and Direct-Indirect narration
• Vocabulary: synonyms, antonyms, idioms and phrases

Alongside the dominant English Comprehension part, Paper 2 now also tests Reasoning with 20 questions, General Knowledge and General Awareness with 20 questions, and Quantitative Aptitude with 20 questions, so your Paper 1 preparation in these three subjects carries directly into Paper 2 as well.

SSC CPO 2026 Eligibility and Physical Standards

You need a Bachelor's degree from a recognised university and an age between 20 and 25 years, with the usual category relaxations. Beyond academics, SSC CPO has physical standards that other SSC exams do not.

Criterion	Male	Female
Minimum height	170 cm	157 cm
Chest (unexpanded to expanded)	80 to 85 cm	Not applicable

Relaxations in height and chest apply for candidates from hill areas and certain tribal categories. The PST/PET stage is qualifying, so clearing it is essential even though it does not add to your written score. In practice this means you should begin light physical training alongside your written preparation rather than leaving it until after Paper 1 results, because the physical stage follows soon after and there is little recovery time to build fitness from scratch.

The full selection flow, in order, is Paper 1, then PST/PET, then Paper 2, and finally the detailed medical examination. Each stage is a gate: you must clear the one before it to move ahead, so a balanced plan that respects every stage beats one that over-invests in only the written papers.

SSC CPO Sub-Inspector Salary 2026

The post carries a 7th CPC Pay Level 6 salary. Actual in-hand pay varies with the city category because of House Rent Allowance and force allowances.

Component	Detail
Pay Level	Level 6
Basic pay	Rs 35,400
Pay range	Rs 35,400 to Rs 1,12,400
Approximate in-hand	Rs 55,000 to Rs 75,000 (higher in X-category cities like Delhi)

On top of basic pay, a Sub-Inspector receives Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA) and force-specific allowances, which is why in-hand figures are highest in metro postings.

How to Prepare for SSC CPO 2026

With the new sectional timer, blind speed no longer works: you must practise each Paper 1 section against its own 15-minute clock. Build accuracy first to beat the 0.25 negative marking, then push pace. Give English extra weight because it appears in both Paper 1 and, at greater depth, in Paper 2. Start section by section, revise with topic-wise tests, and then simulate the real exam with full-length mocks. Practise SSC CPO Paper 1 and Paper 2 mock tests on Quiz4Exam to get comfortable with the sectional timing and to track your accuracy before exam day.

Put this into practice: attempt a free SSC CPO mock test on the real exam interface, with instant scoring, solutions and All India Rank. No payment or card details needed.

Related reading

• SSC CPO 2026 SI complete strategy guide
• SSC CPO SI salary and job profile 2026
• English language strategy that also sharpens Paper 2
• How to prepare for SSC CGL 2026

References and Official Sources

Always confirm the latest exam dates, vacancies and pattern on the official website.

• SSC official website (ssc.gov.in)