Full SSC CPO 2026 syllabus and exam pattern for Paper 1 and Paper 2, with the new 15-minute sectional timer, eligibility, physical standards, dates and salary.
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.
The SSC CPO 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 a full breakdown, see our guide to the SSC CPO 2026 notification, vacancies and dates. Always confirm the latest dates on the official website:
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 |
This section is largely non-verbal and verbal reasoning that rewards pattern recognition:
A wide-ranging static plus current-affairs section:
Arithmetic and data interpretation dominate here:
Grammar accuracy and reading speed decide this section:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Always confirm the latest exam dates, vacancies and pattern on the official website.
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SSC CPO Paper 1 is a computer-based test of 100 questions for 100 marks in 1 hour, split into four sections of 25 questions each: General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Knowledge & General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, and English Comprehension. From 2026 each section has its own 15-minute sectional timer, and there is a negative marking of 0.25 marks per wrong answer.
You need a Bachelor's degree from a recognised university and an age between 20 and 25 years, subject to category relaxations. There are also physical standards: minimum height 170 cm and chest 80 to 85 cm for male candidates, and 157 cm for female candidates, with relaxations 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). PST/PET, Paper 2 and the medical examination follow.
The Sub-Inspector post carries a 7th CPC Pay Level 6 salary with a basic pay of Rs 35,400 and a pay range of Rs 35,400 to Rs 1,12,400. The approximate in-hand salary is around Rs 55,000 to Rs 75,000, higher in X-category cities like Delhi, once DA, HRA and force allowances are added.
The 2026 notification restructured Paper 2 into a four-section paper of 160 questions for 320 marks in 2 hours: General Intelligence & Reasoning (20), General Knowledge & General Awareness (20), Quantitative Aptitude (20) and English Comprehension (100), with a negative marking of 0.50 marks per wrong answer. It carries 320 marks and is now the merit-decider, and the official note says its difficulty level is higher than Paper 1, with English Comprehension the dominant part at 100 questions.
