The SSC CPO Exam 2026 is a national-level recruitment examination conducted by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) for the post of Sub-Inspector (SI) in Delhi Police, CAPFs (BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, SSB), and Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) in some forces if notified. This exam is highly competitive and ideal for candidates aspiring for a central government paramilitary and law-enforcement career.

This article provides a complete guide to SSC CPO 2026 exam pattern, syllabus, selection process, preparation strategy, and official resources

🧭 1. SSC CPO 2026 Selection Process

The SSC CPO selection process includes:

Paper 1 – CBT (Tier 1)
Physical Endurance Test (PET) / Physical Standard Test (PST)
Paper 2 – English Language & Comprehension
Medical Examination
Final Merit Based on Paper 1 + Paper 2

📝 2. SSC CPO 2026 Exam Pattern

🟦 Paper 1 Exam Pattern (Online CBT)

Subjects	No. of Questions	Marks	Duration
General Intelligence & Reasoning	50	50	2 Hours
General Knowledge & General Awareness	50	50
Quantitative Aptitude	50	50
English Comprehension	50	50
Total	200	200	120 min

Negative Marking:

0.25 marks deducted for each wrong answer.

🟩 PET / PST Requirements (Male & Female)

Physical Standards (General Category)

Category	Height	Chest (Male Only)
Male	170 cm	80–85 cm
Female	157 cm	NA

(Relaxations for SC/ST and hill-area candidates as per SSC rules.)

Physical Endurance Test (PET)

Male Candidates:

100m race in 16 seconds
1.6 km race in 6 min 30 sec
Long jump 3.65 m (3 chances)
High jump 1.2 m
Shot put 4.5 m

Female Candidates:

100m race in 18 seconds
800m race in 4 minutes
Long jump 2.7 m
High jump 0.9 m

🟧 Paper 2 Exam Pattern (English Language)

Section	Marks	Duration
English Language & Comprehension	200	2 Hours

Negative Marking:

0.25 marks deducted for each incorrect answer.

📘 3. Detailed Syllabus for SSC CPO 2026

📌 Paper 1 Syllabus

🧠 General Intelligence & Reasoning

Analogies, Similarities, Differences
Coding-Decoding
Spatial Visualization
Problem-Solving & Analysis
Syllogism
Statement–Conclusion
Blood Relations
Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning
Figure Classification
Embedded Figures

🌍 General Knowledge & General Awareness

Current Affairs (National & International)
Indian Polity & Constitution
Indian Economy
Important Days & Events
Awards & Sports
Books & Authors
Science & Technology Developments
History, Geography & Culture

🔢 Quantitative Aptitude

Number System
Percentage & Ratio
Profit & Loss
Simple & Compound Interest
Time & Work
Time, Speed & Distance
Algebra
Geometry & Mensuration
Trigonometry
Data Interpretation

📝 English Comprehension

Vocabulary & Grammar
Synonyms/Antonyms
Spotting Errors
Cloze Test
Reading Comprehension
Sentence Improvement
Para Jumbles

📌 Paper 2 Syllabus (English)

Grammar & Usage
Vocabulary & Idioms
Comprehension Passages
Error Spotting
Synonyms & Antonyms
Fill in the Blanks
Sentence Structure & Improvement

🏆 4. Final Selection Process & Marking

Final Merit = Paper 1 Marks + Paper 2 Marks
PET/PST = Qualifying (no marks added)
Medical exam mandatory for final appointment
Post allocation based on:
- Marks
- Preference
- Physical standards
- Medical fitness

🚀 5. Practical Preparation Tips for SSC CPO 2026

Start with NCERT basics for GK and maths.
Practice mock tests regularly for speed and accuracy.
Focus on reasoning—it has high scoring potential.
Improve English by reading newspapers and daily practice quizzes.
Prepare physically from early stages for PET/PST.
Solve previous year papers to understand question trends.
Follow a balanced study plan: 3 hours theory + 1 hour practice daily.

🔗 6. Useful Official Resources

Official SSC Website: https://ssc.gov.in
SSC CPO Notification (when released): Available only on SSC official portal
SSC PDF Notices: https://ssc.gov.in/exams/notices

SSC CPO Sub-Inspector (SI) in CAPF ... SSC Central Police Organisation To ...

🚨 SSC CPO 2026 – Sub-Inspector (SI) in Delhi Police & CAPFs Recruitment