SSC CPO Recruitment 2026: Notification, Vacancy, Dates, Eligibility, Application and Selection Process

SSC CPO 2026 notification has been released by the Staff Selection Commission for recruitment of Sub-Inspectors in Delhi Police and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs). Check SSC CPO 2026 important dates, eligibility criteria, application fee, tentative vacancies, exam pattern, salary, selection process, and step-by-step application guide in this complete overview.

SSC CPO 2026 is conducted for the posts of Sub-Inspector (Executive) in Delhi Police, Sub-Inspector (GD) in CAPFs, and Sub-Inspector (Fire) in CISF, all carrying the same Level-6 pay scale. The Staff Selection Commission has released the official notification with online applications open from 10-09-2026 to 30-09-2026, and this article brings together every detail a candidate needs, from eligibility to salary, at one place.

Since SSC CPO 2026 involves a written test, a physical test, and a medical examination, understanding the complete selection process early helps candidates plan their preparation across written subjects as well as physical fitness, rather than focusing on just one part of the exam.

SSC CPO 2026: Overview

Here is a quick snapshot of the SSC CPO 2026 exam before the detailed breakdown of each stage.

SSC CPO 2026: Important Dates

The official notification confirms every key date up to the correction window, while the Computer Based Examination schedule will be announced later.

SSC CPO Eligibility Criteria 2026

SSC CPO eligibility depends on nationality, age, and educational qualification, and the requirement differs slightly by post, especially for SI (Fire) in CISF.

Nationality: A candidate must be a citizen of India, or a subject of Nepal or Bhutan holding a certificate of eligibility from the Government of India.

Age Limit (as on 01-08-2026):

Age Relaxation:

Educational Qualification (as on closing date of application):

Final-year degree candidates can also apply, but they must possess the qualification by the closing date of the application.

SSC CPO Application Fee 2026

The application fee for SSC CPO 2026 is uniform across posts, with standard exemptions for certain categories.

SSC CPO Vacancy 2026

SSC CPO 2026 has released tentative vacancies across all three posts, with a combined total of approximately 1,871 seats.

Within SI (GD) in CAPFs, the force-wise split is BSF (457), CRPF (254), CISF (250), ITBP (187), and SSB (172), each further divided by UR, EWS, OBC, SC, and ST categories. These are tentative figures, and the final vacancy count may change after document scrutiny.

SSC CPO Selection Process 2026

Candidates must clear four mandatory stages in sequence to be considered for final selection under SSC CPO 2026.

• Paper-I: Computer Based Examination, qualifying candidates move to the physical test
• PST/ PET: Physical Standard Test and Physical Endurance Test, qualifying in nature
• Paper-II: Computer Based Examination, contributes to final merit along with Paper-I
• Detailed Medical Examination (DME): Final stage before document verification and appointment

SSC CPO Exam Pattern 2026: Paper-I

Paper-I is the first stage, testing candidates across four subjects with a sectional time limit for each part.

Duration is 1 hour with a sectional timer of 15 minutes per part, and negative marking is 0.25 marks for each wrong answer.

SSC CPO Exam Pattern 2026: Paper-II

Paper-II is comparatively tougher than Paper-I and carries more weightage in the final merit calculation.

Parts I, II, and III run within 1 hour combined with sectional timers, while Part IV (English Comprehension) has a separate 1-hour duration. Negative marking here is 0.50 marks for each wrong answer, higher than Paper-I.

SSC CPO Salary 2026

All three SSC CPO posts carry the same pay scale, though actual allowances can vary slightly by posting location and force.

How to Apply for SSC CPO 2026: Step by Step

Filling the SSC CPO 2026 application form follows the same OTR-based process used across recent SSC exams, with a live photo capture requirement.

1. Complete Fresh OTR: Visit ssc.gov.in and complete One Time Registration, since OTR from the old website will not work here.
2. Fill the Application Form: Log in after OTR and enter personal, educational, and post preference details.
3. Capture Live Photo: The photograph is captured live through the application module's camera, a pre-uploaded photo is not accepted.
4. Upload Signature: Upload a scanned signature as per the specified format and size.
5. Select Post Preference: Choose preference order among SI (Exe.) Delhi Police, SI (GD) in CAPFs, and SI (Fire) in CISF, where applicable.
6. Pay the Fee: Complete the online fee payment if not exempted.
7. Preview and Submit: Check all details carefully before final submission.

SSC CPO Application Status 2026

Once the form is submitted, candidates can track their application status through their registered login on the SSC portal.

• Log in to the SSC website with your registration number and password.
• Check the application status under your candidate dashboard.
• A status showing "Incomplete" usually means the fee payment did not reach SSC, and such applications are summarily rejected.
• Use the correction window between 08-10-2026 and 10-10-2026 to fix any errors before the final submission is locked.

Important Documents for SSC CPO 2026

Candidates should keep these documents ready for Document Verification, conducted by the concerned CAPF after the final stages.

SSC CPO Post Description 2026

SSC CPO 2026 covers three distinct Sub-Inspector posts, each attached to a different force with its own role, gender eligibility, and educational background.

All three posts carry the same Level-6 pay scale, but differ in eligibility, physical standards, and day-to-day responsibilities, so candidates should choose their post preference based on genuine interest and fitness for the role, not just vacancy count.

SSC CPO Exam Date 2026

The Paper-I Computer Based Examination date for SSC CPO 2026 has not been announced yet. Based on previous cycles, where Paper-I was typically held two to three months after the application process closed, this year's exam is likely to fall around December 2026 or early 2027, though this remains an estimate until SSC confirms it officially.

SSC CPO City Intimation Slip 2026

Before releasing the admit card, SSC usually issues a City Intimation Slip so candidates know their allotted exam city in advance.

• Released roughly 7 to 10 days before the admit card, once the schedule is finalized.
• Available for download from the candidate login on ssc.gov.in.
• Only confirms the exam city, not the exact venue or shift, which comes later with the admit card.

SSC CPO Admit Card 2026

The SSC CPO Admit Card 2026 will be released closer to the Paper-I exam date, once the schedule is announced.

• Usually issued about 10 days before the exam date.
• Carries roll number, exam centre address, reporting time, and shift details.
• Must be downloaded from the candidate login using registration number and date of birth.

SSC CPO Answer Key 2026

SSC releases a provisional answer key after Paper-I, giving candidates a window to raise objections before the final key is published.

• Provisional answer key is usually released within a few weeks of the exam.
• Candidates can challenge specific answers by paying a nominal fee per question during the objection window.
• The final answer key, incorporating accepted objections, is used to calculate the actual result.

SSC CPO Result 2026

The SSC CPO Paper-I result is declared after the answer key objection window closes, followed by results for later stages.

• Paper-I result includes the list of candidates shortlisted for PST/ PET.
• Paper-II result and the final result follow after Document Verification and the Detailed Medical Examination.
• Results are published on ssc.gov.in and can be checked using registration details.

SSC CPO Cut Off 2026

While the SSC CPO 2026 cut off will only be known after Paper-I results, looking at the most recent published cut off gives a sense of the competition level.

These are Paper-I cut off marks (out of 200, before the recent pattern change to 100 marks) from the 2024 cycle, and actual SSC CPO 2026 cut off will depend on the number of applicants, vacancy count, and difficulty level of this year's paper.

SSC CPO Preparation Tips 2026

A mix of written test practice and physical fitness training works best for SSC CPO, unlike most other SSC exams that only need written preparation.

Conclusion

SSC CPO 2026 offers close to 1,871 tentative vacancies across three Sub-Inspector posts, with applications open from 10-09-2026 to 30-09-2026. Since the selection process runs through Paper-I, PST/PET, Paper-II, and a medical exam, candidates need to prepare for both academics and physical fitness right from the start. Keeping track of the exam date announcement and preparing steadily across both fronts gives the best chance of clearing this exam.

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