SSC CPO Syllabus 2026 and Exam Pattern, Paper 1 and 2 Exam Topics

Quick Overview

A career through this national selection leads to frontline roles in policing and paramilitary units. The SSC CPO route recruits Sub-Inspectors for the Delhi Police and Central Armed Police Forces, including the CRPF, BSF, and ITBP. It also fills Assistant Sub-Inspector posts in CISF.

Where you can serve: Delhi Police, CAPFs, and CISF

You can be posted in urban policing, border duties, or security of vital installations. Posts mix field work with investigative tasks, offering diverse day-to-day roles.

Career growth, stability, and prestige in uniformed services

These roles give you steady promotions, central pay scales, and allowances, plus training that boosts leadership skills. Service brings social respect and a clear growth ladder.

• National-level selection is held once a year; check the official notification for dates.

• Competition is high, so tailor your preparation to physical tests and written stages.

• Successful candidates gain financial security and long-term career prospects.

Eligibility Criteria

SSC CPO Syllabus 2025: Eligibility criteria

Your eligibility depends on citizenship, a recognised bachelor’s degree and the age limits stated in the official notification.

Basic checks include Indian nationality and a degree that the commission accepts by the closing date. If your qualification is from overseas, obtain equivalence before you apply.

Age usually falls in the 20–25 year band, with relaxations for reserved categories. Verify those slabs in the notification so you know your exact cutoff.

Syllabus & Exam Pattern

SSC CPO exam pattern 2026

The test structure sets the rules: two objective papers, each lasting two hours and carrying 200 marks. Both papers use a computer-based format, so familiarity with on-screen navigation matters.

Paper 1 has four sections — General Intelligence & Reasoning; General Knowledge & General Awareness; Quantitative Aptitude; English Comprehension. Each section is worth 50 marks. There is no sectional time limit, so you must self-manage time.

Paper 2 focuses on English Language & Language Comprehension. It also totals 200 marks and runs for two hours. This paper assesses grammar, vocabulary and reading ability.

The marking rule awards +1 for a correct answer and deducts 0.25 marks for each wrong response in both papers. Accuracy over guesswork saves marks.

• The test is bilingual (English/Hindi) for most sections; English-specific content appears only in English.

• No interview is held; final selection rests on written scores plus PET/PST and medical checks.

• Prioritise time blocks per section to protect easy marks and maintain pace.

SSC CPO Syllabus 2026: Paper 1 detailed topics

This part breaks down Paper 1 topics so you can map daily practice to high-yield areas.

General Intelligence & Reasoning covers analogies, coding–decoding, syllogisms, series (verbal and non‑verbal), Venn diagrams and spatial visualisation.

Expect both figure‑based questions and verbal puzzles that test quick pattern recognition and logical deduction. Work short timed sets to sharpen speed.

General Knowledge & General Awareness spans current affairs plus static topics: history, geography, polity, economy, culture and science.

Focus on recent national events and basics of physics and chemistry listed below. Short daily notes help retention.

Quantitative Aptitude includes arithmetic (percentages, ratio, averages), algebra (identities, linear equations), geometry, mensuration, trigonometry and data interpretation.

Practice bar, pie and frequency charts to gain quick marks. Split sessions between problem drills and timed DI passages.

English Comprehension tests grammar, vocabulary and passage inference. Work on error spotting, para‑jumbles and reading speed.

• Rotate topics: heavy quant days alternated with reasoning and light GA/English review.

• Use past papers to turn weak items into safe marks.

• Revise science concepts like Newton’s laws, atomic structure and bonding for GA sections.

SSC CPO Syllabus 2026: Paper 2 English Language & Comprehension

Paper 2 tests how well you use grammar and read complex passages under time pressure. The paper lasts two hours and carries 200 marks. Negative marking of 0.25 per wrong response applies, so accuracy matters as much as speed.

Core topics include error spotting, fill-in-the-blanks (verbs, prepositions, articles), sentence structure, synonyms and antonyms, idioms and phrasal verbs. You’ll also face spelling, usage and common vocabulary traps.

How this paper shapes final merit

Paper 2 focuses entirely on English language comprehension and can significantly influence your final rank. Strong reading skills and grammar control convert into reliable marks that add weight to your overall score.

• Practise timed mixed sets to balance speed with precision.

• Keep a compact grammar rulebook for weekly revision: tenses, agreement, modifiers, parallelism.

• Build vocabulary in context—use sentences, not isolated lists—for better recall in passages.

• Maintain an error log from mocks to eliminate recurring mistakes.

Tie your Paper 2 plan to Paper 1 English practice so grammar and usage stay consistent across both papers. Regular, focused work on these areas will reduce careless errors and raise your marks steadily.

SSC CPO selection process 2026: from CBT to PET/PST and medicals

Your selection journey starts with a computer‑based objective paper and moves through physical trials to final medical checks. The whole process runs once a year in online mode, so set a clear timeline for study and fitness.

Stage-wise flow: Paper 1, PET/PST, Paper 2, medical and document checks

The flow is straightforward: clear Paper 1 (CBT), qualify PET/PST, sit Paper 2, then pass medicals and document verification. PET/PST is qualifying but crucial; meet height, chest where applicable, and endurance benchmarks to proceed.

• Train for PET while you revise theory—small daily workouts beat last‑minute rushes.

• Prepare identity, degree and category certificates early to avoid verification problems.

• Use mock PET trials to gauge timings and recovery under test conditions.

No interview round: what it means for your preparation

There is no interview, so written performance and physical standards fully decide merit. Paper 2 can be decisive in close contests; keep English practice active even during PET conditioning.

Plan milestones across the year: concept mastery pre‑Paper 1, PET conditioning, and advanced English for Paper 2. With precise written scores and fitness, your route into Delhi Police and CAPFs/CISF becomes much clearer.

SSC CPO Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026: key facts at a glance

A compact summary of papers, time limits and scoring will help you set realistic daily targets for study. Keep this page as your quick reference to align practice, mocks and fitness work.

Papers, sections, marks and duration summary

Paper 1 has four sections: general intelligence reasoning, knowledge general awareness, quantitative aptitude and English comprehension. It totals 200 marks and runs for 2 hours.

Paper 2 is an english language and language comprehension paper. It also carries 200 marks for 2 hours and tests deep reading and grammar skills.

Marking scheme, language medium and attempt policy

Each correct answer gives +1 mark; each wrong reply deducts 0.25 marks. Leave doubtful items rather than guess to protect marks.

The test is computer-based and largely bilingual for Paper 1; English sections must be answered in English. You may attempt while within the notified age limits; follow the official notification for exact attempt rules.

• Track provisional answer releases and cut lists after each stage to gauge standing.

• Keep a one-page crib sheet with timing, sections and the marking rule for last-minute revision.

Conclusion

Set clear section targets and protect your score by focusing on accuracy under timed conditions. Balance Paper 1 across all four areas while steadily building English for Paper 2.

Keep an eye on the notification at ssc.gov.in and note the Paper 1 window (9–12 December 2025) as you fix your weekly plan. Use past papers, official answer keys and cut-offs to set realistic score goals.

Train PET/PST alongside written work so fitness and theory progress together. If you act early and practise consistently, you will enter the ssc cpo exam window ready to convert preparation into a uniformed career.

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