SSC CPO Eligibility 2026: Quick Answer
For SSC CPO 2026 (Sub-Inspector in Delhi Police and CAPFs), you must be 20 to 25 years old as on 01.08.2026 (born between 02.08.2001 and 01.08.2006), hold a Bachelor's degree by the closing date (30.09.2026), and meet the height, chest, PET and eyesight standards. For SI (Fire) in CISF, the age limit is 18 to 30 years and the degree must be a B.Sc. with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (or Matriculation plus a 3-year engineering diploma in the listed branches).
Key takeaway: SC/ST get 5 years and OBC 3 years of upper-age relaxation. Male candidates who want Delhi Police must also hold a valid LMV driving licence (motorcycle and car) on the PE&MT date; without it they can still be selected for CAPF SI posts.
Official source: SSC CPO 2026 notice (PDF) on ssc.gov.in, dated 10.09.2026 (Para 4, 5, 7 and 12).
SSC CPO Eligibility Criteria 2026 at a Glance
| Criterion | SI in Delhi Police and SI (GD) in CAPFs | SI (Fire) in CISF (Male) |
|---|---|---|
| Age (as on 01.08.2026) | 20 to 25 years | 18 to 30 years |
| Date of birth (UR) | 02.08.2001 to 01.08.2006 | 02.08.1996 to 01.08.2008 |
| Qualification | Bachelor's degree from a recognised university or equivalent | B.Sc. with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, or Matriculation + 3-year diploma in Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, Automobiles, Chemical, Mining, Aeronautical or Telecommunication Engineering |
| Qualification deadline | Closing date for applications (30.09.2026) | Same |
| Nationality | Citizen of India, or subject of Nepal or Bhutan (with eligibility certificate) | Same |
| Extra for Delhi Police (male) | Valid LMV driving licence (motorcycle and car) on PE&MT date | Not applicable |
| Pay | Level 6 (₹35,400 to ₹1,12,400) | Level 6 |
SSC CPO Age Limit 2026 (Date of Birth)
The crucial date is 01.08.2026 (Para 5.1). The notice prints the UR window; the relaxed windows below are worked out by adding the official relaxation years to the upper age:
| Category | SI Delhi Police / SI (GD) CAPFs: upper age | Born not earlier than | SI (Fire) CISF: upper age | Born not earlier than |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UR / EWS | 25 | 02.08.2001 | 30 | 02.08.1996 |
| OBC | 28 | 02.08.1998 | 33 | 02.08.1993 |
| SC / ST | 30 | 02.08.1996 | 35 | 02.08.1991 |
The lower limit (born not later than) stays 01.08.2006 for 20 years and 01.08.2008 for SI (Fire). The UR dates are printed in Para 5.1 and 5.2; the OBC and SC/ST dates are our calculation from the relaxation in Para 5.3.
SSC CPO age check: worked examples
- Born 10.10.2001, UR: after 02.08.2001 and before 01.08.2006, so eligible for all three posts.
- Born 01.08.2001, UR: one day before the earliest allowed date (02.08.2001), so not eligible for Delhi Police or CAPF SI, but eligible for SI (Fire) if you have the PCM degree or diploma (window 02.08.1996 to 01.08.2008).
- Born 05.05.1999, OBC: the OBC limit for Delhi Police/CAPF SI is 02.08.1998, so eligible as OBC.
- Born 15.09.2006: under 20 on 01.08.2026, so not eligible for Delhi Police or CAPF SI; eligible by age for SI (Fire), which starts at 18.
Use our age calculator with 01.08.2026 as the reference date.
SSC CPO Age Relaxation 2026 (Para 5.3)
| Code | Category | Relaxation beyond the upper age limit |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | SC / ST | 5 years |
| 02 | OBC | 3 years |
| 06 | Ex-Servicemen (ESM) | 3 years after deducting military service from actual age (as on the closing date) |
| 12 | Widows, divorced women and women judicially separated, not remarried (SI in Delhi Police only) | Up to 35 years |
| 13 | Same as code 12, SC/ST (SI in Delhi Police only) | Up to 40 years |
| 17 | Departmental Delhi Police candidates, UR/EWS, with at least 3 years' regular service | Up to 30 years |
| 18 | Departmental Delhi Police candidates, OBC, with at least 3 years' regular service | Up to 33 years |
| 19 | Departmental Delhi Police candidates, SC/ST, with at least 3 years' regular service | Up to 35 years |
Departmental candidates are Constables, Head Constables and ASIs of Delhi Police with at least three years' service, and they can apply only against open vacancies of SI (Exe.) in Delhi Police – Male. OBC certificates issued by the Delhi Government for castes not in the Central OBC list are accepted only for SI in Delhi Police; for other posts such candidates count as UR/EWS (Para 6.1). Sons, daughters and dependents of Ex-Servicemen do not get ESM relaxation (Para 5.10).
SSC CPO Educational Qualification 2026
| Post | Essential qualification (Para 7.1 and 7.2) |
|---|---|
| SI in Delhi Police and SI (GD) in CAPFs | Bachelor's degree from a recognised university or equivalent |
| SI (Fire) in CISF | B.Sc. with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics; or Matriculation and a 3-year diploma in Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, Automobiles, Chemical, Mining, Aeronautical or Telecommunication Engineering. A B.Tech/M.Tech in a relevant field is accepted as a value addition only when the basic diploma is there |
Final-year students: candidates who have appeared in their degree examination may apply, but they must possess the qualification on or before 30.09.2026 (the closing date). The result must actually be declared by then; "mere processing of the result" does not count (Para 7.6).
Matriculate Ex-Servicemen with at least 15 years of service are eligible only for SI in Delhi Police against posts reserved for Ex-Servicemen (Para 5.8).
SSC CPO Height and Chest 2026 (Physical Standard Test)
SSC CPO height for Delhi Police SI
| Category | Height | Chest (unexpanded / expanded) |
|---|---|---|
| Male (general) | 170 cm | 80 / 85 cm |
| Male: hill areas of Garhwal, Kumaon, Himachal Pradesh, Gorkhas, Dogras, Marathas, Kashmir Valley, Leh & Ladakh, North-Eastern States and Sikkim | 165 cm | 80 / 85 cm |
| Male: all Scheduled Tribes | 162.5 cm | 77 / 82 cm |
| Female (general) | 157 cm | Not required |
| Female: same hill areas and regions as above | 155 cm | Not required |
| Female: all Scheduled Tribes | 154 cm | Not required |
SSC CPO height for CAPF SI
| Category | Height | Chest (unexpanded / expanded) |
|---|---|---|
| Male (general) | 170 cm | 80 / 85 cm |
| Male: hill areas of Garhwal, Kumaon, Himachal Pradesh, Dogras, Marathas, Kashmir Valley, Leh & Ladakh, North-Eastern States and Sikkim | 165 cm | 80 / 85 cm |
| Male Gorkha candidates | 157 cm | 80 / 85 cm |
| Male: Scheduled Tribes (other than North-East) | 162.5 cm | 77 / 82 cm |
| Male: Scheduled Tribes of North-Eastern States | 157 cm | 77 / 82 cm |
| Female (general) | 157 cm | Not required |
| Female: hill areas and regions listed above (including Gorkhas) | 155 cm | Not required |
| Female: all Scheduled Tribes | 154 cm | Not required |
SSC CPO height for SI (Fire) in CISF (male only)
| Category | Height | Chest (unexpanded / expanded) |
|---|---|---|
| General | 170 cm | 81 / 86 cm |
| Hill areas of Garhwal, Kumaon, Himachal Pradesh, Gorkhas, Dogras, Marathas, Sikkimese, Leh & Ladakh, Kashmir Valley and North-Eastern States | 165 cm | 81 / 86 cm |
| All Scheduled Tribes, including Mizos and Nagas | 162.5 cm | 77 / 82 cm |
Weight must be proportionate to height for all posts. Height or chest relaxation is given only on a certificate in the Annexure-VIII format from the competent district authority (Para 12.10.6). There is no chest requirement for women (Para 12.10.5).
SSC CPO PET 2026 (Physical Endurance Test)
| Event | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 100 metre race | 16 seconds | 18 seconds |
| Long race | 1.6 km in 6.5 minutes | 800 metres in 4 minutes |
| Long jump | 3.65 metres in 3 chances | 2.7 metres in 3 chances |
| High jump | 1.2 metres in 3 chances | 0.9 metre in 3 chances |
| Shot put (16 lbs) | 4.5 metres in 3 chances | Not prescribed |
PST/PET carry no marks; they are qualifying. Ex-Servicemen do not take the PET but must pass the PST, written papers and medical standards (Para 12.10.10). Candidates who fail height or chest can appeal to the appellate authority on the PST/PET ground (Para 12.10.8).
SSC CPO Medical Standards and Eyesight
| Standard | Requirement (Para 12.11) |
|---|---|
| Near vision | N6 (better eye) and N9 (worse eye) |
| Distant vision | 6/6 (better eye) and 6/9 (worse eye) without any correction such as glasses or surgery of any kind |
| Better eye | For a right-handed person the right eye is the better eye, and vice versa |
| Not allowed | Knock knee, flat foot, varicose veins or squint in the eyes |
| Colour vision | High colour vision |
| Tattoos | Only religious symbols/figures and names (as followed in the Indian Army), on the inner forearm (left forearm only) or back of the hand, smaller than 1/4 of that body part (Para 12.13) |
SSC CPO 2026 Application Fee
The fee is ₹100. Women, SC, ST and Ex-Servicemen eligible for reservation are exempt (Para 9). The correction window charge is ₹200 for the first correction and ₹500 for the second, for all candidates (Para 10.5).
SSC CPO Selection Process and Exam Pattern 2026
| Stage | Details (Para 12 and 16) |
|---|---|
| Paper-I (CBE) | 100 questions, 100 marks, 1 hour with a 15-minute sectional timer: Reasoning 25, GK and General Awareness 25, Quantitative Aptitude 25, English Comprehension 25; 0.25 negative mark |
| PST/PET | Qualifying |
| Paper-II (CBE) | Parts I to III (Reasoning, GK, Quant): 20 questions of 40 marks each, 1 hour with 20-minute sectional timers; Part IV English Comprehension: 100 questions, 200 marks, 1 hour; 0.50 negative mark |
| Medical (DME/RME) and DV | Qualifying |
| Minimum qualifying marks in Paper-I and Paper-II | UR 30%, OBC/EWS 25%, all others 20% |
| NCC bonus | C certificate 5%, B certificate 3%, A certificate 2% of maximum marks in each paper |
Final merit and post allotment are based on Paper-II marks and your post preferences (Para 16.8). Topic-wise details are in our SSC CPO syllabus 2026 note. SSC has scheduled the CBE for 23 to 28 November 2026 (SSC corrigendum of 26.10.2026, which revised the earlier 20 to 28 November dates).
SSC CPO Eligibility FAQs
What is the age limit for SSC CPO 2026?
20 to 25 years as on 01.08.2026 for SI in Delhi Police and SI (GD) in CAPFs (born 02.08.2001 to 01.08.2006). For SI (Fire) in CISF it is 18 to 30 years. OBC get 3 years and SC/ST 5 years of relaxation.
What is the height required for SSC CPO?
170 cm for general male candidates and 157 cm for general female candidates, with lower heights for hill-area candidates, Gorkhas (CAPFs) and Scheduled Tribes, as listed in Para 12.10 of the notice.
Can final-year students apply for SSC CPO 2026?
Yes, but they must have the degree, with the result declared, on or before the closing date of 30.09.2026.
Is a driving licence compulsory for SSC CPO?
Only for male candidates who want SI in Delhi Police: a valid LMV licence for motorcycle and car on the PE&MT date. Without it, they are considered only for CAPF SI posts.
Are glasses allowed in SSC CPO medical?
No. Distant vision must be 6/6 and 6/9 without any correction, including glasses or eye surgery.
Can women apply for SSC CPO SI (Fire)?
No. SI (Fire) in CISF is notified for male candidates only. Women can apply for SI in Delhi Police (Female) and SI (GD) in CAPFs.
Is there a fee for women in SSC CPO 2026?
No. Women, SC, ST and eligible Ex-Servicemen are exempt from the ₹100 fee.
Practice Next for SSC CPO
- Start SSC CPO Paper-I practice with the free SSC CPO Reasoning Mock Test 01 and SSC CPO Quant Mock Test 01, then take a timed SSC CPO Paper 1 Full Mock Test 01 on the new 100-question pattern.
- SSC hub: SSC exams page and free SSC mock tests.
- Topic tests for the same subjects: SSC CGL Algebra Mock Test 04 and SSC CGL Number System Mock Test 06.
- Calculators: age calculator and SSC answer key marks calculator.
- Related notes: SSC CPO cut off previous year, SSC CPO physical test 2026, SSC CPO salary 2026, SSC GD eligibility and age limit 2026 and SSC CGL eligibility and age limit 2026.
- Browse all study notes.