SSC GD Age Limit 2026: Quick Answer
As per the official SSC Constable (GD) 2026 notice, the SSC GD age limit is 18 to 23 years as on 01-01-2026, so you must be born not before 02-01-2003 and not later than 01-01-2008. OBC candidates get 3 years and SC/ST candidates 5 years of relaxation. You need to be 10th pass by 01-01-2026, and in the physical test men need a height of 170 cm and chest of 80 cm (85 cm expanded), while women need 157 cm, with lower limits for specified groups and regions.
Key takeaway: SSC GD vacancies (except SSF) are filled State/UT-wise, so you must show a domicile/permanent residence certificate of the State/UT you chose in the form. A certificate of a different state means your candidature is cancelled.
Official source: SSC Constable (GD) 2026 Notice (PDF), published on ssc.gov.in on 01.12.2025. Paragraph numbers below refer to this notice.
SSC GD Eligibility 2026 at a Glance
| Criterion | Official requirement | Para |
|---|---|---|
| Nationality | Citizen of India | 4 |
| Domicile | Domicile/PRC of the State/UT chosen in the form (Assam candidates exempt, subject to verification) | 3.3, 6.9, 6.10 |
| Age (as on 01-01-2026) | 18 to 23 years | 5 |
| Date of birth | Not before 02-01-2003 and not later than 01-01-2008 | 5 |
| Qualification | 10th (Matriculation) pass from a recognised Board on or before 01-01-2026 | 7.1 |
| Height (men / women) | 170 cm / 157 cm (relaxed for specified groups) | 12.5.1 |
| Chest (men only) | 80 cm unexpanded, minimum 5 cm expansion | 12.5.2 |
| Race (men / women) | 5 km in 24 minutes / 1.6 km in 8½ minutes | 12.4 |
| Pay | Pay Level 3 (₹21,700 to ₹69,100) | 2 |
| Application fee | ₹100; nil for women, SC, ST and eligible Ex-Servicemen | 9 |
| Vacancies (tentative) | 25,487 (23,467 men, 2,020 women) | 3 |
SSC GD Age Limit 2026 and Date of Birth Range
| Category | Maximum age | Born on or after | Born on or before |
|---|---|---|---|
| General / EWS | 23 years | 02-01-2003 | 01-01-2008 |
| OBC | 26 years | 02-01-2000 | 01-01-2008 |
| SC / ST | 28 years | 02-01-1998 | 01-01-2008 |
The General/EWS row is printed in the notice; the other rows add the official relaxation to the 23-year limit. Your date of birth is taken from your 10th certificate, and a mismatch can lead to rejection at any stage (Para 5.2).
SSC GD Age Relaxation 2026 (Para 5.1)
| Code | Category | Relaxation beyond the upper age limit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SC / ST | 5 years |
| 2 | OBC | 3 years |
| 3 | Ex-Servicemen | 3 years after deducting military service from actual age |
| 4 | Children and dependants of victims killed in the 1984 riots (UR/EWS) | 5 years |
| 5 | Same (OBC) | 8 years |
| 6 | Same (SC/ST) | 10 years |
Sons, daughters and dependants of Ex-Servicemen get no age concession or reservation and must not mark the ESM category (Para 5.8).
SSC GD Educational Qualification 2026 (Para 7)
- You must have passed Matriculation or Class 10 from a recognised Board or University on or before 01-01-2026.
- If you had not passed 10th by that date, you were not eligible and should not have applied (Para 7.2).
- Open and distance learning certificates count only if the institution had the required approval for that period (Para 7.3).
SSC GD Physical Standards 2026: Height (Para 12.5.1)
| Category of candidate | Men (cm) | Women (cm) |
|---|---|---|
| General standard | 170.0 | 157.0 |
| All Scheduled Tribe candidates | 162.5 | 150.0 |
| Scheduled Tribe candidates of North-Eastern States | 157.0 | 147.5 |
| Scheduled Tribe candidates of Left-Wing Extremism affected districts | 160.0 | 147.5 |
| Garhwalis, Kumaonis, Dogras, Marathas, and candidates of Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh | 165.0 | 155.0 |
| Candidates of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura | 162.5 | 152.5 |
| Candidates of the Gorkha Territorial Administration (Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong sub-divisions and listed mouzas) | 157.0 | 152.5 |
SSC GD Chest Measurement 2026 (Men, Para 12.5.2)
| Category of candidate | Unexpanded (cm) | Minimum expansion (cm) |
|---|---|---|
| General standard | 80 | 5 |
| All Scheduled Tribe candidates | 76 | 5 |
| Garhwalis, Kumaonis, Dogras, Marathas, and candidates of Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh | 78 | 5 |
| Candidates of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura and the GTA | 77 | 5 |
Chest is not measured for women, but the board checks that the chest is well developed. Weight must be proportionate to height and age as per medical standards (Para 12.5.3).
How relaxations are proved: ST candidates show a valid ST certificate. All others claiming a relaxed height or chest must produce a certificate in the Annexure-IX format from the competent authority at the PET/PST. If you fail the height or chest check, you may appeal on the same day; there is no appeal for the race.
SSC GD Physical Efficiency Test (Race) 2026 (Para 12.4)
| Candidates | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| All regions except Ladakh | 5 km in 24 minutes | 1.6 km in 8½ minutes |
| Ladakh region | 1.6 km in 7 minutes | 800 metres in 5 minutes |
Ex-Servicemen are exempt from the PET/PST, but they must still have their height, chest and weight recorded and pass the medical examination (Para 12.3).
SSC GD 2026 Exam Pattern (Linked to Eligibility)
| Part | Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | General Intelligence and Reasoning | 20 | 40 |
| B | General Knowledge and General Awareness | 20 | 40 |
| C | Elementary Mathematics | 20 | 40 |
| D | English / Hindi | 20 | 40 |
| Total (60 minutes) | 80 | 160 |
Each question carries 2 marks and 0.25 marks are deducted for a wrong answer. Normalised CBE marks plus NCC bonus marks decide the merit (Para 12.1).
SSC GD Application Fee 2026 (Para 9)
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS men | ₹100 |
| Women, SC, ST and Ex-Servicemen eligible for reservation | Exempted |
Form corrections cost ₹200 the first time and ₹500 the second time for every candidate (Para 10.5).
How to Check Your SSC GD Eligibility (Step-by-Step)
- Check your date of birth on the 10th certificate against the range for your category.
- Confirm your 10th result date. It had to be on or before 01-01-2026.
- Get a domicile/PRC certificate of the same State/UT you chose in the form.
- Measure your height and chest honestly. Use the relaxed table only if you can produce the required certificate (or a valid ST certificate).
- Train for the race early. 5 km in 24 minutes for men means keeping a pace under 4 minutes 48 seconds per km.
Example: is this candidate eligible?
Rohit is an OBC candidate from Himachal Pradesh, born on 10-05-2001, 166 cm tall with an 79/84 cm chest, and 10th pass. The OBC upper limit is 23 + 3 = 26 years, so he may be born as early as 02-01-2000; his birth date is fine. As a Himachal Pradesh candidate, his height standard is 165 cm and chest 78 cm unexpanded with 5 cm expansion, which he meets with the certificate in Annexure-IX format. He is eligible to compete, subject to the race and medical test.
SSC GD Eligibility: Common Mistakes
- Counting age on the form date. Age is reckoned as on 01-01-2026.
- Using a domicile certificate of another state. It must match the State/UT in your form.
- Assuming relaxed height applies automatically. Non-ST candidates need the prescribed certificate at PET/PST.
- Expecting an appeal after failing the race. Only height and chest results can be appealed.
- Marking ESM as a dependant. Children of Ex-Servicemen get no relaxation.
SSC GD Eligibility and Age Limit FAQs
What is the SSC GD age limit in 2026?
18 to 23 years as on 01-01-2026, so you must be born not before 02-01-2003 and not later than 01-01-2008.
What is the SSC GD height for male and female?
170 cm for men and 157 cm for women, with relaxation for ST candidates and candidates of specified regions and communities.
What is the SSC GD chest measurement?
80 cm unexpanded with at least 5 cm expansion for men. Women's chest is not measured.
What is the SSC GD running time?
Men must run 5 km in 24 minutes and women 1.6 km in 8½ minutes (Ladakh region: 1.6 km in 7 minutes and 800 m in 5 minutes).
What qualification is needed for SSC GD?
10th (Matriculation) pass from a recognised Board on or before 01-01-2026.
What is the SSC GD salary?
Pay Level 3 of the pay matrix, ₹21,700 to ₹69,100, as stated in the notice.
Is there negative marking in SSC GD?
Yes, 0.25 marks are deducted for each wrong answer in the computer-based exam.
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