Central Industrial Security Force Constable

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which works under the Ministry of Home Affairs, guards airports, metro systems, seaports, power plants, government buildings and other sensitive sites. Its constables form the backbone of this work. If you want to join as a CISF Constable, you need to know that there are two separate entry routes, and each has its own notification, exam and timeline.

Constable (General Duty) posts are filled through the SSC GD Constable Examination run by the Staff Selection Commission. Constable (Tradesmen) posts are filled directly by CISF through its recruitment portal. This page explains both routes in one place: vacancies, eligibility, exam pattern, syllabus, physical tests, selection stages, salary and how to prepare. Year-specific figures are labelled with their cycle, so you can separate them from rules that stay the same every year.

Table of Contents

CISF Constable Recruitment at a Glance

Two Ways to Become a CISF Constable

Most confusion around this recruitment comes from mixing the two routes. Keep this table in mind before you read any other detail.

In the GD route, you also mention your force preferences while applying. Allotment depends on your rank, your preferences and the vacancies each force has declared.

Important Dates

The tables below belong to specific recruitment cycles. Read them as a record of how each cycle has run, and always confirm current dates on the official sites.

Constable/GD: SSC GD Constable Examination 2026

Constable/Tradesmen: CISF cycle advertised in 2025

Tentative dates come from the notification schedule and can change. Track the recruitment page on the official CISF portal and your registered email and mobile number. CISF also lists this cycle under the "2024" label for some posts, so do not be confused if you see both years.

Vacancy Details

Constable/GD in CISF

The SSC GD 2026 notification carried 25,487 vacancies across the participating forces. CISF had the largest share, as reported from the notification. Check the official notification PDF for the full category-wise and state-wise break-up.

Constable/Tradesmen

The Tradesmen cycle advertised in 2025 had 1,161 posts. The trade-wise split below is indicative, taken from published summaries of the notification, and should be matched with the official PDF.

Of the 1,161 posts, 1,048 are for general candidates (945 male and 103 female) and 113 are for ex-servicemen.

Eligibility Criteria in Brief

The full rules are on our CISF Constable eligibility page. Here is the short version.

• Nationality: You must be an Indian citizen. The GD route also asks for a domicile or permanent residence certificate of your State or Union Territory.

• Qualification: Matriculation or equivalent from a recognised board, passed by the date the notification specifies. ITI training in the trade is preferred for skilled Tradesmen posts.

• Age: 18 to 23 years. For SSC GD 2026 the reference date was 1 January 2026, so candidates born between 2 January 2003 and 1 January 2008 were eligible. For the Tradesmen cycle the reference date was 1 August 2025.

• Relaxation: Upper age limit is relaxed by 5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC and 3 years for ex-servicemen, after deducting service, as per the notification.

Some third-party pages show 18 to 28 years for Tradesmen. Treat the age limit in the official notification as final, because that wider figure may come from adding relaxation to the base limit.

Application Fee and How to Apply

Both routes follow the same basic steps:

1. Open the correct portal: SSC for GD, or the CISF recruitment portal for Tradesmen.

2. Register with a valid email address and mobile number, and keep the login details safe.

3. Fill in personal, educational and category details exactly as shown on your certificates.

4. Upload your photograph, signature and any documents asked for, in the size and format given.

5. Pay the fee if applicable, submit the form and keep a copy.

Common reasons for rejection include a wrong category, a photo that does not match the instructions, and applying for a trade without the required qualification.

Exam Pattern

The detailed breakdown is on our CISF Constable exam pattern page. The summary is below.

What this means for you:

• GD is a speed paper: 80 questions in 60 minutes leaves under a minute per question, so accuracy under time pressure matters more than depth.

• Tradesmen allows more time: With 120 minutes for 100 questions and no negative marking, attempting every question is sensible.

• Older pages can mislead: Some websites still show older patterns for both routes, so follow the current notification.

Syllabus Summary

Questions in both papers are set around Class 10 level. The topic lists below are working checklists, because the notifications name the sections but do not publish a long topic-wise syllabus. See the full CISF Constable syllabus for details.

Selection Process

The stages differ by route, and each stage is a gate you must clear.

Constable/GD

1. Computer-based examination: Qualifying marks are 30% for UR, 25% for OBC and EWS, and 20% for other categories. Marks decide shortlisting for the next stage.

2. Physical Efficiency Test (PET): A timed run that is qualifying in nature.

3. Physical Standard Test (PST): Height, chest for men, and other measurements.

4. Medical examination and document verification: Final fitness and certificate checks.

Constable/Tradesmen

1. PET and PST with document check: PET carries no merit marks.

2. Trade test: A practical test in your applied trade, qualifying in nature.

3. Written examination: Merit is based on marks here.

4. Medical examination: Final fitness check.

Physical Standards in Brief

Physical standards are a common reason for losing a seat, so check them early. The figures below are for general candidates; Scheduled Tribe, hill-area and other regional categories have relaxed standards listed in the notification.

The running tests are different for the two routes, so train for the one you are applying to. Ladakh candidates have separate running standards in the GD notification.

Salary and Career Growth

Both posts are placed in Pay Level 3 of the pay matrix, with a basic pay range of Rs. 21,700 to Rs. 69,100. Dearness allowance, house rent allowance, transport allowance and other benefits are added as per government rules. Your actual in-hand salary varies with your posting city, so treat any monthly figure you see online as an estimate, not an official number.

Constables can move up to Head Constable and Assistant Sub-Inspector through CISF promotion and departmental examination rules. The pace depends on vacancies and service rules, so there is no fixed timeline.

How to Prepare for CISF Constable

Start with the route you are applying for, because the pattern, running test and syllabus all depend on it.

• Build the base in three subjects first: Reasoning, Elementary Mathematics and language carry steady marks and can be improved with practice.

• Read for general awareness daily: Spend 30 minutes on current events and keep short monthly notes.

• Train for the physical test from day one: Increase running distance gradually and test your timing every two weeks.

• Tradesmen candidates: Practise the practical skills of your trade, because the trade test is a gate even when marks do not add to merit.

Cut-off Reference

For SSC GD 2026, the minimum qualifying marks out of 160 were 48 for UR, 40 for OBC and EWS, and 32 for SC, ST and ex-servicemen. Actual shortlisting cut-offs were released state-wise, gender-wise and category-wise, and they were far higher than the minimum in many states. The Tradesmen cycle has not yet published merit cut-offs because its written exam is pending. Cut-offs change every year with difficulty, vacancies and the number of applicants, so use last year's figures as a benchmark only and aim for a clear margin above them. See the CISF Constable cut-off page for more.