CISF Constable Eligibility 2026: Age, Education and Physical Standards

Before you spend months preparing, check whether you meet the CISF Constable eligibility rules. They cover nationality, educational qualification, age, physical standards and medical fitness. The rules also differ slightly between the two routes: Constable (General Duty), which is filled through the SSC GD Constable Examination, and Constable (Tradesmen), which CISF fills directly.

Age is counted on a fixed reference date given in each notification, not on the day you apply. For SSC GD 2026 the date was 1 January 2026. For the Tradesmen cycle advertised in 2025 it was 1 August 2025. The figures below belong to those cycles, while the structure of the rules stays largely the same from year to year. Always confirm the exact dates in the notification you are applying under.

CISF Constable Eligibility

Educational Qualification

For both routes the basic requirement is Matriculation or Class 10 from a recognised board. A few points matter more than students expect.

• Passing date: You must have passed Class 10 on or before the date mentioned in the notification. For SSC GD 2026 that was 1 January 2026, and candidates still waiting for their result were not eligible. For the Tradesmen cycle the notification asked for the qualification by the closing date of applications.

• Recognised board: The certificate must be from a board or university recognised by the Central or State Government.

• Trade-specific preference: For skilled Tradesmen posts such as cook, barber, tailor, carpenter, painter, welder, electrician and mali, ITI-trained candidates are preferred. A trade test decides your actual skill.

• Sweeper post: This post is treated as unskilled, but Matriculation is still required.

Age Limit and Relaxation

The age limit for both routes is 18 to 23 years on the reference date. For SSC GD 2026, that meant candidates born between 2 January 2003 and 1 January 2008. Some third-party pages show 18 to 28 years for Tradesmen; this seems to add the maximum relaxation to the base limit, so rely on the age limit printed in the official notification.

Upper age relaxation

General and EWS candidates do not get age relaxation. The relaxation is shown here as reported for the 2025 and 2026 cycles, so match it with the current notification before you rely on it.

Nationality and Other Conditions

• Citizenship: You must be a citizen of India.

• Domicile: The GD notification requires a domicile or permanent residence certificate of your State or Union Territory, because state-wise vacancies and cut-offs apply.

• Gender: Both men and women can apply for GD. In the Tradesmen route, vacancies for women exist only in some trades, so check the trade-wise list.

• Category certificates: SC, ST, OBC and EWS candidates need valid certificates in the format given in the notification.

• Character: Candidates with a criminal record or a dismissal from government service may be rejected at the verification stage.

Physical Standards

Physical standards are measured at the PST. Meeting them is compulsory, even if your written score is high. The tables below show the standards reported from the notifications for each route.

Constable/GD (SSC GD 2026)

Further relaxations apply to north-eastern states, the Gorkha Territorial Administration area and certain areas affected by left-wing extremism. See the notification for the complete list.

Constable/Tradesmen (2025 cycle)

Chest measurement does not apply to women. Weight must be proportionate to height and age.

Running test (PET)

Medical Standards

The medical examination is the last big gate. The detailed standards are given in the notification and the forces' medical guidelines. In general, you should have no physical deformity, good hearing and eyesight, and no condition that affects field duty. Published summaries of the GD notification state that distant vision of 6/6 and 6/9 and normal colour vision are required without glasses. Get an eye and dental check-up well before the physical stages, because some conditions can be treated in time and some cannot.

Application Fee and Documents

The fee is Rs. 100 for male General, OBC and EWS candidates in the GD route. Women, SC, ST and ex-servicemen candidates do not pay. In the Tradesmen route, UR, OBC and EWS candidates pay Rs. 100, and SC, ST and ex-servicemen candidates are exempt. More detail on dates and steps is on the CISF Constable recruitment overview page.

Keep these documents ready, in the format asked by the portal:

• Class 10 certificate and marksheet

• ITI or trade certificate, if applying for a skilled trade

• Category certificate for SC, ST, OBC or EWS

• Domicile or residence certificate

• Recent photograph, signature and a valid photo ID

• Discharge certificate, for ex-servicemen

Who Is Not Eligible

• Under 18 or over the age limit on the reference date, after counting any valid relaxation.

• Class 10 result pending on the cut-off date mentioned in the notification.

• Below the physical standards: Height or chest below the minimum for your category.

• Wrong category claim: Applying under a reserved category without a valid certificate can lead to rejection.

• Applying under the wrong route: Trade-specific posts need the matching qualification or skill, and a GD application does not carry over to Tradesmen.

• Medical unfitness as per the standards in the notification.

Check Your Eligibility Step by Step

1. Decide the route: GD through SSC, or Tradesmen through the CISF portal.

2. Read the age reference date and compare it with your date of birth.

3. Check that your Class 10 passing date is on or before the cut-off date.

4. Measure your height and chest correctly at home, barefoot, against a wall.

5. Test your running time on a measured track, and plan training weeks before the physical stage.

For final rules, always read the notification on https://cisfrectt.cisf.gov.in/ or https://ssc.gov.in/.