SSC CPO Syllabus 2026: Research Brief, Article and SEO Package
The SSC CPO syllabus for 2026 covers four subjects: General Intelligence and Reasoning, General Knowledge and General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude and English Comprehension. The topic list is familiar, but the way SSC tests it has changed sharply. The official notice dated 10 September 2026 cuts Paper 1 to 100 questions, brings all four subjects into Paper 2, adds sectional timers to both papers and raises the Paper 2 penalty to 0.50 marks.
Many syllabus pages still describe the old 200-question format. This guide is built directly from the official notice, so you get the complete topic list, the new marking rules, how Paper 1 differs from Paper 2, and a practical way to plan your preparation.
SSC CPO 2026 key dates (checked against the official SSC notice on 24 September 2026)
Event | Date |
|---|---|
Notice released | 10 September 2026 |
Online application | 10 to 30 September 2026 (till 11:00 PM) |
Last date for online fee payment | 1 October 2026 (till 11:00 PM) |
Application correction window | 8 to 10 October 2026 |
Paper 1 (Computer Based Examination) | To be notified later |
Tentative vacancies | 1,871 |
SSC CPO Syllabus 2026
Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
Conducting body | Staff Selection Commission (SSC) |
Exam name | Sub-Inspector in Delhi Police and Central Armed Police Forces Examination, 2026 |
Posts | SI (Executive) in Delhi Police, SI (GD) in CAPFs, SI (Fire) in CISF |
Selection stages | Paper 1, PST/PET, Paper 2, Detailed Medical Examination |
Subjects | Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, English Comprehension |
Paper 1 | 100 questions, 100 marks, 1 hour |
Paper 2 | 160 questions, 320 marks, 2 hours |
Negative marking | 0.25 (Paper 1), 0.50 (Paper 2) per wrong answer |
Question language | Hindi and English for Reasoning, GK and Quant; English section in English only |
Syllabus type | One indicative syllabus for both papers; Paper 2 is set at a higher difficulty |
Official website |
The same SSC CPO syllabus applies to every post, including the new SI (Fire) post in CISF. There is no separate technical paper for it.
What Changed in the SSC CPO Exam Pattern for 2026?
If you prepared for an earlier cycle, these are the changes that matter most.
Area | Earlier pattern | 2026 pattern |
|---|---|---|
Paper 1 size | 200 questions, 200 marks | 100 questions, 100 marks |
Paper 1 duration | 2 hours | 1 hour, with a 15-minute timer per part |
Paper 2 subjects | English only | All four subjects |
Paper 2 size | 200 questions, 200 marks | 160 questions, 320 marks |
Paper 2 negative marking | 0.25 per wrong answer | 0.50 per wrong answer |
Posts covered | SI in Delhi Police and CAPFs | SI (Fire) in CISF added |
The SSC CPO syllabus topics themselves are close to earlier notices. What has changed is the time pressure, the weight of each subject and the role of Paper 2 in your final rank.
SSC CPO Selection Process: What Each Stage Tests
Stage | What it tests | Nature | What it decides |
|---|---|---|---|
Paper 1 | Four written subjects | Computer-based, scored | Shortlist for PST/PET |
PST/PET | Height, chest, running, jumps, shot put | Qualifying only | Eliminates those who fail |
Paper 2 | Same four subjects at a higher level | Computer-based, scored | Final merit and force allocation |
DME/RME and Document Verification | Eyesight, medical fitness, certificates | Qualifying only | Final eligibility |
The key point is simple. Paper 1 is your gate to the physical test, and SSC may even fix separate cut-offs for each part of it. Paper 2, including any NCC bonus, decides your final selection and which force you get.
SSC CPO Exam Pattern 2026
Paper 1 Exam Pattern
Part | Subject | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
I | General Intelligence and Reasoning | 25 | 25 | 15 minutes |
II | General Knowledge and General Awareness | 25 | 25 | 15 minutes |
III | Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 25 | 15 minutes |
IV | English Comprehension | 25 | 25 | 15 minutes |
Total | 100 | 100 | 1 hour |
You get about 36 seconds per question. Each part runs on its own clock, so plan to finish every section inside its 15 minutes rather than counting on spare time elsewhere.
Paper 2 Exam Pattern
Part | Subject | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
I | General Intelligence and Reasoning | 20 | 40 | 20 minutes |
II | General Knowledge and General Awareness | 20 | 40 | 20 minutes |
III | Quantitative Aptitude | 20 | 40 | 20 minutes |
IV | English Comprehension | 100 | 200 | 1 hour |
Total | 160 | 320 | 2 hours |
Marking and Qualifying Rules
Rule | Details |
|---|---|
Negative marking | 0.25 marks in Paper 1 and 0.50 marks in Paper 2 for each wrong answer |
Minimum qualifying marks | UR 30%, OBC/EWS 25%, all other categories 20% (before NCC bonus) |
NCC bonus (each paper) | 'C' certificate 5%, 'B' certificate 3%, 'A' certificate 2% of maximum marks |
Normalisation | Applied if a paper is held in multiple shifts |
Answer key challenge | Rs. 50 per question, online only |
SSC CPO Syllabus PDF
SSC publishes the syllabus inside the examination notice, under the heading "Indicative syllabus for Computer Based Examination" (pages 17 and 18). You can download the official SSC CPO 2026 notice PDF from the SSC website and keep it as your master checklist. The word "indicative" matters: questions can touch closely related concepts, so treat the list as the core, not the boundary.
SSC CPO Syllabus for Paper 1 and Paper 2 (Subject-Wise)
The topics below are grouped for easier study. Every topic listed comes from the official notice.
SSC CPO Reasoning Syllabus (General Intelligence and Reasoning)
This section mixes verbal and non-verbal questions. It checks how quickly you spot patterns, relationships and logical links.
Area | Topics |
|---|---|
Analogy and classification | Semantic, symbolic/number and figural analogy; semantic, symbolic/number and figural classification; similarities and differences |
Series | Semantic, number, figural and non-verbal series; arithmetic number series; trends |
Coding and operations | Coding-decoding; small and capital letter/number coding; word building; numerical and symbolic operations |
Logical reasoning | Syllogistic reasoning; statement and conclusion; drawing inferences; problem solving, analysis, judgment and decision making; relationship concepts; arithmetical reasoning; critical thinking |
Spatial and figure-based | Space visualisation; spatial orientation; Venn diagrams; punched hole and pattern folding/unfolding; figural pattern folding and completion; embedded figures; visual memory, discrimination and observation |
Clerical matching | Indexing; address matching; date and city matching; classification of centre codes and roll numbers |
Intelligence-based | Emotional intelligence; social intelligence |
Matching, coding and series questions are usually the fastest marks here. Figure-based questions reward regular practice more than theory.
SSC CPO GK Syllabus (General Knowledge and General Awareness)
SSC tests your awareness of the world around you and its application to society, along with everyday science that any educated person should know. The notice gives special attention to India and its neighbouring countries.
Official area | Suggested focus |
|---|---|
Current events | National and international news, government schemes, awards, sports, summits and appointments from the last 6 to 12 months |
History and culture | Ancient, medieval and modern Indian history; freedom struggle; art, dance and festivals |
Geography | Physical and Indian geography, rivers, soils, climate, national parks |
Economic scene | Budget basics, banking terms, key economic indicators, major reports |
General polity and Indian Constitution | Fundamental rights and duties, Parliament, judiciary, constitutional bodies, key articles |
Scientific research and everyday science | Basic physics, chemistry and biology, human health, recent space and defence developments |
India and its neighbours | Capitals, currencies, borders, bilateral agreements |
SSC CPO Maths Syllabus (Quantitative Aptitude)
This section tests number sense and your ability to apply school-level mathematics quickly.
Area | Topics |
|---|---|
Number basics | Whole numbers, decimals, fractions, relationships between numbers, square roots |
Arithmetic | Percentage, ratio and proportion, averages, interest, profit and loss, discount, partnership business, mixture and alligation |
Time-based problems | Time and distance, time and work |
Algebra | Basic algebraic identities of school algebra, elementary surds, graphs of linear equations |
Geometry | Triangle and its centres, congruence and similarity of triangles, circle and its chords, tangents, angles subtended by chords, common tangents to two or more circles |
Mensuration | Triangle, quadrilaterals, regular polygons, circle, right prism, right circular cone, right circular cylinder, sphere, hemisphere, rectangular parallelepiped, regular right pyramid with triangular or square base |
Trigonometry | Trigonometric ratios, degree and radian measures, standard identities, complementary angles, heights and distances |
Data interpretation | Histogram, frequency polygon, bar diagram, pie chart |
Arithmetic topics are the most scoring for most aspirants. Geometry and trigonometry become easier once you memorise the core properties and identities.
SSC CPO English Syllabus (English Comprehension)
This section checks your understanding and correct use of the English language.
Area | Topics |
|---|---|
Grammar and usage | Error recognition; fill in the blanks (verbs, prepositions, articles); grammar; sentence structure; sentence completion |
Vocabulary | Synonyms, antonyms, spellings, phrases and idiomatic use of words, general vocabulary |
Reading | Comprehension passages |
In Paper 2, English has 100 questions in one hour. It is the single largest block of marks in the entire exam.
SSC CPO Paper 1 vs Paper 2 Syllabus: Key Differences
Factor | Paper 1 | Paper 2 |
|---|---|---|
Topics | Same four subjects | Same four subjects |
Difficulty | Base level | Higher, as stated in the notice |
Marks per question | 1 | 2 |
Penalty per wrong answer | 0.25 | 0.50 |
Penalty as a share of the question's value | 25% | 25% |
English share of total marks | 25% | 62.5% |
Time per question | About 36 seconds | 60 seconds (Parts I to III), 36 seconds (English) |
Role in selection | Shortlisting for PST/PET | Final merit and force allocation |
The "doubled" negative marking sounds harsher than it is. Each Paper 2 question carries 2 marks, so a wrong answer still costs one quarter of that question's value, exactly as in Paper 1. The real shift is elsewhere: English now drives your rank, and Reasoning, GK and Quant give you a full minute per question to solve harder problems.
SSC CPO Physical Standards and PET
PST and PET are not part of the written syllabus, but they sit between the two papers and are purely qualifying. Here are the endurance standards from the notice.
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 chances) | 3.65 metres | 2.7 metres |
High jump (3 chances) | 1.2 metres | 0.9 metres |
Shot put, 16 lbs (3 chances) | 4.5 metres | Not applicable |
The general height requirement is 170 cm for men and 157 cm for women, with relaxations for specified regions and categories. Ex-Servicemen do not take the PET but must meet the physical standards.
How to Prepare for the SSC CPO Syllabus
Subject-Wise Strategy
English: Give it the largest share of your time. Read one editorial every day, note new words, and practise two comprehension passages daily under a timer.
Quantitative Aptitude: Finish arithmetic first, then geometry, mensuration and trigonometry. Keep a one-page formula sheet and revise it weekly.
Reasoning: Practise mixed sets every day, because the paper jumps between verbal and figure-based questions. Speed on matching and coding frees time for harder puzzles.
General Awareness: Split it into static GK and current affairs. Revise monthly current affairs and one static subject each week.
A 12-Week Study Plan
Weeks | Focus | Target |
|---|---|---|
1 to 4 | Concepts in all four subjects | Complete arithmetic, grammar rules and core reasoning types |
5 to 8 | Topic tests and sectional tests | Solve each section in 15 minutes (Paper 1) and 20 minutes (Paper 2 non-English) |
9 to 12 | Full-length mocks and revision | Two full mocks a week, with a detailed error review after each |
Throughout | Physical training | Build running stamina and jump technique well before the PET |
Mistakes to Avoid
Following an outdated syllabus page: Several sites still show the 200-question Paper 1 and an English-only Paper 2.
Treating Paper 2 as an English test only: Reasoning, GK and Quant together carry 120 marks in Paper 2.
Guessing blindly: With negative marking in both papers, attempt a question only when you can eliminate at least two options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to practice? Explore SSC CPO mock tests from top educators.
Browse SSC CPO Mock Tests