Table of Contents
The Staff Selection Commission has released the SSC CPO Syllabus 2026 along with the official notification for the recruitment of Sub-Inspectors in Delhi Police and CAPFs. With 1,871 vacancies available, candidates should review the Paper 1 and Paper 2 syllabus, revised exam pattern, marking scheme, and selection process before beginning their preparation.
SSC CPO Syllabus 2026
Candidates preparing for the SSC CPO 2026 exam should be familiar with the latest syllabus and exam pattern to plan their preparation effectively. The SSC CPO Syllabus 2026 covers General Intelligence, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, and English Language. Understanding the subject-wise topics will help candidates plan their studies and prioritise important areas. The complete subject-wise syllabus and exam pattern are given below.
SSC CPO Syllabus: Overview
Both papers will consist of objective multiple-choice questions. Questions in Parts I, II, and III will be available in Hindi and English. Negative marking will be 0.25 marks in Paper I and 0.50 marks in Paper II for each incorrect answer. The table below presents the important details in a concise format for easy reference.
| Particular | Details |
| Conducting Body |
Staff Selection Commission
|
| Exam Name | SSC CPO 2026 |
| Posts |
SI in Delhi Police & CAPFs
|
| Exam Level | National |
| Selection Process |
Paper 1, PET/PST, Paper 2, Medical Examination
|
| Paper 1 Marks | 100 |
| Paper 2 Marks | 320 |
| Negative Marking | Paper 1: 0.25 Marks Paper 2: 0.50 marks |
| Official Website | ssc.gov.in |
What’s New in SSC CPO 2026?
The SSC CPO 2026 exam pattern has been revised significantly this year. Paper 1 has been reduced from 200 to 100 questions and 200 to 100 marks, with 25 questions and 25 marks in each section and a 15-minute sectional timer. Paper 2 will have four sections, with English Comprehension carrying 100 questions for 200 marks, while the other three sections will have 20 questions for 40 marks each. A sectional timer of 20 minutes will also apply to each Paper 2 section.
SSC CPO Syllabus 2026 PDF Download
The SSC CPO Syllabus 2026 covers General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Knowledge & General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, and English Comprehension in Paper 1, while the revised Paper 2 includes all four subjects. Candidates should check the latest subject-wise topics, exam pattern, marking scheme, and sectional timing before beginning preparation.
SSC CPO Selection Process 2026
The selection process includes 3 following three stages of selection:
| Tier | Type of Examination | Mode of examination |
| Tier-I | Objective Multiple Choice | CBT (Online) |
| PET/PST | Running, Long Jump, High Jump, and Shot Put | Physical exam |
| Tier-II | Objective Multiple Choice | CBT (Online) |
SSC CPO Paper 1 Exam Pattern 2026 (Revised)
SSC CPO Paper 1 comprises 100 questions carrying 100 marks, with a total duration of 1 hour. The exam is divided into four sections, with 25 questions in each section. SSC will use the normalisation process for calculating scores. A sectional time limit has also been introduced this year, with 15 minutes allotted to each section.
| Sections | No. of Questions | Total Marks | Duration |
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | 25 Qs | 25 Qs | 15 Mins |
| General Knowledge and General Awareness | 25 Qs | 25 Qs | 15 Mins |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 Qs | 25 Qs | 15 Mins |
| English Comprehension | 25 Qs | 25 Qs | 15 Mins |
| Total | 100 Qs | 100 Qs | 1 Hours |
Note- For every wrong question, there is a negative marking of 0.25 marks.
SSC CPO Paper 2 Exam Pattern 2026
The SSC CPO Tier 2 exam will comprise 160 questions carrying a total of 320 marks. Candidates who qualify for Tier 1 will be eligible to appear for the Paper 2 examination.
| Part | Subject | Total Questions | Max. Marks | Duration |
| 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 Hour | |
Note- For every wrong question, there is a negative marking of 0.50 marks.
Qualifying Marks in SSC CPO Exam 2026
To qualify in the SSC CPO Exam 2026, candidates must secure the minimum qualifying marks set by SSC. The required marks are 30% for General category, 25% for OBC/EWS candidates, and 20% for SC/ST and other categories.
However, meeting these minimum marks alone is not enough; candidates must also score above the prescribed cut-off to move to the next stage of the selection process.
SSC CPO Syllabus 2026 For Paper 1 and 2
SSC CPO Tier 1 is the first stage of the recruitment process and is conducted in online mode. Candidates who qualify in this exam become eligible for the PET/PST and Tier 2 stages. The detailed syllabus for each subject is provided below.
CPO SI Syllabus for General Intelligence and Reasoning
The General Intelligence and Reasoning section covers both verbal and non-verbal reasoning topics, including:
- Semantic Analogy
- Symbolic/Number Analogy
- Figural Analogy
- Semantic, Symbolic/Number and Figural Classification
- Semantic, Number and Figural Series
- Problem Solving
- Word Building
- Coding-Decoding
- Numerical and Symbolic Operations
- Trends
- Space Orientation and Visualization
- Venn Diagrams
- Drawing Inferences
- Punched Hole/Pattern Folding and Unfolding
- Figural Pattern Folding and Completion
- Indexing
- Address Matching
- Coding, Decoding and Classification
- Embedded Figures
- Critical Thinking
- Emotional Intelligence
- Social Intelligence
CPO SI Syllabus for General Knowledge & General Awareness
This section tests candidates’ awareness of their surroundings and current events. Important areas include:
- Current Affairs
- History
- Culture
- Geography
- Economic Scene
- General Polity
- Indian Constitution
- Scientific Research
- Everyday Science
- India and its neighbouring countries
CPO SI Syllabus for Quantitative Aptitude
The Quantitative Aptitude section tests candidates’ numerical ability and problem-solving skills. The major topics include:
- Whole Numbers
- Decimals and Fractions
- Percentage
- Ratio and Proportion
- Square Roots
- Averages
- Interest
- Profit and Loss
- Discount
- Partnership Business
- Mixture and Alligation
- Time and Distance
- Time and Work
- Algebra
- Surds
- Graphs of Linear Equations
- Geometry
- Triangles and Quadrilaterals
- Circles
- Mensuration
- Trigonometry
- Heights and Distances
- Histogram
- Frequency Polygon
- Bar Diagram
- Pie Chart
CPO SI Syllabus for English Comprehension
The English Comprehension section evaluates candidates’ understanding and knowledge of the English language. It includes:
- Error Recognition
- Fill in the Blanks
- Vocabulary
- Spellings
- Grammar
- Sentence Structure
- Synonyms and Antonyms
- Sentence Completion
- Phrases and Idioms
- Reading Comprehension
Note: The difficulty level of Paper II will be higher than that of Paper I.
Best Books for SSC CPO Preparation
| Subject | Book |
| Maths |
Fast Track Objective Arithmetic by Rajesh Verma
|
| Reasoning |
Analytical Reasoning by M.K. Pandey
|
| English |
Objective General English by S.P. Bakshi
|
| GK |
Lucent General Knowledge
|
SSC CPO Physical Standards Test 2026
Candidates are advised to check the physical standards required for SSC CPO. The SSC CPO Physical Standards are given in the table:
| Candidate | Height | Chest in cms | |
| Unexpanded | Expanded | ||
| A. Male Candidates (General) | 170 | 80 | 85 |
| (i) For candidates belonging to Hill areas of Garhwal, Kumauni, Himachal Pradesh, Gorkhas, Dogra’s, Marathas, Kashmir Valley, Leh & Ladakh regions of J&K, North-Eastern States and Sikkim | 165 | 80 | 85 |
| (ii) For candidates belonging to Scheduled Tribes | 162.5 | 77 | 82 |
| B. Female Candidates (General) | 157 | – | – |
| (i) For candidates belonging to Hill areas of Garhwal, Kumauni, Himachal Pradesh, Gorkhas, Dogra’s, Marathas, Kashmir Valley, Leh & Ladakh regions of J&K, North-Eastern States and Sikkim | 155 | – | – |
| (ii) Scheduled Tribes | 154 | – | – |
SSC CPO Physical Efficiency Test 2026
The Physical Endurance Test (PET) standards apply to all candidates who score above the cut-off in Paper 1. All tests must be completed on the same day, so candidates should prepare according to the PET requirements in advance.
Male Candidates
- 100-meter race in 16 seconds
- 1.6 km race in 6.5 minutes
- Long Jump: 3.65 meters in 5 chances
- High Jump: 1.2 meters in 3 chances
- Short put 16 LBS: 4.5 meters in 3 chances
Female Candidates
- 100-meter race in 18 seconds
- 800-meter race in 4 minutes
- Long Jump: 2.7 meters or 9 feet in 3 chances
- High Jump: 0.9 meters or 3 feet in 3 chances
SSC CPO Medical Test 2026
The criteria for the Medical Test for SSC CPO 2026 are mentioned below:
- Minimum Near Vision: N6 (better eye) and N9 (worse eye)
- Minimum Distant Vision: 6/6 (better eye) and 6/9 (worse eye)
- Must not have knock-kneed, flat feet, varicose vein, or squint in eyes
- Eye standards should be without visual correction of any kind, even by glasses.
SSC CPO Exam Syllabus 2026: Important Points to Remember
- As mentioned in the SSC CPO Exam Pattern, questions in both papers will be of the Objective Multiple Choice Type.
- Questions will be set in Hindi and English in Parts I, II, and III of Paper I.
- There will be a negative marking of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer in Paper I & Paper II.
- The SSC (Staff Service Commission ) reserves the right to alter the exam pattern.
- As per the SSC CPO Exam pattern, the Physical test and Medical Exams are to be conducted only after a successful score in papers I & II. This is to ensure that the candidate is perfectly fit for the applied post.
- The physical test is done to determine the basic physical structure of the candidate, like height, chest, etc.
- A Medical Exam is done to verify certain aspects like fitness, vision, flat foot, knee, squint eyes, etc. to ensure that one is free from all sorts of deformities that would hinder efficiency during the duties.
| Important Links: | |
| SSC CPO Selection Process 2026 | SSC CPO Exam Pattern 2026 |
| SSC CPO Notification 2026 | SSC CPO Previous Year Question Paper |








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