SSC CPO 2026 · Syllabus & exam pattern
SSC CPO Syllabus 2026 and Exam Pattern: Subject-wise Topics
SSC CPO selection: Paper-I (1 hour); Paper-II (1 hour + 1 hour), as per the official notice published 10 September 2026.
Subjects, number of questions, marks, duration and negative marking for every stage, as printed in the official notice.
SSC CPO exam pattern 2026
Stages of selection
- 1Paper-I: computer-based test
- 2Physical Standard Test (PST) / Physical Endurance Test (PET)
- 3Paper-II: computer-based test
- 4Detailed Medical Examination and document verification
Paper-I
1 hour (15-minute sectional timer)
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | 25 | 25 |
| General Knowledge and General Awareness | 25 | 25 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 25 |
| English Comprehension | 25 | 25 |
Negative marking: 0.25 per wrong answer.
Paper-II
1 hour + 1 hour
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | 20 | 40 |
| General Knowledge and General Awareness | 20 | 40 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 20 | 40 |
| English Comprehension | 100 | 200 |
Negative marking: 0.50 per wrong answer.
Source: Sub-Inspector in Delhi Police and Central Armed Police Forces Examination, 2026 — Notice (published 10 September 2026). Confirm in the official notice before applying.
Qualifying marks, normalisation and NCC bonus
Both papers are objective multiple-choice tests. Paper-I has negative marking of 0.25 per wrong answer and Paper-II of 0.50. Where a paper is held in several shifts, marks are normalised using the SSC procedure notified on 2 June 2025, and the normalised score is used for merit and cut-offs.
To be considered, you must reach the minimum qualifying marks in each paper: 30% for UR, 25% for OBC and EWS, and 20% for all other categories. Paper-I decides who is called for the PST/PET; Paper-II decides who goes to the medical examination, and the final selection and allocation of force are made on Paper-II performance and your stated preferences.
Holders of NCC certificates (as on the closing date) get bonus marks added to their normalised score in both papers: 5% of the paper's maximum marks for an NCC 'C' certificate, 3% for 'B' and 2% for 'A'.
SSC CPO syllabus, topic by topic
Paper-I and Paper-II share the same four subjects; Paper-II is set at a higher level of difficulty. Questions in Reasoning, General Awareness and Quantitative Aptitude are set in Hindi and English.
Topics listed in the notice
| Subject | Topics |
|---|---|
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | Analogies, similarities and differences, space visualisation and orientation, problem solving, analysis, judgement, decision making, visual memory, discrimination, observation, relationship concepts, arithmetical reasoning and figural classification, arithmetic number series, non-verbal series, coding and decoding, statement conclusion, syllogistic reasoning, semantic and number analogy, Venn diagrams, drawing inferences, punched hole / pattern folding and unfolding, indexing, address matching, date and city matching, embedded figures, critical thinking, emotional and social intelligence |
| General Knowledge and General Awareness | Current events, everyday observation and experience in a scientific sense, India and its neighbouring countries — history, culture, geography, economic scene, general policy and scientific research |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Whole numbers, decimals, fractions, percentage, ratio and proportion, square roots, averages, interest, profit and loss, discount, partnership business, mixture and alligation, time and distance, time and work, basic algebraic identities, graphs of linear equations, triangles and their centres, congruence and similarity, circles and chords, quadrilaterals, regular polygons, prisms, cones, cylinders, spheres, hemispheres, trigonometric ratios, heights and distances, histograms, frequency polygons, bar diagrams and pie charts |
| English Comprehension | Error recognition, fill in the blanks (verbs, prepositions, articles), vocabulary, spellings, grammar, sentence structure, synonyms, antonyms, sentence completion, phrases and idiomatic use of words, comprehension |
Frequently asked questions
What is the SSC CPO exam pattern?
Paper-I: General Intelligence and Reasoning, General Knowledge and General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, English Comprehension (1 hour (15-minute sectional timer)). Negative marking: 0.25 per wrong answer. Paper-II: General Intelligence and Reasoning, General Knowledge and General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, English Comprehension (1 hour + 1 hour). Negative marking: 0.50 per wrong answer.
What are the minimum qualifying marks in SSC CPO?
30% for UR, 25% for OBC and EWS and 20% for all other categories, in each paper.
Is there negative marking in SSC CPO?
Yes: 0.25 marks per wrong answer in Paper-I and 0.50 marks per wrong answer in Paper-II.