SSC GD 2026 · Syllabus & exam pattern
SSC GD Syllabus 2026 and Exam Pattern: Subject-wise Topics
Subjects, number of questions, marks, duration and negative marking for every stage, as printed in the official notice.
SSC GD exam pattern 2026
Stages of selection
- 1Computer-based examination
- 2Physical Standard Test (PST) and Physical Efficiency Test (PET)
- 3Medical examination and document verification
Computer-based exam
60 minutes
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | 20 | 40 |
| General Knowledge and General Awareness | 20 | 40 |
| Elementary Mathematics | 20 | 40 |
| English / Hindi | 20 | 40 |
Negative marking: 0.25 per wrong answer.
Source: Constable (GD) in CAPFs and SSF, and Rifleman (GD) in Assam Rifles Examination, 2026 — Notice (published 1 December 2025). Confirm in the official notice before applying.
Exam pattern, qualifying marks and final merit
There is one objective paper of 80 questions worth 2 marks each, so 160 marks in all, to be finished in 60 minutes. Each wrong answer costs 0.25 marks. Because the exam runs in many shifts, raw marks are normalised using the procedure the Commission published in its notice of 02.06.2025.
NCC certificate holders get bonus marks added to the normalised score, provided they tick the NCC option in the form and the certificate was issued on or before 01-01-2026. The bonus stays provisional until the certificate is checked at DV. Minimum qualifying marks are applied without the bonus.
The final merit list is built from normalised CBE marks plus any NCC bonus, for candidates who have also qualified the PET/PST and the medical examination and DV. If two candidates tie, the Commission looks in turn at marks in Part A, then Part B, then Part C, then the older date of birth, and finally alphabetical order of names.
CBE structure
| Part | Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | General Intelligence and Reasoning | 20 | 40 |
| B | General Knowledge and General Awareness | 20 | 40 |
| C | Elementary Mathematics | 20 | 40 |
| D | English / Hindi | 20 | 40 |
| Total | 60 minutes | 80 | 160 |
Minimum qualifying marks in CBE
| Category | Minimum |
|---|---|
| UR | 30% |
| OBC / EWS | 25% |
| All other categories | 20% |
NCC bonus marks
| Certificate | Bonus (% of maximum marks) |
|---|---|
| NCC 'C' | 5% |
| NCC 'B' | 3% |
| NCC 'A' | 2% |
Syllabus by part
The question paper is available in English, Hindi and 13 regional languages: Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu.
- Part A, General Intelligence and Reasoning: analytical aptitude and the ability to observe and distinguish patterns, mainly through non-verbal type questions.
- Part B, General Knowledge and General Awareness: awareness of the environment around you and current events, with questions on India and its neighbouring countries covering sports, history, culture, geography, economic scene, general polity and scientific research.
- Part C, Elementary Mathematics: number systems, decimals and fractions, percentages, ratio and proportion, averages, interest, profit and loss, discount, mensuration, time and distance, and time and work.
- Part D, English/Hindi: understanding of basic English or Hindi and basic comprehension.
Frequently asked questions
What is the SSC GD exam pattern?
Computer-based exam: General Intelligence and Reasoning, General Knowledge and General Awareness, Elementary Mathematics, English / Hindi (60 minutes). Negative marking: 0.25 per wrong answer.
Is there negative marking?
Yes, 0.25 marks are deducted for each wrong answer. Each question carries 2 marks.
What are the minimum qualifying marks?
30% for UR, 25% for OBC and EWS, and 20% for all other categories, without NCC bonus.