SSC CPO 2026 eligibility — age limit, qualification, relaxation
This page collects who can apply for SSC CPO (SSC Sub-Inspector in Delhi Police and Central Armed Police Forces Examination (CPO)), conducted by Staff Selection Commission (SSC): the age limit for each group of posts, the educational qualification, nationality rules and the age relaxation for each category. It is built from the same verified data as the SSC CPO guide, which also carries the 2026 cycle status and dates.
In one line: the basic educational requirement is Graduation + physical standards (PET/PST), and the age limit is set per post group (20–25 years, 18–30 years). Age is counted as on 1 August 2026 in the data below. Use the calculator to see your own eligible date-of-birth window.
✓ Data verified 4 Oct 2026
Age eligibility calculator
Enter your date of birth and category to see, for each post group in SSC CPO, whether you are inside the age limit and the exact birth-date window that qualifies. Everything runs in your browser; nothing is stored or sent.
The cut-off date is pre-filled from this page's data: 1 August 2026. If the official notification gives a different date, type it above, and read the notes on this page to see whether this date belongs to the current or the previous cycle.
| Post group | Age limit | Born between |
|---|---|---|
| SI (Executive) Delhi Police and SI (GD) in CAPFs | 20–25 yrs | 2 August 2001 to 1 August 2006 |
| SI (Fire) in CISF | 18–30 yrs | 2 August 1996 to 1 August 2008 |
The window is: born on or after (cut-off date minus upper limit minus relaxation, plus one day) and on or before (cut-off date minus minimum age). It matches the "born between" ranges printed in the exam data where they are given.
Not calculated here (these depend on individual circumstances; check the table below and the official notification): Ex-servicemen (ESM) — As per Government of India rules; ESM candidates qualify at the minimum-qualifying-marks floor in Paper 1; Departmental candidates of Delhi Police — Special relaxations as per the notification (separate departmental quota and list).
Age eligibility is only one condition. Check education, nationality and any physical or post-specific requirements too. The official notification overrides this tool.
Age limit
| Posts | Age limit |
|---|---|
| SI (Executive) Delhi Police and SI (GD) in CAPFs | 20–25 years |
| SI (Fire) in CISF | 18–30 years |
Age relaxation by category
| Category | Relaxation |
|---|---|
| OBC | +3 years |
| SC / ST | +5 years |
| Ex-servicemen (ESM) | As per Government of India rules; ESM candidates qualify at the minimum-qualifying-marks floor in Paper 1 |
| Departmental candidates of Delhi Police | Special relaxations as per the notification (separate departmental quota and list) |
Educational qualification
| Posts / situation | Requirement |
|---|---|
| SI (Executive) Delhi Police and SI (GD) in CAPFs (BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, SSB) | Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university |
| SI (Fire) in CISF — new post from 2026 | B.Sc. with Physics, Chemistry and Maths, or matriculation plus a 3-year diploma in the engineering branches specified in the notification |
| Final-year students | The degree must be complete by the cut-off date specified in the notification |
Nationality
Citizen of India, or subject of Nepal/Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee (pre-1962), or a person of Indian origin migrated from listed countries with permanent settlement intent — per the standard SSC eligibility clause.
Important notes on eligibility
Age is computed as on 01-08-2026 for this cycle. Women are eligible — the 2026 cycle has 259 female seats (112 in Delhi Police SI and 147 across CAPFs) with separate female cutoffs and relaxed PET standards. Male Delhi Police SI applicants must hold a valid LMV (motorcycle and car) driving licence by the PE&MT stage; those without one can still be considered for CAPF SI posts. Read the post-wise table in the official notification — it overrides any summary, including this one.
How to read these eligibility rules
The cut-off date decides your age. Your age is not measured on the day you apply or the day of the exam. It is measured on one fixed date written in the notification (1 August 2026 in the data used for this page).
Relaxation is added to the upper limit only. A category relaxation raises the maximum age, not the minimum. The calculator adds the number of years for the category you pick and shows the resulting birth-date window per post group.
Your date of birth is taken from your certificate. Age is checked against the date of birth on your Class 10 / matriculation certificate, so use that date rather than the one on any other document.
Education is checked separately. Meeting the age limit does not make you eligible on its own. Check the qualification table above for your post, including any row about final-year students or candidates who are still waiting for a result.
The notification always wins. Where the official notification differs from this page, follow the notification.
Documents that prove age and qualification
At Document Verification you need: matriculation certificate (DOB proof), bachelor's degree marksheets + certificate (or B.Sc./diploma proof for SI Fire CISF), category/EWS certificate (OBC/EWS/SC/ST in the central-government format, correct validity year), driving licence (LMV motorcycle + car — male Delhi Police SI candidates), Ex-servicemen/NCC certificates where claimed, recent passport photographs and photo ID (Aadhaar/PAN/passport). OBC candidates: the certificate must be in the central OBC format with the correct financial-year issue date, or your category is switched to UR on the spot. Delhi Police departmental candidates need their service/departmental proof for the separate departmental list.
SSC CPO eligibility — FAQs
What is the age limit for SSC CPO?
SI (Executive) Delhi Police and SI (GD) in CAPFs: 20–25 years; SI (Fire) in CISF: 18–30 years. Age is counted as on 1 August 2026 in this data. The official notification's own age table is final.
What educational qualification is required for SSC CPO?
SI (Executive) Delhi Police and SI (GD) in CAPFs (BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, SSB): Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university; SI (Fire) in CISF — new post from 2026: B.Sc. with Physics, Chemistry and Maths, or matriculation plus a 3-year diploma in the engineering branches specified in the notification; Final-year students: The degree must be complete by the cut-off date specified in the notification.
How much age relaxation is given in SSC CPO?
OBC: +3 years; SC / ST: +5 years; Ex-servicemen (ESM): As per Government of India rules; ESM candidates qualify at the minimum-qualifying-marks floor in Paper 1; Departmental candidates of Delhi Police: Special relaxations as per the notification (separate departmental quota and list). Relaxation is added to the upper age limit; see the notes below the table for the rules that apply to this exam.
Is there any limit on the number of attempts?
No attempt limit exists — you can apply every year until you cross the age limit (20–25 for SI posts, 18–30 for SI Fire in CISF, plus category relaxations). Many selections come from second and third attempts once the physical routine is dialled in.