Complete exam guide
SSC GD Constable (CAPFs, SSF) and Rifleman (GD) Assam Rifles Examination
SSC GD is the Staff Selection Commission's entry-level exam for Constable (General Duty) in the Central Armed Police Forces (BSF, CISF, CRPF, SSB, ITBP), Rifleman (GD) in Assam Rifles and Constable (GD) in the Secretariat Security Force (SSF). The only academic requirement is Class 10 pass, which is why it draws tens of lakhs of applicants for a pool of tens of thousands of seats. Selection is a funnel: one 80-question, 60-minute computer-based test, then a Physical Efficiency Test (race), a Physical Standard Test (height, chest), a medical exam and document verification. The written test decides your rank, while PET, PST and medical are pass/fail hurdles — so prep has two tracks: maximise your CBT score (each section is only 20 questions of Class 10 level) and train for the 5 km race and the height/chest standards from day one. Every post carries Pay Level 3 (₹21,700–69,100).
2026 cycle — status
✓ Verified 1 Oct 2026The 2026 CBT is over (27 April – 30 May 2026) and the answer-key stage has passed. In the sources checked up to late September 2026, SSC had not yet declared the CBT result or the PET/PST schedule — watch ssc.gov.in. While you wait: keep up the running (5 km in 24 minutes for men, 1.6 km in 8½ minutes for women), keep revising, and keep your domicile certificate and Class 10 certificate ready for the physical and document stage.
- NotificationDone1 December 2025
- ApplicationsDone1 – 31 December 2025
- CBTDone27 Apr – 30 May 2026Multiple shifts · normalised scores
- Result and PET/PSTAwaitedTo be announced
The CBT is the only exam stage — there is no Tier 2. The 2026 notice lists vacancies for BSF, CISF, CRPF, SSB, ITBP, Assam Rifles and SSF; it shows no NIA vacancy line. Vacancies are tentative and state/UT-wise for the CAPFs (SSF is all-India), so you must apply with a domicile certificate for your state. Result, PET/PST and medical dates will be posted only on ssc.gov.in. Always confirm with the official notice.
Exam pattern
Computer Based Examination (CBE) Merit-deciding — marks decide your rank
Online CBT, objective multiple choice · 60 min · +2 per correct, −0.25 per wrong
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 20 | 40 |
| General Knowledge & General Awareness | 20 | 40 |
| Elementary Mathematics | 20 | 40 |
| English / Hindi | 20 | 40 |
| Total | 80 | 160 |
Question level is Matriculation (Class 10). The paper is offered in English, Hindi and 13 regional languages (Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu); in Part D you choose English or Hindi. Calculators and electronic gadgets are not allowed. Scores are normalised across shifts, and NCC certificate holders get bonus marks. There is no re-evaluation. Tentative answer keys are published and you can object on payment of ₹50 per question.
Physical Efficiency Test (PET) and Physical Standard Test (PST) Qualifying (pass/fail)
Conducted by the CAPFs at their centres · min · Not applicable
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Total |
About 8 times the number of vacancies are shortlisted from the CBT, state-wise, area-wise and category-wise. PET (race): men 5 km in 24 minutes; women 1.6 km in 8½ minutes (Ladakh region: men 1.6 km in 7 minutes, women 800 m in 5 minutes). PST: height 170 cm (men) and 157 cm (women); chest 80 cm unexpanded with 5 cm expansion for men; weight proportionate to height and age. Scheduled Tribes and some regions get relaxed height and chest. There is no appeal against the race result. Ex-servicemen are exempt from PET but have their measurements recorded.
Eligibility
Citizen of India. Because vacancies in the CAPFs and Assam Rifles are state/UT-wise, you must submit a domicile certificate or Permanent Resident Certificate for the state or UT you apply under.
Matriculation (Class 10) pass from a recognised board or university on or before the cut-off date (1 January 2026 in this cycle)
Not eligible — the qualification must be complete by the cut-off date
| SC / ST | +5 years |
| OBC | +3 years |
| Ex-servicemen | +3 years after deducting military service rendered |
| Children/dependents of victims of the 1984 riots | +5 (UR/EWS), +8 (OBC), +10 (SC/ST) years |
Age and education are reckoned on 1 January 2026 for this cycle, and your date of birth must match your Class 10 certificate. Physical standards and medical fitness are checked at the PET/PST and medical stages; the notice's own table overrides any summary, including this one.
Posts, pay & who should apply
| Post | Department | Group | Pay level | Approx. in-hand |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constable (GD) — CISF | Central Industrial Security Force | C | Level 3 · ₹21,700–69,100 | |
| Constable (GD) — CRPF | Central Reserve Police Force | C | Level 3 · ₹21,700–69,100 | |
| Constable (GD) — BSF | Border Security Force | C | Level 3 · ₹21,700–69,100 | |
| Constable (GD) — SSB | Sashastra Seema Bal | C | Level 3 · ₹21,700–69,100 | |
| Constable (GD) — ITBP | Indo-Tibetan Border Police | C | Level 3 · ₹21,700–69,100 | |
| Rifleman (GD) | Assam Rifles | C | Level 3 · ₹21,700–69,100 | |
| Constable (GD) — SSF | Secretariat Security Force | C | Level 3 · ₹21,700–69,100 | |
| Constable (GD) — NIA | National Investigation Agency | C | Level 3 · ₹21,700–69,100 |
Special requirements: Constable (GD) — CISF — 14,595 vacancies in 2026 (largest share); security of airports, metro, industrial units · Constable (GD) — CRPF — 5,490 vacancies in 2026; internal security and counter-insurgency duties · Constable (GD) — BSF — 616 vacancies in 2026; border guarding · Constable (GD) — SSB — 1,764 vacancies in 2026, all for male candidates · Constable (GD) — ITBP — 1,293 vacancies in 2026; high-altitude border posts · Rifleman (GD) — 1,706 vacancies in 2026; North-East border and counter-insurgency · Constable (GD) — SSF — 23 vacancies in 2026; filled on an all-India basis · Constable (GD) — NIA — No NIA vacancy appears in the 2026 notice's vacancy table; check future notices
Selection process
CBT → PET (race) → PST → Detailed Medical Examination (DME) → Document Verification (DV) → final merit. About 8 times the vacancies are shortlisted from the CBT for PET/PST, and about 2 times the vacancies for medical and DV. CBT marks (normalised, plus NCC bonus) alone decide the final merit list; PET, PST and medical are qualifying. To be shortlisted you also need to clear the minimum CBT percentage: 30% for UR, 25% for OBC/EWS, 20% for all other categories. In the application you rank all seven forces in order of preference, and allotment follows your merit, your preferences and the state-wise vacancies. NCC certificate holders get bonus marks (C: 5%, B: 3%, A: 2% of maximum marks). There is no interview.
Normalisation (why your raw score ≠ final score)
The CBT runs in many shifts with different papers, so SSC normalises scores using the procedure it published in its notice of 2 June 2025 before building the merit list. The practical lessons: (1) never compare raw marks across shifts; (2) your normalised score, not raw marks, is compared with the cut-off; (3) don't panic after a tough shift — attempt what you know and skip guesses, since each wrong answer costs 0.25.
Subjects to prepare
Notification dates history
| Year | Vacancies | Notification | Exam | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 25487 | 1 Dec 2025 | 27 Apr – 30 May 2026 (CBT) | — |
FAQs
What is the SSC GD exam pattern?
One online test of 80 questions, 160 marks, 60 minutes: General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Knowledge & Awareness, Elementary Mathematics and English/Hindi, with 20 questions (40 marks) each. Each correct answer gives +2 and each wrong answer costs −0.25.
Can I write the paper in Hindi or a regional language?
Yes. The CBT is offered in English, Hindi and 13 regional languages: Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu. In Part D (language) you answer the English or Hindi paper.
What are the physical standards for SSC GD?
Height: 170 cm for men and 157 cm for women. Chest (men only): 80 cm unexpanded with at least 5 cm expansion. Scheduled Tribes get a relaxed standard (162.5 cm men, 150 cm women; chest 76 cm), and some hill, North-East and tribal regions get further relaxation. Always check the notice's relaxation table for your region.
What is the PET race and how hard is it?
Men run 5 km in 24 minutes; women run 1.6 km in 8½ minutes. In the Ladakh region the standard is 1.6 km in 7 minutes for men and 800 m in 5 minutes for women. It is pass/fail with no appeal, so build stamina for months before the call comes.
Do PET, PST and medical marks count in the final merit?
No. They are qualifying only. The final merit comes from your normalised CBT score (plus NCC bonus marks if applicable). But failing any of them removes you from the list, so treat them as seriously as the written test.
Who is eligible and what is the age limit?
You need a Class 10 pass and an age of 18–23 years as on 1 January 2026. Relaxations: +5 years for SC/ST, +3 for OBC, and +3 for ex-servicemen after deducting military service. You must also hold a domicile certificate for the state or UT you apply under.
What is the minimum qualifying percentage in the CBT?
To be shortlisted for PET/PST you need at least 30% (UR), 25% (OBC/EWS) or 20% (all other categories). Clearing the minimum is not enough — only about 8 times the vacancies, state-wise and category-wise, are called, so the real cut-off is usually far higher.
What is the salary of an SSC GD Constable?
All posts sit at Pay Level 3, ₹21,700–69,100 basic pay. Allowances (such as dearness, house rent and risk or ration allowances) vary by force and posting, so the take-home figure differs from the basic.
Is there a Tier 2 or an interview?
No. The written stage is a single CBT, followed by physical tests, medical and document verification. There is no interview.
Is the 2026 result out yet?
In the sources checked up to late September 2026, SSC had not declared the CBT result or published the PET/PST schedule. The answer-key stage is complete. Check ssc.gov.in and your registered email for the official announcement, and avoid unofficial links.
Can I choose which force I join?
You rank all seven forces (BSF, CISF, CRPF, SSB, ITBP, Assam Rifles, SSF) in your application. Allotment depends on your merit, your preferences, your category and the state-wise vacancies for your domicile.
Documents for document verification
At the PET/PST and medical-plus-document stage, carry originals of: Class 10 certificate (proof of age, name and education), domicile certificate or Permanent Resident Certificate for the state or UT you applied under, category certificate (SC/ST/OBC/EWS) in the prescribed format if you claimed it, NCC certificate if you were given bonus marks (the marks are withdrawn if you cannot produce it), ex-servicemen documents if applicable, certificates for height/chest relaxation (for example ST or regional relaxation, in the notice's prescribed proforma), your admit card, and a valid photo ID. Name or date-of-birth mismatches between documents can end your candidature, so fix them well before the call.