SSC GD Constable Exam – Eligibility, Physical, Syllabus, Salary

About SSC GD Constable

The SSC GD exam is the Constable (General Duty) in Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and SSF, and Rifleman (General Duty) in Assam Rifles Examination. The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) holds it under a recruitment scheme of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

Through this exam, constables are recruited for the Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and the Secretariat Security Force (SSF), and riflemen for Assam Rifles. SSC's tentative calendar for the next cycle also lists the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

The exam is open to Class 10 pass candidates and is held once a year. SSC conducts the computer-based exam and declares the final result, while the CAPFs conduct the physical tests, medical examination and document verification.

SSC GD at a glance

Eligibility

Educational qualification

You must have passed Class 10 (Matriculation) from a recognised board or university on or before the cut-off date given in the notification. Candidates whose result comes after that date are not eligible.

Age limit

You must be 18 to 23 years old on the age-reckoning date of the notification (1 January of the exam year in the 2026 notice). Upper age relaxation:

Nationality and domicile

Only citizens of India can apply. Vacancies in the CAPFs and Assam Rifles are divided state/UT-wise (SSF vacancies are all-India). You must give your state in the form and show a domicile or permanent residence certificate of that same state at the medical and document stage. If the certificate is from another state, your candidature is cancelled. Some vacancies are kept for candidates from border-guarding districts and militancy/Naxal-affected districts.

Physical standards (PST)

Relaxed height or chest for non-ST groups needs a certificate in the prescribed format at the PET/PST. ST candidates only need a valid ST certificate.

Selection process

1. Computer Based Examination (CBE): an objective test. Your normalised marks, plus any NCC bonus marks, decide your merit.
2. Physical Efficiency Test (PET) and Physical Standard Test (PST): about 8 times the number of vacancies are called, state-wise and category-wise. PET is a race; PST checks height, chest and weight. Both are qualifying.
3. Detailed Medical Examination (DME) and Document Verification (DV): about 2 times the vacancies are called from those who pass PET/PST. Medical boards of the CAPFs check fitness.
4. Final merit and force allocation: based on CBE marks (with NCC bonus) and the force preferences you gave in the form, separately for men and women, for each state/UT and category.

Ex-Servicemen do not have to run the PET, but they must attend for measurements and pass the medical exam.

Exam pattern

Computer Based Examination

• Time: 60 minutes.
• Each question carries 2 marks; 0.25 mark is cut for each wrong answer.
• Questions are of Class 10 (Matriculation) level.
• Calculators and other electronic gadgets are not allowed.

Minimum qualifying marks in the CBE

To be considered for PET/PST you need at least 30% (UR), 25% (OBC/EWS) or 20% (all other categories), without counting NCC bonus marks.

NCC bonus marks

You must claim the bonus in the application form and show the original certificate at document verification. Ex-Servicemen do not get this bonus.

Physical Efficiency Test (race)

There is no appeal against the PET race result. Appeals against PST measurements can be made on the same day to the appellate authority at the centre.

Syllabus

Main topics as per the latest notification (indicative syllabus):

General Intelligence and Reasoning

• Analogies, similarities and differences
• Spatial visualisation and orientation, visual memory
• Discrimination, observation and relationship concepts
• Arithmetical reasoning and figure classification
• Number series and non-verbal series
• Coding and decoding

General Knowledge and General Awareness

• Current events and everyday science
• Sports, history, culture and geography of India and its neighbours
• Economy, general polity and the Indian Constitution
• Scientific research

Elementary Mathematics

• Number system, whole numbers, decimals and fractions
• Basic arithmetic operations, percentage, ratio and proportion
• Average, interest, profit and loss, discount
• Mensuration
• Time and distance, time and work

English / Hindi

• Basic understanding and comprehension of English or Hindi

Salary and posts

The starting basic pay is ₹21,700. Allowances such as Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance and other force-specific allowances are paid as per central government and force rules. Selected candidates can be posted anywhere in India. Joining may happen in batches, depending on space in the training centres of each force.

How to apply

1. Go to ssc.gov.in and complete One-Time Registration (Aadhaar-based authentication is advised).
2. Open the Constable (GD) application form when the notice is out.
3. Choose your state/UT of domicile carefully; it cannot be changed later.
4. Give your preference order for all seven forces (BSF, CISF, CRPF, SSB, ITBP, Assam Rifles, SSF). Filling all preferences is compulsory.
5. Claim NCC bonus marks in the form if you hold a certificate.
6. Pay the fee online and submit the form before the last date.

Application fee: ₹100. Women, SC, ST and Ex-Servicemen eligible for reservation are exempt. Admit cards for the CBE come from SSC; admit cards for PET/PST and medical come from the CRPF website (crpf.gov.in).

Exam calendar

Based on SSC's tentative calendar and recent cycles (usual, may change):

1. Notification – towards the end of the year (between September and December).
2. Application window of about one month, then a correction window.
3. Computer Based Examination – early in the following year (January to May).
4. CBE result and list of candidates for PET/PST.
5. PET/PST, then medical examination and document verification.
6. Final result with force allocation.

Check the live status box on this page for the latest notice, admit card and result.

Preparation tips

These are general study tips, not official rules:

• Start running practice early. The 5 km race in 24 minutes (men) needs steady training over months, not weeks.
• Check your height and chest against the table above before you apply.
• Keep your Class 10 certificate, domicile certificate and caste/NCC certificates ready and correct.
• All four subjects carry equal marks, so do not ignore any one of them.
• Negative marking is small (0.25), but avoid blind guessing.
• Use the official mock test on the SSC website to get used to the exam screen.

SSC GD FAQs

What is the qualification for SSC GD Constable?

Class 10 (Matriculation) pass from a recognised board, on or before the cut-off date.

What is the age limit for SSC GD?

18 to 23 years, with 5 years' relaxation for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC and other relaxations as per the notification.

Is there negative marking in SSC GD?

Yes, 0.25 mark is cut for every wrong answer. Each correct answer gets 2 marks.

What is the height required for SSC GD?

170 cm for men and 157 cm for women, with lower limits for ST candidates and candidates from certain regions.

What is the salary of SSC GD Constable?

Pay Level 3, with a pay range of ₹21,700 – ₹69,100, plus allowances.

How many stages are there in SSC GD?

Computer Based Exam, PET/PST, and Medical Examination with Document Verification.

Can I choose my force?

You give a preference order for all forces in the form. The force is allotted on merit-cum-preference.

Always confirm the details in the official notification of the year you apply for.