Key dates and deadline status

The fee deadline falls a day after the form deadline, but an unpaid form shows as Incomplete and is summarily rejected. Treat 30 September as your only deadline, because the Commission is not responsible for last-day website problems.

The three posts and the pay

All three posts are at Level 6 of the pay matrix, with a pay scale of ₹35,400 to ₹1,12,400.

• Sub-Inspector (GD) in CAPFs: Group B, non-gazetted.
• Sub-Inspector (Executive) in Delhi Police, men and women: Group C.
• Sub-Inspector (Fire) in CISF, men only: Group B, non-gazetted.

The pay scale is identical, so choose on the kind of duty and the eligibility rules below, not on salary. You submit one application and rank your preferences later.

Vacancies and how to read them

In the CAPFs, BSF has the most posts (457), followed by CRPF (254), CISF (250), ITBP (187) and SSB (172).

These figures are estimates. The Commission selects against vacancies reported by the Home Ministry and Delhi Police, and it does not allocate candidates by state, region or city. CAPF Sub-Inspectors can be posted anywhere in India.

Eligibility in plain language

Nationality

Indian citizens can apply. Subjects of Nepal or Bhutan need a certificate of eligibility from the Government of India; they may take the exam, but appointment waits for the certificate.

Age

Age is counted on 1 August 2026, not on the day you apply. For Delhi Police and CAPF posts you must be born between 2 August 2001 and 1 August 2006 (20 to 25 years). For SI (Fire), you must be born between 2 August 1996 and 1 August 2008 (18 to 30 years). The upper limit is relaxed by 5 years for SC/ST and 3 years for OBC. Ex-servicemen get 3 years after their military service is subtracted from their age on 30 September 2026.

Education

For Delhi Police and CAPF posts, any Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university is enough. Final-year students can apply, but the result must be declared on or before 30 September 2026; a result still being processed does not count. SI (Fire) needs a B.Sc. with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, or Matriculation plus a three-year diploma in Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, Automobile, Chemical, Mining, Aeronautical or Telecommunication Engineering. Distance-mode degrees count only if the university held UGC Distance Education Bureau approval for that period.

Delhi Police: an extra rule for men

Men who want Delhi Police must hold a valid LMV licence covering motorcycle and car on the date of the physical tests; otherwise only CAPF posts are open to them.

How to apply, step by step

1. Register once on ssc.gov.in; registrations from the old ssc.nic.in site do not work. Keep your mobile number, email, Aadhaar and Matriculation details ready, and finish within 14 days or the saved data is deleted.
2. Choose Aadhaar authentication: forms are then not rejected over photo or signature quality, and you need not carry photographs or photo ID to the exam. Never lock your Aadhaar biometrics.
3. Fill in the form, including category, ex-servicemen, NCC and age-relaxation details, Hindi or English medium and three exam centres. Tick SI (Fire) only if you hold its qualification.
4. Capture a live photo in good light against a plain background, without cap, mask or spectacles, and upload a JPEG signature of 10 to 20 KB, about 6 cm by 2 cm.
5. Preview every field, submit, and pay ₹100 by UPI, net banking or a Visa, MasterCard, Maestro or RuPay debit card. Women, SC, ST and eligible ex-servicemen pay nothing. Check Payment Status, because an unpaid form shows as Incomplete.

Exam pattern, marking and cut-offs

The stages are Paper-I, physical tests (PST and PET), Paper-II and a Detailed Medical Examination, followed by document verification, and all are mandatory. Each part of a paper has its own timer, so time saved in one part cannot be used in the next.

Both papers cover reasoning, general awareness, quantitative aptitude and English. The first three parts appear in Hindi and English, and Paper-II is set at a higher difficulty level. Scores are normalised if the exam runs in several shifts.

Ties are broken by total Paper-II marks, then Paper-II English marks, then age (older ranks higher), then alphabetical order. Answer-key challenges cost ₹50 per question, are online only and are not refunded; there is no re-evaluation. Because the physical tests come between the papers, start running practice now instead of waiting for the Paper-I result.

Physical and medical standards

Physical tests carry no marks, but they eliminate: only those who pass can sit Paper-II. Ex-servicemen skip the endurance test but must meet the height and chest standards.

These are the Delhi Police and CAPF standards; SI (Fire) uses a chest of 81 to 86 cm in the first two rows. Weight must match height.

Jumps and shot put allow three chances each.

The medical examination checks near vision of N6 (better eye) and N9 (worse eye) and distance vision of 6/6 and 6/9, all without glasses or surgery. Knock knees, flat feet, varicose veins and squint are not allowed, and colour vision must be high. Tattoos are allowed only if they show a religious symbol or a name, sit on the inner left forearm or the back of the hands, and cover less than a quarter of that part.

After selection, trainees must clear seven obstacle events, such as the Tarzan swing and vertical rope, or they may not be retained.

How selection and preferences work

Paper-I marks shortlist candidates for the physical tests, those who pass write Paper-II, and Paper-II marks shortlist candidates for the medical examination. The final merit list uses Paper-II marks, plus any NCC bonus, together with your post preferences.

After the Paper-II result, an option form asks you to rank the posts: A Delhi Police, B BSF, C CISF, D CRPF, E ITBP, F SSB and G SI (Fire) in CISF. Preferences are final. A post you do not list cannot be given to you, however high you rank, and once you receive your first available preference you are not considered for any other.

Application checklist

Keep these ready for the form and for document verification, which the CAPFs conduct before the final result.

• Matriculation certificate (name, date of birth, parents’ names)
• Degree or result proof (plus equivalence order, if claimed)
• Category certificate in SSC’s format (OBC: outside the creamy layer on 30 September 2026; EWS: certificate valid for 2026-27)
• Ex-servicemen: Annexure IV undertaking, discharge certificate and, for serving personnel, the Annexure III certificate
• LMV licence, issued before the physical tests, for men choosing Delhi Police
• No Objection Certificate if you already hold a government job
• Name-change papers, if your name changed after Matriculation
• Two recent passport photos and one original photo ID

Common mistakes to avoid

• Waiting for the last day. Heavy traffic can lock you out, and SSC accepts no responsibility for it.
• Skipping payment. An unpaid form is rejected, and fees are never refunded.
• Mismatched details. Name, date of birth and parents’ names must match the Matriculation certificate.
• Wrong claims. Sons, daughters and dependents of ex-servicemen are not ex-servicemen, and false category claims can lead to debarment.
• Two applications. Multiple registrations lead to cancellation.
• Ignoring updates. SSC is not bound to inform you individually, so check ssc.gov.in regularly.

Quick answers

Does a sports certificate add marks?

No. Sports details can be entered in the form, but the notice says no extra marks or benefit are given.

Can I apply for both Delhi Police and the CAPFs?

Yes. One application covers every post, and you rank your preferences after the Paper-II result.