Check SSC CPO Eligibility Criteria 2026, including age limit, educational qualification, nationality, age relaxation, physical standards, physical endurance test, medical requirements, and other eligibility conditions.
The SSC CPO Eligibility Criteria 2026 specifies the age limit, educational qualification, nationality, physical standards, and other eligibility requirements prescribed by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) for candidates applying to the Sub-Inspector (SI) posts in Delhi Police and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs). Candidates must carefully verify that they meet all the eligibility conditions before submitting the online application. Check the complete SSC CPO Eligibility Criteria 2026, including age limit, educational qualification, nationality, age relaxation, physical standards, and other important requirements below.
The SSC CPO 2026 Recruitment offers candidates the opportunity to join prestigious law enforcement organizations such as the Delhi Police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Border Security Force (BSF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). Before applying, candidates must ensure they meet the SSC CPO Eligibility Criteria 2026, including the prescribed age limit, educational qualification, nationality, and other eligibility requirements. An overview of the SSC CPO eligibility criteria is provided in the table below.
| Aspect | Eligibility Criteria |
|---|---|
| Nationality |
Candidates must be:
|
| Age Limit |
Minimum Age: 20 Years Maximum Age: 25 Years Age relaxation is applicable for reserved categories as per Government rules. |
| Educational Qualification | Bachelor's Degree from a recognized University or equivalent. |
The SSC CPO Age Limit 2026 is one of the key eligibility criteria prescribed by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC). Candidates must fall within the prescribed age limit to be eligible for the recruitment process. The minimum and maximum age limits are calculated as per the cut-off date mentioned in the official notification, with applicable age relaxation for reserved categories. The detailed SSC CPO age limit is provided in the table below.
| Age Criteria | SSC CPO Age Limit 2026 |
|---|---|
| Minimum Age | 20 Years |
| Maximum Age | 25 Years |
The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) provides upper age relaxation to candidates belonging to reserved categories as per the Government of India rules. Eligible candidates from categories such as SC, ST, OBC, PwBD, Ex-Servicemen, and other specified groups can avail of the prescribed age relaxation, provided they meet all other SSC CPO Eligibility Criteria 2026. The category-wise SSC CPO age relaxation is provided in the table below.
| Category | Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| Scheduled Caste (SC) / Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 5 Years |
| Other Backward Classes (OBC) | 3 Years |
| Ex-Servicemen (ESM) | 3 Years after deduction of the military service rendered from the actual age |
| Candidates domiciled in Jammu & Kashmir | 5 Years |
| Central Government Civilian Employees (Group B) – General/OBC | Up to 40 Years of Age |
| Central Government Civilian Employees (Group B) – SC/ST | Up to 45 Years of Age |
| Widows, Divorced Women, and Women Judicially Separated (Unreserved) | Up to 35 Years of Age |
| Widows, Divorced Women, and Women Judicially Separated (SC/ST) | Up to 40 Years of Age |
| Departmental Candidates (Unreserved) | Up to 30 Years of Age |
| Departmental Candidates (OBC) | Up to 33 Years of Age |
| Departmental Candidates (SC/ST) | Up to 35 Years of Age |
TCandidates applying for the Sub-Inspector (SI) posts in Delhi Police and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) must meet the prescribed educational qualification specified by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC). Possessing the required qualification is mandatory to be considered eligible for the SSC CPO 2026 recruitment. The required educational qualification is provided in the table below.
| SSC CPO Post | Educational Qualification |
|---|---|
| Sub-Inspector (SI) in Delhi Police and CAPFs | Bachelor's Degree from a recognized University or an equivalent qualification. |
To be eligible for the SSC CPO 2026 Exam, candidates must satisfy the nationality conditions prescribed by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC). Eligible candidates must fulfill any one of the following criteria:
Note: Candidates belonging to categories other than Indian citizens must produce a Certificate of Eligibility issued by the Government of India at the time of document verification, wherever applicable.
Candidates applying for the SSC CPO 2026 Exam must meet the prescribed Physical Standards for the posts of Sub-Inspector in Delhi Police and CAPFs. For male candidates, the physical eligibility is assessed based on parameters such as height and chest measurements (unexpanded and expanded), with applicable relaxations for certain categories. The detailed SSC CPO Physical Standards for male candidates are provided in the table below.
| Category | Height (cm) | Chest (Unexpanded) | Chest (Expanded) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male Candidates (General Standard) | 170 cm | 80 cm | 85 cm |
| Candidates belonging to Hill Areas, Garhwal, Kumaon, Himachal Pradesh, Gorkhas, Dogras, Marathas, Kashmir Valley, Leh & Ladakh regions of Jammu & Kashmir, North-Eastern States, and Sikkim | 165 cm | 80 cm | 85 cm |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) Candidates | 162.5 cm | 77 cm | 82 cm |
Female candidates applying for the SSC CPO 2026 Exam must meet the prescribed Physical Standards specified by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC). The physical eligibility for female candidates is primarily based on height, with applicable relaxations for candidates belonging to certain categories. The detailed SSC CPO Physical Standards for female candidates are provided in the table below.
| Category | Minimum Height |
|---|---|
| Female Candidates (General Standard) | 157 cm |
| Candidates belonging to Hill Areas, Garhwal, Kumaon, Himachal Pradesh, Gorkhas, Dogras, Marathas, Kashmir Valley, Leh & Ladakh regions of Jammu & Kashmir, North-Eastern States, and Sikkim | 155 cm |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) Candidates | 154 cm |
Candidates applying for the SSC CPO 2026 Exam must qualify the Physical Endurance Test (PET) as part of the selection process. The PET assesses a candidate's physical fitness through events such as running, long jump, high jump, and shot put (for male candidates). The standards differ for male and female candidates, and the test is qualifying in nature. The detailed SSC CPO Physical Endurance Test requirements are provided in the table below.
| Physical Endurance Test (PET) | Male Candidates | Female Candidates |
|---|---|---|
| 100 Metre Race | 16 Seconds | 18 Seconds |
| Race | 1.6 km in 6.5 Minutes | 800 Metres in 4 Minutes |
| Long Jump | 3.65 Metres (3 Chances) | 2.70 Metres (3 Chances) |
| High Jump | 1.20 Metres (3 Chances) | 0.90 Metres (3 Chances) |
| Shot Put (16 lbs) | 4.5 Metres (3 Chances) | Not Applicable |
Candidates who qualify Paper II of the SSC CPO 2026 Exam must undergo a Detailed Medical Examination (DME) conducted by a CAPF Medical Officer or any other authorized Grade-I Government Medical Officer. Candidates declared medically unfit in the DME may be allowed to appear for a Review Medical Examination (RME), as per the SSC guidelines. The decision of the Review Medical Board will be final and binding.
To be considered medically fit, candidates must be in good physical and mental health, possess normal colour vision, and should not have medical conditions such as knock knees, flat feet, varicose veins, or squint in the eyes. Candidates must also meet the prescribed vision standards, including unaided distant vision of 6/6 (better eye) and 6/9 (worse eye), along with near vision of N6 (better eye) and N9 (worse eye).