The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has officially announced the SSC GD Constable Recruitment 2026, one of India’s largest defence and paramilitary recruitment drives. This year, the commission has released 25,487 vacancies for Constable (GD) posts in BSF, CISF, CRPF, ITBP, SSB, Assam Rifles, as well as in SSF and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).
The application process began on December 1, 2025, and will continue till December 31, 2025, exclusively through the new official portal ssc.gov.in. As always, the competition is intense, with lakhs of 10th-pass candidates expected to apply.
This detailed guide covers eligibility, vacancies, selection process, syllabus, salary, and everything aspirants need to know.
Important Dates for SSC GD 2026
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Released | December 1, 2025 |
| Online Application Begins | December 1, 2025 |
| Last Date to Apply | December 31, 2025 (11 PM) |
| Last Date for Online Fee Payment | January 1, 2026 (11 PM) |
| Computer-Based Exam (CBE) | February–April 2026 (Tentative) |
| PET/PST | To be announced |
| Medical Test & Document Verification | To be announced |
Total Vacancies: 25,487 Posts
For 2026, SSC has announced 25,487 vacancies, significantly lower than the 53,690 posts notified last year. Force-wise and state-wise distributions will be finalized after applications close.
Tentative Force-Wise Vacancies
| Force/Organization | Approx. Vacancies |
|---|---|
| BSF | ~8,000 |
| CISF | ~4,000 |
| CRPF | ~6,000 |
| ITBP | ~3,000 |
| SSB | ~2,000 |
| Assam Rifles | ~1,500 |
| SSF & NCB | ~1,000 |
| Total | 25,487 |
Additional Notes:
- 10% of the seats are reserved for Ex-Servicemen.
- Category-wise, gender-wise, and state-wise details will be available on ssc.gov.in.
Eligibility Criteria for SSC GD 2026
To apply for SSC GD, candidates must meet the criteria given below as on January 1, 2026:
1. Educational Qualification
- Must have passed Class 10 (Matriculation) from a recognized board.
- Candidates who are appearing for Class 10 exams in 2026 are not eligible.
2. Age Limit
- 18 to 23 years
- Age relaxations:
- SC/ST: +5 years
- OBC: +3 years
- PwD: +10 years
- Ex-Servicemen: Service period + 3 years
3. Nationality
- Indian citizens
- Nepal/Bhutan nationals
- Tibetan refugees settled before 1 January 1962
- PIO migrants from listed countries
4. Physical Standards (PST)
Height
- Male: 170 cm
- Female: 157 cm
Relaxations apply for hill areas, ST categories, and specific communities.
Chest (Male Only)
- 80 cm (unexpanded)
- 85 cm (expanded)
Weight
- Proportionate to age and height.
5. Medical Standards
- Good vision (6/6 and 6/9 without glasses)
- No knock-knee, flat feet, or color blindness
- Tattoos allowed only under SSC’s permissible rules
How to Apply Online for SSC GD Constable 2026
Applications must be submitted only through ssc.gov.in. Older OTR IDs from ssc.nic.in are no longer valid.
Step-by-Step Application Process
- Visit ssc.gov.in
- Click on “New User? Register Now”
- Complete the One-Time Registration with your basic details.
- Log in using your Registration ID and password.
- Select “Constable (GD) Examination 2026”.
- Fill in:
- Personal details
- Educational information
- Preference of CAPFs
- Upload:
- Photo (20–50 KB)
- Signature (10–20 KB)
- Pay the application fee.
- Submit and download the acknowledgment.
Application Fee
- ₹100 for General and OBC male candidates
- No fee for SC/ST, PwD, Female candidates, and Ex-Servicemen
A correction window may be provided after registration.
Selection Process for SSC GD 2026
The recruitment involves four stages, and all are mandatory.
1. Computer-Based Examination (CBE)
- Online objective exam
- Qualifying for next stages
- 80 questions, 160 marks
- 60 minutes duration
2. Physical Efficiency Test (PET)
Male: 5 km in 24 minutes
Female: 1.6 km in 8.5 minutes
3. Physical Standard Test (PST)
- Height, chest (male), and weight checks
4. Medical Test + Document Verification
- Detailed health examination
- Verification of original documents
Final merit is prepared based on CBE scores, subject to qualifying PET/PST and medical standards.
SSC GD Exam Pattern 2026
| Section | Questions | Marks | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 20 | 40 | Puzzles, analogies, coding-decoding, spatial reasoning |
| General Knowledge & Awareness | 20 | 40 | Current affairs, history, geography, polity, sports |
| Elementary Mathematics | 20 | 40 | Number systems, ratios, time-distance, simple/compound interest |
| English/Hindi | 20 | 40 | Grammar, comprehension, vocabulary |
Marking Scheme
- +2 for each correct answer
- -0.25 for incorrect
- No negative for unattempted
Syllabus Highlights
Reasoning
- Non-verbal reasoning
- Logical patterns
- Series and classification
GK / Current Affairs
- National & international events
- Awards, sports, books, and defence
- Geography, history, and polity basics
Maths
- Class 10-level arithmetic
- Practice speed & accuracy
English/Hindi
- Basic grammar rules
- Reading comprehension
- Vocabulary-based questions
Salary, Benefits & Job Role
Pay Scale
- Level-3 (₹21,700 – ₹69,100)
In-Hand Salary
- Approx ₹25,000–35,000 per month
Allowances
- Dearness allowance
- House rent allowance
- Transport allowance
- Risk/field area allowance
- Ration and uniform allowance
Career Growth
- Constable → Head Constable → Assistant Sub-Inspector → Sub-Inspector → Inspector
Job Profile
- Border security operations
- Anti-infiltration duties
- Crowd control
- VIP security
- Search & rescue operations in emergency zones
Postings can be anywhere in India, including high-altitude and challenging terrains.
Preparation Tips for SSC GD 2026
1. Create a Realistic Study Plan
- Allocate 4–6 hours daily
- Cover basics first, then practice mocks
2. Use Reliable Books
- NCERTs (Class 6–10)
- Lucent GK
- RS Aggarwal – Reasoning & Maths
- Previous years’ papers
3. Improve Physical Fitness
- Start running practice early
- Maintain balanced diet and hydration
4. Attempt Mock Tests
- At least 20–30 full-length tests
- Focus on speed and accuracy
5. Avoid Common Mistakes
- Don’t ignore negative marking
- Balance written and physical preparation
- Revise regularly
