SSC GD (General Duty) Constable recruits young men and women into India's Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) — Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Services Selection Board (SSB) — as well as Assam Rifles, the Secretariat Security Force and the Narcotics Control Bureau. It is one of the biggest government recruitments open to Class 10 pass students.
The SSC GD Constable exam is conducted by the SSC, with the physical tests run by the CAPFs. Vacancies are typically in the tens of thousands each cycle and are allotted state-wise and force-wise, with separate vacancies for men and women.
Selected candidates become Constable (General Duty) in BSF, CISF, CRPF, ITBP, SSB or SSF, Rifleman (GD) in Assam Rifles, or Sepoy in the Narcotics Control Bureau. The job involves border guarding, internal security, counter-insurgency, disaster response and protection of vital installations.
Only Class 10 is required, so stream does not matter.
Get bonus marks — 5% for 'C', 3% for 'B' and 2% for 'A' certificate (as per recent notifications).
Regular running practice makes the PET much easier to clear.
| Criterion | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian citizen |
| Qualification | Class 10 (Matriculation) pass from a recognised board by the cut-off date |
| Age limit | 18–23 years on the cut-off date |
| Gender | Men and women; vacancies are announced separately |
| Physical standards | Must meet height, chest (men) and PET standards — see below |
| Medical | Good eyesight, no knock-knees, flat feet or colour blindness, as per CAPF medical guidelines |
| Category | Relaxation |
|---|---|
| Other Backward Classes (OBC) (non-creamy layer) | 3 years |
| SC / ST | 5 years |
| PwBD (UR / OBC / SC-ST) | 10 / 13 / 15 years |
| Ex-servicemen | As per government rules (military service deducted from age, plus 3 years) |
| Economically Weaker Section (EWS) | No age relaxation |
Ex-servicemen, riot-affected candidates and certain other categories get additional relaxation as per the notification.
| Standard | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Height (general) | 170 cm | 157 cm |
| Height (ST candidates) | 162.5 cm | 150 cm |
| Chest (men) | 80 cm, with 5 cm minimum expansion | Not applicable |
| Race (PET, general areas) | 5 km in 24 minutes | 1.6 km in 8½ minutes |
| Race (Ladakh region) | 1.6 km in 7 minutes | 800 m in 5 minutes |
Height relaxations apply for candidates from hill areas, the North-East and some other regions. The PET is qualifying only. Pregnant candidates are disqualified from the PET under the notification rules.
Register on the SSC website and choose your state; vacancies are state-wise.
80 objective questions in 60 minutes. Shortlisting for PET/PST is in the ratio set by SSC.
A timed race — qualifying only.
Height, chest and weight measurement.
Medical fitness as per CAPF guidelines and verification of certificates.
Merit is based on CBE marks (plus National Cadet Corps (NCC) bonus); forces are allotted by merit and preference.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 20 | 40 | — |
| General Knowledge & General Awareness | 20 | 40 | — |
| Elementary Mathematics | 20 | 40 | — |
| English / Hindi | 20 | 40 | — |
| Total | 80 | 160 | 60 minutes |
2 marks for each correct answer.
0.25 marks deducted for each wrong answer.
The paper is available in English, Hindi and several regional languages.
Final merit is based on CBE marks, with NCC bonus marks added for eligible candidates.
The CBE is pitched at Class 10 level.
Constables in CAPFs are paid on the 7th CPC pay matrix with risk and hardship allowances in many postings.
Pay Level 3 (pay range ₹21,700–69,100). NCB Sepoy is on Level 1 (₹18,000).
With DA, House Rent Allowance (HRA) and transport allowance, before deductions; more at hardship postings.
Plus CAPF canteen facilities, accommodation where available and group insurance.
BSF, ITBP, SSB and Assam Rifles guard India's land borders.
CRPF handles law and order support, elections and counter-insurgency.
CISF protects airports, metros, ports, power plants and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).
All forces support relief operations, VIP security and elections.
Entry rank after basic training.
Through promotion based on service and departmental tests.
Next rank via promotion or limited departmental exams.
Departmental exams also open the route to SI and higher.
A practical, phase-by-phase plan. Adjust the timeline to when the next notification is expected.
Build up to 5 km comfortably well before the PET date.
Elementary maths questions come straight from school arithmetic.
Static GK plus 6–8 months of current affairs covers most questions.
SSC repeats question types — past papers set the right difficulty level.
*Eligibility, age limits, exam pattern and pay figures are based on recent official notifications and the 7th Central Pay Commission structure as of 2026. In-hand salary estimates are indicative and vary with city (HRA) and the current Dearness Allowance rate. Every recruitment cycle can change the details — always confirm in the latest official notification before applying.
Official source: Staff Selection Commission (ssc.gov.in)