SSC GD Constable Exam Syllabus 2026: Complete Subject-Wise Breakdown. If you applied for SSC GD Constable 2024 and your CBT was scheduled between 4 to 25 February 2025 — you’re either waiting for results or already know your score. SSC GD Constable Exam Syllabus 2026: Complete Subject-Wise Breakdown .Either way, if you’re planning your next GD Constable attempt or trying to understand this cycle better, the syllabus is where everything starts. And honestly, most syllabus guides just list topics without telling you which sections actually decide your selection.
39,481 posts. BSF, CISF, CRPF, SSB, ITBP, Assam Rifles, SSF, and NCB — eight forces, one exam. Let me walk you through the complete syllabus, the physical standards, and the parts of this recruitment that catch candidates off guard.
SSC GD Constable 2024 — Key Facts at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Body | Staff Selection Commission (SSC) |
| Post Name | General Duty (GD) Constable |
| Total Vacancies | 39,481 |
| Application Period | 05 Sep 2024 – 14 Oct 2024 |
| CBT Exam Date | 04 – 25 February 2025 |
| Minimum Qualification | Class 10th Pass |
| Age Limit (as on 01 May 2024) | 18 to 23 years |
| Application Fee | ₹100 (General/OBC/EWS) / Free (SC/ST/All Female) |
| Official Website | ssc.gov.in |
Force-Wise Vacancy Distribution — Where Are the Most Seats?
| Force | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) | 11,541 |
| Border Security Force (BSF) | 15,654 |
| Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) | 7,145 |
| Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) | 3,017 |
| Assam Rifles (AR) | 1,248 |
| Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) | 819 |
| Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) | 22 |
| Secretariat Security Force (SSF) | 35 |
| Total | 39,481 |
BSF and CRPF together account for over 27,000 posts — nearly 70% of the entire recruitment. If you’re a male candidate from a Hindi-belt state like UP, Bihar, MP, or Rajasthan, BSF and CRPF are where most selections go. NCB and SSF have tiny seat counts — 22 and 35 respectively — so statistically, most selected candidates end up in BSF, CRPF, or CISF.
SSC GD Constable Exam Syllabus 2026: Complete Subject-Wise Breakdown
Your force preference at the time of application matters for eventual posting location and service conditions. BSF postings are typically border areas. CISF postings are at industrial and airport security establishments — often in or near cities. CRPF postings involve internal security and anti-Naxal operations in some regions. Think about this when you indicate force preference — it affects your actual working life, not just your joining letter.
Category-Wise Vacancy Breakdown
| Category | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | 15,094 | 1,688 | 16,782 |
| OBC | 7,747 | 829 | 8,576 |
| EWS | 3,496 | 355 | 3,851 |
| SC | 5,254 | 564 | 5,818 |
| ST | 4,021 | 433 | 4,454 |
| Total | 35,612 | 3,869 | 39,481 |
Female candidates — 3,869 posts across all categories. That’s about 9.8% of total vacancies. Female candidates also pay zero application fee and have different (easier) physical standards. If you’re a female candidate who meets the 10th pass eligibility and age requirement, the competition-to-vacancy ratio is more favourable than for male candidates.
SSC GD Constable Complete Exam Syllabus — Subject by Subject
The Computer Based Test (CBT) has four sections. Let me go through each one with what you actually need to focus on — not just topic names.
Section 1 — General Intelligence and Reasoning
This section tests your logical thinking ability — no factual knowledge required, just the ability to see patterns and relationships. Topics include:
Analogies, similarities and differences, spatial visualisation, spatial orientation, visual memory, discrimination, observation, relationship concepts, arithmetic reasoning, verbal and figure classification, arithmetic number series, non-verbal series, coding and decoding, statement conclusion, and syllogistic reasoning.
Now — Reasoning is where most 10th-pass candidates lose marks unnecessarily. Not because the questions are hard, but because they haven’t practised the specific question types. Number series and coding-decoding are the highest-frequency topics in past SSC GD papers. Practise these two daily for three weeks and you’ll see a clear score improvement.
Section 2 — General Knowledge and General Awareness
Static GK and current affairs combined. Topics include:
India and its neighbouring countries, sports, history, culture, geography, economic scene, general polity, Indian Constitution, scientific research. Questions are typically Class 8-10 level — but they catch candidates who’ve never revised these topics formally.
Current affairs questions generally cover the last 6 months before the exam. For the February 2025 CBT, that meant August 2024 to January 2025 events — sports championships, government schemes, national appointments, and major national/international developments.
Section 3 — Elementary Mathematics
Class 10 mathematics — nothing beyond that. Key topics:
Number systems, computation of whole numbers, decimals and fractions, relationship between numbers, fundamental arithmetical operations, percentages, ratio and proportion, averages, interest (simple and compound), profit and loss, discount, mensuration, time and distance, time and work, basic algebra and geometry.
Honestly, Mathematics is where the marks gap between toppers and average scorers is widest in SSC GD. The questions aren’t difficult — they’re Class 8-10 level. But candidates who haven’t touched maths since school struggle with speed. Twenty-five maths questions in limited time requires fluency, not just accuracy. Practice timed mock tests specifically for the maths section.
Section 4 — English / Hindi
Candidates can choose either English or Hindi for this section. For most Hindi-belt candidates, Hindi is the obvious and smarter choice.
Hindi topics: Spot the Error, Fill in the Blanks, Synonyms/Antonyms, Spelling/Detecting Mis-spelt words, Idioms and Phrases, One Word Substitution, Improvement of Sentences, Active/Passive Voice, Direct/Indirect Speech.
English topics: Same structure as Hindi but in English — Spot the Error, Synonyms, Antonyms, Spellings, Idioms, Fill in Blanks, Reading Comprehension basics.
For candidates from Maharashtra appearing in this exam — if your Hindi is reasonably strong from school, pick Hindi. If you’re more comfortable in English, pick English. Don’t pick based on what your coaching centre suggests — pick based on your own comfort level.
Pro Tip: The language section (Hindi or English) is often the highest-scoring section for candidates who prepare it well, because the question patterns repeat heavily year to year. Download the last 3 years of SSC GD question papers and you’ll see the same types of grammar and vocabulary questions appearing every cycle. This section is very pattern-driven.
Physical Standards — Height, Chest, and What “Minimum” Really Means
| Category | Male Height | Female Height | Male Chest (Unexpanded / Expanded) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General, OBC, SC | 170 cm | 157 cm | 80 cm / 85 cm |
| ST | 162.5 cm | 150 cm | 76 cm / 81 cm |
The chest measurement applies only to male candidates. The minimum 5 cm expansion between unexpanded and expanded is the requirement — not just the absolute measurements. Candidates who meet the height and unexpanded chest minimums but can’t demonstrate 5 cm expansion fail PST.
Here’s something most candidates don’t prepare for — chest expansion. Many young men meet the 80 cm unexpanded requirement but struggle to expand to 85 cm because they haven’t done specific breathing and chest expansion exercises. Start practising this now if you’re targeting the next GD Constable cycle.
Physical Efficiency Test (PET) — The Stage Where Most Candidates Get Eliminated
| Category | Male Running | Female Running |
|---|---|---|
| General / OBC | 5 km in 24 minutes | 1.6 km in 8 minutes 30 seconds |
| SC / ST | 1.6 km in 7 minutes | 800 metres in 5 minutes |
Five kilometres in 24 minutes for General/OBC male candidates — that’s a 4:48 pace per kilometre. Achievable, but only with consistent running training over months. Candidates who start running two weeks before PET after spending months on written exam preparation are the ones who fail here.
Look — I’ve seen this pattern repeat every GD Constable cycle. Candidates who crack the written exam with good marks then fail PET because they assumed their general fitness was enough. It isn’t. A 5 km timed run at this pace requires specific training, not just general health.
If you’re preparing for the next SSC GD cycle, start running today. Not next month. Build to 5 km within 24 minutes gradually — it takes 8-12 weeks of consistent daily running to reach this standard from a baseline of basic fitness.
Watch out: PET happens before PST in the selection sequence. Candidates who fail PET don’t proceed to height/chest measurement. Don’t put all your effort into written prep and neglect the physical side — both matter equally in this recruitment.
Selection Process — The Full Six-Stage Sequence
| Stage | What Gets Tested |
|---|---|
| 1. Written Exam (CBT) | GK, Reasoning, Maths, Hindi/English |
| 2. Physical Efficiency Test (PET) | Running within time limits |
| 3. Physical Standards Test (PST) | Height and chest measurement |
| 4. Medical Examination | Vision, hearing, physical fitness |
| 5. Document Verification | All educational and category certificates |
| 6. Final Merit List | Based on CBT marks (PET/PST are qualifying only) |
The final merit list is based entirely on CBT marks — PET and PST are qualifying gates, not scoring stages. This means two things: your written exam score determines where you rank, and clearing PET/PST is binary — you either pass or you don’t, with no partial credit.
Most candidates who study the selection process carefully realise that maximising written exam marks while maintaining physical fitness is the optimal strategy. Don’t sacrifice written preparation for excessive physical training, or vice versa.
Original Analysis: SSC GD vs. Other Constable Recruitments — Should You Focus Here?
Here’s an honest comparison that’s worth your time.
SSC GD Constable is a central paramilitary recruitment — posting could be anywhere in India, including border areas and conflict zones. State police constable recruitments — like Maharashtra Police Constable or UP Police — keep you within the state and sometimes close to home.
The SSC GD CBT is genuinely manageable for a Class 10 pass candidate who prepares systematically for 3-4 months. State police exams vary in difficulty. Central paramilitary pay scales under 7th Pay Commission are solid — Pay Level 3, starting basic ₹21,700, with field/border allowances that can significantly boost take-home.
For candidates from smaller towns who don’t mind posting away from home and want a central government career — SSC GD is one of the most accessible paths. For candidates who need to stay in their home state — state police recruitment is more practical.
Who Should Prioritise SSC GD Preparation Right Now
If you’re 18-23, Class 10 pass, physically fit, and open to postings anywhere in India — SSC GD Constable should be your primary target alongside state police recruitment. The volume of vacancies (39,000+) in each cycle makes it statistically more accessible than most central government recruitments.
If you’ve appeared in the 2024 cycle and your CBT performance was strong — focus now on PET readiness for when you’re called. Don’t let your running fitness slip while waiting for results.
If you’re above 23 — SSC GD’s strict upper age limit means this recruitment is closed for you without category relaxation. Look at SSC CHSL, RRB Group D, or other recruitments with higher age limits.
FAQ — What Candidates Are Actually Searching
Is there negative marking in SSC GD CBT? Yes — SSC GD CBT has negative marking of 0.25 marks (one-fourth) for every wrong answer. This means random guessing is not a good strategy. If you’re unsure between two options, attempt the question. If you have no idea at all, skip it. The 0.25 deduction adds up when you guess blindly across multiple questions.
Can I choose my force preference after the exam? Force preference is typically collected at the time of application or during document verification, not after the exam. Your preference combined with your merit rank and available vacancies determines your force allotment. High scorers generally get their preferred force; lower-ranked candidates get allotted based on what’s available. Check the official notification for the exact force preference collection stage in each cycle.
What is the medical standard for eyesight in SSC GD? SSC GD medical standards require distance vision of 6/6 in one eye and 6/9 in the other, without glasses. Candidates with myopia (short-sightedness) beyond -0.5D or hypermetropia beyond +2.0D typically fail the medical. Colour blindness is also disqualifying for most paramilitary forces. Get your eyes tested specifically against SSC GD medical standards before investing months in preparation — discovering a disqualifying vision issue at the medical stage after clearing written and PET is extremely frustrating.
Can a female candidate with 155 cm height apply for General category? No — the minimum height for General/OBC/SC female candidates is 157 cm. 155 cm is below the standard. ST female candidates have a lower minimum of 150 cm. Height is measured on the day of PST — there’s no tolerance or rounding up. If you don’t meet the height standard, you’ll be eliminated at PST regardless of your written score.
Important Links
| Purpose | Link |
|---|---|
| SSC Official Website | ssc.gov.in |
| Download Exam Syllabus | ssc.gov.in — Syllabus Section |
| Download Official Notification | ssc.gov.in |
| Check Exam Date Notice | ssc.gov.in |
| Apply Online (Next Cycle) | ssc.gov.in |