SSC CPO Exam Pattern 2026

SSC changed the CPO pattern in 2026. Both papers are computer-based, objective multiple-choice tests in Hindi and English (English Comprehension is in English only). Paper-I decides who goes to the PET/PST. Paper-II decides who goes to the medical exam and final selection.

Paper-I (100 marks, 1 hour)

Section	Questions	Marks	Time
General Intelligence and Reasoning	25	25	15 min
General Knowledge and General Awareness	25	25	15 min
Quantitative Aptitude	25	25	15 min
English Comprehension	25	25	15 min
Total	100	100	1 hour

Each wrong answer in Paper-I costs 0.25 marks.

Paper-II (as listed in the 2026 notice)

Section	Questions	Marks
General Intelligence and Reasoning	20	40
General Knowledge and General Awareness	20	40
Quantitative Aptitude	20	40
English Comprehension	100	200
Total	160	320

Each wrong answer in Paper-II costs 0.50 marks. Reports say there is a 20-minute timer for each section, but the timing for the English section is not clear in the copies we checked. Confirm it in the official notice. Paper-II is set at a higher level than Paper-I.

Minimum qualifying marks (each paper, without NCC bonus)

Category	Minimum
UR	30%
OBC / EWS	25%
All other categories	20%

NCC bonus

NCC certificate holders get bonus marks added to their normalised score in both papers: 5% of the maximum marks for 'C', 3% for 'B' and 2% for 'A'.

Physical stage

PST and PET are qualifying only. They add no marks, but you must pass them to sit Paper-II. See the Eligibility tab for the standards.

For comparison, the 2025 Paper-I had 200 questions for 200 marks in 2 hours, and the 2025 Paper-II was English only.

Source: SSC notice for SI in Delhi Police & CAPFs Exam 2026, dated 10.09.2026 (PDF copy), Careers360 News (CPO 2026 notification)

SSC CPO Exam Pattern 2026