SSC CPO 2026 Paper 1: New 100-Question, 1-Hour Pattern, Exam Dates, Syllabus and Strategy

SSC has changed the SSC CPO (Sub-Inspector in Delhi Police and CAPFs) exam for 2026. Paper 1 is now 100 questions in 1 hour, with a 15-minute timer for each section. Until 2025 it was a 200-question, 2-hour paper with 30 minutes for each section. The Paper 1 computer-based exam is scheduled from 23 to 28 November 2026. This guide explains the new pattern, what has changed, the syllabus, how marks work, and a study plan for the weeks left.

SSC CPO 2026 at a glance

Note the revised dates. If you saw "20 November" anywhere, that was from the 1 October notice. The 26 October corrigendum moved Paper 1 to 23 to 28 November 2026. Your admission certificate will show your exact date and shift.

The new SSC CPO Paper 1 pattern (2026)

• Marking: +1 for each correct answer, minus 0.25 for each wrong answer.
• Sectional timer: 15 minutes per part. When the time for one part ends, you move to the next. Unused time is not carried forward.
• Language: Parts I, II and III are in Hindi and English. Part IV is English. There is no Marathi option in CPO.
• Difficulty: the notice says Paper 2 will be harder than Paper 1.

What changed from the old 200-question paper

The average time per question is the same, and the 2025 paper already had a sectional timer (30 minutes for each 50-question part), so the way the timer works is not new. What has changed is the size of each block. With 25 questions in 15 minutes, one slow question eats a bigger share of the section, and each wrong answer is a bigger share of the section's marks. That matters because SSC can set a separate cut-off for each part.

Paper 2 has also been redesigned. In the 2026 notice, Paper 2 has Reasoning, GK and Quant with 20 questions (40 marks) each in 1 hour (20 minutes per part), plus an English Comprehension part of 100 questions (200 marks) in 1 hour. Negative marking in Paper 2 is 0.50. In the 2025 cycle, Paper 2 was English only: 200 questions (200 marks) in 2 hours, with 0.25 negative marking.

Why Paper 1 still matters

As per para 16 of the notice:

• Paper 1 (plus NCC bonus marks, if any) is used to shortlist candidates for PST/PET.
• SSC may fix separate cut-offs for each part of Paper 1. So you cannot ignore one section and hope the total carries you.
• Only those who qualify in PST/PET sit Paper 2.
• Final selection and force allocation are based on Paper 2 marks (plus NCC bonus) and your post preferences.
• Minimum qualifying marks in each paper: 30% for UR, 25% for OBC/EWS, 20% for others.
• NCC certificate holders get bonus marks in both papers: 5% of maximum marks for a C certificate, 3% for B and 2% for A.

SSC CPO Paper 1 syllabus

The syllabus did not shrink with the pattern. Only the number of questions did. That means each topic now has fewer questions, so you should cover the whole list rather than going very deep into a few chapters.

Part I: General Intelligence and Reasoning

• Analogy (word, number, figure): analogy topic test
• Classification: classification topic test
• Number, letter and figure series: series topic test
• Coding-decoding: coding-decoding topic test
• Numerical and symbolic operations: mathematical operations topic test
• Blood relations and direction sense: blood relations, direction
• Order, ranking and seating: order & ranking, seating arrangement
• Statement-conclusion and syllogism: syllogism topic test
• Venn diagrams, word building, indexing, address and date matching
• Non-verbal: space visualisation, paper folding and punched holes, figure completion, embedded figures, mirror images
• Critical thinking, emotional intelligence and social intelligence (situation-based questions)

Part II: General Knowledge and General Awareness

• Current events, national and international
• History and culture of India
• Geography of India and neighbouring countries
• Economic scene and government schemes
• General polity and the Indian Constitution (named specifically in the CPO syllabus, so give it extra time)
• Everyday science and scientific research
• Sports, awards, books, important days

Part III: Quantitative Aptitude

• Whole numbers, decimals, fractions, square roots: number system topic test
• Percentage: percentage topic test
• Ratio and proportion, partnership, mixture and alligation: ratio topic test
• Averages: average topic test
• Interest: SI & CI topic test
• Profit, loss and discount: profit, loss & discount topic test
• Time and work: time & work topic test
• Time and distance: time, speed & distance topic test
• Algebra: identities, surds, graphs of linear equations: algebra topic test
• Geometry: triangle centres, congruence and similarity, circles, chords, tangents, quadrilaterals, polygons
• Mensuration: prism, cone, cylinder, sphere, hemisphere, cuboid, pyramid: mensuration topic test
• Trigonometry: ratios, identities, complementary angles, heights and distances
• Data: histogram, frequency polygon, bar diagram, pie chart

Part IV: English Comprehension

• Error recognition (spot the error)
• Fill in the blanks: verbs, prepositions, articles
• Vocabulary, spellings, synonyms and antonyms
• Sentence structure and sentence completion
• Phrases and idioms
• Reading comprehension

English matters twice in CPO. It is a quarter of Paper 1, and in Paper 2 it is 100 of 160 questions (200 of 320 marks). Starting daily English practice now helps you in both papers.

Strategy for the new 15-minute sections

• Reasoning (15 min): do analogy, classification, series and visual questions first. These take 15 to 25 seconds each. Keep puzzles and long statement questions for the last 4 to 5 minutes.
• GK (15 min): one pass, answer what you know, and skip what you do not. You will usually finish in 6 to 8 minutes. Use the rest to check, not to guess.
• Quant (15 min): this is the tightest section. Attempt arithmetic and formula-based mensuration first. Skip any question that needs more than about 60 seconds.
• English (15 min): synonyms, antonyms, idioms and spelling first, then error spotting and fill-ups, then the passage.
• Negative marking: at 0.25, one wrong answer costs a quarter mark. If you can remove two options with confidence, a guess is reasonable. If you cannot remove any, leave it.

Study plan: 4 weeks to Paper 1

From 27 October, there are about four weeks to 23 November. Plan on 3 to 4 hours a day.

Week 1: diagnose and fix basics

• Day 1: take CPO Mock Test 1 with the sectional timer. List your score and attempts per section.
• Days 2 to 7: Quant arithmetic (percentage, ratio, average, profit and loss, interest, time and work, time and distance). One chapter a day with its topic test.
• Daily: 30 minutes of English vocabulary and grammar rules; 30 minutes of current affairs.

Week 2: reasoning and the rest of Quant

• Reasoning: one topic a day with its topic test (analogy, classification, series, coding, blood relations, direction, ranking).
• Quant: algebra identities, geometry theorems, mensuration and trigonometry formulas. Make a one-page formula sheet.
• GK: polity and Constitution, then history and geography.

Week 3: speed and the second mock

• Take CPO Mock Test 2 at the start of the week.
• Two 15-minute drills a day, each with 25 questions from one section.
• Revise the topics where you scored under 60%.

Final days (up to 22 November)

• Re-attempt both mocks and analyse every wrong answer. You can also repeat topic tests from the SSC CPO test list.
• Revise only: formula sheet, vocabulary list, current affairs notes, Constitution articles.
• Download the admission certificate as soon as SSC releases it.

Do not leave physical preparation for after the result. PST/PET follows soon after Paper 1, and running practice takes weeks to show results. Even 30 minutes a day now will help.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Using old 200-question mock tests. Their timing and section sizes no longer match the exam.
• Ignoring a weak section. SSC can set part-wise cut-offs in Paper 1, so a very low score in one part can stop you even if your total is good.
• Not revising the Constitution. The CPO GK syllabus names Polity and the Constitution directly.
• Leaving English for Paper 2. English decides most of Paper 2, which decides final selection.
• Following the old exam date. The dates were revised on 26 October. Check ssc.gov.in, not forwarded messages.
• Skipping physical training. PST/PET is qualifying, but failing it ends your attempt regardless of marks.

Frequently asked questions

What is the new exam pattern of SSC CPO 2026 Paper 1?

100 questions for 100 marks in 1 hour: Reasoning, GK, Quant and English with 25 questions each. Each part has a 15-minute timer. There is a 0.25 mark deduction for each wrong answer.

When is SSC CPO Paper 1 in 2026?

23 to 28 November 2026, as per SSC's corrigendum dated 26 October 2026. The earlier notice of 1 October had said 20 to 28 November.

Is SSC CPO Paper 1 counted in the final merit?

As per the 2026 notice, final selection is based on Paper 2 marks (plus NCC bonus) and post preferences. Paper 1 is used to shortlist for PST/PET, and SSC can set cut-offs for each part.

How many vacancies are there in SSC CPO 2026?

The notice tables add up to about 1,871 tentative vacancies across Delhi Police, the CAPFs and CISF SI (Fire). These are tentative and can change.

Is SSC CPO 2026 Paper 1 available in Marathi?

No. Parts I to III are in Hindi and English, and Part IV is English.

What is the age limit for SSC CPO 2026?

20 to 25 years as on 1 August 2026 for most posts, and 18 to 30 years for SI (Fire) in CISF, with relaxation for reserved categories as per the notice.

Do NCC candidates get bonus marks in SSC CPO?

Yes. NCC C, B and A certificate holders get 5%, 3% and 2% of the maximum marks as a bonus in both Paper 1 and Paper 2.

Sources

• SSC, Notice of Sub-Inspector in Delhi Police and CAPFs Examination, 2026 (10 September 2026): ssc.gov.in notice PDF
• SSC, Notice of Sub-Inspector in Delhi Police and CAPFs Examination, 2025 (old pattern, for comparison): ssc.gov.in notice PDF
• SSC, Important Notice on exam schedule (1 October 2026): ssc.gov.in notice PDF
• SSC, Corrigendum with revised exam dates (26 October 2026): ssc.gov.in notice PDF
• Staff Selection Commission official website: ssc.gov.in