CAPF Constable (GD) via SSC GD

Guarding borders, industrial plants, airports and government buildings. Helping keep law and order, handling duties in insurgency or Naxal-affected areas, election duty and disaster relief. The work depends on which force you join.

A day in the work
A CISF constable might start the day with a parade or briefing, then spend an eight-hour shift at an airport or factory gate, checking people and bags. A BSF or ITBP jawan on a border post may walk long patrols, watch from a tower, and keep weapons and gear ready, often in extreme heat or cold. Between duties there is physical training, firing practice, cleaning of equipment and barrack life with your team. Leave and family time depend on your posting, and field areas can mean months away from home.

1. Step 1 · Class 8–10Build running stamina and general fitness from now. Finish Class 10 on time, because you must have passed it by the cut-off date in the notice. Any stream in Class 11–12 is fine, and you can also apply straight after Class 10.
2. Step 2 · After Class 10 (age 18–23)Apply online on ssc.gov.in after One-Time Registration. In the 2026 cycle, applications ran 1–31 December 2025 and the age band was 18–23 years on 1 January 2026. The fee was ₹100, and women, SC, ST and eligible ex-servicemen paid nothing (fee reported). Vacancies are domicile-based, so you must name your State/UT and district and later show a domicile certificate.
3. Step 3 · Computer-Based Exam (CBE)A single objective paper in four parts: reasoning, general knowledge and awareness, elementary maths, and English or Hindi (about 80 questions, 160 marks, 60 minutes — reported). The 2026 exam ran from 27 April to 30 May 2026. Minimum qualifying marks were 30% for UR, 25% for OBC/EWS and 20% for SC, ST and ESM. NCC certificate holders get bonus marks.
4. Step 4 · Physical tests (PET and PST)Done by the forces, with CRPF as the nodal force in 2026. First a qualifying race. Then your height and, for men, chest are measured, and weight must suit your height and age. The race is 5 km in 24 minutes for men and 1.6 km in 8½ minutes for women (reported). Standard height is 170 cm for men and 157 cm for women, with relaxations for ST candidates and some regions. (reported — check with the official body)
5. Step 5 · Medical and document verificationA Detailed Medical Examination, with a Review Medical Examination if you appeal, and checking of original documents. These include your Class 10 certificate, category and domicile papers. Any claim for relaxation is checked here too. Final merit is made state-wise, gender-wise and category-wise, and you are allotted a force by preference and rank.
6. Step 6 · Basic training (paid)You are paid while you train at the force's Recruit Training Centre. CRPF's centre at Rajgir states 44 weeks of basic training for GD constables, with a 15-day break after 22 weeks. Other forces set their own length.
7. Step 7 · Posting, probation and promotionYou join a unit, often far from home, and serve a probation period set by the force. Promotion to Naik or Head Constable and beyond comes through service courses and departmental exams. The 2026 cycle is still in progress: the CBE result came out on 12 October 2026 and the physical test dates were awaited from CRPF.

• SSC GD open exam (main route)Class 10 pass, CBE, then physical tests, medical and document checks. This is where most constable vacancies are filled.
• Sports quota recruitment by individual forcesForces such as SSB, CRPF and ITBP have advertised separate Constable (GD) sports-quota posts for players with national or international medals. Each force publishes its own notice, and the posts are few (reported).Reported — confirm on the official site.

Fees from: SSC Notice of Constable (GD) Examination, 2026 · CRPF Recruit Training Centre Rajgir · SSC notice: Constable (GD) in CAPFs and SSF, and Rifleman (GD) in Assam Rifles Examination, 2026 (PDF, ssc.gov.in). Fees change every year — check the college's own fee page before you pay.

Pay starts at the same level for every new constable, then grows slowly with promotions and years of service, and your take-home also depends on where you are posted, because hard-area, ration and risk allowances differ by force and location.

Women can apply: the 2026 notice had separate vacancies for women (2,020 of about 25,487, with none in SSB — reported), no application fee, a lower height standard of 157 cm, and no chest measurement. Height relaxations apply for ST candidates and for people from some hill and North-Eastern regions. Age relaxation applies for SC/ST, OBC and ex-servicemen (reported).

• Class 7–9Start a simple running habit this month: walk and jog 20–30 minutes, three days a week, and add distance slowly. Join your school's athletics, kabaddi or football team if there is one.Open link ↗
• Class 10–12Ask your school whether it has an NCC unit and join it. The 2026 SSC GD result notice gave NCC 'C', 'B' and 'A' certificate holders bonus marks of 5%, 3% and 2% of the maximum.Open link ↗
• College or afterIf you are 15 or older, register on MY Bharat and join a local volunteering activity. Also time yourself on a 1.6 km run (girls) or 5 km run (boys), keep a weekly log, and check the latest SSC notice for the exact physical standards.Open link ↗

• Vacancies are domicile-based and some are reserved for border districts and districts affected by Naxal activity or militancy. You are considered only from the State/UT and district you name in your form.
• The forces do very different work. CISF guards factories, airports and metros. BSF and ITBP guard borders. CRPF handles internal security. SSB works on the Nepal and Bhutan borders. Assam Rifles posts are called Rifleman. You are allotted a force by your rank and preference.
• The 2026 notice came out on 1 December 2025. Vacancies, age cut-off date and standards can change each year, so always read the latest notice on ssc.gov.in.
• Want to join as an officer later? That is a different route: the UPSC CAPF (Assistant Commandant) exam after graduation.