SSC GD Selection Process 2026: Detailed Steps for Constable (GD) Exam Success

The Staff Selection Commission General Duty (SSC GD) examination is one of the most popular and highly competitive exams in India. For thousands of aspirants looking to serve in the nation’s paramilitary forces, this exam is the ultimate gateway. However, before starting your preparation, having a clear understanding of the ssc gd process of selection is crucial.

Conducted annually by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC), the ssc gd constable selection process involves multiple rigorously planned stages designed to test a candidate’s mental acuity, physical endurance, and medical fitness. Why must candidates know every stage inside out? Simply put, failing to prepare for even one step—whether it’s the written test or the physical round—can cost you your selection. Mastering the ssc gd process of selection ensures you map out a well-balanced study and physical training schedule. Let’s break down this complete roadmap to help you secure your uniform.

What is SSC GD Recruitment?

The full form of SSC GD is Staff Selection Commission General Duty. It is a national-level exam conducted to recruit candidates for the post of Constable (General Duty) and Rifleman in various Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).

When you clear the exam, you are allotted to one of the following elite forces based on your merit and preferences:

• BSF (Border Security Force)
• CISF (Central Industrial Security Force)
• CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force)
• ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police)
• SSB (Sashastra Seema Bal)
• SSF (Secretariat Security Force)
• Assam Rifles (AR)

Job Role of a GD Constable: A GD Constable acts as the first line of defense, dealing with border management, counter-insurgency operations, riot control, VIP security, and general maintenance of law and order depending on the assigned force.

SSC GD Process of Selection

To become a GD Constable, you have to clear multiple elimination rounds. It is vital to prepare for both the written exam and physical assessments simultaneously, as the complete selection process of ssc gd allows no shortcuts.

Here is a quick breakdown of the gd constable selection process:

1. Computer-Based Test (CBT) – The initial written examination.
2. Physical Efficiency Test (PET) – Assessment of your running capacity and stamina.
3. Physical Standard Test (PST) – Checking required physical body measurements.
4. Medical Examination – Comprehensive medical and visual test.
5. Final Merit List & Document Verification – The final allocation based on exam scores.

Stage 1 – Computer Based Examination (CBT)

The ssc gd process of selection begins with CBT, which is the most critical stage. The marks scored here determine your final ranking and merit.

Exam Pattern

• Total Questions: 80 objective-type questions.
• Marks: 160 marks (2 marks awarded for every correct answer).
• Duration: 60 minutes (1 hour).
• Negative Marking: Yes, a deduction of usually 0.25 marks applies to each wrong answer.

Subject-wise Syllabus Breakdown

The exam tests a candidate’s basic aptitude and language comprehension.

• General Intelligence and Reasoning (20 Qs, 40 Marks): Coding-decoding, analogies, visual memory, number series, and blood relations.
• General Knowledge & General Awareness (20 Qs, 40 Marks): Current affairs, Indian History, Geography, Polity, and basic general science.
• Elementary Mathematics (20 Qs, 40 Marks): Percentages, profit and loss, averages, time and work, time and distance, and ratio/proportions (Matriculation level).
• English/Hindi (20 Qs, 40 Marks): Basic comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure in either language of your choice.

Stage 2 – Physical Efficiency Test (PET)

Once you pass the CBT cutoff, you are shortlisted for the physical tests. The ssc gd constable selection process includes PET, which primarily tests a candidate’s cardiovascular endurance and stamina through long-distance running.

• For Male Candidates: Required to run a distance of 5 km in 24 minutes.
• For Female Candidates: Required to run a distance of 1.6 km in 8 minutes and 30 seconds.

Note on Relaxation: Candidates belonging to the Ladakh region have specialized limits. Male candidates from Ladakh need to run 1.6 km in 7 minutes, while females run 800 meters in 5 minutes.

Stage 3 – Physical Standard Test (PST)

Running isn’t the only physical requirement. The gd constable selection process physical standards are strictly maintained. Before or alongside the PET, candidates must meet exact bodily measurements to proceed further.

• Height Requirements: Unreserved male candidates must be 170 cm tall, and female candidates must be 157 cm tall.
• Chest Measurement (Males Only): Must have an unexpanded chest size of 80 cm, with a minimum expansion capability of 5 cm.
• Weight Criteria: Weight should be proportionate to height and age as per standard medical metrics.
• Category-wise Relaxations: Candidates belonging to Scheduled Tribes (ST) and specified hilly regions receive substantial relaxations in height and chest measurements according to government norms.

Stage 4 – Medical Examination

Shortlisted candidates are subjected to the Detailed Medical Examination (DME) carried out by CAPF Medical Boards.

• Detailed Medical Examination (DME): Your body is tested thoroughly to ensure there are no pre-existing severe ailments, bone defects, or surgeries that impede field duties.
• Vision Standards: Must be N6/N9 in distance vision. Poor vision without spectacles, color blindness, and a squint in the eye result in disqualification.
• Fitness Requirements & Common Rejection Reasons: Tattoos (with strict placement restrictions), flat foot, knock-knee, varicose veins, and pigeon chest are very common reasons for candidates failing the medical test.

SSC GD Final Merit List & Document Verification

The selection process of ssc gd final stage acts as the conclusive bridge between aspirants and their appointment letters.

• How Merit is Prepared: The final merit list is prepared entirely based on the raw and normalized scores of the Stage 1 CBT. PET, PST, and DME are qualifying in nature and do not carry extra points.
• Tie-Breaking Rules: If two candidates score equal CBT marks, the tie is broken first by marks in Part-A (Reasoning), then Part-B (GK), then Date of Birth (older candidates placed higher), and finally alphabetical order of names.
• Document Verification Process: Here, authorities will physically inspect original copies of educational certificates, Domicile/PRC certificates, caste certificates, and valid ID proofs to ensure complete authenticity.

SSC GD Process of Selection – Important Points

Here are key takeaways you should never forget during your preparation:

• No Interview Stage: There is no personal interview in the SSC GD selection.
• Qualifying Physical Tests: No matter how fast you run in the PET, it only counts as ‘Qualified’ or ‘Not Qualified’. Only CBT marks dictate your final merit placement.
• Medical is Mandatory: Failing the medical exam permanently bars you from entering the merit list, regardless of excellent CBT scores.
• Reservation Rules applying correctly: State-wise vacancies and category-based quotas dictate cut-offs, so valid residential/caste certification is critical.

SSC GD Selection Process 2025/2026 – Latest Updates

SSC periodically modernizes exam methods to remain accessible:

• Exam Language Options: To benefit regional candidates, the Computer Based Test (CBT) can now be attempted in 13 regional languages apart from Hindi and English (such as Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, etc.).
• Expected Timeline: Generally, SSC announces the official notifications between late August and November. Ensure you map out your preparation tracking the updated SSC exam calendar.

(Always consult the latest official SSC notification to check for minor changes in negative marking fractions or relaxations for the current recruiting year).

Conclusion

A robust preparation plan requires complete knowledge of the challenge ahead. From the syllabus breakdown of the Computer-Based Test to fulfilling strict bodily requirements for physical tests, knowing every single stage empowers your strategy. To summarize the ssc gd process of selection: ace the CBT, train hard daily for the running tests (PET), satisfy bodily metrics (PST), clear the medical hurdle, and produce clean documents.

Don’t wait for the formal exam notification to start running or studying. Combine a consistent workout regimen with a solid daily study routine. With early preparation and unshakeable discipline, seeing your name on that final SSC GD merit list will soon be a reality. Best of luck!