SSC GD Constable Eligibility 2026, Check Age Limit & PET/PST Requirements
SSC GD Constable Eligibility 2026 is defined by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC), and it includes nationality, age limit, domicile requirement and educational qualification. Candidates must be Indian citizens, have passed Matriculation or Class 10th from a recognised board, be aged between 18 and 23 years (with age relaxation for reserved category candidates), and have a domicile certificate can apply before the last date (December 31, 2025). Moreover, candidates must meet specified physical and medical standards, which include height, chest (for males), race-based fitness, and visual acuity, to qualify for SSC GD Constable Recruitment 2026.
SSC GD Age Limit 2026
In SSC GD 2026 age limit criteria, candidates from Un-Reserved category must be age above 18 years of age but must be below 23 years of age, as on January 1, 2026. This means that candidates must not be born before January 2, 2003, and not born later than January 1, 2008. However, candidates from the reserved category will get upper age limit relaxation as mentioned below in the table:
| Category | Age Relaxation Beyond Upper Age Limit |
|---|---|
| SC / ST | 5 years |
| OBC | 3 years |
| Ex-Servicemen | 3 years after deducting the period of military service from actual age as on the date of reckoning |
| Children and dependents of victims killed in the 1984 riots (Unreserved / EWS) | 5 years |
| Children and dependents of victims killed in the 1984 riots (OBC) | 8 years |
| Children and dependents of victims killed in the 1984 riots (SC / ST) | 10 years |
SSC GD Educational Qualifications 2026
SSC GD 2026 educational qualifications criteria require candidates to have passed Class 10 (Matriculation) from a recognised board. The essential academic qualification must be obtained on or before the cut-off date, i.e., January 1, 2026. Candidates who have completed their matriculation through open schooling, state boards, CBSE, or ICSE are also eligible, provided the institution is recognised. Final year students awaiting results are not eligible to apply. This criterion ensures that only candidates with valid proof of passing Class 10 apply for SSC GD 2026 recruitment.
SSC GD Nationality 2026
For SSC GD 2026, nationality criteria are set by the Staff Selection Commission. Vacancies in CAPFs & AR are State/UT/area-wise. Hence, a candidate must submit a domicile certificate/PRC against their domiciled state/UT.
SSC GD Physical Requirements 2026
SSC GD 2026 Physical Standards are prescribed by SSC to ensure that candidates are physically fit for duties in various CAPFs, SSF, and Assam Rifles. The physical requirements include the Physical Efficiency Test (PET) and the Physical Standard Test (PST). PET includes the race event for both male and female candidates. PST include specific requirements for height, chest measurements (for males), and weight proportional to height and age. The Physical criteria vary slightly based on gender and category.
SSC GD Physical Efficiency Test (PET) 2026
SSC GD 2026 PET is conducted to assess the physical fitness and endurance of candidates applying for SSC GD Constable posts. All candidates, except ex-servicemen, must complete a race within the prescribed time limits, which vary for male and female candidates as well as for candidates from the Ladakh region. Clearing the PET is mandatory to proceed to further stages of the recruitment process.
| Event | Male | Female | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Race | 5 Kms in 24 minutes. | 1.6 Kms in 8 ½ minutes | For candidates other than those belonging to the Ladakh Region. |
| 1.6 Kms in 7 minutes | 800 metres in 5 minutes | For candidates of the Ladakh Region. |
SSC GD Physical Standards Test (PST) 2026
SSC GD 2026 Physical Standards Test (PST) is conducted to check if candidates meet the minimum physical measurements required for recruitment in CAPFs, SSF, and Assam Rifles. These standards include height, chest measurements for males, and weight proportional to age and height.
- Height: The minimum height requirement for male candidates is 170 cm, while for female candidates, it is 157 cm. However, there is relaxations in height for candidates of reserved categories as mentioned below:
| Category Eligible for Height Relaxation | Male (Cms) | Female (Cms) |
|---|---|---|
| All candidates belonging to the Scheduled Tribes. | 162.5 | 150.0 |
| All Scheduled Tribe candidates of the North Eastern States (NE States). | 157.0 | 147.5 |
| All Scheduled Tribe candidates of Left-Wing Extremism-affected districts. | 160.0 | 147.5 |
| Candidates falling in the categories of Garhwalis, Kumaonis, Dogras, Marathas and candidates belonging to the States/UTs of Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. | 165.0 | 155.0 |
| Candidates hailing from the North-Eastern States of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura. | 162.5 | 152.5 |
| Candidates hailing from Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) comprising Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong sub-divisions and specified mouzas (Lohagarh Tea Garden, Lohagarh Forest, Rangmohan, Barachenga, Panighata, Chota Adalpur, Paharu, Sukna Forest, Sukna Part-I, Pantapati Forest-I, Mahanadi Forest, Champasari Forest, Salbari Chhat part-II, Sitong Forest, Sivoke Hill Forest, Sivoke Forest, Chhota Chenga, Nipania). | 157.0 | 152.5 |
- Chest: This PST measurement is for male candidates only, in which the Unexpanded chest measurement is 80 cm, with a minimum expansion of 5 cm. Relaxation in chest measurement for some categories of candidates is given below:
| Category Eligible for Relaxation | Un-expanded (cms) | Minimum Expansion (cms) |
|---|---|---|
| All candidates belonging to the Scheduled Tribes. | 76 | 5 |
| Garhwalis, Kumaonis, Dogras, Marathas and candidates belonging to Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. | 78 | 5 |
| Candidates from North-Eastern States (Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura) and the Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA). | 77 | 5 |
- Weight: The weight requirement for candidates is proportionate to their height and age.
SSC GD 2026 Bonus Marks for NCC Certificate Holders
Candidates holding a valid NCC certificate get additional marks in SCC GD Exam 2026. These bonus marks are added to the normalised score of the Computer-Based Test (CBT). The percentage of marks added depends on the type of certificate.
| NCC Certificate | Bonus Marks Awarded |
|---|---|
| NCC ‘C’ Certificate | 5% of total marks |
| NCC ‘B’ Certificate | 3% of total marks |
| NCC ‘A’ Certificate | 2% of total marks |
- The certificate must be valid and issued on or before January 1, 2026.
- Candidates must mention their NCC status in the online application form; later changes are not allowed.
- The benefit will be confirmed only after verifying the original certificate during document verification.
- Ex-servicemen are not eligible for this bonus
SSC GD Documents Required for Eligibility 2026
Candidates who qualify for the PET/PST will be shortlisted for the Detailed Medical Examination and Document Verification. At this stage, original documents will be checked to confirm eligibility, reservation claims, and other required information. The documents required are mentioned below:
- Matriculation/ Secondary Examination Certificate to verify age, name, and educational qualification
- Domicile Certificate/ Permanent Resident Certificate (PRC) issued by the competent authority
- Valid NCC Certificate (if applicable)
- Certificate from serving defence personnel in the format prescribed
- Undertaking in the format prescribed in Annexure-V from Ex-Servicemen candidates (if applicable)
- Caste Certificate in the format prescribed (for reservation/ age relaxation)
- Certificate for relaxation in height/ chest measurement
- Certificate from the District Collector/ District Magistrate for dependent applicants of riot victims (as per category)
- Nativity/ Identity Certificate by a West Pakistani Refugee in the format prescribed
Candidates must ensure they provide accurate eligibility information in their SSC GD 2026 application. During DV, SSC will verify all details (education qualification, age limit, category relaxation, physical standards) against the original documents. Any mismatch will lead to the immediate disqualification of the candidature. Only those with fully correct credentials can proceed to the final selection in SSC GD. Therefore, candidates are advised to double-check all the eligibility criteria before submitting the application form.
SSC GD Eligibility 2026 FAQs
Ques: Are there any relaxations in the upper age limit for reserved category candidates in SSC GD 2026?
Ans: Yes. Candidates from reserved categories may be eligible for relaxation in the upper age limit as per government regulations. The extent of relaxations varies depending on the category and is mentioned in the official notification. It is important to carefully review the notification for accurate information regarding age relaxations.
Ques: Is a Domicile or Permanent Residential Certificate required for SSC GD recruitment 2026?
Ans: Yes. Candidates must present a valid Domicile/PRC certificate from the same State/UT mentioned in their application during document verification. Otherwise, their candidature will be cancelled.
Ques: Can candidates who have completed their education through distance learning or correspondence apply for SSC GD exam 2026?
Ans: Yes. Candidates who have completed their education through distance learning or correspondence from a recognised institution are generally eligible to apply for the exam.
Ques: Can candidates from any state in India apply for SSC GD exam 2026?
Ans: Yes, candidates from any state or Union Territory of India can apply for SSC GD exam, provided they meet all eligibility criteria, including nationality, age, education, and domicile requirements. But outside their native state of application, they will be treated as Un-Reserved category candidates, whose eligibility they must meet before applying for the exam.
Ques: Is there any restriction on the number of attempts for SSC GD exam 2026?
Ans: No. There is typically no restriction on the number of attempts for SSC GD 2026 exam. As long as candidates meet the eligibility criteria, they can apply for the exam multiple times until they reach the maximum age limit specified for their category.
Ques: Can female candidates apply for SSC GD 2026 exam?
Ans: Yes. SSC GD exam is open to both male and female candidates. However, there may be specific physical requirements or standards that differ based on gender. So, female category candidates must check their requirements before applying.
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