The SSC has announced the SSC CPO Eligibility Criteria 2025 along with the official notification. It outlines the age, educational, and nationality requirements for Sub-Inspector (SI) posts in Delhi Police and CAPFs. Candidates must fulfill these criteria to be eligible for the application. This article provides complete details of the SSC CPO eligibility, helping candidates verify their qualifications and avoid any issues during the selection process.
What is the eligibility criteria for SSC CPO Exam?
SSC CPO Eligibility 2025 requires candidates to be Indian nationals, possess a Bachelor's degree from a recognized university, and be aged between 20 to 25 years (with category-wise age relaxation as per government rules) to appear for SSC CPO Exam.
What is SSC CPO Nationality Requirement?
SSC CPO Nationality Requirement is that a candidate must be a citizen of India, or a subject of Nepal, or a subject of Bhutan, with Nepalese/Bhutanese candidates requiring a Certificate of Eligibility from the Government of India.
| Nationality/Citizenship | Eligibility Condition | Additional Requirement |
|---|
| Citizen of India | Eligible | None |
| Subject of Nepal | Eligible | Certificate of Eligibility from Govt. of India |
| Subject of Bhutan | Eligible | Certificate of Eligibility from Govt. of India |
- Candidates belonging to Nepal or Bhutan must have a Certificate of Eligibility issued by the Government of India.
- Candidates requiring the Certificate of Eligibility will be allowed to appear for the examination, but the offer of appointment will only be issued after the necessary certificate is provided by the Government of India.
What is SSC CPO Age Limit?
The SSC CPO Age Limit 2025 is 20 to 25 years as on 1st August, 2025, meaning candidates must be born between 02.08.1999 and 01.08.2004, with category-wise age relaxation as per government rules.
Age Relaxation:
Below are the age relaxations for SSC CPO:
| Category | Age Relaxation |
|---|
| SC/ST | 5 years |
| OBC | 3 years |
| Ex-Servicemen (ESM) | 3 years (after deducting military service) |
| Widows, Divorced Women, and Women Judicially Separated (Unreserved) | Up to 35 years |
| Widows, Divorced Women, and Women Judicially Separated (SC/ST) | Up to 40 years |
For Departmental candidates of Delhi Police, the following age limits apply:
| Category | Age Relaxation |
|---|
| Unreserved (with 3 years of regular and continuous service) | Up to 30 years |
| OBC (with 3 years of regular and continuous service) | Up to 33 years |
| SC/ST (with 3 years of regular and continuous service) | Up to 35 years |
What is SSC CPO Educational Qualification 2025?
SSC CPO Educational Qualification 2025 requires candidates to hold a Bachelor's degree from a recognized university or equivalent, with certain conditions for distance learning, awaiting results, and equivalent qualifications.
| Criteria | Details |
|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | Must be from a recognized university or equivalent. |
| Candidates Awaiting Results | Can apply if they complete their degree by 16th October, 2025 |
| Open and Distance Learning (ODL) | Degrees from UGC-recognized universities are accepted for SSC CPO. |
| Exclusions | Engineering, Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Architecture courses are not allowed in Open and Distance Learning, except for B.Tech from IGNOU before 2009-10. |
| Equivalence Certificate | Candidates with equivalent qualifications must submit a Certificate of Equivalence. |
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SSC CPO Special Requirements for Sub-Inspector (SI) in Delhi Police
The below-mentioned SSC CPO Eligibility Criteria are important for the post of Sub-Inspector. Further details are provided below.
| Eligibility Requirement | Details |
|---|
| Valid Driving License | Male candidates for Sub-Inspector in Delhi Police must have a valid LMV (Motorcycle and Car) license on the date of Physical Endurance and Measurement Tests (PE&MT). Without the license, candidates will only be eligible for Sub-Inspector in CAPFs. |
| Document Verification | Candidates must present original documents during the verification process. Missing documents will lead to disqualification. |
| Final Eligibility Check | Candidates with qualifications declared after the cut-off date or those holding provisional certificates must provide valid proof from their educational institution by the specified date. |
What is SSC CPO Physical Test 2025?
The SSC CPO Physical Test 2025 will include a Physical Standard Test (PST) and a Physical Endurance Test (PET). The PST checks height and chest measurements, while the PET involves races, jumps, and shot put events. The exact schedule for these tests under the SSC CPO Exam 2025 will be releaed by the CAPFs.
What is SSC CPO Physical Standard Test 2025?
The SSC CPO Physical Standard Test (PST) includes specific requirements for candidates. For male candidates, the chest measurement is mandatory, with different standards based on category and height. Female candidates do not have chest measurement requirements. Instead, they must meet height standards specific to their category. The details of the SSC CPO PST are as follows:
What are SSC CPO height standards for male & female candidates?
The SSC CPO height standards are 170 cm for general male and 157 cm for general female candidates, 165 cm (male) and 155 cm (female) for specified hill-area categories, and 162.5 cm (male) and 154 cm (female) for scheduled tribe candidates.
| Category | Height for male candidates | Height for female candidates |
|---|
| General | 170 cm | 157 cm |
| Candidates belonging to Hill areas of Garhwal, Kumaon, Himachal Pradesh, Gorkhas, Dogras, Marathas, Kashmir Valley, Leh & Ladakh regions, North-Eastern States and Sikkim. | 165 cm | 155 cm |
| Scheduled Tribes | 162.5 cm | 154 cm |
What are SSC CPO weight standards for male & female candidates?
For all SSC CPO posts, weight must be proportional to height for both male and female candidates. This means that candidates should maintain a healthy weight in relation to their height to meet the physical standards required for the role.
What are chest measurement requirement for male candidates?
The SSC CPO chest measurement requirement for male candidates is 80-85 cm for General and hill-area categories, and 77–82 cm for Scheduled Tribe candidates, with no chest measurement applicable for female candidates.
| Category | Chest (Unexpanded) | Chest (Expanded) |
|---|
| General | 80 cm | 85 cm |
| Candidates belonging to Hill areas of Garhwal, Kumaon, Himachal Pradesh, Gorkhas, Dogras, Marathas, Kashmir Valley, Leh & Ladakh regions, North-Eastern States and Sikkim. | 80 cm | 85 cm |
| Scheduled Tribes | 77 cm | 82 cm |
What is SSC CPO Physical Endurance Test 2025?
The SSC CPO Physical Endurance Test (PET) 2025 assesses candidates' physical fitness through various exercises. For male candidates, the PET includes a 100-meter race, a 1.6 km race, long jump, high jump, and shot put. Female candidates will also participate in a 100-meter race and an 800-meter race, along with long jump and high jump. The details of the SSC CPO PET are as follows:
| Test | Male Candidates | Female Candidates |
|---|
| 100 meter race | 16 seconds | 18 seconds |
| 1.6 km race | 6.5 minutes | Not applicable |
| 800 meter race | Not applicable | 4 minutes |
| Long Jump | 3.65 meters (3 attempts) | 2.7 meters (3 attempts) |
| High Jump | 1.2 meters (3 attempts) | 0.9 meters (3 attempts) |
| Shot Put (16 lbs) | 4.5 meters (3 attempts) | Not applicable |
What is SSC CPO Final Physical Test 2025?
Candidates who are finally selected for the Sub-Inspector posts must complete a training curriculum that includes passing seven obstacle events. These events are crucial for their training, and failure to pass them may result in not being retained in the Force.
| Obstacle Event | Details |
|---|
| Jumping over the Vertical Board | Candidates must successfully jump over a vertical board. |
| Holding the Rope on Jumping from the Board | Candidates need to hold onto a rope while jumping from a board. |
| Tarzan Swing | Candidates must complete a Tarzan swing. |
| Jumping on the Horizontal Board | Candidates must jump onto a horizontal board. |
| Parallel Rope | Candidates need to navigate along a parallel rope. |
| Monkey Crawl | Candidates must perform a monkey crawl. |
| Vertical Rope | Candidates need to climb a vertical rope. |
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What is SSC CPO Eligibility Criteria for Female Candidates?
Female candidates applying for SSC CPO 2025 must be Indian citizens (or subjects of Nepal/Bhutan with a Certificate of Eligibility), aged 20–25 years with category-wise relaxation, and hold a bachelor's degree from a recognized university. They must meet the required height and weight standards and clear the Physical Endurance Test (PET) and medical examination. Chest measurement is not required for female candidates.
| Criteria | Requirement |
|---|
| Height | General: 157 cm, Hill/NE: 155 cm, ST: 154 cm |
| Weight | Proportional to height |
| 100 m Race | 18 seconds |
| 800 m Race | 4 minutes |
| Long Jump | 2.7 meters (3 attempts) |
| High Jump | 0.9 meters (3 attempts) |
What is SSC CPO Medical Exam 2025?
Candidates who will clear Paper II will need to undergo a medical examination to ensure they meet the required health and physical standards. The examination will be conducted by a Medical Officer from CAPF or a Grade-I Medical Officer from a Central or State Government Hospital or Dispensary.
| Category | Details |
|---|
| Medical Check-up | Conducted by a CAPF Medical Officer or a Grade-I Medical Officer from a Government Hospital/Dispensary after Paper 2. |
| Review Medical Exam (RME) | Candidates found unfit in the Detailed Medical Examination (DME) can apply for an RME, usually conducted the next day. The Review Medical Board's decision is final. |
| Eyesight | - Near Vision: N6 (better eye), N9 (worse eye) - Distant Vision: 6/6 (better eye), 6/9 (worse eye) - Vision must be clear without glasses or corrective surgery. - For right-handed candidates, the right eye is the better eye, and vice versa. |
| Physical Conditions | Candidates must not have knock knees, flat feet, varicose veins, or squint eyes. Normal color vision is required. |
| General Health | Candidates must be mentally and physically fit, with no medical issues affecting their job performance. |
What are SSC CPO Tattoo Guidelines 2025?
As part of the SSC CPO Physical Test, candidates must adhere to specific tattoo guidelines. These guidelines outline what is acceptable regarding the content, location, and size of tattoos for those applying for the SSC CPO positions. Understanding and following these rules is essential for ensuring that candidates meet the necessary requirements for their application.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|
| Content | Tattoos depicting religious symbols or figures and names are permitted, similar to the Indian Army guidelines. |
| Location | Tattoos are allowed only on traditional sites such as the inner aspect of the left forearm or the dorsum of the hands. |
| Size | Tattoos must be smaller than ¼ of the respective body part (e.g., elbow or hand). |
What are the key takeaways?
Below are the key takeaways from this article:
- Nationality: Must be an Indian citizen, or subject of Nepal/Bhutan (with Certificate of Eligibility from Govt. of India if Nepal/Bhutan).
- Age Limit: 20-25 years as of 01.08.2025, with category-wise relaxation (SC/ST: +5 yrs, OBC: +3 yrs, etc.).
- Education: Bachelor's degree from a recognized university; ODL accepted (except restricted courses).
- Special Requirement (Delhi Police SI Male): Valid LMV driving license before PE&MT.
- PST (Height & Chest): Different standards for male/female & categories; weight proportional to height; chest only for males.
- PET: Includes races, jumps, and shot put for males; shorter races and jumps for females.
- Medical Exam: Checks vision, physical conditions, and overall health; no corrective surgery allowed for eyesight.
- Training: Must pass 7 obstacle events post-selection.
- Tattoo Rules: Religious symbols/names allowed on traditional sites only; size ≤ ¼ of body part.
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