CISF Constable Syllabus 2026 – CBT Pattern, Subject Topics, PET/PST and How to Prepare

CISF Constable GD is recruited through the SSC Constable GD in CAPFs exam. The selection process has four stages: Computer Based Test (CBT) → Physical Efficiency Test (PET) → Physical Standard Test (PST) → Medical Examination. This article covers each stage in full detail — what's tested, what the cut-offs look like, and how to prepare topic by topic.

👉 CISF Constable Salary 2026 — in-hand pay ₹32K–₹45K, airport allowance, ration allowance (tax-free), CISF vs BSF/CRPF comparison

Selection Process – 4 Stages Overview

Stage	Name	Nature	Qualifying
1	CBT (Computer Based Test)	Written MCQ exam — 100 marks, 90 min	Merit-based shortlisting
2	PET (Physical Efficiency Test)	Running race — qualifying only	Qualifying (pass/fail)
3	PST (Physical Standard Test)	Height and chest measurement	Qualifying (pass/fail)
4	Medical Examination	Detailed medical by CAPF Medical Officer	Qualifying (pass/fail)

Final merit is determined only by CBT score. PET, PST, and Medical are qualifying hurdles — they do not add marks. A candidate with a higher CBT score but lower physical fitness (barely qualifying) will rank above a candidate with better fitness but lower CBT marks. This makes the written exam the decisive stage.

CBT Exam Pattern – Full Breakdown

Parameter	Details
Mode	Computer Based Test (online MCQ)
Total Questions	80 questions
Total Marks	160 marks (2 marks per question)
Duration	60 minutes
Negative Marking	0.50 marks per wrong answer
Language	Hindi + English (bilingual)
Sections	4 sections (equal weight)

Subject-Wise Syllabus and Topic Breakdown

1. General Intelligence & Reasoning (20 Qs, 40 Marks)

This section tests non-verbal reasoning, logical thinking, and pattern recognition — no language disadvantage for Hindi-medium candidates. Topics covered:

Topic	Approx. Questions
Analogy (Word + Number + Figure)	3–4
Series Completion (Number/Letter/Figure)	2–3
Coding-Decoding	2–3
Blood Relations	1–2
Direction & Distance	1–2
Syllogism	1–2
Venn Diagrams	2–3
Classification / Odd One Out	2–3
Arrangement (Seating, Ranking)	1–2
Non-Verbal (Mirror, Paper Folding)	2–3

Strategy: Reasoning is the highest-scoring section for most candidates who practice consistently. 18–20/20 is achievable. Attempt all questions — negative marking at 0.25 (half-mark) is low enough to attempt uncertain answers if you can eliminate 1–2 options.

2. General Knowledge & General Awareness (20 Qs, 40 Marks)

This section covers a broad range of current affairs and static GK. SSC GD GK is not as deep as UPSC — think class 8–10 level factual questions with some current affairs from the past 12 months.

Topic	Weightage (approx)
Current Affairs (national + sports + awards)	4–6 Qs
Indian History (freedom struggle, ancient, medieval)	3–4 Qs
Geography (rivers, mountains, states, capitals)	2–3 Qs
Indian Constitution & Polity	2–3 Qs
Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology — basic)	3–4 Qs
Economy (basic — Five Year Plan, GDP, budget)	1–2 Qs
Defence & Security (CAPFs, army, operations)	1–2 Qs
Sports (Olympics, cricket, football)	1–2 Qs

3. Elementary Mathematics (20 Qs, 40 Marks)

Maths is class 8–10 level. No advanced topics. Focus is on speed and accuracy with basic calculations.

Topic	Qs (approx)
Number System (HCF, LCM, Divisibility)	2–3
Percentage, Profit & Loss, Discount	3–4
Ratio, Proportion, Partnership	2–3
Time, Speed & Distance; Time & Work	3–4
Simple & Compound Interest	1–2
Mensuration (Area, Volume — 2D & 3D)	2–3
Algebra (Basic equations)	1–2
Trigonometry (Basic — sin/cos/tan)	1–2
Data Interpretation (Bar/Pie chart)	2–3

Strategy: Most candidates lose marks here. Practice percentage, profit/loss, and time-speed-distance daily — these 3 topics alone account for 8–10 questions. Use mental math shortcuts (Vedic tricks for multiplication/percentage). 60 seconds per question is very tight.

4. English / Hindi Language (20 Qs, 40 Marks)

Candidates can choose either English or Hindi for this section. Most Hindi-medium candidates choose Hindi. The question types are identical regardless of language choice.

Topic (Hindi or English)	Qs (approx)
Fill in the blanks (Grammar)	3–4
Error Spotting	2–3
Synonyms / Antonyms	2–3
One-word Substitution	2–3
Idioms & Phrases	2–3
Reading Comprehension (short passage)	4–5
Sentence Rearrangement / Para Jumbles	1–2
Spelling Correction	1–2

Physical Efficiency Test (PET) – Standards

PET is qualifying only — it does not add to CBT score. You must pass it to proceed to PST and Medical. Events:

Category	Race Distance	Time Limit	Other Events
Male (General/OBC/SC)	5 km	24 minutes	—
Male (ST)	5 km	25 minutes	—
Female (General/OBC/SC)	1.6 km	8.5 minutes	—
Female (ST)	1.6 km	9 minutes	—

👉 CISF Constable Eligibility 2026 — age 18–23, height/chest/weight standards, medical vision requirements, category-wise relaxations

Physical Standard Test (PST) – Height & Chest

Category	Height (Male)	Chest (Male)	Height (Female)
General / OBC / SC	170 cm	80 cm (unexpanded) / 85 cm (expanded)	157 cm
ST (Scheduled Tribe)	162.5 cm	76 cm / 81 cm	150 cm
Hill/Garhwali/Kumaoni/Dogra/Marathas	165 cm	78 cm / 83 cm	155 cm
NE states + Sikkim + Assam	162.5 cm	77 cm / 82 cm	152.5 cm

Expected Cut-offs – CBT (Based on Past SSC GD Exams)

Category	Expected CBT Cut-off (out of 160)	Safe Score Target
General (Male)	105–120	125+
OBC (Male)	100–115	120+
SC (Male)	90–105	110+
ST (Male)	80–95	100+
General (Female)	100–110	115+
OBC (Female)	95–105	110+

Cut-offs vary year to year based on vacancy count, applicant pool, and paper difficulty. These are indicative ranges based on SSC GD 2024 results across all CAPFs — CISF-specific cut-offs within these are usually near the upper end (CISF is among the more competitive postings).

Recommended Books for SSC GD CISF Preparation

Subject	Book / Resource	Publisher
Reasoning	A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning	R.S. Aggarwal (S. Chand)
Maths	Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Exams	R.S. Aggarwal (S. Chand)
GK + Current Affairs	Lucent's General Knowledge	Lucent Publications
GK (Hindi medium)	Samanya Gyan (Disha or Arihant)	Arihant / Disha
Hindi Language	Samanya Hindi	Hardev Bahri or Kiran Publication
Full Practice (PYP + Mock)	SSC Constable GD Previous Year Papers	Kiran / Arihant
Online Mock Tests	Testbook / Adda247 SSC GD Course	Freemium

90-Day Preparation Plan

Phase	Days	Focus
Phase 1 – Foundation	Day 1–30	Cover all subjects basics; 2 hrs study + 30 min running daily. Maths: number system, percentages. Reasoning: analogy, series. GK: static topics (history, geography, polity, science).
Phase 2 – Practice	Day 31–60	Chapter-wise practice tests; 1 full PYP paper per week; start current affairs daily notes. Running: increase to 5 km under 22 minutes.
Phase 3 – Mock + Revision	Day 61–90	Daily full-length mock test (80 Qs in 60 min); error log analysis; last 6 months current affairs revision. Physical: full 5 km timed run 3×/week.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is the CISF Constable written exam the same as SSC Constable GD?

Yes. CISF Constable GD is recruited through SSC Constable GD in CAPFs exam — same CBT, same pattern, same date. After CBT, candidates indicate their CAPF preference (CISF, BSF, CRPF, ITBP, SSB). Allocation depends on CBT merit, vacancy, and preference order.

Q: Is there negative marking in SSC GD CBT?

Yes — 0.50 marks deducted for each wrong answer (each question is 2 marks). If you cannot eliminate any option, skip the question. If you can eliminate 2 out of 4 options, the probability favours attempting.

Q: What is the minimum qualifying mark in CBT?

SSC sets a minimum qualifying mark for CBT (usually 25% for General, 20% for SC/ST). However, simply qualifying is not enough — the actual cut-off for CISF is much higher (105–120 for General) based on merit shortlisting. Aim for the safe score targets shown above.

Q: Can a candidate from any state appear for CISF Constable?

Yes — CISF is a central force. There is no domicile requirement. Any Indian citizen meeting age, education, and physical standards can apply regardless of state.

Q: How many attempts are allowed for SSC GD?

There is no attempt limit specified by SSC for GD exams. You can appear as many times as you are within the age limit (18–23 years for General, with relaxation for reserved categories). The age limit determines your effective number of attempts.

Q: How much time should I spend on physical preparation vs written?

A commonly effective split is 70% written study + 30% physical preparation daily. The CBT is the merit-deciding stage — spending 3+ hours on study and 30–45 minutes on running/physical training is the right balance for most candidates who already have basic fitness. If you are significantly below PET standards (e.g., running 5 km in 28+ minutes), increase physical time in the first month.

Q: Is there a separate exam for CISF or does SSC GD cover all CAPFs?

SSC GD covers all CAPFs in a single exam (CISF, BSF, CRPF, ITBP, SSB, NIA, SSF, AR). There is no separate CISF-specific exam at constable level. After clearing CBT and physical stages, candidates are allocated to forces based on merit and preference.

Subject-wise Detailed Topic Breakdown

The four CBT subjects each have predictable hot topics. Knowing which sub-topics appear most frequently in SSC GD papers since 2019 gives you a head start rather than covering every chapter of every textbook.

General Intelligence & Reasoning

Roughly 40–45% of Reasoning questions come from just four areas: Series (Number/Alphabet), Analogy, Classification, and Coding-Decoding. The remaining questions test Blood Relations, Direction Sense, Venn Diagrams, Syllogism, and Non-Verbal Reasoning (Mirror Images, Embedded Figures, Counting Figures). Non-Verbal is the most skipped — and the easiest to score with 10 days of focused practice. Do not skip it.

General Knowledge & General Awareness

GK is the most unpredictable subject but has a clear structure in SSC GD papers. History (Freedom Struggle, Ancient & Medieval) contributes 3–5 questions every year. Geography (Indian rivers, passes, national parks, climate) gives 3–4. Polity (Fundamental Rights, Articles 1–51, Parliament) gives 2–3. Science contributes 6–8 questions across Physics (laws, units, optics), Chemistry (acids-bases, everyday chemistry, periodic table), and Biology (human body systems, plant kingdom, diseases). Static GK (sports, awards, books/authors, first in India) is crucial for 3–4 easy marks. Current Affairs coverage of the last 12 months contributes 3–5 questions — read a monthly GK digest.

Elementary Mathematics

Math in SSC GD follows a tight pattern. Number System (divisibility, HCF/LCM, simplification) is worth 3–4 questions. Percentage, Profit & Loss, and Simple/Compound Interest together give 4–5 questions. Time-Work and Time-Distance-Speed contribute 3–4 each. Ratio & Proportion: 2–3 questions. Geometry (triangles, circles, area/perimeter of 2D shapes): 2–3 questions. Mensuration (volume of cubes, cylinders, cones): 1–2 questions. Trigonometry: 2 questions (basic ratios, heights & distances). Statistics (mean, median, mode, bar chart reading): 1–2. Avoid spending weeks on advanced Algebra or Coordinate Geometry — SSC GD stays with 9th–10th level math.

English / Hindi Language

Candidates writing in English face: Reading Comprehension (one passage, 5 questions), Fill in the Blanks (articles, prepositions, tenses), Synonyms/Antonyms (5–6 questions), Spotting Errors (3–4 questions), and One Word Substitution (2–3 questions). Hindi medium candidates get equivalent sections in Hindi Grammar (Sandhi, Samas, Muhavare, Ras, Alaankaar, Kaal). For most CISF aspirants from Hindi-medium backgrounds, writing in Hindi is a safer choice for better marks.

CISF Constable Physical Preparation – What Week-by-Week Looks Like

Most candidates know the PET standards on paper but fail because they start physical training too late. A 12-week physical training plan assuming you can currently run 5 km in 28+ minutes:

Weeks	Daily Run Target	Focus
1–3	3 km in 18 min	Build base endurance, no injuries
4–6	4 km in 22 min	Increase distance, maintain pace
7–9	5 km in 26 min	Full distance, slightly under target pace
10–12	5 km in 23–24 min	Comfortable margin below 24-min cutoff

Run 5–6 days a week. Add bodyweight exercises (push-ups, pull-ups, squats) 3 days a week. Don't start speed drills (interval training) until week 5 — doing them too early is the most common cause of shin splints that sideline candidates for weeks.

Medical Examination – What Gets Candidates Rejected

The medical exam is the final stage and fails a surprising number of candidates who cleared CBT and PET comfortably. Common causes of medical rejection:

• Flat feet (Pes Planus): Checked by the wet footprint test. If significant, it can disqualify you. Start barefoot running on grass 6 months before the exam to naturally strengthen foot arches.
• Vision standards not met: CISF requires 6/6 in one eye and 6/9 in the other (without glasses for Constable GD). Myopia above permissible limits is a ground for rejection. Get your eyes checked early — some candidates discover vision issues only at the medical stage.
• Colour blindness: Tested with Ishihara plates. Colour blindness of any grade disqualifies candidates from GD posts.
• Knock-knees / Bow legs: Checked in standing position. Significant deformities lead to rejection.
• Hearing impairment: Both ears must have normal hearing. Defective hearing (even minor) leads to rejection.
• Tattoos: Tattoos are permissible on inner forearm and the back of hand, but NOT on the face, neck, or visible areas in uniform. Candidates with tattoos in disallowed areas are rejected at the medical stage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the SSC GD CBT cut-off for CISF Constable specifically?

SSC does not release CAPF-specific cut-offs — the CBT merit list is consolidated. However, CISF tends to attract more applicants in states like UP, Bihar, Rajasthan, and MP, pushing effective cut-offs higher than the minimum qualifying marks. Historical data suggests General category candidates need 110–125 out of 160 to be safely called for PET in CISF-heavy states. The safe score table in this guide is based on this pattern.

Q: How many chances can I give for SSC GD / CISF Constable?

SSC GD has no restriction on number of attempts — you can apply every year as long as you meet the age limit. For unreserved (General) candidates, the maximum age is 23 years, giving most candidates 2–3 attempts. OBC candidates (max age 26) get up to 5–6 attempts, and SC/ST candidates (max age 28) can attempt it for 7–8 years. Use the extra attempts strategically — improve your weak subject each year.