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.
