SSC GD Syllabus 2026: Subject-Wise Topics, Exam Pattern, Marking Scheme
Oct 15 2026
The SSC GD syllabus has four sections: reasoning, general knowledge, elementary maths, and English or Hindi, all at Class 10 level. The 2026 CBT was held from 27 April to 30 May 2026 on this same syllabus, and the result is out. The SSC GD 2027 notification is expected soon, and SSC has not announced any syllabus change, so you can start preparing on the topics below.
SSC GD Syllabus 2026
Here is a quick summary of the SSC GD written exam.
|
Particulars |
Details |
|
Exam mode |
Computer-Based Examination (CBE) |
|
Question type |
Multiple-choice (MCQs) |
|
Sections |
4 |
|
Total questions |
80 |
|
Maximum marks |
160 |
|
Marks per correct answer |
2 |
|
Negative marking |
0.25 marks per wrong answer |
|
Duration |
60 minutes |
|
Languages |
English, Hindi and 13 regional languages |
|
Syllabus change for 2027 |
None announced |
SSC GD Syllabus 2026 PDF Download
The official syllabus is part of the SSC GD notification PDF, published by the Staff Selection Commission on ssc.gov.in. Open the notification, go to the "Scheme of Examination" section, and you will find the exam pattern and the topic list for all four parts. The paper is available in English, Hindi and 13 regional languages; you can check which ones on the SSC GD exam language page.
SSC GD Exam Pattern 2026
The CBT has four parts of equal weight. Each part has 20 questions of 2 marks each, and you get 60 minutes for the whole paper.
|
Part |
Subject |
Questions |
Marks |
|
A |
General Intelligence and Reasoning |
20 |
40 |
|
B |
General Knowledge and General Awareness |
20 |
40 |
|
C |
Elementary Mathematics |
20 |
40 |
|
D |
English or Hindi |
20 |
40 |
|
Total |
80 |
160 |
The exam runs in several shifts over a few weeks, and SSC normalises scores across shifts before preparing the merit list. Check the SSC GD shift timings so you know your reporting time.
SSC GD Subject-Wise Syllabus 2026
Each subject is tested at Class 10 level. The sections below list the topics from the official scheme, with links to free practice PDFs where available.
SSC GD General Intelligence and Reasoning Syllabus
This section tests both verbal and non-verbal reasoning. Most questions are short, so it is one of the quickest sections to score in.
|
Area |
Topics |
|
Verbal reasoning |
Analogies, similarities and differences, relationship concepts, coding and decoding, arithmetic number series, arithmetical reasoning |
|
Non-verbal reasoning |
Figure classification, non-verbal series, spatial visualisation, spatial orientation |
|
Observation |
Visual memory, discrimination, observation |
SSC GD General Knowledge and General Awareness Syllabus
Questions test your awareness of the world around you and of India in particular. Current affairs from the last 6–8 months matter as much as static GK.
|
Area |
Topics |
|
Current events |
|
|
Static GK |
History, culture, geography, static GK facts |
|
Polity and economy |
Indian Constitution, general polity, economic scene |
|
Science |
General science and scientific research |
SSC GD Elementary Mathematics Syllabus
All maths questions are arithmetic. There is no algebra, geometry or trigonometry in the SSC GD syllabus.
|
Area |
Topics |
|
Numbers |
Number systems, computation of whole numbers, decimals and fractions, relationship between numbers, fundamental arithmetical operations |
|
Arithmetic |
Percentages, ratio and proportion, averages, interest, profit, loss and discount |
|
Applied maths |
SSC GD English Language Syllabus
Choose English if you are more comfortable with it than Hindi. The questions test basic grammar and vocabulary.
|
Area |
Topics |
|
Grammar |
Spot the error, sentence improvement, active/passive voice, direct/indirect narration |
|
Vocabulary |
Synonyms, homonyms and antonyms, idioms and phrases, one-word substitution, spelling and misspelt words |
|
Passage-based |
Fill in the blanks, cloze passage, shuffling of sentences and sentence parts |
SSC GD Hindi Language Syllabus
If you choose Hindi instead of English, these are the topics that are tested.
|
Area |
Topics |
|
शब्द रचना |
संधि और संधि विच्छेद, उपसर्ग, प्रत्यय, समास, संज्ञा शब्दों से विशेषण बनाना |
|
शब्द ज्ञान |
पर्यायवाची शब्द, विलोम शब्द, अनेकार्थक शब्द, शब्द-युग्म, वाक्यांश के लिए एक सार्थक शब्द, अंग्रेज़ी के पारिभाषिक (तकनीकी) शब्दों के समानार्थक हिंदी शब्द |
|
व्याकरण |
वाच्य (कर्तृवाच्य, कर्मवाच्य, भाववाच्य), क्रिया (सकर्मक, अकर्मक, पूर्वकालिक), शब्द-शुद्धि, वाक्य-शुद्धि |
|
वाक्य और प्रयोग |
सरल, संयुक्त और मिश्र वाक्यों का रूपांतरण, मुहावरे और लोकोक्तियाँ, कार्यालयी पत्रों से संबंधित ज्ञान |
SSC GD Marking Scheme 2026
Every question carries the same marks, and wrong answers cost you a quarter of a mark. You can read more about how the SSC GD negative marking works.
|
Response |
Marks |
|
Correct answer |
+2 |
|
Wrong answer |
−0.25 |
|
Not attempted |
0 |
|
NCC bonus (added to normalised CBT marks) |
C certificate 5%, B 3%, A 2% of the maximum marks |
Final merit is based on your normalised CBT score plus any NCC bonus, so every mark counts. Compare your target with the SSC GD cut-off from past years.
SSC GD Physical Efficiency Test (PET) and Physical Standard Test (PST)
Candidates who clear the CBT must pass the PET and PST. Both are qualifying only. The PET is a timed race, and the PST checks height and, for men, chest measurement.
SSC GD Physical Efficiency Test (PET)
The race has to be finished in one attempt within the set time. More detail is on the SSC GD running time page.
|
Candidates |
Male |
Female |
|
All except Ladakh region |
5 km in 24 minutes |
1.6 km in 8½ minutes |
|
Ladakh region |
1.6 km in 7 minutes |
800 m in 4 minutes |
SSC GD Physical Standard Test (PST)
Height standards vary by region and community. The full list of relaxations, including chest standards, is in the SSC GD physical test guide.
|
Category |
Male Height |
Female Height |
|
General standard |
170 cm |
157 cm |
|
Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates |
162.5 cm |
150 cm |
|
ST candidates from North-Eastern states |
157 cm |
147.5 cm |
|
ST candidates from LWE-affected districts |
160 cm |
147.5 cm |
|
Garhwalis, Kumaonis, Dogras, Marathas and candidates from Assam, Himachal Pradesh, J&K and Ladakh |
165 cm |
155 cm |
|
Candidates from Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura |
162.5 cm |
152.5 cm |
|
Candidates from Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) areas |
157 cm |
152.5 cm |
For men, the general chest standard is 80 cm unexpanded with a minimum 5 cm expansion. Women have no chest measurement.
How to Prepare for SSC GD Exam 2026
Since all four sections carry equal marks, do not skip any of them. These steps work for most candidates; for a full plan, see the SSC GD preparation guide.
- Start with maths and reasoning: the topics are limited and the questions are predictable, so regular practice raises your score quickly.
- Read current affairs daily and revise static GK every week; GK is the hardest section to cover fully.
- Pick English or Hindi based on which you read faster, and practise grammar and vocabulary every day.
- Solve previous year papers to understand the level and the repeated question types.
- Take timed mock tests in the 60-minute format; the SSC GD mock test series follows the real pattern.
- Avoid blind guessing, since each wrong answer costs 0.25 marks.
- Start running practice early, because the 5 km race in 24 minutes needs weeks of training.
If you are wondering how much daily study is enough, the guide on how many hours to study for SSC GD gives a realistic routine.
Best Books for SSC GD Preparation 2026
A few standard books are enough for SSC GD, because the syllabus is at Class 10 level. These are commonly used by candidates.
|
Subject |
Commonly used books |
|
Reasoning |
A Modern Approach to Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning (R.S. Aggarwal) |
|
General Knowledge |
Lucent's General Knowledge, plus a monthly current affairs PDF |
|
Mathematics |
Quantitative Aptitude (R.S. Aggarwal) or NCERT Class 6–10 maths |
|
English |
Objective General English (S.P. Bakshi) |
|
Hindi |
Lucent's Samanya Hindi |
|
Practice |
Any recent SSC GD previous year papers book |
SSC GD Syllabus 2026: FAQs
Q1. What is the SSC GD Syllabus 2026?
It covers four sections: General Intelligence and Reasoning, General Knowledge and General Awareness, Elementary Mathematics, and English or Hindi, all at Class 10 level.
Q2. How many subjects are included in the SSC GD exam?
Four subjects, with 20 questions and 40 marks each.
Q3. Where can I download the SSC GD Syllabus 2026 PDF?
The syllabus is in the SSC GD notification PDF on ssc.gov.in, under the "Scheme of Examination" section.
Q4. What is the SSC GD exam pattern 2026?
A computer-based test with 80 questions for 160 marks in 60 minutes. Each correct answer gets 2 marks, and each wrong answer loses 0.25 marks.
Q5. How many questions are asked in the SSC GD CBT?
80 questions, 20 from each of the four sections.
Q6. Is there negative marking in the SSC GD exam?
Yes. 0.25 marks are deducted for each wrong answer. Unanswered questions carry no penalty.
Q7. What topics are covered in SSC GD General Knowledge?
Current affairs, sports, history, culture, geography, the Indian Constitution, polity, economy and general science.
Q8. Can candidates choose Hindi or English for the language section?
Yes. Part D can be attempted in either English or Hindi. The rest of the paper is also available in 13 regional languages.
Q9. Does the SSC GD selection process include a physical test?
Yes. After the CBT, candidates must clear the PET (race) and PST (height and chest), followed by a medical exam and document verification.
Q10. How can I prepare for the SSC GD exam?
Cover all four sections, practise maths and reasoning daily, read current affairs regularly, solve previous year papers, take timed mock tests and start running practice early.
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