SSC GD Syllabus 2026: Subject-Wise Topics, Exam Pattern, Marking Scheme

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

Current affairs, sports, awards, important days

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

Mensuration, time and distance, time and work

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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