SSB Head Constable Recruitment 2026: Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, has officially released a major recruitment notification for the post of Head Constable in four specialised trades — Steward, Communication, Electrician, and Veterinary. With a whopping 233 vacancies on offer, this is one of the biggest SSB recruitment drives of 2026. Read all details below before the last date passes!
SSB Head Constable Recruitment 2026:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), MHA, Govt. of India |
| Post Name | Head Constable – Steward / Communication / Electrician / Veterinary |
| Advertisement No. | 524/RC/SSB/Combined Advt./CT to SI (Non-GD)/2025 |
| Total Vacancies | 233 |
| Group & Category | Group-C, Non-Gazetted, Non-Ministerial (Combatised) |
| Pay Level | Level-4 (Rs. 25,500 – 81,100/-) as per 7th CPC |
| Age Limit | 18 – 27 Years |
| Application Mode | Online Only |
| Official Website | recruitment.ssb.gov.in | ssb.gov.in |
| Apply Link | applyssb.com/SSB_HC_25/applicationIndex |
Vacancy Details:
A total of 233 vacancies have been notified. The Head Constable (Communication) post alone carries 197 vacancies, making it the largest opportunity in this batch. The complete category-wise breakup is as follows:
| Post Name | UR | EWS | OBC | SC | ST | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head Constable (Steward) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 02 nos |
| Head Constable (Communication) | 87 | 18 | 55 | 20 | 17 | 197 nos |
| Head Constable (Electrician) | 13 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 29 nos |
| Head Constable (Veterinary) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 05 nos |
| Grand Total | 105 | 20 | 62 | 27 | 19 | 233 nos |
Note: 10% of vacancies are reserved for Ex-Servicemen. A candidate can apply for only one post. SC/ST/OBC/EWS candidates fulfilling unreserved category eligibility may also apply for UR posts where no reserved vacancies exist.
Eligibility Criteria – Age, Education & Experience
All candidates must be Indian citizens and between 18 and 27 years of age (as on the closing date). Post-wise essential educational qualifications are:
Head Constable (Steward):
- 12th Class pass from a recognised Board
- A diploma of minimum 2 years in Catering and Kitchen Management from an institution recognised by the Central or State Government
- Minimum 1 year working experience as a Steward in a 100-bedded hospital or institution recognised by the Central or State Government
Head Constable (Communication):
- Option A: 12th Class in Science with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics from a recognised Board
- Option B: 3-year Diploma in Electronics, Communications, Computer Science, or Information Technology from a recognised Institute
Head Constable (Electrician):
- Matriculation or equivalent from a recognised Board, AND one of the following:
- 2 years of work experience in the respective trade; OR
- 1-year certificate course from a recognised Industrial/Vocational Training Institute with at least 1 year of experience in the trade; OR
- 2-year Diploma from a recognised Industrial Training Institute in the respective or similar trade
- Must qualify the Trade Test (conducted during the selection process)
- Age limit: Between 18 and 25 years (different from other posts)
Head Constable (Veterinary):
- 12th Class with Science and Biology as main subjects from a recognised Board
- 2-year Diploma in Veterinary and Livestock Development, or Veterinary Stock Assistant Course, or Animal Husbandry Course from an institution recognised by the Central or State Government
Age Relaxation:
Special Note for HC (Electrician): The upper age limit for this post is 25 years (not 27 years). Age relaxation applies over and above the upper age limit as per the table below.
| Category | Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC / ST | 5 Years |
| OBC | 3 Years |
| Ex-Servicemen | 3 years after deduction of military service from the actual age |
| Departmental Candidates (Central Govt. Employees) | UR: up to 40 years | OBC: up to 43 years | SC/ST: up to 45 years |
| J&K domiciles (1 Jan 1980 – 31 Dec 1989) – UR | 5 Years |
| J&K domiciles (1 Jan 1980 – 31 Dec 1989) – OBC | 8 Years |
| J&K domiciles (1 Jan 1980 – 31 Dec 1989) – SC/ST | 10 Years |
| Children/dependents of 1984 riot victims – UR | 5 Years |
| Children/dependents of 1984 riot victims – OBC | 8 Years |
| Children/dependents of 1984 riot victims – ST/SC | 10 Years |
Application Fee:
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| UR / EWS / OBC | Rs. 100/- (Non-Refundable) |
| SC / ST / Ex-Servicemen / Female | Exempted (No Fee) |
Payment can be made via Net Banking, Credit Card, Debit Card, or UPI. No amount will be refunded under any circumstances.
Selection Process:
The SSB Head Constable Recruitment 2026 involves the following stages:
Stage 1: Physical Efficiency Test (PET) & Physical Standard Test (PST)
Physical Efficiency Test (PET) – For All Posts
| Gender | Event |
|---|---|
| Male | 1.6 km run in 6 minutes 30 seconds |
| Female | 800 metre race in 4 minutes |
Note: Ex-Servicemen are exempted from PET but must appear in all other stages.
Physical Standard Test (PST) – Head Constable (Steward)
| Category | Male Height | Female Height | Chest (Male) |
|---|---|---|---|
| UR / EWS / OBC / SC (General) | 165 cm | 155 cm | 75–80 cm |
| ST – All States/UTs (except NE & special regions) | 160 cm | 148 cm | 75–80 cm |
| ST – North East States (Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura) | 155 cm | 147 cm | 75–80 cm |
| ST – Left Wing Extremism Affected Districts | 158 cm | 147 cm | 75–80 cm |
| Garhwali / Kumauni / Dogras / Marathas & candidates from Assam, HP, J&K, Ladakh | 162.5 cm | 152 cm | 75–80 cm |
| Non-ST – NE States (Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura) | 160 cm | 150 cm | 75–80 cm |
| Gorkha Territorial Administration (Darjeeling sub-divisions & notified Mouzas) | 155 cm | 150 cm | 75–80 cm |
Physical Standard Test (PST) – Head Constable (Communication)
| Category | Male Height | Female Height | Chest (Male) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General (All candidates except below) | 170 cm | 157 cm | Min. 80 cm, expansion 5 cm |
| Garhwalis, Kumaonis, Gorkhas, Dogras, Marathas & candidates from Sikkim, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Assam, HP, J&K | 165 cm | 155 cm | Min. 78 cm, expansion 5 cm |
| Scheduled Tribes (ST) | 162.5 cm | 150 cm | Min. 76 cm, expansion 5 cm |
Physical Standard Test (PST) – Head Constable (Electrician)
| Category | Male Height | Female Height | Chest (Male) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General (All candidates except below) | 167.5 cm | 157 cm | Min. 78 cm, expansion 5 cm |
| Garhwalis, Kumaonis, Gorkhas, Dogras, Marathas & candidates from Sikkim, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Assam, HP, Leh & Ladakh region, J&K | 165 cm | 155 cm | Min. 78 cm, expansion 5 cm |
| Scheduled Tribes (ST) | 162.5 cm | 150 cm | Min. 76 cm, expansion 5 cm |
Physical Standard Test (PST) – Head Constable (Veterinary)
| Category | Male Height | Female Height | Chest (Male) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General (All candidates except below) | 170 cm | 157 cm | Min. 80 cm, expansion 5 cm |
| Garhwalis, Kumaonis, Gorkhas, Dogras, Marathas & candidates from Sikkim, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Assam, HP, J&K | 165 cm | 155 cm | Min. 78 cm, expansion 5 cm |
| Scheduled Tribes (ST) | 162.5 cm | 150 cm | Min. 76 cm, expansion 5 cm |
Important PST Notes:
- Chest measurement is for male candidates only. Not applicable for females.
- Height and chest are measured to one decimal place. Even 0.1 cm below the minimum leads to disqualification (e.g., 169.9 cm fails the 170 cm standard).
- Weight must be proportionate to height and age as per Annexure-VI. Overweight/underweight candidates are disqualified at the DME stage, not at the PST.
- Candidates seeking height/chest relaxation must submit a community certificate from the concerned District Authority at the time of PST. Non-production = candidature cancelled.
- Candidates found unfit at PST may appeal to the appellate authority on the same day. The appellate decision is final.
Stage 2: Written Examination (Computer-Based Test – CBT)
The CBT is of 3 hours duration, carrying 150 marks:
- Part I (50 Marks): General Knowledge, Mathematics, Reasoning, General English/Hindi
- Part-II (100 Marks): Technical Subject (post-specific)
Minimum qualifying marks: 50% for General/EWS/OBC/Ex-SM and 45% for SC/ST.
Stage 3: Skill Test – Only for Head Constable (Electrician)
A separate Skill Test is conducted exclusively for HC (Electrician) candidates after the written exam. Key points:
- Candidates called for skill test: up to 20 times the vacancies (category-wise)
- Skill test carries 50 marks; minimum qualifying marks for all categories (including SC/ST/OBC/EWS/Ex-SM) is 60%
- The skill test is qualifying in nature only — marks are NOT counted in the final merit list
Stage 4: Documentation, DME & Review Medical Examination (RME)
Candidates up to 3 times the number of vacancies (category-wise) from the written exam merit will be shortlisted for document verification and Detailed Medical Examination.
Final Selection
Final merit is prepared based on written examination marks only. In case of a tie:
- Higher marks in Part-II (Technical Subject) → ranked higher
- Senior in age → ranked higher
- Alphabetical order of name in English → A first, B second, C third, etc.
How to Apply Online – Step by Step
Applications must be submitted online only. Offline applications will be summarily rejected.
- Visit the official portal: https://applyssb.com/SSB_HC_25/applicationIndex
- Read the full advertisement on SSB’s official website carefully before proceeding.
- Fill in all personal, educational, and professional details accurately.
- Upload your passport-size photograph (JPG, 4–12 KB, 100×120 pixels, white background) and signature (JPG, 4–12 KB, 140×60 pixels, black/dark blue ink only).
- Pay the examination fee (if applicable) through the online payment gateway.
- Submit the form and save/print the acknowledgement with your Registration Number for future reference.
Important: After final submission, no changes will be entertained. The application can be edited only until the closing date. Avoid making multiple payments against a single registration — payments are non-refundable.
For assistance, visit: https://recruitment.ssb.gov.in/
Important Dates:
| Notification Release Date | 21 March 2026 |
| Start of Online Application | 21 March 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 20 April 2026 |
Important Links:
| Apply Online | Click Here |
| Notification | Click Here |
| Official Website | Click Here |
FAQs:
Q1. How many total vacancies are there in SSB Head Constable Recruitment 2026?
There are 233 total vacancies — HC Communication (197), HC Electrician (29), HC Veterinary (5), and HC Steward (2).
Q2. What is the pay scale for SSB Head Constable posts?
The pay scale is Level-4 (Rs. 25,500 – 81,100/-) as per 7th CPC, along with DA, HRA, Ration Money Allowance and other admissible allowances.
Q3. What is the age limit for SSB HC Recruitment 2026?
The age limit is 18 to 27 years for most posts. However, for HC (Electrician), the upper age limit is 25 years. Age relaxation is available for SC/ST, OBC, Ex-Servicemen, and other categories.
Q4. What is the application fee for SSB HC 2026?
The fee is Rs. 100/- for UR/EWS/OBC candidates. SC, ST, Ex-Servicemen, and female candidates are fully exempted.
Q5. Is there a Skill Test for all Head Constable posts?
No. The Skill Test is conducted only for Head Constable (Electrician). For all other posts, the selection is based on PET, PST, Written Exam, and DME.