The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), under the Ministry of Home Affairs, has released the official notification for Constable Tradesman and Driver Recruitment 2026, inviting applications for 827 posts across 11 trades. Candidates who have passed Matriculation (Class 10) and meet the trade-specific experience or qualification requirements are eligible to apply online. The application window opens on 21 March 2026 and closes on 20 April 2026 at recruitment.ssb.gov.in.
Last verified on: 16 March 2026 (IST)
Key Highlights
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Body | Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), MHA, Govt. of India |
| Post Names | Constable (Veterinary, Driver, Gardener, Water Carrier, Cobbler, Tailor, Washerman, Barber, Waiter, Carpenter, Nursing Orderly) |
| Total Vacancies | 827 |
| Minimum Qualification | Matriculation (10th Pass) with trade-specific requirements |
| Age Limit | 18–23 / 18–25 / 18–27 years (post-specific) |
| Application Start Date | 21 March 2026 |
| Application Last Date | 20 April 2026 (approx. — 30 days from Employment News publication) |
| Application Mode | Online only |
| Application Fee | ₹100 (UR/OBC/EWS); Nil for SC/ST/Ex-SM/Female |
| Pay Scale | As per 7th CPC Pay Matrix — verify exact level from official notification |
| Official Apply Portal | recruitment.ssb.gov.in |
Vacancy Details
A total of 827 posts have been notified across 11 trade categories under Group ‘C’ Non-Gazetted (Combatised) cadre. The trade-wise distribution is as follows:
| Post | Total Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Constable (Driver) | 553 |
| Constable (Washerman) | 74 |
| Constable (Barber) | 43 |
| Constable (Gardener) | 41 |
| Constable (Tailor) | 41 |
| Constable (Veterinary) | 34 |
| Constable (Cobbler) | 25 |
| Constable (Carpenter) | 7 |
| Constable (Water Carrier) | 5 |
| Constable (Waiter) | 3 |
| Constable (Nursing Orderly) | 1 |
| Total | 827 |
Category-wise (UR/OBC/SC/ST/EWS/Ex-SM) vacancy distribution is available in the official notification PDF. Candidates are advised to check the notification for their category-specific vacancy count before applying.
Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
All posts require a pass in Matriculation (Class 10) from a recognized board. Each trade carries additional mandatory qualifications:
- Constable (Driver): Matriculation pass and a valid Heavy Vehicle Driving License.
- Constable (Veterinary): Matriculation with Science, plus one year of work experience in a recognized Veterinary Hospital.
- Constable (Nursing Orderly): Matriculation pass, a First Aid certificate, and one year of experience in a hospital with 50 or more beds.
- Other Trade Posts (Cobbler, Tailor, Washerman, Barber, Gardener, Water Carrier, Waiter, Carpenter): Matriculation with two years of work experience in the relevant trade, OR a one-year certificate course in the relevant trade plus one year of experience, OR a two-year ITI Diploma in the relevant trade.
Age Limit
The crucial date for calculating age is 20 April 2026. Post-specific age limits are:
- 18 to 23 years: Constable (Gardener, Water Carrier, Cobbler, Tailor, Washerman, Barber, Waiter)
- 18 to 25 years: Constable (Carpenter)
- 18 to 27 years: Constable (Veterinary, Driver, Nursing Orderly)
Age relaxation is applicable as per Government of India rules for SC/ST/OBC/Ex-Servicemen and other eligible categories. The exact relaxation details are stated in the official notification.
Salary and Pay
Selected candidates will be placed in the 7th CPC Pay Matrix. Multiple secondary sources report either Pay Level-3 or Pay Level-4; the exact pay level applicable to each post is not confirmed here — candidates must verify the specific pay level from the official notification PDF at recruitment.ssb.gov.in before relying on any figure. In addition to basic pay, appointed personnel are entitled to allowances such as Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance, and other Central Government admissible benefits as applicable to the post.
Selection Process
The selection for SSB Constable Tradesman and Driver 2026 is conducted in multiple stages. Candidates must qualify each stage to proceed to the next:
- Stage I — Physical Efficiency Test (PET) and Physical Standard Test (PST): PET involves a running race — males must complete 4.8 km in 24 minutes; females must complete 2.4 km in 18 minutes. PST involves verification of height and chest measurements as per the prescribed standards in the notification.
- Stage II — Written Examination: Objective-type multiple-choice questions. The paper consists of 100 questions carrying 100 marks, to be completed in 120 minutes. There is negative marking of 0.25 marks per wrong answer. Minimum qualifying marks are 50% for UR/OBC/EWS/Ex-SM and 45% for SC/ST.
- Stage III — Trade / Skill Test: Practical test specific to the trade applied for.
- Stage IV — Document Verification and Detailed Medical Examination (DME): Final documents are verified and a medical examination is conducted. Candidates found unfit in DME may apply for a Review Medical Examination (RME).
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | 16 March 2026 |
| Employment News Publication / Application Opens | 21 March 2026 |
| Application Last Date | 20 April 2026 (approx. — 30 days from 21 March 2026) |
| PET / PST Date | Not mentioned in the official notification |
| Written Exam Date | Not mentioned in the official notification |
Candidates should monitor recruitment.ssb.gov.in for the admit card release and exam schedule, which have not been announced at the time of this writing.
Application Fee
- UR, EWS, OBC: ₹100 (non-refundable)
- SC, ST, Ex-Servicemen, Female candidates: Nil (exempted)
Fee payment is to be made online through the official portal at the time of form submission. No offline payment mode is available.
How to Apply Online
- Visit the official SSB recruitment portal: recruitment.ssb.gov.in
- Click on the active link for “Constable Tradesman / Driver Recruitment 2026”.
- Click “Register” and complete the one-time registration by entering your personal details. Note your registration number and password.
- Log in using the registration credentials and open the application form.
- Fill in all required details carefully. Select only one post per your eligibility — multiple post applications are not permitted.
- Upload your photograph and signature in JPG format as per the specifications mentioned in the form.
- Pay the application fee online (if applicable to your category) and submit the form.
- Download and save the acknowledgement/application receipt for future reference.
Candidates are advised not to wait until the last date. The portal will close on the 30th day from the Employment News publication date (approximately 20 April 2026). Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
Documents Required
- Matriculation (Class 10) mark sheet and certificate from a recognized board
- Trade-specific qualification certificate (ITI/Diploma/Certificate Course, as applicable)
- Trade-specific experience certificate (from a recognized employer, hospital, or institution)
- Valid Heavy Vehicle Driving License (Constable Driver only)
- First Aid certificate (Constable Nursing Orderly only)
- Date of birth proof (as per 10th certificate)
- Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC/EWS) issued by a competent authority, if applicable
- Ex-Servicemen discharge certificate, if applicable
- Recent passport-size photograph and signature (for upload during online application)
- Any other documents specified in the official notification
Offer / Notice Verification and Scam Warning
SSB does not send appointment letters, selection calls, or admit card links through WhatsApp, Telegram, or unofficial email addresses. Any such communication is not genuine. The only official channel for this recruitment is recruitment.ssb.gov.in and the official SSB website ssb.gov.in. Do not pay any money to any individual or agency claiming to arrange selection or posting — SSB charges only the stated ₹100 application fee through the official portal. Reuploaded PDFs circulating on job blogs or social media groups may contain altered dates, vacancies, or fee details; always download the notification from the official SSB portal. If you receive a suspicious communication claiming to be from SSB, report it to the nearest SSB frontier headquarters or contact SSB through its official website.
Official Links
- Official SSB Website: https://ssb.gov.in
- Apply Online / Official Recruitment Portal: https://recruitment.ssb.gov.in
- Notification PDF: Available on the official recruitment portal under the active advertisement for Constable Tradesman / Driver 2026. Download only from recruitment.ssb.gov.in.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. How many vacancies are announced in SSB Constable Tradesman and Driver Recruitment 2026?
A total of 827 vacancies have been announced across 11 trades, including Driver (553 posts), Washerman (74), Barber (43), Gardener (41), Tailor (41), Veterinary (34), and others as per the official notification.
Q2. What is the last date to apply for SSB Constable Tradesman 2026?
The application window opened on 21 March 2026 and is open for 30 days from the date of publication in the Employment News, making the last date approximately 20 April 2026. Candidates should confirm the exact closing date from the official portal.
Q3. Is a 10th pass sufficient to apply for all posts?
Matriculation (10th pass) is the base qualification, but each trade requires additional credentials. For example, Constable (Driver) requires a valid Heavy Vehicle Driving License; Constable (Veterinary) requires 10th with Science and one year hospital experience; trade posts like Cobbler and Tailor require either two years of work experience or an ITI diploma in the relevant trade.
Q4. What is the age limit for Constable (Driver) posts?
For the Constable (Driver) post, the age limit is 18 to 27 years as on the closing date of application (20 April 2026). Age relaxation for reserved categories and Ex-Servicemen is as per Government of India rules.
Q5. Is there an application fee for SC/ST and female candidates?
No. SC, ST, Ex-Servicemen, and female candidates are fully exempted from the application fee. Candidates from UR, EWS, and OBC categories are required to pay ₹100 (non-refundable) through the online portal.
Q6. What is the written exam pattern for SSB Constable Tradesman 2026?
The written exam consists of 100 objective-type multiple-choice questions carrying 100 marks, to be completed in 120 minutes. There is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for each incorrect answer. Minimum qualifying marks are 50% for UR/OBC/EWS/Ex-SM and 45% for SC/ST candidates.
