Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, has released an official recruitment notification for 233 Head Constable (Non-GD) vacancies across four trades: Steward, Communication, Electrician, and Veterinary. Candidates who have passed Class 10 or Class 12 with relevant trade qualifications and fall within the prescribed age bracket are eligible to apply. Applications are submitted online at the official SSB recruitment portal.
Last verified on: 21 April 2026 (IST) — Application deadline extension notice confirmed on the official portal recruitment.ssb.gov.in dated 20 April 2026. Candidates must check the portal for the revised last date.
Key Highlights
| Organisation | Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Ministry of Home Affairs |
| Advertisement No. | 524/RC/SSB/Combined Advt./CT to SI (Non-GD)/2025 |
| Post Name | Head Constable (Non-GD) — Steward, Communication, Electrician, Veterinary |
| Total Vacancies | 233 |
| Pay Scale (7th CPC) | Pay Level-4: ₹25,500 – ₹81,100 per month |
| Application Start Date | 21 March 2026 |
| Original Last Date | 20 April 2026 |
| Revised Last Date | Extended — check recruitment.ssb.gov.in for updated date |
| Application Mode | Online (recruitment.ssb.gov.in) |
| Application Fee | ₹100 (Exempted: SC / ST / Female candidates) |
| Notification Published In | Employment News, 21–27 March 2026 |
Vacancy Details
A total of 233 posts have been notified under this recruitment drive. The post-wise distribution as per the official advertisement is as follows:
| Post | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Head Constable (Communication) | 197 |
| Head Constable (Electrician) | 29 |
| Head Constable (Veterinary) | 5 |
| Head Constable (Steward) | 2 |
| Total | 233 |
Category-wise vacancy distribution for each post is available in the detailed official notification PDF. Candidates should check post-wise category breakdowns before applying.
Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
Qualification requirements differ by trade. As stated in the official notification:
- Head Constable (Communication): 12th class pass in Science (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics) from a recognised board, OR a three-year Diploma in Electronics / Communications / Computer Science / Information Technology from a recognised institute.
- Head Constable (Electrician): Matriculation (Class 10 pass) from a recognised board, plus a relevant trade certificate or diploma in Electrical / Wireman trade from a recognised institute.
- Head Constable (Veterinary): 12th pass with Science, plus a two-year Diploma in Veterinary and Livestock Development / Veterinary Stock Assistant Course / Animal Husbandry Course.
- Head Constable (Steward): Matriculation (Class 10 pass) from a recognised board with relevant experience or course as specified in the official notification.
Candidates must read the official notification PDF for complete and trade-specific qualification details, as finer conditions such as minimum marks or recognised institutions are specified there.
Age Limit
The crucial date for determining age is 20 April 2026 (the original closing date of the advertisement, as per the notification).
- Head Constable (Steward, Communication, Veterinary): 18 to 27 years
- Head Constable (Electrician): 18 to 25 years
Age Relaxation
| Category | Relaxation |
|---|---|
| OBC | 3 years above upper limit |
| SC / ST | 5 years above upper limit |
| Ex-Servicemen | As per Central Government rules |
| Departmental Candidates (Central Govt. Employees – UR) | Up to 40 years |
| Departmental Candidates (OBC) | Up to 43 years |
| Departmental Candidates (SC/ST) | Up to 45 years |
| J&K / Ladakh domicile (01-01-1980 to 31-12-1989) – UR | 5 years |
| J&K / Ladakh domicile – OBC | 8 years |
| J&K / Ladakh domicile – SC/ST | 10 years |
Nationality
Candidates must be citizens of India. Detailed nationality conditions are specified in the official notification and must be read in full before applying.
Salary and Benefits
Selected candidates will be placed in Pay Level-4 of the 7th Central Pay Commission Pay Matrix, with a basic pay of ₹25,500 to ₹81,100 per month. In addition to basic pay, the following allowances are admissible as per applicable Government orders:
- Dearness Allowance (DA)
- Ration Money Allowance
- House Rent Allowance (HRA)
- Other allowances as per SSB / Government rules
Pension: Selected candidates will be covered under the Defined Contributory Pension Scheme (New Pension Scheme) or the Unified Defined Contributory Pension Scheme (UPS), as applicable for new entrants to Central Government service from 01 January 2004 or 01 April 2025 respectively.
Selection Process
The recruitment is conducted in four stages. Candidates must qualify each stage to progress:
- Stage I — Physical Efficiency Test (PET) and Physical Standard Test (PST): PET includes a timed run — male candidates must complete 1.6 km in 6 minutes 30 seconds; female candidates must complete 800 metres in 4 minutes. PST involves height and chest measurement as per post-specific standards. Ex-Servicemen are exempt from PET but must appear in all other stages.
- Stage II — Computer Based Written Examination (CBT): A 150-mark objective test covering General Knowledge, Mathematics, Reasoning, and General English/Hindi in Part 1. Part 2 covers trade-specific technical subjects. Duration is 3 hours. Minimum qualifying marks apply.
- Stage III — Skill Test: Applicable only to Head Constable (Electrician) candidates. Details are specified in the official notification.
- Stage IV — Document Verification (DV) and Medical Examination (DME/RME): Shortlisted candidates report to the designated venue with all original documents. A Detailed Medical Examination (DME) is conducted, with provision for a Review Medical Examination (RME) if needed.
A candidate can apply for only one post from the listed trades. Multiple applications from a single candidate are not permitted.
Important Dates
| Notification published (Employment News) | 21–27 March 2026 |
| Online application opens | 21 March 2026 |
| Original application closing date | 20 April 2026 |
| Extended closing date | Check recruitment.ssb.gov.in (extension confirmed 20 April 2026) |
| Correction window | Opened 17 April 2026 (as per portal notice) |
| PET/PST date | Not mentioned in the official notification at this time |
| CBT / Written exam date | Not mentioned in the official notification at this time |
| Admit card | To be released on recruitment.ssb.gov.in |
Application Fee
| General / OBC / EWS male candidates | ₹100 |
| SC / ST candidates | Exempted |
| Female candidates (all categories) | Exempted |
Fee payment is to be made online during the application process. Payment mode details are available on the official portal.
How to Apply
- Visit the official SSB recruitment portal: recruitment.ssb.gov.in
- Click on Advertisements or the relevant notification for Head Constable (Non-GD) 2026.
- Read the official notification PDF in full before proceeding.
- Click on the Apply Online link for the Head Constable (Non-GD) post.
- Register with a valid email ID and mobile number. Note your registration credentials.
- Fill in personal, educational, and trade-specific details accurately.
- Upload required documents in the prescribed format and size.
- Pay the application fee online (if applicable).
- Review the completed form, submit it, and take a printout for future reference.
Do not apply through any third-party website or agent. The only valid application channel is the official portal at recruitment.ssb.gov.in.
Documents Required
Candidates must have scanned copies ready at the time of online application and originals for document verification. Based on the official notification, typically required documents include:
- Class 10 / Class 12 mark sheets and pass certificate from a recognised board
- Trade Diploma / Certificate from a recognised institute (post-specific)
- Date of birth proof (as per Matriculation certificate)
- Category certificate (OBC/SC/ST/EWS) — issued by competent authority
- Ex-Servicemen discharge certificate (if applicable)
- Domicile/residence certificate (for J&K/Ladakh age relaxation, if applicable)
- Aadhaar Card or other valid government-issued photo identity
- Recent passport-size photograph (as per specified dimensions)
- Signature scan (as per specified dimensions)
Candidates must check the official notification PDF for exact specifications on document format, size, and any additional requirements.
Offer and Notice Verification — Scam Warning
SSB has placed a notice on its recruitment portal warning candidates against touts and agents who may demand money in exchange for a job guarantee. No authorised SSB representative collects any payment beyond the official application fee paid online through the portal.
All legitimate communications regarding this recruitment — including admit cards, exam dates, and results — are published only on recruitment.ssb.gov.in and ssb.gov.in. Any offer letter, notification, or “selected list” received via WhatsApp, Telegram, email from unofficial addresses, or third-party websites should be treated as fraudulent until independently verified on the official portal.
If you encounter a suspicious approach, report it to the Presiding Officer of the nearest SSB recruitment centre or to the Nodal Officer, as advised on the official portal.
Official Links
- SSB Official Website: ssb.gov.in
- SSB Official Recruitment Portal (Apply + Notifications): recruitment.ssb.gov.in
- Advertisements Page: recruitment.ssb.gov.in/advertisementsUrl
- Notices and Circulars (including extension notice): recruitment.ssb.gov.in/notificationUrl
- Admit Card Download (when released): recruitment.ssb.gov.in/AdmitCardUrl
- Employment News (for original print notification): employmentnews.gov.in
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. How many vacancies are available under SSB Head Constable Recruitment 2026?
A total of 233 vacancies have been announced: 197 for Communication, 29 for Electrician, 5 for Veterinary, and 2 for Steward posts, as per Advertisement No. 524/RC/SSB/Combined Advt./CT to SI (Non-GD)/2025.
Q2. Has the application deadline for SSB Head Constable 2026 been extended?
Yes. The official recruitment portal published an extension notice on 20 April 2026. The revised last date is not yet separately listed as a fixed date in this post — candidates must visit recruitment.ssb.gov.in directly to confirm the current closing date.
Q3. Can a candidate apply for more than one Head Constable trade?
No. As explicitly stated in the official notification, a candidate can apply for only one post from the trades listed. Applying for more than one post is not permitted.
Q4. Is the application fee refundable?
Not mentioned in the official notification. Candidates may assume standard Central Government practice applies, where fees once paid are not refunded, but must confirm this from the official notification PDF.
Q5. Are Ex-Servicemen exempted from the Physical Efficiency Test (PET)?
Yes. Ex-Servicemen are exempt from the PET stage but are required to appear in all other stages of the selection process, including PST, CBT, Document Verification, and Medical Examination.
Q6. Where will the PET/PST and written examination be held?
Specific venue and centre details are not mentioned in the current official notification. Admit cards — which will contain venue information — are to be released on recruitment.ssb.gov.in. Candidates should monitor the portal regularly.
