Police Sub-Inspector Jobs 2026: Eligibility, Exam Pattern and Pay

Sub-inspector recruitment is the officer entry in state police forces and central armed police. It needs graduation in most states and combines a written examination with a physical test and an interview in some routes.

Police Sub-Inspector Jobs 2026 at a Glance

Route	Posts	Qualification	Age
SSC CPO	Sub-inspector in Delhi Police and CAPF	Graduation	20 to 25 years
State police SI	Sub-inspector in state police	Graduation in most states	21 to 28 years as notified
State police SI through departmental exam	Promotion from constable	Service requirement	Serving personnel
Assistant sub-inspector	State police cadre	Class 12 or graduation as notified	Varies by state

SSC CPO: The Central Route

Stage	Detail
Paper 1	General intelligence and reasoning, general knowledge, quantitative aptitude, English comprehension
Paper 2	English language and comprehension, descriptive in nature
Physical endurance test	Running, long jump, high jump and shot put standards
Physical standard test	Height and chest measurement as prescribed
Medical examination	Vision and general health standards for the force

The SSC CPO paper 2 is descriptive and tests written English, which is where many candidates lose marks after a good objective performance. Physical standards for Delhi Police and CAPF differ slightly, so check the column that applies to your preference.

Female candidates have separate physical standards for the endurance test and the standard test, published in the notice. Male candidates are also measured for chest expansion.

State Sub-Inspector Recruitment

State route	Selection stages	Notes
Uttar Pradesh	Written examination, physical test, document verification	Conducted by the state recruitment board
Bihar	Prelims, mains and physical test in several cycles	Conducted by the police subordinate services commission
Madhya Pradesh	Written examination followed by a physical test	State board recruitment
Maharashtra	Written examination, physical test and interview	State police recruitment board
Rajasthan	Written examination and physical test	Follows the state board pattern

Most states require graduation for sub-inspector posts, unlike constable recruitment which accepts Class 10 or 12.
A physical test with a higher running standard than the constable test is common at this level.
Some states add an interview or a group discussion to the selection process.

Pay and Promotion

Post	Pay level	Indicative basic pay
Sub-inspector	Level 6	35,400 rupees
Inspector on promotion	Level 7	44,900 rupees
Assistant sub-inspector	Level 5	29,200 rupees
Sub-inspector in CAPF with field posting	Level 6 plus allowances	Higher in-hand with field allowance

A sub-inspector starts at pay level 6, which is a significant rise from the constable entry at level 3. Promotion to inspector follows departmental examinations and vacancies, and officers with additional qualifications can progress to deputy superintendent of police level through promotion.

Preparing for the SI Examination

Section	Weight	Approach
General intelligence and reasoning	High	Daily practice with timed sets
General knowledge and awareness	High	Current affairs plus static GK, with force-specific facts
Quantitative aptitude	Medium to high	Core arithmetic topics, then speed
English comprehension	High	Grammar, vocabulary and descriptive writing
Physical preparation	Qualifying	Running, jumps and strength work from the first month

Start with the objective paper, but add weekly English writing practice for the descriptive stage.
Train for the higher running standard, since SI recruitment demands more than constable recruitment.
Solve previous year papers of the SSC CPO and your state’s SI examination together.
Keep graduation certificates and category documents ready in advance.

Candidates preparing for SSC CPO and a state SI examination can use the same base preparation, since the reasoning, general knowledge and quantitative sections follow a similar pattern.

Physical Standards for Sub-Inspector Posts

Physical standards for sub-inspector recruitment are stricter than the constable standard, especially in the running event and in the height requirement. Standards also differ between state recruitments, and between male and female candidates within the same recruitment.

Recruitment	Male height and chest	Female height	Running standard
SSC CPO	170 cm, chest 80 cm with expansion	157 cm	Male 100 metres in 16 seconds, 1.6 km in 6 minutes 30 seconds; female 100 metres in 18 seconds, 800 metres in 4 minutes
UP Police SI	As notified by the state board	As notified	Distance and time specified in the state notice
Bihar Police SI	State standard	State standard	State standard
Delhi Police SI	170 cm, chest 81 cm with expansion	157 cm	As per the SSC standard
CAPF SI	As per the SSC standard	As per the SSC standard	As per the SSC standard

Chest measurement is taken after expansion, and candidates are re-measured at the physical standard test. Increasing chest expansion through breathing exercises is possible, but height relaxation is granted only for candidates from specified regions and categories.

Departmental Promotion from Constable to Sub-Inspector

Constables who join a state police force have a second route to the same rank through a departmental examination. This route requires a specified number of years of service, along with a qualifying examination and, in most states, a physical test at the officer standard.

Requirement	Typical position
Minimum service	Five to seven years as constable, as notified
Education	Graduation, sometimes relaxed for departmental candidates
Written examination	Law, police procedure, general knowledge and the state language
Physical test	Running and measurement at the sub-inspector standard
Viva or interview	Conducted by the departmental board in most states
Effect	Rank promotion with pay level change to the sub-inspector grade

The departmental route is often less competitive than the open recruitment, because the candidate pool is restricted to serving personnel. Constables who complete their graduation through distance education early in service usually reach the sub-inspector rank years sooner than those who wait.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the qualification for a police sub-inspector post?

Graduation is required in most states and for the SSC CPO examination, while a few states accept Class 12 for assistant sub-inspector level posts.

What is the age limit for SSC CPO?

Twenty to twenty-five years for the general category, with relaxation for OBC, SC, ST and other specified categories as notified.

Is there an interview for sub-inspector recruitment?

SSC CPO does not have a personal interview in most cycles, while several state sub-inspector recruitments include an interview or a document verification round.

What is the height requirement for SSC CPO sub-inspector posts?

Generally 170 cm for male candidates with an expanded chest measurement of 80 cm, and 157 cm for female candidates, with relaxations for specified regions and categories.

Can a constable become a sub-inspector?

Yes, through the departmental promotion examination after the minimum years of service, with the qualification and physical standards applied to serving personnel.

Related Guides on This Site

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Last updated: 18 September 2026.