SSB SI (Communication) 2026 Guess Paper

The SSB SI (Communication) 2026 recruitment cycle has moved into its physical test phase. The Sashastra Seema Bal set the Physical Efficiency Test and Physical Standard Test to start in the third week of August 2026. A candidate who plans each stage now, instead of after the written exam call letter, gains a real time advantage.

TL;DR

• SSB has opened 20 vacancies for Sub Inspector (Communication) as part of a combined 51-post Sub Inspector drive.
• Ten percent of total posts stay reserved for Ex-Servicemen.
• The pay band for the post is Level-6, Rs. 35,400 to Rs. 1,12,400 per month.
• Selection runs through five stages: PET, PST, written exam, document verification, and medical exam.
• The written exam carries 150 marks. Part-I holds 50 marks. Part-II, the technical paper, holds 100 marks and decides most tie-breaks.
• Qualifying marks stand at 50% for General, EWS, OBC, and Ex-Servicemen candidates, and 45% for SC and ST candidates.

Vacancy Breakdown and Why It Matters

SSB released this recruitment under Advertisement No. 524/RC/SSB/Combined Advt./CT to SI (Non-GD)/2025. The notice covers three Sub Inspector posts together.

Caption: Post-wise vacancy split for the current SSB Sub Inspector cycle.

A 20-post opening for Communication is a meaningful count for a technical paramilitary post. A candidate must still plan for a tight merit list, because SSB fills these seats from a national applicant pool and does not divide the written paper by subject stream.

Eligibility: Age and Qualification

A candidate for Sub Inspector (Communication) must not cross 30 years of age as reckoned against the cutoff date set in the notice. SSB grants age relaxation of 5 years to SC/ST candidates and 3 years to OBC candidates, in line with standard government norms.

On education, a candidate needs one of these:

• A bachelor’s degree in Electronics, Telecommunication, Computer Science, or Information Technology, from a recognized university.
• A B.Sc. degree with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics, from a recognized university.

This dual entry path pulls in both core electronics graduates and general science graduates. The mixed applicant pool changes how the technical paper behaves, a point covered later in this guide.

Stage One: Physical Efficiency Test (PET)

The PET comes before every other stage. A candidate who skips training here loses the chance to sit the written exam, regardless of academic strength.

Caption: PET timing standard for Sub Inspector (Communication) candidates.

A candidate should treat the PET as a pass/fail filter, not a scoring stage. A missed cutoff here removes a candidate from the process before the merit list forms.

Stage Two: Physical Standard Test (PST)

SSB checks height and chest measurement after the PET. Regional relaxation applies to specific candidate groups.

Caption: PST height and chest standards, with regional relaxation shown for comparison.

A candidate near the general-category minimum should confirm the exact cutoff on the official notice before applying, since a few millimeters of shortfall ends the attempt at this stage.

Stage Three: The Written Exam

A candidate who clears PET and PST moves to a 3-hour, 150-mark written exam split into two parts.

Caption: Written exam structure for Sub Inspector (Communication), 150 marks total.

Part-II carries twice the weight of Part-I. SSB also uses Part-II marks as the tie-breaker when two candidates land on the same total score. This makes the technical paper the deciding factor for a place on the final list, not a side subject to revise last.

Why the Technical Paper Decides the Merit List

SSB does not split the technical paper by degree stream. A candidate from an Electronics background, a Computer Science background, and a B.Sc. Physics-Chemistry-Mathematics background all answer the same 100-mark paper. The paper draws questions from digital electronics, communication systems, measurement, and basic computer science, often at a level closer to an engineering degree than a general science degree.

A B.Sc. (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics) candidate should expect a paper weighted toward electronics and computer topics outside their core stream. This candidate group should start technical preparation earlier than Electronics or Computer Science graduates, since the gap to close is wider.

Qualifying Marks and Marking Scheme

A General, EWS, OBC, or Ex-Servicemen candidate must score at least 50% to qualify. A Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe candidate must score at least 45%. As of the current notice, SSB has not confirmed negative marking for this cycle. A candidate should still prepare as if negative marking applies, since past SSB technical papers have carried it in some cycles.

Stage Four and Five: Document Verification and Medical Exam

A candidate who clears the written exam moves to document verification, followed by a Detailed Medical Examination and, where needed, a Review Medical Examination. These stages check certificate authenticity and physical fitness for field duty. A candidate should keep original certificates, category proof, and educational documents ready well before this stage begins.

Salary, Application Fee, and Cost of Preparation

A selected Sub Inspector (Communication) draws pay under Level-6 of the 7th Pay Commission matrix, Rs. 35,400 to Rs. 1,12,400 per month, plus allowances admissible to the force. This pay band matches other central paramilitary Sub Inspector technical posts and sits well above most state-level technical government posts at entry level.

The application fee for this cycle is Rs. 200. SC, ST, and women candidates stand exempted from this fee. Beyond the fee, a candidate’s real cost center is coaching and study material for the technical paper, since this is the section most candidates find hardest to self-study without structured guidance.

What This Means Next

A candidate preparing for SSB SI (Communication) 2026 gains the most from a split strategy. Physical training and Part-I subjects need steady, low-intensity work across many weeks. Part-II, the technical paper, needs focused, degree-level study because it carries 100 of 150 marks and controls the tie-break rule. A candidate who treats all five stages as one continuous filter, not five separate events, builds a schedule that survives the full selection timeline through PET, PST, the written exam, and final document checks.

Common Questions

How many vacancies are open for SSB SI Communication 2026? SSB has listed 20 vacancies for Sub Inspector (Communication), as part of a combined 51-post Sub Inspector drive.

What is the salary for SSB SI Communication? The post carries Level-6 pay, Rs. 35,400 to Rs. 1,12,400 per month, plus standard force allowances.

What is the qualifying mark for the SSB SI written exam? General, EWS, OBC, and Ex-Servicemen candidates need 50%. SC and ST candidates need 45%.

Is there negative marking in the SSB SI written exam? The current notice has not confirmed negative marking. A candidate should prepare assuming it may apply.

What is the application fee for SSB SI 2026? The fee is Rs. 200, with exemption for SC, ST, and women candidates.