SSC JE 2026
● PAPER-I ON 2–6 NOV 2026 CONDUCTED BY SSCLast updated — Oct 2026 · checked against the official Staff Selection Commission (SSC) notification
SSC JE is not an admission test — it is a Government of India recruitment for Junior Engineer posts (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Electrical & Mechanical and Telecom) in organisations like CPWD, MES, BRO and the Central Water Commission, and for Scientific Assistant in the India Meteorological Department. These are Group B posts in Level-6 (₹35,400–1,12,400). The 2026 cycle is live: applications closed on 22 September 2026, and SSC has fixed Paper-I for 2–6 November 2026. The notice first stated 1,748 tentative vacancies; SSC's updated official vacancy list of 8 October 2026 totals 1,699 — the latest official figure.
SSC JE 2026 — Key Dates
From the official exam notice on ssc.gov.in and SSC's schedule notice dated 1 Oct 2026.
| Notice published | 2 Sep 2026 |
|---|---|
| Online applications | 2 – 22 Sep 2026 (closed) |
| Last date for fee payment | 23 Sep 2026 (closed) |
| Correction window | 28 – 30 Sep 2026 (closed) |
| Updated tentative vacancy list (1,699) | 8 Oct 2026 |
| Paper-I (Computer Based Examination) | 2 – 6 Nov 2026 |
| Paper-II | December 2026 (tentative, per the exam notice) |
Paper-I dates are fixed by SSC's official "Important Notice — Schedule of Examinations" dated 01.10.2026. Helpline for difficulty in filling the form: 180 030 930 63 (toll-free).
SSC JE Eligibility
In plain words — from the SSC JE 2026 notice. The qualification is post-specific, so read the second paragraph carefully.
Age: up to 30 years for most posts, and up to 32 years for CPWD JE(E) and JE(C) and the Director General of Lighthouses & Lightships JE(C) and JE(E) — reckoned as on 1 August 2026 (so for a 30-year post you must be born between 2 Aug 1996 and 1 Aug 2008). Relaxations: SC/ST 5 years, OBC 3 years, PwBD 10–15 years, Ex-Servicemen 3 years after deducting military service. There is no domicile rule — this is an all-India recruitment, and SSC does not collect state-wise vacancies.
Qualifications differ by organisation. CPWD, Brahmaputra Board, NTRO, Farakka Barrage and CWPRS posts are diploma-based (3-year Diploma in the relevant branch). BRO, MES and DGQA-Naval accept a degree, or a diploma plus two years' experience in planning/execution/maintenance. Central Water Commission accepts a degree or a diploma. JE (Telecom) in the Department of Telecommunication needs a B.E./B.Tech in a listed branch, and IMD Scientific Assistant needs a Bachelor's degree with Physics as a subject, or in CS/IT/Electronics/Instrumentation-type branches. Where experience is required, it must have been acquired after completing the qualification. BRO posts carry stringent physical/medical standards and are marked "For Male candidates only" in the official vacancy list.
- Minimum age 18 years (as on 1 Aug 2026) for all posts
- Diploma holders are eligible for many posts — check the post table in the notice before assuming you need a degree
- Nationality: Indian citizen, or a subject of Nepal/Bhutan, or a person of Indian origin from the listed countries with a Government of India eligibility certificate
SSC JE Exam Pattern
Two computer-based papers. Paper-I is qualifying in nature — only Paper-II marks decide the final merit.
| Paper / section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper-I — General Intelligence & Reasoning | 50 | 50 |
| Paper-I — General Awareness | 50 | 50 |
| Paper-I — General Engineering part for your post (Civil / Electrical / Mechanical / CS-IT / Electronics & Telecom / Physics / Telecom) | 100 | 100 |
| Paper-I total | 200 | 200 |
| Paper-II — General Engineering part for your post only | 100 | 300 |
Each paper is 2 hours (2 hours 40 minutes for scribe-eligible candidates). Negative marking: 0.25 marks per wrong answer in Paper-I and 1 mark in Paper-II. Questions are objective-type, in Hindi and English only. A scientific calculator and, where required, the IS 456:2000 table / steam table are provided on your console. Marks are normalised across shifts.
SSC JE Syllabus — What to Study
Standard: Engineering subjects at Diploma level; Computer Science & IT, Electronics & Telecommunication, Physics and Telecommunication subjects at graduation level. Paper-II covers the same Parts A–G in depth.
General Intelligence & Reasoning (Paper-I)
- Analogies, similarities and differences
- Space visualisation, problem solving, analysis, judgment, decision making
- Visual memory, discrimination, observation, relationship concepts
- Arithmetical reasoning, verbal and figure classification, arithmetical number series
- Abstract ideas and symbols, arithmetical computations and other analytical functions
General Awareness (Paper-I)
- Environment and its application to society
- Current events
- Matters of everyday observation and experience in their scientific aspect
- India and its neighbouring countries — History, Culture, Geography, Economic Scene, General Polity and Scientific Research
Part-A — Civil & Structural
- Engineering Mechanics
- Solid Mechanics
- Structural Analysis
- Construction Materials and Management
- Estimating, Costing and Valuation
- Concrete Structures
- Steel Structures
- Surveying
- Soil Mechanics (Geotechnical Engineering)
- Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulics
- Hydrology and Irrigation Engineering
- Environmental Engineering
- Transportation (Traffic) Engineering
Part-B — Electrical
- Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering
- Magnetic Circuits
- A.C. Fundamentals
- Measurement and Measuring Instruments
- Electrical Machines
- Special Electric Machines and Synchronous Generators
- Generation, Transmission and Distribution
- Estimation & Costing
- Utilization of Electrical Energy
- Basic Electronics
- Power Electronics
Part-C — Mechanical
- Engineering Mechanics
- Strength of Materials
- Theory of Machines
- Machine Design
- Materials Science and Engineering
- Thermal Engineering
- Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulic Machinery
- Industrial Engineering
- Manufacturing Engineering
- Metrology and Measurement
- Advanced Manufacturing Processes
Parts D–G — CS & IT · Electronics & Telecom · Physics · Telecom
- Part-D (CS & IT): Engineering Mathematics, Digital Logic, Computer Organization, Programming & Data Structures, Algorithms, Theory of Computation, Compiler Design, Operating Systems, Databases, Computer Networks
- Part-E (Electronics & Telecom): electronic materials & components, diodes, transistors, amplifiers, network theorems, AC circuits, digital electronics; antennas, propagation, modulation, multiplexing, digital communication
- Part-F (Physics, for IMD Scientific Assistant): Mathematical Methods, Mechanics, Properties of Matter, Oscillations, Waves, Optics, Electricity, Magnetism, Kinetic Theory, Thermodynamics, Modern Physics, Solid State, Semiconductor Devices, Analog & Digital Electronics
- Part-G (Telecom, for JE Telecom): Engineering Mathematics, Network Analysis, Signals and Systems, Electronic Devices, Analog Circuits, Digital Circuits, Control Systems, Analog Communications, Digital Communications, Electromagnetics
SSC JE Photo & Signature Rules
Exactly as prescribed in Section 10 of the SSC JE 2026 notice. The photograph is captured live — there is no photo upload.
No pixel dimensions, KB range or format are prescribed for the photograph, because the application module captures it in real time — photographing an existing photograph leads to summary rejection. Blurred or miniature signatures are also rejected. These rejection grounds do not apply to candidates who used Aadhaar-Based Authentication in OTR.
How to Apply for SSC JE
Applications for the 2026 cycle closed on 22 Sep 2026. The official procedure from the notice was:
- 1Complete One-Time Registration (OTR) on ssc.gov.in — SSC advises opting for Aadhaar-Based Authentication during OTR.
- 2Log in and fill the Online Application Form for the Junior Engineer Examination, 2026 — on ssc.gov.in or through the 'mySSC' mobile application.
- 3Capture the live photograph in the application module and upload the scanned signature (JPEG, 10–20 KB, about 6.0 cm × 2.0 cm) as prescribed above.
- 4Pay the fee of ₹100 online (BHIM UPI / Net Banking / Visa, MasterCard, Maestro or RuPay Debit card) by 23 Sep 2026, unless exempt.
- 5Check all details through the Preview/Print option — and that the photograph and signature meet the requirements — then submit and keep a copy of the application form.
Fee: ₹100 only. Exempt: women candidates, and SC, ST, PwBD and Ex-Servicemen candidates. Fee once paid is not refunded.
Documents Required — With Sizes
From the SSC JE 2026 notice. Correction charges, if you use the correction window: ₹200 for the first corrected resubmission and ₹500 for the second.
- At application: completed One-Time Registration (OTR) on ssc.gov.in — the old ssc.nic.in OTR is not valid on the new site
- At application: live-captured photograph and scanned signature Signature JPEG · 10–20 KB
- PwBD/PwD candidates claiming reservation or a scribe: Certificate of Disability uploaded while filling the form
- At Document Verification (by the user department, after selection): original certificates/mark sheets for all years/semesters and the degree/provisional certificate, proving the essential qualification (and experience, where required) on or before the cut-off date
- At Document Verification: category certificates in the notice's prescribed formats (SC/ST/OBC/EWS, disability, Ex-Servicemen) and the Matriculation/Secondary Examination Certificate for date of birth
SSC JE Minimum Qualifying Marks (Official)
The minimum qualifying marks prescribed in the notice for both Paper-I and Paper-II. SSC publishes the actual cut-offs with each result on ssc.gov.in — no 2026 cut-off exists yet because Paper-I has not been held.
| Category | Minimum qualifying marks |
|---|---|
| UR | 30% |
| OBC / EWS | 25% |
| All other categories | 20% |
Candidates are shortlisted for Paper-II on normalised Paper-I marks, subject to these minimums. Final merit is based only on normalised Paper-II marks plus your post/organisation preferences.
SSC JE — Frequently Asked Questions
Is SSC JE an admission exam or a job recruitment?
A job recruitment. SSC holds an open competitive examination to recruit Junior Engineers for Government of India organisations/offices, and Scientific Assistants in the India Meteorological Department — Group B posts in Level-6 (₹35,400–1,12,400).
How many vacancies are there in SSC JE 2026?
The notice of 2 Sep 2026 stated 1,748 tentative vacancies. SSC's updated official tentative-vacancy list published on 8 Oct 2026 totals 1,699 — the latest official figure as of 23 Oct 2026.
When is SSC JE 2026 Paper-I?
From 2 to 6 November 2026 (Computer Based Examination), fixed by SSC's official Important Notice dated 1 Oct 2026. Paper-II is tentatively scheduled for December 2026.
What is the SSC JE exam pattern?
Paper-I (200 questions, 200 marks, 2 hours): General Intelligence & Reasoning 50, General Awareness 50, and a 100-question General Engineering part for your post. Paper-II (100 questions, 300 marks, 2 hours): only your General Engineering part. Negative marking: 0.25 in Paper-I, 1 mark in Paper-II.
Do Paper-I marks count in the final SSC JE merit?
No. Paper-I is qualifying in nature (minimum qualifying marks: UR 30%, OBC/EWS 25%, others 20%). Final selection is made on normalised Paper-II marks plus the candidate's post/organisation preferences.
What is the SSC JE application fee, and who is exempt?
₹100. Women candidates and SC, ST, PwBD and Ex-Servicemen candidates are exempted from payment of the fee.
What are the SSC JE photo and signature rules?
The photograph is captured live in the application form — no pre-existing photograph may be used; it must be clear, full-frontal, without cap or spectacles, against a plain background with good light. The signature must be uploaded as a scanned JPEG of 10–20 KB, about 6.0 cm (width) × 2.0 cm (height).
What is the age limit for SSC JE 2026?
Up to 30 years for most posts, and up to 32 years for CPWD and Director General of Lighthouses & Lightships posts, reckoned as on 1 Aug 2026, with category relaxations (SC/ST 5 years, OBC 3 years, PwBD 10–15 years, etc.).
I have only a diploma. Am I eligible for SSC JE?
For many posts, yes — the qualification is post-specific. CPWD, Brahmaputra Board, NTRO, Farakka Barrage and CWPRS posts are diploma-based; BRO/MES/DGQA posts accept a degree or a diploma plus two years' experience; JE (Telecom) and Scientific Assistant (IMD) require a bachelor's degree as prescribed. Check the post table in the notice.