SSC JE
Staff Selection Commission — Junior Engineer
SSC Junior Engineer (SSC JE) 2026
The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) Junior Engineer Examination — commonly called SSC JE — is a national-level recruitment exam conducted by the Government of India for the selection of Junior Engineers in Civil, Electrical and Mechanical disciplines. Selected candidates are posted in central government departments such as the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), Military Engineer Services (MES), Central Water Commission (CWC), Directorate General of Border Roads (DGBR) and other participating organisations. SSC conducts the exam roughly once a year and releases a fresh notification for each cycle, so candidates must refer to the current notification for exact post-wise details.
Overview / Key Highlights
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Staff Selection Commission (SSC), Government of India |
| Exam Name | Junior Engineer (Civil / Electrical / Mechanical) Examination |
| Mode of Examination | Computer Based Test (CBT) — Objective type (Paper-I and Paper-II) |
| Selection Stages | Paper-I (CBT) → Paper-II (CBT) → Document Verification |
| Number of Papers | Two (Paper-I and Paper-II) |
| Negative Marking | Yes — 0.25 marks in Paper-I; 1 mark in Paper-II (as per latest cycle) |
| Exam Medium | Bilingual — English and Hindi |
| Exam Frequency | Annually (roughly), depending on departmental requirements |
| Posting Departments | CPWD, MES, CWC, DGBR, Farakka Barrage Project, CWPRS, and other central organisations |
| Official Website | https://ssc.gov.in |
Selection Process
The SSC JE selection process consists of the following stages. There is no interview; final selection is purely on the basis of marks secured in the written papers.
- Paper-I (Computer Based Test): Objective-type CBT covering General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Awareness, and the General Engineering paper of the chosen stream (Civil / Electrical / Mechanical). Marks: 200. Duration: 2 hours.
- Paper-II (Computer Based Test): In the latest cycles Paper-II is also a CBT of 100 objective-type questions (300 marks, 2 hours) in the candidate’s chosen engineering discipline. In earlier cycles it was a conventional (descriptive) written paper; candidates must attempt only the part corresponding to the branch they selected in the application form.
- Document Verification: After the final merit list is prepared, shortlisted candidates are called to verify their original documents — educational certificates, age proof, category certificate (if any), and disability certificate (if applicable).
Candidates must secure the minimum qualifying marks in each stage as prescribed in the notification. The final merit is based on the combined marks of Paper-I and Paper-II. If the CBT is held in multiple shifts, marks are normalised as per the scheme notified by SSC.
Exam Pattern
Paper-I (Objective — CBT)
| Section | Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | General Intelligence & Reasoning | 50 | 50 | 2 hours total (2 hours 40 minutes for eligible PwBD candidates) |
| II | General Awareness | 50 | 50 | |
| III | General Engineering — Part A (Civil & Structural), Part B (Electrical) or Part C (Mechanical), as per the branch chosen by the candidate | 100 | 100 | |
| Total | 200 | 200 | ||
Paper-I is a screening-cum-merit paper. 0.25 marks are deducted for every wrong answer; no marks are deducted for unanswered questions. Candidates should aim to clear the Paper-I cut-off comfortably since Paper-II is held only for candidates who qualify Paper-I.
Paper-II (Objective — CBT, latest cycle)
| Part | Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part A | General Engineering (Civil & Structural) | 100 | 300 | 2 hours (2 hours 40 minutes for eligible PwBD candidates) |
| Part B | General Engineering (Electrical) | |||
| Part C | General Engineering (Mechanical) |
Candidates must attempt only the part matching the engineering branch they opted for in the application form. Negative marking of 1 mark per wrong answer applies in Paper-II as per the latest-cycle notification (earlier cycles had no negative marking in the conventional Paper-II). Final merit list = marks of Paper-I + marks of Paper-II.
Detailed Syllabus
General Intelligence & Reasoning (Paper-I, Section I)
- Analogies — word, number and letter based
- Classification / odd-one-out (words, numbers, letters, figures)
- Number series, letter series and alphanumeric series
- Coding–decoding (letter shifting, number coding, symbol coding)
- Blood relations and family tree problems
- Direction sense and distance
- Order and ranking, seating arrangement and puzzles
- Syllogism and Venn diagrams
- Mathematical operations and arithmetical reasoning
- Statement–conclusion, statement–assumption, statement–argument
- Data sufficiency
- Non-verbal reasoning — mirror images, water images, paper folding and cutting, embedded figures, figure series
- Cubes and dice, clocks and calendars
General Awareness (Paper-I, Section II)
- Current affairs — national and international events of the last 6–12 months
- Indian history — ancient, medieval and modern (freedom movement)
- Indian polity and Constitution — Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Parliament, judiciary
- Indian and world geography — physiography, rivers, climate, agriculture, minerals
- Indian economy — basic concepts, Budget and Economic Survey highlights
- General science — physics, chemistry and biology fundamentals
- Environment, ecology and climate change
- Sports, tournaments and their venues
- Awards, honours and famous personalities
- Books and authors, important national and international days
- Static GK — capitals, currencies, headquarters, abbreviations
- Science and technology, space and defence programmes of India
Civil Engineering (Paper-I Section III / Paper-II Part A)
- Building materials — cement, lime, bricks, aggregates, timber, steel, paints
- Estimating, costing and valuation — quantity take-off, rate analysis
- Surveying — chain, compass, levelling, theodolite, total station
- Soil mechanics and foundation engineering — properties, compaction, bearing capacity
- Hydraulics and fluid mechanics — pressure, flow measurement, open channel flow
- Irrigation engineering — water requirement, dams, weirs, canals
- Water supply and treatment — sources, quality, water treatment units
- Sanitation and waste-water treatment — sewage systems, treatment processes
- Solid waste management and pollution control
- Highway and transportation engineering — geometric design, pavements, materials
- Railway engineering, bridges and tunnels, docks and harbours, airports
- Theory of structures — determinacy, beams, frames, arches, columns
- Strength of materials — stress, strain, bending, shear, torsion
- Concrete technology — mix design, workability, curing, admixtures
- RCC design — limit state method, slabs, beams, columns, footings
- Steel structures — connections, tension and compression members
- Construction technology, site management and safety practices
Mechanical Engineering (Paper-I Section III / Paper-II Part C)
- Engineering mechanics — statics and dynamics, free body diagrams, friction
- Strength of materials — stress–strain, bending, torsion, columns
- Theory of machines — mechanisms, gears, cams, flywheel, balancing
- Fluid mechanics and hydraulic machines — pumps, turbines, flow
- Thermodynamics — laws, properties, cycles, psychrometry basics
- Internal combustion engines — petrol and diesel, combustion, performance
- Heat transfer — conduction, convection, radiation, heat exchangers
- Refrigeration and air conditioning — vapour compression cycle, load estimation
- Steam generators (boilers), steam and gas turbines, power plants
- Machine design — shafts, springs, gears, bearings, couplings
- Production and manufacturing — casting, forging, rolling, welding, machining
- Metrology and machine tools — limits, fits, tolerances, gauging
- Industrial engineering — work study, production planning, inventory, quality control
- Engineering materials and metallurgy — heat treatment, alloys, workshop technology
Electrical Engineering (Paper-I Section III / Paper-II Part B)
- Basic circuit theory — DC and AC circuits, network theorems
- Network analysis — transient response, two-port networks, resonance
- Electrical machines — DC machines, transformers, induction motors
- Synchronous machines, alternators and special machines
- Power generation — thermal, hydro, nuclear, solar and wind
- Transmission and distribution — parameters, load flow, economics
- Switchgear and protection — relays, circuit breakers, protection schemes
- Electrical measurements and instrumentation — bridges, meters, transducers
- Control systems — transfer function, stability, root locus, Bode plots
- Analog and digital electronics — semiconductors, operational amplifiers, logic gates
- Power electronics — rectifiers, inverters, choppers, converters
- Utilisation of electrical energy — illumination, traction, heating, welding
- Estimating, costing, contracting and engineering materials, cables
- Cathodic protection, solar and battery energy systems, renewable basics
- Earthing, safety rules and Indian Electricity Rules
Marking Scheme
| Paper | Type | Marks per Question | Negative Marking | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper-I | Objective (CBT) | 1 mark | 0.25 mark per wrong answer | 200 |
| Paper-II | Objective (CBT, latest cycle) | 3 marks | 1 mark per wrong answer (latest cycle) | 300 |
Qualifying marks for Paper-I and Paper-II are prescribed by SSC in each notification (they vary by category — UR, OBC, SC, ST, EWS, PwBD). Final selection depends on the combined score of Paper-I and Paper-II relative to the cut-off for the chosen stream and category. Marks of a CBT held in multiple shifts are normalised before merit preparation.
Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
- Civil / Electrical / Mechanical Engineer: Degree (BE / B.Tech) in the relevant engineering branch, OR
- Three-year Diploma in Civil / Electrical / Mechanical Engineering from a recognised university, institute or State Board of Technical Education.
- The stream chosen in the application must match the stream of the qualifying degree/diploma.
Age Limit
| Category | Age Limit |
|---|---|
| Degree holders (Civil / Electrical / Mechanical) | 18–32 years (tentative, as per recent cycles) |
| Diploma holders (three-year diploma) | 18–35 years for certain posts (tentative, as per recent cycles) |
| OBC relaxation | 3 years |
| SC / ST relaxation | 5 years |
| PwBD relaxation | 10 years (in addition to category relaxation, as per rules) |
| Ex-Servicemen | As per Government of India rules |
Number of attempts: There is no limit on the number of attempts; candidates can appear every year as long as they are within the upper age limit.
Application Process & Fees
- Candidates apply online only through the official SSC website (https://ssc.gov.in) by registering on the portal and filling the application form for the Junior Engineer Examination.
- The application fee is ₹100 for General / OBC male candidates (tentative). Women candidates, SC / ST / PwBD candidates and Ex-Servicemen are exempted from payment of the fee.
- Payment can be made online (net banking, credit card, debit card, UPI) or through SBI challan generated at the time of submission.
- Important dates — application window, admit card release, exam dates and result dates — are published in the official notification each cycle and announced on ssc.gov.in. Admit cards are issued region-wise by the respective SSC Regional Offices.
Salary / Pay Scale
Junior Engineer posts under SSC JE are placed in Pay Level-6 of the 7th Central Pay Commission pay matrix.
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Pay Matrix Level | Level-6 (₹35,400 – ₹1,12,400) |
| Approximate In-hand Salary | ₹40,000 – ₹48,000 per month (tentative, excluding allowances) |
| Additional Benefits | DA, HRA, TA, medical and other allowances as per central government rules |
Tentative figures based on recent cycles; actual salary depends on the posting location and allowances.
Official Links & PDFs
- Official website of SSC: https://ssc.gov.in
- Official notification and syllabus PDF for the current cycle can be downloaded from the SSC website under the “Important Examinations” / “Junior Engineer (Civil / Electrical / Mechanical)” section. As direct PDF links change every cycle, candidates are advised to download the notification and syllabus PDF directly from the official portal.
- Result, cut-off and post-specific vacancy details are also published on ssc.gov.in and on the websites of the respective SSC Regional Offices.
Preparation Tips & Strategy
- Master the technical paper first: Paper-I Section III and the entire Paper-II are technical, so the engineering subjects carry the maximum weight. Study stream-specific standard textbooks and solve numericals daily.
- Keep General Awareness light but regular: Revise current affairs of the last 6–12 months, static GK and standard science facts; 10–15 minutes of daily reading is enough.
- Practice reasoning daily: Reasoning requires speed. Practise one set of puzzles, series, coding–decoding and non-verbal questions every day to build accuracy.
- Solve previous year papers: Attempt SSC JE previous-year papers under timed conditions to understand the difficulty level, frequently asked topics and negative-marking patterns.
- Take full-length mock tests: Since 0.25 marks are deducted per wrong answer, never guess blindly. Simulate the 2-hour CBT environment to improve time management.
- Choose your stream carefully: Select the engineering branch in the application form only as per your qualifying degree/diploma, since Paper-II must be attempted in that same branch.
- Stay updated: Keep checking ssc.gov.in for the notification, admit card, answer key and result — do not rely solely on secondary sources.
FAQ
Q: Is SSC JE conducted every year?
Generally yes — SSC has conducted the Junior Engineer exam annually in recent cycles, though the schedule and participating organisations depend on departmental requirements. Confirm from the current notification.
Q: Can a candidate with a diploma apply for SSC JE?
Yes. A three-year diploma in Civil / Electrical / Mechanical Engineering is accepted as a qualification. Some posts may allow diploma holders a relaxed upper age limit (tentatively up to 35 years), as per the notification.
Q: Is there any interview in the SSC JE selection process?
No. Selection is based on the combined marks of Paper-I and Paper-II, followed by document verification. No interview is conducted.
Q: What is the negative marking in SSC JE?
In Paper-I, 0.25 marks are deducted per wrong answer. In Paper-II, as per the latest cycle, 1 mark is deducted per wrong answer. Unattempted questions carry no penalty.
Q: Which departments will a selected SSC JE candidate join?
Posting is done across central organisations such as CPWD, MES, CWC, DGBR, Farakka Barrage Project and CWPRS, among others, as per the vacancies notified in each cycle.
Q: Is there a language option while taking the exam?
Yes. The papers are bilingual — questions are set in both English and Hindi. Bilingual options apply to all sections except English comprehension, if any.
Stay Updated
Exam dates, application window, vacancies, syllabus updates, admit card and result timelines change every cycle. Candidates must keep following the official SSC website (https://ssc.gov.in) and read the complete official notification before applying.