- The Staff Selection Commission released the Junior Engineer Examination 2026 notice on 2 September 2026 for 1,748 tentative vacancies
- Both Paper-I and Paper-II are now Computer Based Examinations with objective multiple-choice questions only, so the old descriptive Paper-II no longer exists
- Paper-I carries 200 questions for 200 marks and Paper-II carries 100 questions for 300 marks, each of two hours
- Negative marking is 0.25 marks in Paper-I and one full mark in Paper-II.
What Is the SSC JE Exam in 2026?
SSC JE is the Staff Selection Commission recruitment examination for Junior Engineer posts across Government of India organisations, and from 2026 it also recruits Scientific Assistants for the India Meteorological Department. The posts are Group B, Level-6 of the Seventh Pay Commission matrix, carrying a pay band of Rs 35,400 to Rs 1,12,400.
The Commission conducts the examination for Junior Engineer (Civil), Junior Engineer (Electrical), Junior Engineer (Mechanical), Junior Engineer (Electrical and Mechanical) and, newly, Junior Engineer (Telecom), alongside Scientific Assistant in the India Meteorological Department. Recruitment is made against a tentative 1,748 vacancies notified for the 2026 cycle.
The crucial date for reckoning age is 1 August 2026. Depending on the post and the recruiting organisation, the upper age limit is either 30 years or 32 years, with the usual relaxations for reserved categories. The application fee is Rs 100, and women, Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, Persons with Benchmark Disabilities and Ex-Servicemen candidates are exempt.
| SSC JE 2026 Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notice of Examination released | 2 September 2026 |
| Online application window | 2 September to 22 September 2026 |
| Last date for online fee payment | 23 September 2026 |
| Application correction window | 28 September to 30 September 2026 |
| Paper-I computer based examination | October or November 2026 |
| Paper-II computer based examination | December 2026 |
What Is the SSC JE 2026 Exam Pattern?
SSC JE 2026 has two computer based papers. Paper-I has 200 objective questions for 200 marks in two hours and is purely qualifying. Paper-II has 100 objective questions for 300 marks in two hours, and only normalised Paper-II scores decide the final merit list for every notified post.
Both papers are set in Hindi and English only. Paper-I shortlists candidates for Paper-II subject to minimum qualifying marks, and separate merit lists are drawn for Junior Engineer (Civil), Junior Engineer (Electrical and Mechanical), Scientific Assistant in the India Meteorological Department and Junior Engineer (Telecom).
| Paper 2026 | Mode | Subjects | Questions and Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper-I | Computer Based Examination | General Intelligence and Reasoning, General Awareness, and one General Engineering part from Part-A to Part-G as opted | 200 questions / 200 marks | 2 hours |
| Paper-II | Computer Based Examination | Only the General Engineering part from Part-A to Part-G opted in the application form | 100 questions / 300 marks | 2 hours |
| Paper-I Section 2026 | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | 50 | 50 |
| General Awareness | 50 | 50 |
| General Engineering, one opted part | 100 | 100 |
| Total | 200 | 200 |
Negative marking is 0.25 marks for each wrong answer in Paper-I and a full mark for each wrong answer in Paper-II, so guessing is far more expensive in the second paper. Candidates who qualify for a scribe get two hours and 40 minutes instead of two hours.
The Commission provides an on-screen scientific calculator for the whole duration of both papers, plus the IS 456:2000 code of practice table and the steam table on the candidate console where required. No physical calculator or printed table is allowed inside the examination lab.
Competitive Exam: The Complete GuideRead →Which Posts and Organisations Does SSC JE 2026 Cover?
Fourteen organisations recruit through SSC JE 2026, including the Border Roads Organisation, Central Water Commission, Central Public Works Department, Military Engineer Services and the Department of Telecommunications. The India Meteorological Department recruits Scientific Assistants through the same examination, which is why physics and computer science papers were added this year.
| Post SSC JE 2026 | Recruiting Organisations and Departments |
|---|---|
| Junior Engineer (Civil) | Border Roads Organisation, Brahmaputra Board, Central Water Commission, Central Public Works Department, Central Water and Power Research Station, Farakka Barrage Project, Military Engineer Services, National Technical Research Organisation, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying |
| Junior Engineer (Electrical) | Central Public Works Department, Central Water and Power Research Station, DGQA-Naval, Farakka Barrage Project, Director General of Lighthouses and Lightships |
| Junior Engineer (Mechanical) | Central Water Commission, DGQA-Naval |
| Junior Engineer (Electrical and Mechanical) | Border Roads Organisation, Military Engineer Services |
| Junior Engineer (Telecom) | Department of Telecommunications |
| Scientific Assistant | India Meteorological Department |
A candidate may be eligible for more than one post. Someone eligible for Junior Engineer (Telecom) may also appear for Scientific Assistant in the India Meteorological Department or Junior Engineer (Electrical), provided the essential qualification is met. The subject opted in the online application form cannot be changed later under any circumstances.
What Is the SSC JE Paper 1 Syllabus 2026?
Paper-I has three sections. General Intelligence and Reasoning and General Awareness are compulsory for everyone and carry 50 questions each. The third section is the General Engineering part you opted for, worth 100 questions, and its standard is roughly diploma level for civil, electrical and mechanical streams.
The Commission describes the General Intelligence and Reasoning section as covering both verbal and non-verbal questions. The indicative topics are listed below.
- Analogies, similarities and differences
- Space visualisation and problem solving
- Analysis, judgment and decision making
- Visual memory, discrimination and observation
- Relationship concepts and arithmetical reasoning
- Verbal and figure classification
- Arithmetical number series
- Abstract ideas, symbols and their relationships, arithmetical computation and other analytical functions
General Awareness tests awareness of the environment and its application to society, current events, and everyday observations in their scientific aspect. Questions relate to India and its neighbouring countries, especially History, Culture, Geography, Economic Scene, General Polity and Scientific Research. The notice states these questions do not require special study of any discipline.
For the engineering section in Paper-I the notice gives only a topic list, not a detailed breakdown. Civil covers Engineering Mechanics, Solid Mechanics, Structural Analysis, Construction Materials and Management, Estimating, Costing and Valuation, Concrete Structures, Steel Structures, Surveying, Soil Mechanics, Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulics, Hydrology and Irrigation, Environmental Engineering and Transportation Engineering.
Electrical covers Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering, Magnetic Circuits, AC Fundamentals, Measurement and Measuring Instruments, Electrical Machines, Special Electric Machines and Synchronous Generators, Generation, Transmission and Distribution, Estimation and Costing, Utilization of Electrical Energy, Basic Electronics and Power Electronics.
Mechanical covers 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, and Advanced Manufacturing Processes.
Reasoning Questions: Types, Patterns and PracticeRead →What Does the SSC JE 2026 Civil Syllabus Cover in Paper 2?
Part-A of Paper-II is the detailed Civil and Structural Engineering paper. It runs from Engineering Mechanics and Solid Mechanics through Structural Analysis, construction materials and management, estimating and costing, concrete and steel structures, surveying, soil mechanics, fluid mechanics, hydraulics, hydrology, irrigation, environmental engineering and transportation infrastructure.
- Engineering Mechanics: system of forces, free body diagrams, equilibrium equations, internal forces, friction, centre of mass and moment of inertia
- Solid Mechanics: bending moment and shear force in determinate beams, stress and strain, simple bending theory, uniform torsion, buckling of columns
- Structural Analysis: determinate and indeterminate structures, method of superposition, trusses, arches, beams, cables and frames, slope deflection and moment distribution, influence lines
- Construction Materials and Management: bricks, stones, timber, steel, cement, aggregates, plastics, polymers, glass, concrete mix design, PERT and CPM
- Estimating, Costing and Valuation: cost estimates for works, rate analysis, valuation and detailed estimates
- Concrete and Steel Structures: working stress and limit state design, beams, slabs, columns, foundations and retaining walls, bolted connections, welds, plastic analysis
- Surveying: errors and adjustment, chain and compass survey, plane table surveying, levelling, traversing and triangulation, total station, tacheometry and theodolite surveying
- Soil Mechanics: phase relationships, soil classification, permeability, seepage and flow nets, effective stress, compaction, consolidation, shear strength and Mohr's circle
- Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulics: fluid statics, continuity, momentum and energy equations, laminar and turbulent flow, pipe networks, specific energy, critical flow and hydraulic jump
- Hydrology and Irrigation: hydrologic cycle, unit hydrographs, flood estimation and routing, well hydraulics, duty and delta, gravity dams, spillways and cross drainage works
- Environmental Engineering: water quality standards and index, drinking water treatment, sewerage design, effluent standards, sludge disposal, air pollution and municipal solid waste
- Transportation Engineering: geometric design of highways and railway track, highway materials, flexible and rigid pavement design using IRC codes, traffic studies and signal design by Webster's method
What Does the SSC JE 2026 Electrical Syllabus Cover in Paper 2?
Part-B is the Electrical Engineering paper. It begins with circuit fundamentals and network theorems, then moves through magnetic circuits, AC fundamentals, measurement and measuring instruments, electrical machines, synchronous generators, generation, transmission and distribution, estimation and costing, utilization of electrical energy, basic electronics and power electronics.
- Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering: resistors, capacitors, inductors and batteries, voltage, current, power, energy and flux with their units
- Network Solution Methods and Theorems: KCL, KVL, node and mesh analysis, Thevenin, Norton, superposition and maximum power transfer
- Magnetic Circuits: flux, reluctance, self and mutual inductance, magnetomotive force
- AC Fundamentals: RMS and average values, series and parallel AC circuits, resonance, balanced three-phase circuits, star-delta transformation, complex power and power factor
- Measurement and Measuring Instruments: classification of instruments, types of errors, galvanometer, ammeter, voltmeter, wattmeter, Wheatstone bridge, Kelvin's double bridge, energy meter, megger, CT and PT
- Electrical Machines: single-phase and three-phase transformers, DC machines, single-phase and three-phase induction motors, starting, speed control, electrical braking and torque-speed characteristics
- Special Electric Machines and Synchronous Generators: fractional motors, servomotors, armature reaction, parallel operation of generators and synchronisation
- Generation, Transmission and Distribution: types of power stations, load, demand and diversity factors, power factor improvement, transmission line parameters, corona and Ferranti effects, circuit breakers, protection of generators and transformers
- Estimation and Costing: estimation of lighting schemes, electric installation of machines, IE rules and earthing practices
- Utilization of Electrical Energy: illumination, electric heating, welding, electroplating, traction and drives
- Basic Electronics: PN junction diodes, rectifiers and wave-shapers, clipping and clamping, BJT and FET transistors, amplifiers and oscillators
- Power Electronics: static V-I characteristics of thyristor, firing and gating circuits, buck, boost and buck-boost converters, single-phase controlled rectifiers
What Does the SSC JE 2026 Mechanical Syllabus Cover in Paper 2?
Part-C is the Mechanical Engineering paper. It spans Engineering Mechanics, Strength of Materials, Theory of Machines, Machine Design, Materials Science, Thermal Engineering, Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulic Machinery, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Metrology and Measurement, and Advanced Manufacturing Processes such as CNC machining and non-traditional machining.
- Engineering Mechanics: free body diagrams, equilibrium and resultant of forces, Lami's theorem, laws of friction, centroid and centre of gravity
- Strength of Materials: simple stress and strain, types of beams, shear force and bending moment, simple bending and deflection, torsion of shafts, thin cylindrical shells
- Theory of Machines: cams and followers, belt, chain, rope and gear drives, gear trains, flywheels and governors, balancing and vibration, brakes, dynamometers, clutches and bearings
- Machine Design: types of loads and stresses, creep and fatigue, theories of failure, cotter and knuckle joints, antifriction bearings, sunk keys, shafts, couplings, spur gears, power screws, springs, bolted and welded joints
- Materials Science and Engineering: crystal structure and bonds, iron carbon phase diagram, heat treatment of steel, cast irons and steels, non-ferrous alloys, material testing, non-destructive testing and corrosion
- Thermal Engineering: laws of thermodynamics, thermal power plant, heat pump, heat engine and refrigerator, steam generators, impulse and reaction turbines, IC engines with Otto, Diesel and Dual cycles, air compressors, refrigeration and air conditioning, gas turbines and jet propulsion, heat transfer and heat exchangers
- Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulic Machinery: properties of fluid, flow through pipes, continuity equation, impact of jets, hydraulic turbines and power plants, centrifugal and reciprocating pumps
- Industrial Engineering: site selection and plant layout, work study and work measurement, production planning and control, statistical quality control and inventory control
- Manufacturing Engineering: pattern making, moulding, casting, metal forming, gas, arc and resistance welding, lathe operations, broaching, drilling, milling, gear making, grinding and press working
- Metrology and Measurement: precision, accuracy, sensitivity, repeatability, calibration, linear and angular measurement, comparators, limits, fits and tolerances, CMM and interchangeability
- Advanced Manufacturing Processes: jigs and fixtures, CNC milling and machining centres, PLC, special purpose machines, EDM, ECM, AJM, LBM and EBM, CAD/CAM fundamentals, industrial robots and FMS
Which New Subjects Were Added to SSC JE in 2026?
The 2026 notice adds four engineering parts beyond the traditional three. Part-D covers Computer Science and Information Technology, Part-E covers Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering, Part-F covers Physics, and Part-G covers Telecommunications. These four are set at graduation level rather than the diploma level used for civil, electrical and mechanical.
- Part-D, Computer Science and Information Technology: engineering mathematics, digital logic, computer organisation and architecture, programming and data structures, algorithms, theory of computation, compiler design, operating systems, databases and computer networks
- Part-E, Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering: electronic materials and components, diodes, transistors, amplifiers and oscillators, network theorems, AC and three-phase circuits, resonance, digital electronics, antennas, radio wave propagation, modulation, multiplexing and digital communication
- Part-F, Physics: mathematical methods, mechanics, general properties of matter, oscillations, waves, optics, electricity, magnetism, kinetic theory, thermodynamics, modern physics, solid state physics, semiconductor devices and analog and digital electronics
- Part-G, Telecommunications: engineering mathematics, network analysis, signals and systems, electronic devices, analog circuits, digital circuits, control systems, analog and digital communications and electromagnetics
Part-A to Part-F are conducted in one batch. Part-G, taken by Junior Engineer (Telecom) candidates, is conducted in a separate batch. Marks for Part-D, Part-E and Part-F for the India Meteorological Department post are normalised against one another as though they were different shifts.
Who Is Eligible for SSC JE 2026?
Eligibility depends on the post. Most Junior Engineer roles need a three-year diploma or a degree in the relevant branch, and several ask for two years of planning, execution or maintenance experience alongside a diploma. Junior Engineer (Telecom) and Scientific Assistant posts require a bachelor's degree in the specified disciplines.
- Junior Engineer (Civil): a degree in civil engineering, or a three-year diploma plus two years of relevant experience, depending on the organisation
- Junior Engineer (Electrical) and Junior Engineer (Mechanical): a degree or diploma in the relevant branch, with two years of experience where the organisation specifies it
- Junior Engineer (Telecom): a bachelor's degree in engineering or technology in electrical, electronics, electrical communications, computer science, telecommunications, instrumentation or information technology
- Scientific Assistant in the India Meteorological Department: a bachelor's degree in science with physics as a subject, or a degree in computer science, computer applications, electronics, electronics and communication, instrumentation, information technology or telecommunication engineering
- Age: up to 30 years or up to 32 years depending on the post and organisation, reckoned as on 1 August 2026, with the standard category relaxations
Experience must have been acquired after completing the essential educational qualification. Internships, training or research done while acquiring the qualification do not count. Engineering programmes taken through open and distance learning or online mode are not accepted unless specifically permitted by the regulator and notified by the University Grants Commission.
How Should You Prepare for the SSC JE 2026 Syllabus?
Treat Paper-II as the paper that decides your rank, because Paper-I is only qualifying and its marks are discarded after shortlisting. Build accuracy first, since a wrong answer in Paper-II costs a full mark. Practise with the on-screen calculator and the IS 456 and steam tables the Commission provides.
- Download the official Notice of Examination and read paragraphs 13 and 14, which contain the scheme and the indicative syllabus verbatim
- Map every topic in your opted part to a chapter in your diploma or degree notes and mark the ones you have never studied
- Clear the qualifying bar in Paper-I with steady reasoning and general awareness practice rather than heavy investment, because those marks do not enter the merit list
- Drill Paper-II subject topics to the depth stated in the notice, since the 2026 list is far more granular than the pre-2022 syllabus
- Take full-length computer based mocks in two-hour blocks so the interface, the on-screen calculator and the reference tables feel routine
- Track negative marking separately for each paper and set a personal attempt threshold for Paper-II, where each error costs a full mark