SSB Constable Non-GD Eligibility Criteria 2026 — Post-Wise Qualification, Age & Nationality Requirements
Eligibility at a Glance
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Nationality & Citizenship Requirements
- Education — Constable (Veterinary) & Constable (Driver)
- Education — Trade Posts (Gardener, Cobbler, Tailor, Washerman, Barber, Waiter, Water Carrier)
- Education — Constable (Carpenter)
- Education — Constable (Nursing Orderly)
- Complete Eligibility Comparison Matrix
- Age Limit — Post-Wise Breakdown
- Age Relaxation for Reserved Categories
- Physical Eligibility — Height & Chest Requirements
- Disqualification Conditions
- Documents Required to Prove Eligibility
- Important Links
1. Introduction
The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) has released a combined recruitment notification for 827 Constable (Non-GD) vacancies across 11 specialised trades — Veterinary, Driver, Gardener, Water Carrier, Cobbler, Tailor, Washerman, Barber, Waiter, Carpenter, and Nursing Orderly. These Group-'C' Non-Gazetted posts fall under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, and eligibility conditions differ significantly from one trade to another.
This guide breaks down every eligibility parameter — educational qualification, professional experience, nationality, age limits, age relaxation, physical standards, and disqualification rules — organised by post so that you can verify your candidature before applying. Unlike the combined notification which mixes all trades together, we cover each post individually with the exact requirement matrix.
For a complete overview of this recruitment including vacancy distribution, salary structure, selection process, and application steps, visit our SSB Constable Non-GD Recruitment 2026 — Complete Guide.
Editorial Note: This article is prepared by the Vacancy Vedika Editorial Team based on Advertisement No. 524/RC/SSB/Combined Advt./CT to SI (Non-GD)/2025 dated 21 March 2026. All eligibility conditions mentioned here are sourced from the official notification. Candidates are advised to read the original notification for authoritative reference.
2. Nationality & Citizenship Requirements
SSB applies two distinct nationality rules depending on the trade you are applying for. This is a critical distinction that most candidates overlook.
| Post Group | Nationality Requirement |
|---|---|
| Washerman, Barber, Water Carrier, Gardener, Waiter, Tailor, Cobbler | Must be a citizen of India only |
| Driver, Veterinary, Carpenter, Nursing Orderly | Must be a citizen of India; however, subjects of Nepal or Bhutan are not debarred from appointment |
Key Difference: For Driver, Veterinary, Carpenter, and Nursing Orderly posts, a non-Indian citizen may be appointed only with prior written permission from the Central Government. Nepalese and Bhutanese nationals are exempt from this restriction as per existing bilateral treaties.
3. Education — Constable (Veterinary) & Constable (Driver)
These two posts have the highest vacancy count (34 and 553 respectively) and carry post-specific qualifications beyond basic schooling. The upper age limit for both is 27 years, which is higher than most trade posts.
Constable (Veterinary) — 34 Vacancies
- Education: 10th class pass with Science as a main subject from a recognised Board
- Experience: Minimum one year of experience in treatment of different species of animals in a recognised Veterinary Hospital
- Age: 18 to 27 years
Constable (Driver) — 553 Vacancies (Male Only)
- Education: 10th class pass from a recognised Board
- Licence: Must possess a valid Heavy Vehicle Driving Licence
- Gender: Open to male candidates only
- Age: 18 to 27 years
Note: The Veterinary post specifically requires Science as a main subject — a general 10th pass certificate without Science will not be accepted. Similarly, for the Driver post, a Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) licence is insufficient; candidates need a valid HMV licence at the time of application.
4. Education — Trade Posts (Gardener, Cobbler, Tailor, Washerman, Barber, Waiter, Water Carrier)
Seven out of eleven posts share a common eligibility framework built around the Matriculation qualification plus trade-specific experience or certification. All seven carry an upper age limit of 23 years — four years lower than the Driver and Veterinary posts.
Gardener, Cobbler, Tailor, Washerman, Barber, Waiter, Water Carrier
- Education: Matriculation or equivalent from a recognised Board
- Plus one of the following:
- (a) Two years of work experience in the respective trade, OR
- (b) One-year certificate course from a recognised Industrial Training Institute (ITI) or Vocational Institute with at least one year of experience in the trade, OR
- (c) Two-year Diploma from a recognised ITI in the respective trade or similar trade
- Trade Test: Mandatory — must qualify a practical trade test
- Age: 18 to 23 years
Pro Tip: Multi-skilled candidates — those who hold qualifications across multiple trades — will be given preference during the selection process. If you have an ITI diploma covering related trades, mention all relevant certifications in your application.
Important: The trade test is qualifying in nature and carries 50 marks. The minimum qualifying marks for SC/ST/OBC/EWS/Ex-Servicemen candidates are 60%, while other category candidates also need 60% to clear. No marks from the trade test are included in the final merit list.
5. Education — Constable (Carpenter)
The Carpenter post carries a slightly higher upper age limit of 25 years compared to the 23 years for other trade posts. The educational requirements are identical in structure to the general trade posts, but the age difference gives Carpenter aspirants an extra two-year window.
Constable (Carpenter) — 7 Vacancies
- Education: Matriculation or equivalent from a recognised Board
- Plus one of the following:
- (a) Two years of work experience in the carpentry trade, OR
- (b) One-year certificate course from a recognised ITI/Vocational Institute with at least one year of experience, OR
- (c) Two-year Diploma from a recognised ITI in carpentry or similar trade
- Trade Test: Mandatory
- Age: 18 to 25 years
Note: With only 7 vacancies (4 UR, 1 OBC, 1 SC, 1 ST), the Carpenter post is highly competitive. All 7 vacancies are for male candidates in the unreserved and reserved categories with no EWS allocation.
6. Education — Constable (Nursing Orderly)
The Nursing Orderly post has the most specific professional requirements among all eleven trades, combining formal education, professional certification, and institutional work experience.
Constable (Nursing Orderly) — 1 Vacancy
- Education: 10th class pass from a recognised Board
- Certification: First Aid certificate course from St. John's Ambulance Organisation or Red Cross Society of India
- Experience: Minimum one year working experience as a Nursing Orderly in a minimum fifty-bedded hospital or institution recognised by the Central Government or State Government
- Age: 18 to 27 years
Warning: A generic nursing certificate will not suffice. The notification specifically requires a First Aid certificate from either St. John's Ambulance Organisation or the Red Cross Society. Any other certification body will render the application ineligible. Additionally, the hospital experience must be from a facility with a minimum of 50 beds — smaller clinics or dispensaries do not qualify.
7. Complete Eligibility Comparison Matrix — All 11 Posts
The table below consolidates the qualification, experience, age, and special requirements for every Constable Non-GD post in one view. Use this to quickly determine which posts you are eligible for — some candidates may qualify for multiple trades.
| Post | Min. Education | Special Requirement | Max Age | Trade Test? | Gender |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veterinary | 10th (Science) | 1 yr veterinary hospital experience | 27 | No | Male & Female |
| Driver | 10th | Valid HMV Driving Licence | 27 | No | Male only |
| Gardener | Matriculation | 2 yr experience OR ITI + 1 yr OR 2 yr Diploma | 23 | Yes | Male & Female |
| Water Carrier | Matriculation | 2 yr experience OR ITI + 1 yr OR 2 yr Diploma | 23 | Yes | Male & Female |
| Cobbler | Matriculation | 2 yr experience OR ITI + 1 yr OR 2 yr Diploma | 23 | Yes | Male & Female |
| Tailor | Matriculation | 2 yr experience OR ITI + 1 yr OR 2 yr Diploma | 23 | Yes | Male & Female |
| Washerman | Matriculation | 2 yr experience OR ITI + 1 yr OR 2 yr Diploma | 23 | Yes | Male & Female |
| Barber | Matriculation | 2 yr experience OR ITI + 1 yr OR 2 yr Diploma | 23 | Yes | Male & Female |
| Waiter | Matriculation | 2 yr experience OR ITI + 1 yr OR 2 yr Diploma | 23 | Yes | Male & Female |
| Carpenter | Matriculation | 2 yr experience OR ITI + 1 yr OR 2 yr Diploma | 25 | Yes | Male & Female |
| Nursing Orderly | 10th | First Aid cert. + 1 yr in 50-bed hospital | 27 | No | Male & Female |
Pro Tip: A candidate can apply for only one post from the 11 available trades. If you qualify for multiple posts, carefully consider the vacancy count, competition level, and your trade proficiency before choosing. The Driver post has the highest vacancy count at 553, while Nursing Orderly and Waiter have just 1 and 3 vacancies respectively.
8. Age Limit — Post-Wise Breakdown
The SSB Constable Non-GD recruitment uses three different age brackets depending on the post. The crucial date for determining age and all eligibility criteria is 30 days from the date of publication of the advertisement in the Employment News. This means candidates who are currently a few months away from turning the maximum age should verify whether they will still be within the limit on that cutoff date — not the date of applying.
Candidates appearing in an examination whose passing would render them educationally qualified for the post need not wait for results to apply. Those who have appeared but not yet received results at the time of application closing can still apply and will be admitted to the examination. However, they must produce the requisite certificate at the time of documentation.
| Post Name | Minimum Age | Maximum Age |
|---|---|---|
| Constable (Veterinary) | 18 years | 27 years |
| Constable (Driver) — Male only | 18 years | 27 years |
| Constable (Gardener) | 18 years | 23 years |
| Constable (Water Carrier) | 18 years | 23 years |
| Constable (Cobbler) | 18 years | 23 years |
| Constable (Tailor) | 18 years | 23 years |
| Constable (Washerman) | 18 years | 23 years |
| Constable (Barber) | 18 years | 23 years |
| Constable (Waiter) | 18 years | 23 years |
| Constable (Carpenter) | 18 years | 25 years |
| Constable (Nursing Orderly) | 18 years | 27 years |
Date of Birth Verification: Your date of birth and name as recorded in your Matriculation certificate will be treated as final. SSB will not accept any subsequent request for a change in date of birth or name.
9. Age Relaxation for Reserved Categories
The Central Government provides upper age relaxation beyond the maximum limit to several candidate categories. Here is the complete relaxation matrix applicable to SSB Constable Non-GD posts:
| Category | Relaxation Beyond Upper Age Limit |
|---|---|
| Scheduled Caste (SC) / Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 5 years |
| Other Backward Class (OBC) | 3 years |
| Ex-Servicemen | 3 years after deduction of military service rendered from actual age |
| Departmental Candidates (Central Govt. employees with 3+ years service) | Up to 40 years (UR), 43 years (OBC), 45 years (SC/ST) |
| Candidates domiciled in J&K and Ladakh UTs (1 Jan 1980 – 31 Dec 1989) — UR | 5 years |
| Candidates domiciled in J&K and Ladakh UTs (1 Jan 1980 – 31 Dec 1989) — OBC | (3+5) = 8 years |
| Candidates domiciled in J&K and Ladakh UTs (1 Jan 1980 – 31 Dec 1989) — SC/ST | (5+5) = 10 years |
| Children/dependents of 1984 riot victims — Unreserved | 5 years |
| Children/dependents of 1984 riot victims — OBC | (3+5) = 8 years |
| Children/dependents of 1984 riot victims — SC/ST | (5+5) = 10 years |
OBC Certificate Validity: Candidates claiming OBC relaxation must ensure their Non-Creamy Layer certificate has been obtained within three years of the closing date of application. The certificate must be in the prescribed format (Annexure-I) and issued by a competent authority. If the OBC certificate is not in the prescribed format, the candidate will be treated under the unreserved category.
EWS Criteria: EWS candidates must have a family gross annual income below ₹8,00,000 (Rupees Eight Lakh). The family must not own specified assets including 5+ acres of agricultural land, a residential flat of 1000+ sq. ft., or residential plots of 100+ sq. yards in notified municipalities. The EWS certificate must be valid for 2026-2027.
10. Physical Eligibility — Height & Chest Requirements
SSB mandates minimum height and chest measurements that vary by gender, post category, and regional origin. These are verified during the Physical Standard Test (PST), and failing to meet even one parameter leads to immediate rejection from the recruitment process.
For Constable (Veterinary) — Representative Standards
| Category | Gender | Min. Height (cm) | Min. Chest (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General / UR candidates | Male | 170 | 80 (expansion: 5) |
| General / UR candidates | Female | 157 | Not applicable |
| Garhwalis, Kumaonis, Dogras, Marathas & NE states | Male | 165 | 78 (expansion: 5) |
| Scheduled Tribes | Male | 162.5 | 76 (expansion: 5) |
For Trade Posts (Gardener, Cobbler, Tailor, Washerman, Barber, Waiter, Water Carrier, Carpenter)
| Category | Gender | Min. Height (cm) | Min. Chest (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General / UR candidates | Male | 167.5 | 78 (expansion: 5) |
| General / UR candidates | Female | 157 | Not applicable |
| Garhwalis, Kumaonis, Dogras, Marathas & NE states | Male | 165 | 78 (expansion: 5) |
| Scheduled Tribes | Male | 162.5 | 76 (expansion: 5) |
Warning: Height and chest measurements are recorded to one decimal place in centimetres. A candidate with a measured height of 169.9 cm where the minimum is 170 cm will be disqualified. There is no rounding up. Candidates seeking height/chest relaxation based on community must submit a certificate from the concerned District Authorities at the time of PST.
11. Disqualification Conditions
SSB specifies several conditions that automatically disqualify a candidate from being appointed, regardless of how well they perform in the recruitment stages:
A person who has entered into or contracted a marriage while already having a living spouse is not eligible. Similarly, a person who marries someone already having a living spouse is disqualified. An exemption exists if the Central Government permits such marriage under applicable personal law.
Conviction by any court of law leads to automatic disqualification. Candidates involved in any criminal case under the IPC or any other Act of the Central or State Government will not be considered.
Any person previously dismissed from Government service is permanently barred from appointment to these posts.
Submitting forged documents, fake photographs, wrong information, or uploading someone else's photograph will result in candidature cancellation and potential legal action under the IT Act 2000 and other applicable laws.
Note: After submission of the application form, if any criminal case is registered against the candidate, the same will be reported to the PO of the recruitment board. Failure to disclose this information will be treated as suppression of factual information.
12. Documents Required to Prove Eligibility
Eligibility is verified at the Document Verification (DV) stage, which takes place before the Detailed Medical Examination. Candidates shortlisted up to 20 times the number of vacancies in each category are called for DV. Here are the key documents you must carry:
| Document | Purpose | Applicable To |
|---|---|---|
| Matriculation Certificate | Proof of age, name, date of birth, and minimum education | All posts |
| 10th Marksheet with Science | Proof of Science as main subject | Veterinary only |
| Heavy Vehicle Driving Licence | Valid HMV licence verification | Driver only |
| ITI Certificate / Trade Diploma | Professional qualification in respective trade | All trade posts + Carpenter |
| Experience Certificate | Proof of work experience in the trade | All trade posts, Veterinary, Nursing Orderly |
| First Aid Certificate (St. John's / Red Cross) | Professional certification | Nursing Orderly only |
| Hospital Experience Letter (50-bed minimum) | Institutional work verification | Nursing Orderly only |
| SC/ST Certificate (Annexure-II format) | Caste verification | SC/ST candidates |
| OBC Certificate (Annexure-I format) | Non-Creamy Layer verification | OBC candidates |
| EWS Certificate (Annexure-III format) | Income and asset declaration | EWS candidates |
| Community Certificate (for height/chest relaxation) | Regional community verification | Garhwalis, Kumaonis, Dogras, Marathas, etc. |
| Discharge Certificate | Proof of military service | Ex-Servicemen |
| No Objection Certificate | Employer clearance | Govt./Semi-Govt. employees |
Warning: All original documents must be produced at the time of Documentation. Failure to present any required original document will result in immediate cancellation of candidature. Self-attested photocopies of all documents will also be collected for the dossier. No correspondence regarding missing documents will be entertained at a later stage.
Pro Tip: If your educational certificates are from a Board other than a Central/State Board, carry an equivalency certificate from the Central Government along with the original certificate. Prepare multiple sets of self-attested photocopies to avoid delays at the documentation stage.
13. Important Links
| Description | Link |
|---|---|
| Apply Online | Apply Here |
| Official Notification PDF | Download PDF |
| SSB Official Website | ssb.gov.in |
| SSB Recruitment Portal | recruitment.ssb.gov.in |
| Complete Recruitment Guide | SSB Constable Non-GD 2026 — Full Guide |
| Vacancy Breakdown | 827 Posts — Category-Wise Analysis |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The minimum qualification varies by post. For Constable (Driver) and Constable (Nursing Orderly), it is a 10th class pass from a recognised Board. For Constable (Veterinary), candidates need 10th class with Science as a main subject. For all seven trade posts (Gardener, Cobbler, Tailor, Washerman, Barber, Waiter, Water Carrier) and Carpenter, the requirement is Matriculation or equivalent plus trade-specific experience or an ITI certificate.
No. The Constable (Driver) post is open to male candidates only. All other 10 posts — Veterinary, Gardener, Water Carrier, Cobbler, Tailor, Washerman, Barber, Waiter, Carpenter, and Nursing Orderly — are open to both male and female candidates.
The upper age limit for Constable posts in Gardener, Cobbler, Tailor, Washerman, Barber, Waiter, and Water Carrier trades is 18 to 23 years. This is lower than the Driver, Veterinary, and Nursing Orderly posts, which allow candidates up to 27 years. The Carpenter post has an intermediate upper limit of 25 years.
Yes. Candidates applying for Constable (Driver) must possess a valid Heavy Motor Vehicle (HMV) Driving Licence at the time of application. A Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) licence alone is not sufficient.
OBC candidates receive an age relaxation of 3 years beyond the upper age limit. For example, if the upper limit is 27 years, OBC candidates can apply up to age 30. However, the OBC Non-Creamy Layer certificate must be obtained within three years of the closing date of application and must be in the prescribed Annexure-I format.
It depends on the post. For Driver, Veterinary, Carpenter, and Nursing Orderly, subjects of Nepal or Bhutan are not debarred from appointment as per bilateral treaties. However, for the remaining seven trade posts (Washerman, Barber, Water Carrier, Gardener, Waiter, Tailor, Cobbler), only citizens of India are eligible.
No. The trade test is mandatory only for the eight trade-based posts: Gardener, Cobbler, Tailor, Washerman, Barber, Waiter, Water Carrier, and Carpenter. The trade test carries 50 marks and is qualifying in nature. Constable (Veterinary), Constable (Driver), and Constable (Nursing Orderly) do not have a trade test.
OBC candidates must carry the Non-Creamy Layer certificate in Annexure-I format, obtained within three years of the application closing date. EWS candidates need the Income and Asset Certificate in Annexure-III format, valid for 2026-2027, certifying that family income is below ₹8,00,000 per annum and the family does not own specified assets like 5+ acres of agricultural land or a 1000+ sq. ft. residential flat.
The Nursing Orderly post requires: (1) 10th class pass from a recognised Board, (2) a First Aid certificate from either St. John's Ambulance Organisation or Red Cross Society of India, and (3) minimum one year of working experience as a Nursing Orderly in a hospital with at least 50 beds, recognised by the Central or State Government.
No. A candidate can apply for only one post from the 11 available trades. If you qualify for multiple posts, you must choose the one you wish to apply for. Applying for more than one post will lead to rejection. Choose wisely based on vacancy count, your trade proficiency, and competition level.