The Staff Selection Commission Junior Engineer (SSC JE) exam recruits diploma-level engineers in Civil, Mechanical, and Electrical for Group ‘B’ posts in Central Government organizations. Understanding the SSC JE exam syllabus precisely is the fastest way to avoid topic drift and score more in fewer attempts.
The SSC Jr. Engineer syllabus and pattern have remained broadly consistent in recent years—Paper-1 tests reasoning, awareness, and engineering basics; Paper-2 is purely technical. Official SSC syllabus PDFs for JE list the topic families (reasoning, awareness, and engineering domains) and continue to be the primary source for content scope.
Overview of Papers, Mode, and Marking
- Two Papers, both Computer-Based Tests (CBT). Paper-1 is objective across three sections; Paper-2 is objective and discipline-specific (CE/ME/EE). Trusted prep portals summarise this stable structure year after year.
- Recent sessions confirm 200 questions for 200 marks in Paper-1 (GI & Reasoning 50, GA 50, Technical 100) and a separate technical Paper-2.
- Negative marking has been applicable in recent cycles; candidates must factor it in while guessing.
While this blog targets ssc je syllabus 2026, note that SSC will publish the final syllabus in its official notification for that cycle. Historically, the core topic list and pattern have stayed the same with minor operational tweaks. Always cross-check with the official page when the 2026 notice releases.
Official SSC JE syllabus: Paper-1 (Detailed & Topic-wise)
General Intelligence & Reasoning
The official SSC JE syllabus for GI & Reasoning covers verbal and non-verbal areas: analogies, similarities/differences, spatial visualization, problem-solving, analysis, judgment, decision-making, visual memory, discrimination, observation, relationship concepts, arithmetical reasoning, classification, and number series. Expect coding-decoding, syllogism, directions, seating, and figure-based items.
How to prepare for this part of the SSC Jr. Engineer syllabus:
- Build a 1-page formula + pattern sheet (series rules, analogy types).
- Drill timed sets: 25Q in 20 minutes.
- Maintain a question registry of traps (mirror images, embedded figures, misdirection in assumptions).
General Awareness
Topics include current events (national/international), India & its neighbors, History, Culture, Geography, Economic Scene, General Polity, Indian Constitution, Scientific Research, and basics of environment and ecology relevant to public works. This section tests wide but shallow knowledge—mix of static and dynamic content.
General Engineering (CE/ME/EE) – Paper-1
The SSC JE syllabus splits technical topics by discipline. You attempt only one discipline per your application and diploma: Civil & Structural, Mechanical, or Electrical. Below are high-yield clusters sourced from official SSC topic families and corroborated with reputable portals’ breakdowns.
Civil & Structural (Core Topics)
- Building Materials (cement, lime, aggregates, bricks, timber, steel), Construction Practices, Estimating & Costing, Surveying, Soil Mechanics, Hydraulics, Irrigation, Transportation (Highways/Traffic), RCC & Steel Basics, and Structural Analysis fundamentals.
Mechanical (Core Topics)
- Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer, IC Engines, Power Plant basics, Theory of Machines, Strength of Materials, Machine Design (elementary), Manufacturing Processes (casting, welding, forming, machining), Metrology, Industrial engineering basics.
Electrical (Core Topics)
- Basic Electrical Concepts, Circuit Laws (Ohm, Kirchhoff), Network Theorems, AC Fundamentals, Electromagnetism & Magnetic Circuits, Electrical Machines, Power Systems, Measurements & Instrumentation, Basics of Power Electronics.
Official SSC JE syllabus: Paper-2 (Subject-Only Test)
Paper 2 dives deeper into the chosen branch. While SSC’s official JE syllabus PDF lists families rather than micro-level bullets, the coverage logically extends Paper-1 into design, analysis, and standards-oriented questions.
Civil & Structural: Deep-Dive Topics
- Structural Analysis (determinacy/stability, influence lines basics), RCC Design concepts (limit state ideas, beams/slabs/columns basics), Steel Design fundamentals, Soil Mechanics + Foundation Engineering (bearing capacity, settlements, shallow/deep foundations), Hydraulics & Fluid Machines basics, Irrigation & Hydrology essentials, Transportation (geometric design basics, pavement materials), Estimating/Costing and construction planning.
Mechanical: Deep-Dive Topics
- Thermodynamics applications (cycles, compressors, refrigeration fundamentals), Heat Transfer modes, Strength of Materials (combined stresses), Machine Design ideas (design of shafts, springs), ToM (gear trains, governors, balancing), Manufacturing Science (tool life, machining economics), Metrology & Quality, Production planning basics.
Electrical: Deep-Dive Topics
- Machines (DC, induction, synchronous), Transformers, Power System components (generation, transmission, distribution), Protection fundamentals, Measurement systems, Basic control & power electronics, and Utilization.
Pro tip: Because Paper-2 is fully technical, make your notes diagram-dense (Mohr’s circle, SFD/BMD, stress/strain curves, refrigeration cycles, phasors, machine equivalent circuits). This is how toppers compress the ssc jr engineer syllabus into quick-scan notebooks.
Latest Exam Pattern & Negative Marking (Verified)
Paper-wise Marks, Timing, and Question Counts
- Paper-1 (CBT): 200 questions, 200 marks, 120 minutes, with three parts—GI & Reasoning (50/50), GA (50/50), Technical (100/100). Negative marking has been 0.25 for Paper-1 in recent cycles (verify against the year’s notice).
- Paper-2 (CBT): Discipline-specific and objective. SSC will confirm the exact rubric in the year’s notice; per trend, it remains a technical test with negative marking as notified.
FAQs on SSC JE Exam Syllabus (2026)
Q1. Is the ssc je syllabus 2026 different from previous years?
A. Historically, the core framework—GI & Reasoning, GA, and discipline-specific engineering—remains consistent. Final confirmation comes only with the 2026 official notice on SSC’s portal.
Q2. What is the selection process for SSC JE 2026?
A. The SSC JE selection process generally involves:
- Paper-1 (CBT) – screening and ranking based on marks.
- Paper-2 (CBT) – a technical, discipline-specific test used for final shortlisting.
- Final Selection – based on the combined performance of both papers (as per SSC’s scheme), subject to cutoff marks and reservation rules. The exact selection formula and cutoffs are published in the SSC JE 2026 official notification.
Q3. What’s the best way to cover everything in the ssc je exam syllabus quickly?
A. Prioritize high-yield topics, maintain an error log, take timed mocks, and revise formulas regularly. Structuring study behind the official ssc je exam syllabus ensures efficient preparation.
Q4. Is there negative marking in SSC JE 2026?
A. Yes, in recent SSC JE exam cycles, there has been negative marking for wrong answers in Paper-1 (typically around 0.25 marks deduction). For Paper-2, there will be a negative marking of 1 mark.