If you grew up in a small UP town watching the local SI handle a police station, you know the post carries real weight. People come to an SI with their problems before they go to anyone else in the system. That's the job you're aiming for, and it comes with a good salary, a government badge, and a promotion ladder that can take you all the way to Deputy SP.
This post covers where the UP Police SI recruitment stands right now, in August 2026, plus everything you need for the next cycle - eligibility, syllabus, exam pattern, salary, and a prep plan that actually works. Read it once fully before you start your books.
Latest notification and important dates
The current SI cycle (4,543 posts) has already gone through its full process and the final result came out in July 2026. There is no fresh SI notification live right now. Based on how UPPBPB usually works, the next SI vacancy could open sometime in late 2026 or 2027, but nothing is confirmed yet. Keep checking pareeksha.in/news for the moment it drops.
Here is the timeline of the cycle that just finished, useful as your reference:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification released | 12 August 2025 |
| Online application window | 12 August - 11 September 2025 |
| Admit card for written exam | Around 6-7 March 2026 |
| Written exam (CBT) | 14-15 March 2026 |
| PET (Physical Efficiency Test) schedule | 29 June - 1 July 2026 (tentative window, varies by center) |
| Final result declared | 14 July 2026 |
If you are starting your preparation today, treat this as the template for the next cycle and start early. Don't wait for the notification to begin your syllabus.
What the job actually is
A Sub Inspector in UP Police is a field officer, not a desk clerk. You'll be posted at a police station or a specialised unit, and your day can include registering FIRs, leading investigation teams, handling law and order during festivals or elections, night patrolling, and coordinating with senior officers on cases. If you're picked for PAC (Provincial Armed Constabulary) or SSF (Special Security Force), the work leans more towards armed duty, VIP security, and disaster response instead of regular thana work.
It's not a 9-to-5 post. Postings can be in your home district or far from it, and transfers happen. The work is demanding, sometimes risky, but it also gives you authority and respect that few government jobs at this level offer.
Vacancy details / post breakdown
The 2025-26 cycle had 4,543 total posts, split like this:
- Sub Inspector Civil Police (Male/Female): 4,242
- Platoon Commander, PAC/Armed Police: 135
- Platoon Commander, Special Security Force (SSF): 60
- Women SI for Women Battalion: 106
Expect the next notification's vacancy count to depend on retirements, new district formations, and force expansion. UP is the largest state by population, so SI vacancies here tend to run into thousands each cycle, unlike smaller states.
Eligibility
Age limit
You need to be between 21 and 28 years old, calculated as on the cut-off date fixed in the notification (usually 1 July of the notification year). Relaxation applies as below:
| Category | Upper age relaxation |
|---|---|
| OBC / SC / ST (UP domicile) | 5 years |
| Ex-servicemen | As per rules, generally 3 years plus service period |
| Women candidates (some cycles) | 5 years |
| PwBD candidates | Additional relaxation as per government norms |
Always check the exact figure in the fresh notification since UP government tweaks relaxation rules from time to time.
Education
You need a Bachelor's degree from a recognised university. There's no specific subject requirement, so BA, BSc, BCom, or any equivalent degree qualifies. If you're in your final year, check the notification carefully - some cycles allow final-year students to apply provisionally.
Domicile
The post is open to Indian citizens. UP domicile candidates get reservation benefits under OBC/SC/ST categories as per state rules, but candidates from other states can apply under general category norms if the notification allows it.
Physical standards
| Category | Height (Male) | Chest (Male) | Height (Female) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General/OBC/SC | 168 cm | 79-84 cm | 152 cm |
| ST | 160 cm | 77-82 cm | 147 cm |
Running requirement: 4.8 km in 28 minutes for men, 2.4 km in 16 minutes for women. This is qualifying only, no marks are added, but you must clear it to move forward. Don't take this stage lightly - many candidates who clear the written exam get stuck here because they never trained physically.
Application process, fee and how to apply
The fee structure from the last cycle was:
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS | ₹500 |
| SC / ST | ₹400 |
| PwBD (all categories) | Usually exempted or reduced, check notification |
How to apply, step by step
- Go to the official website uppbpb.gov.in when the notification is live.
- Register with your basic details, mobile number and email.
- Fill the application form with education, category, and domicile details.
- Upload photo, signature, and required documents in the specified format.
- Pay the fee online through the payment gateway.
- Submit and download a copy of the confirmation page for your records.
Don't rush this. A small mistake in category or date of birth can create trouble later at the document verification stage.
Exam pattern
The written exam is a single CBT paper with four sections. Here's the structure:
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Hindi | 40 | 100 |
| Law, Constitution and General Knowledge | 40 | 100 |
| Numerical and Mental Ability | 40 | 100 |
| Mental Aptitude, IQ and Reasoning | 40 | 100 |
| Total | 160 | 400 |
Duration is 2 hours. There is no negative marking, which is a relief compared to many other exams. But you need at least 35% in each section and 50% overall to qualify, so you can't afford to completely skip any one subject.
After the written exam, the stages are Document Verification (DV), Physical Standard Test (PST), and Physical Efficiency Test (PET), followed by medical examination. The final merit is based on the written exam score alone, so PET and PST are qualifying, not scoring.
Detailed syllabus
General Hindi
Hindi grammar (वर्ण, संधि, समास, कारक), synonyms and antonyms, spelling correction, sentence correction and reconstruction, gender and number rules, idioms and proverbs (मुहावरे और लोकोक्तियाँ), one-word substitution, prefixes and suffixes, famous Hindi authors, poets and their works, and Hindi literary awards.
Law, Constitution and General Knowledge
Indian Constitution basics, fundamental rights and duties, human rights, criminal law basics (IPC/BNS, CrPC/BNSS fundamentals relevant to a police job), traffic rules, environmental and wildlife protection laws, national security issues, reservation policy for SC/ST/OBC, current affairs, national and international awards, books and authors, sports events, science and technology updates, and general knowledge about India and UP specifically.
Numerical and Mental Ability
Number system, simplification, HCF and LCM, percentage, profit and loss, ratio and proportion, simple and compound interest, time and work, time speed and distance, partnership, mensuration, average, data interpretation from graphs and tables, and fraction and decimal operations. If your basics are weak here, spend extra time before touching mock tests. Our Quantitative Aptitude guide covers each topic with solved examples.
Mental Aptitude, IQ and Reasoning
Logical diagrams, series (number and letter), analogy, coding-decoding, blood relations, direction sense, syllogism, word formation, non-verbal reasoning, and puzzle-based questions. Use the Reasoning guide to build speed on these, since this section rewards practice more than raw intelligence.
For general awareness and current affairs prep together, the General Awareness guide and daily current affairs updates will save you a lot of scattered searching.
Salary, pay scale and career growth
UP Police SI comes under Pay Level 6 of the state pay matrix, roughly ₹9,300-34,800 with grade pay ₹4,200 (as per old scale reference, now mapped to the 7th Pay Commission matrix). Your basic pay starts around ₹35,400.
With dearness allowance, house rent allowance, and other perks, gross monthly pay usually falls between ₹43,000 and ₹52,000, depending on your posting city. After deductions like NPS and insurance, in-hand salary typically lands around ₹40,000-45,000 in the first year.
Career growth is solid. From SI, the usual promotion path is Inspector, then Deputy SP through departmental promotion over the years, based on seniority, performance and vacancies. Many senior UP Police officers you see today started exactly at this rank.
Previous year cut-off
Here is the final cut-off from the 2025-26 SI cycle (out of 400 marks):
| Category | SI Civil Police | Platoon Commander PAC | Platoon Commander SSF | Female SI Civil Police |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unreserved | 373.94 | 373.03 | 380.05 | 366.47 |
| EWS | 369.31 | 369.23 | 374.94 | 361.51 |
| OBC | 369.29 | 369.39 | 376.81 | 362.06 |
| SC | 356.32 | 356.21 | 364.17 | 348.53 |
| ST | 341.80 | 343.73 | 364.88 | 319.01 |
These numbers tell you plainly that this exam is not easy money. General category candidates needed close to 93% marks. That's how tough the competition has become in UP, given the huge number of applicants for every cycle.
Best books and preparation strategy
You don't need twenty books. Pick one solid book per subject and finish it properly rather than half-reading five.
- General Hindi: Lucent's Hindi Vyakaran or a similar standard grammar book, plus daily practice of one-word substitution and idioms.
- GK/Law/Constitution: Lucent's General Knowledge, plus a basic Indian Polity book (Laxmikanth is heavy but the summarised versions work fine for this level).
- Numerical Ability: RS Aggarwal Quantitative Aptitude, backed by our Quantitative Aptitude guide for shortcuts.
- Reasoning: RS Aggarwal Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning, alongside the Reasoning guide.
You can find several of these free in our Reading Room, so there's no need to spend heavily before you're sure this is the exam for you.
A rough month-wise plan (assuming a 6-month prep window)
- Month 1-2: Build basics in maths and reasoning. Start Hindi grammar daily. Read UP GK alongside national GK.
- Month 3: Start solving topic-wise practice sets for weak areas. Begin daily current affairs.
- Month 4: Start full-length mock tests once a week. Track your section-wise scores.
- Month 5: Increase mock frequency to twice a week. Revise error log daily.
- Month 6: Full revision, light daily practice, focus on speed and accuracy in the last two weeks. Also start basic running practice for PET, don't leave it for after the result.
Follow a proper study plan instead of studying randomly. Structure beats hard work when hard work has no direction.
Common mistakes and honest advice
Most candidates who fail don't fail because they're not smart enough. They fail because they ignore one section completely, usually Hindi or GK, thinking it's easy, and then scrape through with low marks that pull the total down. With a 50% overall and 35% sectional cut-off, you can't afford blind spots.
Second mistake: candidates start physical training only after clearing the written exam. That's too late. Running 4.8 km in 28 minutes needs months of consistent practice, not two weeks of panic training. Start jogging now, even while you're studying.
Third, don't obsess over "expected cut-off" discussions on social media during prep months. It wastes time and adds stress. Focus on your own score improvement in mocks instead.
FAQ
Is UP Police SI a good post? Yes. It offers decent pay, government job security, and a real promotion path up to Deputy SP. The work is demanding but the respect and stability make up for it.
What is the qualification needed for UP Police SI? A Bachelor's degree from a recognised university, with no specific subject restriction.
Is there negative marking in UP Police SI exam? No, there's no negative marking in the written exam, but you need minimum marks in each section separately.
What is the age limit for UP Police SI? Generally 21 to 28 years, with relaxation for OBC/SC/ST and other reserved categories as per UP government rules.
How many stages are there in UP Police SI selection? Written exam, document verification, physical standard test, physical efficiency test, and medical examination.
What is the salary of a UP Police SI? Gross monthly pay is roughly ₹43,000 to ₹52,000, with in-hand around ₹40,000-45,000 depending on deductions and posting.
When will the next UP Police SI notification come? Nothing is confirmed as of August 2026. The last one came in August 2025 for 4,543 posts, and the cycle just finished with the final result in July 2026. Watch pareeksha.in/news for updates.
Can candidates from other states apply for UP Police SI? Yes, but reservation benefits under UP's OBC/SC/ST categories apply mainly to UP domicile holders. Check the notification for exact rules each cycle.
Is PET marks-based or qualifying only in UP Police SI? Qualifying only. Final merit is based on the written exam score, but you must clear PET and PST to remain in the process.
What is the exam duration and total marks for UP Police SI? 2 hours, 160 questions, 400 total marks, split equally across four sections.
Related reads on Pareeksha
If you're also considering other UP exams alongside SI, these might help:
And if you're keeping your options open beyond state police exams, check our guides on SSC GD Constable and RRB Group D, both of which share a good chunk of syllabus with UP Police SI's numerical and reasoning sections.
Final word
UP Police SI is worth the effort if you can put in consistent, structured prep for six months to a year. The cut-offs are high, no doubt, but that just means the exam rewards people who prepare properly rather than those who cram at the last moment. Start your Hindi and GK now, get your basics in maths and reasoning solid, and don't skip the physical training. When the next notification comes, you want to be someone who's already ready, not someone starting from zero.
Keep an eye on pareeksha.in/exams for the full list of exams you can track alongside this one, and use our free mock tests to check where you actually stand before the real exam shows up.
Official sources: UPPBPB official website, UP Police official portal
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