SSC JE
Recruits Junior Engineers (Group B, non-gazetted) for organisations such as the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), Military Engineer Services (MES), Border Roads Organisation (BRO), Central Water Commission (CWC), Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and Farakka Barrage. From 2026 it also covers Scientific Assistant posts in the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Eligibility
An engineering degree or diploma in the relevant branch (Civil, Mechanical or Electrical; for JE Telecom and IMD posts, Electronics, Computer Science/IT or Physics as notified). Some departments accept a diploma only with work experience. Most posts take ages up to 30 years, while some CPWD posts allow up to 32, with category relaxations. There is no cap on attempts.
Age limit: Up to 30 years (32 for some CPWD posts); relaxations as per rules
Exam pattern
Two computer-based papers. Paper I lasts 2 hours and has 200 MCQs worth 200 marks: General Intelligence and Reasoning (50), General Awareness (50) and General Engineering in the chosen branch (100). Wrong answers cost 0.25 marks. Paper I is a screening test. Paper II lasts 2 hours and has 100 objective questions on the chosen branch, worth 300 marks (3 each). Wrong answers cost 1 mark, and Paper II marks decide the merit list. Document verification and a medical examination follow.
Syllabus at a glance
Civil: building materials, surveying, soil mechanics, hydraulics, Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) and steel design, estimation, and environmental and transportation engineering. Electrical: circuits, machines, measurements, power systems, electronics and estimation. Mechanical: theory of machines, thermodynamics, IC engines, fluid mechanics and production. All branches add reasoning and General Awareness in Paper I.
Upcoming dates
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| JE 2026 Paper I (Civil/Mechanical/Electrical and IMD Scientific Assistant; under way) | 2-6 Nov 2026 | confirmed |
| JE Telecom 2026 Paper I | 30 Nov - 1 Dec 2026 | confirmed |
| Paper I answer key | Nov-Dec 2026 | expected |
| Paper I result | Dec 2026 - Jan 2027 | expected |
| Paper II exam | Dec 2026 (tentative) - early 2027 | expected |
| JE 2027 notification | 2027 (per SSC calendar) | tba |
Expected dates follow the usual calendar; confirm on the official notification before planning.
Free prep material
Standard books
- SSC JE Previous Years Solved Papers (branch-wise) – MADE EASY Publications
- Civil Engineering: Conventional and Objective Type – R.S. Khurmi & N. Khurmi
- Objective Electrical Technology – V.K. Mehta & Rohit Mehta
- Objective Type Questions in Mechanical Engineering – R.S. Khurmi
- A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning – R.S. Aggarwal
- Lucent's General Knowledge – Lucent Publications
How toppers play it
- Paper II alone decides merit (300 marks, 1 mark lost per wrong answer), so technical depth matters more than General Awareness. Treat Paper I's 100 technical questions as early Paper II practice.
- Reasoning in Paper I scores easily. Aim for 40+ of 50 to clear the screening cut-off comfortably.
- Previous SSC JE papers repeat standard facts, such as IS code values, material properties and machine formulae. Keep a one-page formula and code sheet per subject.
- With 3 marks per question and a 1-mark penalty, skip pure guesses in Paper II, but attempt any question where you can eliminate two options.