SSC JE Mechanical 2026: Notification, Eligibility, Exam Pattern & Complete Syllabus

The Staff Selection Commission has notified the Junior Engineer Examination, 2026 (F. No. HQ-C-3019/1/2026-C-3) on 02.09.2026, with a tentative 1748 vacancies across 14 participating organisations. Mechanical Engineering candidates apply either for Junior Engineer (Mechanical) or for the combined Junior Engineer (Electrical & Mechanical) post, and attempt Part-C: General Engineering (Mechanical) in both papers.

An important rule to note up front: candidates opting for JE (Mechanical) are also eligible for the post of JE (Electrical & Mechanical) — so a single Mechanical paper opens up posts in BRO, MES, DGQA-Naval and Central Water Commission.

SSC JE Mechanical 2026 — Overview

SSC JE 2026 Important Dates

Organisations Recruiting Mechanical Engineers

Note: Where experience is required, it must be acquired after completing the essential qualification. Internship or training taken during the course does not count.

Post Eligibility Cross-Over Rules

• Candidates opting for JE (Mechanical) are also eligible for JE (Electrical & Mechanical).
• Candidates opting for JE (Electrical) are also eligible for JE (Electrical & Mechanical) and, subject to fulfilling EQ, for JE (Telecom).
• A separate merit list is drawn for JE (Electrical & Mechanical) as a combined post.

Age Limit and Age Relaxation

Crucial date for age reckoning: 01.08.2026. All Mechanical-side posts carry an upper age limit of 30 years, meaning the candidate must be born not earlier than 02.08.1996 and not later than 01.08.2008.

Application Fee

• Fee: Rs. 100/-; exempted for all women candidates, SC, ST, PwBD and Ex-Servicemen.
• Payment only via BHIM UPI, Net Banking, or Visa / MasterCard / Maestro / RuPay debit card.
• Correction charges: Rs. 200 (first correction), Rs. 500 (second correction). Maximum two corrections.

SSC JE Mechanical 2026 Exam Pattern

Paper-I (CBE) — Qualifying

Paper-II (CBE) — Merit Deciding

Key Exam Rules

• Objective type MCQs, set in Hindi and English only.
• Negative marking: 0.25 marks in Paper-I; 1 mark in Paper-II per wrong answer.
• Minimum qualifying marks: UR – 30%, OBC/EWS – 25%, all others – 20%.
• Paper-I is qualifying; only normalised Paper-II scores decide the final merit.
• Important normalisation rule: because Mechanical and Electrical candidates sit different question papers, scores of Mechanical and Electrical will be normalised against each other for determining final merit and cut-off for the combined JE (E&M) post.
• A Steam Table is available on the candidate console under the “Useful Data” option, along with an on-screen scientific calculator. No physical table or calculator is allowed.
• The stream opted at the time of application cannot be changed.

SSC JE Mechanical 2026 Syllabus — Paper-I

1. General Intelligence & Reasoning

Verbal and non-verbal questions on analogies, similarities, differences, space visualization, problem-solving, analysis, judgment, decision-making, visual memory, discrimination, observation, relationship concepts, arithmetical reasoning, verbal and figure classification, arithmetical number series, abstract ideas and symbols and their relationships, arithmetical computations and other analytical functions.

2. General Awareness

Awareness of the environment and its application to society; current events; everyday observations and experience in their scientific aspect; questions on India and its neighbouring countries relating to History, Culture, Geography, Economic Scene, General Polity and Scientific Research.

3. Part-C: General Engineering (Mechanical) — Paper-I

Questions are set at approximately Diploma in Engineering level.

• 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
• Advanced Manufacturing Processes

SSC JE Mechanical 2026 Syllabus — Paper-II (Detailed)

Engineering Mechanics

Free Body Diagrams and Equilibrium / Resultant of Forces / Lami’s Theorem / Laws of Friction / Sliding and Rolling Friction / Centroid of geometrical plane figures / Centre of Gravity of Simple Solids.

Strength of Materials

Simple Stress and Strain / Types of beams / Shear Force and Bending Moment / Simple Bending and Deflection of Beam / Torsion of Shafts / Thin Cylindrical Shells.

Theory of Machines

Cams and Follower / Belt, Chain, Rope, Gear Drives and Gear drives / Gear Trains / Flywheels and Governors / Balancing and Vibration / Brakes / Dynamometers / Clutches / Bearings.

Machine Design

Types of Loads and Stresses / Creep and fatigue / Theories of Failure / Design of Cotter Joint, Knuckle Joint, Lever and Crank / Antifriction Bearing / Design of Sunk key, Shaft, Couplings, Spur Gear, Power Screw, Springs / Design of Screw fasteners, Bolted Joints and Welded Joints.

Materials Science and Engineering

Crystal Structure and bonds / Iron Carbon Phase Diagram / Heat Treatment of Steel / Types of Cast Iron and Steels / Major Non-Ferrous Alloys (e.g., Aluminium Alloys, Nickel-Copper Alloys and Bearing Alloys) / Material Properties and testing / Non-Destructive Testing / Corrosion.

Thermal Engineering

Sources of Energy / Laws of Thermodynamics / Thermal Power Plant / Heat Pump, Heat Engine and Refrigerator / Steam Generators / Steam Turbine — Impulse and Reaction Turbine / Cooling Tower / Internal Combustion Engines — Auto, Diesel and Dual Cycles with P-V and T-s Diagrams / Types of IC Engines / Air Compressor / Refrigeration and Air Conditioning.

Gas Turbine and Jet Propulsion / Properties of Steam / Steam Generators / Steam Nozzle / Steam Turbine / Heat Transfer — Conduction, Convection and Radiation / Heat Exchanger.

Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulic Machinery

Properties of Fluid / Fluid Flow / Fluid Flow through pipes / Continuity Equation / Impact of Jets on plate and curved vanes / Hydraulic Turbine and Power Plant / Centrifugal and Reciprocating Pumps.

Industrial Engineering

Site Selection and Plant Layout / Work study and Work Measurement / Production Planning and Control / Statistical Quality Control / Inventory Control.

Manufacturing Engineering

Pattern making / Molding / Casting / Metal Forming / Welding — Gas, Arc and Resistance Welding / Types of lathe and Lathe Operations / Broaching Machine / Drilling / Milling / Gear Making / Grinding and Finishing / Press Working.

Metrology and Measurement

Precision, Accuracy, Sensitivity, Repeatability, Range, Calibration / Linear and Angular Measurement / Comparators / Form and Surface Finish Measurement / CMM / Limit, Fits and Tolerances / Interchangeability.

Advanced Manufacturing Processes

Jigs and Fixture / CNC Milling Machine and Machining Centre / PLC / Special Purpose Machine / Non-Traditional Machining Processes like EDM, ECM, AJM, LBM and EBM / Fundamentals of CAD/CAM, Industrial Robot Configurations and FMS.

Selection Process

1. Paper-I (CBE) — qualifying; normalised marks used for shortlisting only.
2. Paper-II (CBE) — a separate merit list is drawn for JE (Electrical & Mechanical) as a combined post; Mechanical and Electrical scores are normalised against each other.
3. Post Preference via the online Option Form before the First Round of Tentative Allocation (FRTA). Failure to submit preferences means exclusion from the final result.
4. Document Verification by the User Department after the final result.

Tie-breaking order: marks in Part (i) of Paper-I → marks in Part (ii) of Paper-I → date of birth (older placed higher) → alphabetical order of names.

Special Note for BRO Aspirants (E&M)

• Only male candidates are eligible for JE posts in Border Roads Organisation.
• BRO posts are not identified as suitable for PwBD candidates.
• Mandatory Physical Efficiency Test: one mile run in 10 minutes, conducted at GREF Centre, Pune, followed by a medical fitness board.
• Region-wise minimum physical standards apply (height, chest and weight vary by home region).

Preparation Strategy for SSC JE Mechanical

• Thermal Engineering is the single largest scoring block in Paper-II — thermodynamics laws, IC engines, steam and refrigeration cycles repeat every year.
• Strength of Materials and Theory of Machines are formula-dense; build a one-page formula sheet per chapter and revise it weekly.
• Production/Manufacturing and Metrology are often under-prepared but highly factual — these are the cheapest marks in the paper.
• With 1 mark negative in Paper-II, avoid guessing. A well-attempted 75 with high accuracy beats a reckless 95.
• Practise with the on-screen Steam Table and calculator so their use is automatic on exam day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a Mechanical candidate apply for JE (Electrical & Mechanical)?

Yes. The notification explicitly states that candidates opting for JE (Mechanical) are also eligible for the post of JE (Electrical & Mechanical).

Is a diploma enough for SSC JE Mechanical?

For Central Water Commission, a diploma alone is sufficient. For DGQA-Naval, BRO and MES, a diploma must be backed by 2 years’ post-qualification experience, or you need a full degree.

Why are Mechanical and Electrical scores normalised together?

Because both branches compete for the same combined JE (E&M) post while sitting different question papers, SSC normalises the two sets of scores against each other to determine a common merit and cut-off.

Does Paper-I count in the final merit?

No. It is qualifying only. Final merit is decided solely by normalised Paper-II scores.

Related SSC JE 2026 Guides

• SSC JE 2026 Notification — Complete Details (Master Guide)
• SSC JE Civil 2026 — Eligibility, Pattern & Syllabus
• SSC JE Electrical 2026 — Eligibility, Pattern & Syllabus
• SSC JE Telecom (DoT) 2026 — Eligibility, Pattern & Syllabus
• SSC Scientific Assistant in IMD 2026 — Eligibility, Pattern & Syllabus

Source: Notice of Junior Engineer Examination, 2026, Staff Selection Commission, uploaded on ssc.gov.in on 02.09.2026. Candidates must read the official notice before applying; in case of any dispute the English version of the official notice prevails.