DSSSB Section-A Syllabus Explained Topic-by-Topic (2026)

Section-A is the common paper every DSSSB candidate sits — whether the post is General, Technical, or Technical/Teaching. For forensic aspirants applying to Junior Scientific Assistant posts in the Delhi Forensic Science Laboratory, Section-A carries equal weight to the domain paper and cannot be treated as an afterthought. This guide breaks down every topic listed in the official syllabus across the five common subjects: General Awareness, General Intelligence & Reasoning, Numerical Ability, Hindi Language, and English Language.

Where Section-A Fits in the DSSSB Exam Scheme

Conducting body: Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board (DSSSB), Govt. of NCT of Delhi

Format: Single-tier, objective-type Computer Based Test (CBT), 200 questions / 200 marks / 2 hours

Structure: Section-A (common, 100 marks) + Section-B (subject-concerned, 100 marks) for Technical and Technical/Teaching posts; for One Tier General posts, all five Section-A subjects are scaled to 40 marks each for a 200-mark paper

Negative marking: 0.25 mark deducted per wrong answer

Questions are bilingual (Hindi & English) except the two language papers themselves

Table 1: Section-A Weightage Under the One Tier Technical Pattern (applicable to Junior Scientific Assistant — Biology, Ballistics, Chemistry, Lie Detection, Documents, HRD/QC, Photo, Cyber Forensic, Crime Scene/District Mobile Forensic Unit, and Finger Print posts)

Subject	Questions	Marks
General Awareness	20	20
General Intelligence & Reasoning Ability	20	20
Arithmetical & Numerical Ability	20	20
Hindi Language & Comprehension	20	20
English Language & Comprehension	20	20
Section-A Total	100	100

Section-B, the discipline-specific paper for the 100 remaining marks, is covered separately in our detailed post on the DSSSB Junior Scientific Assistant 2026 exam and eligibility breakdown. This article focuses only on the common Section-A syllabus.

1. General Awareness

General Awareness rewards candidates who read broadly and stay current, without demanding calculation or memorised formulae. The syllabus spans static knowledge and rolling current affairs, frequently with a Delhi-specific angle for Delhi Government recruitment.

Topics Covered

Current Affairs — National & International Indian History (Ancient, Medieval, Modern) Indian Freedom Struggle Indian Polity & Constitution Fundamental Rights & Directive Principles Panchayati Raj & Local Governance Indian Economy Budget & Five-Year Plans Indian & World Geography Physical Geography (climate, rivers, soil) Science & Technology Everyday / General Science Inventions & Discoveries Important National & International Events Books & Authors Art & Culture Awards & Honours Sports Countries, Capitals & Currencies Abbreviations National & International Organisations Delhi-specific GK (history, demography, administration, governance of NCT)

Preparation note: Current affairs typically covers roughly the preceding six to twelve months, so a rolling monthly revision habit works better than a one-time cramming push closer to the exam.

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2. General Intelligence & Reasoning Ability

This section tests problem-solving, pattern recognition, and logical deduction rather than domain knowledge. It is split broadly into verbal and non-verbal reasoning, and is considered one of the more scorable sections with consistent daily practice.

Topics Covered

Analogies Verbal Classification Figures Classification (Non-verbal) Arithmetic Number Series Non-verbal Series Coding-Decoding Blood Relations Direction Sense Syllogism Seating Arrangement Spatial Orientation & Visualisation Visual Memory Similarities & Differences Arithmetical Reasoning Relationship Concepts Logical Problems & Logical Deduction Statement & Conclusion Statement & Argument Cause & Effect Matching Definitions Making Judgements / Decision-Making Analytical Reasoning Problem-Solving & Analysis

3. Arithmetical & Numerical Ability

Framed around Class 10-level mathematics, this section checks basic numeracy, speed, and accuracy rather than advanced quantitative aptitude.

Topics Covered

Number System Simplification Decimals & Fractions L.C.M. & H.C.F. Ratio & Proportion Percentage Average Profit & Loss Discount Simple Interest & Compound Interest Mensuration Time & Work Time & Distance / Speed Data Interpretation Tables & Graphs

4. Hindi Language & Comprehension

The Hindi section tests grammatical accuracy and comprehension rather than literary depth, drawing on school-level Hindi grammar (व्याकरण).

Topics Covered

संधि एवं संधि-विच्छेद (Sandhi) समास (Samas) उपसर्ग एवं प्रत्यय (Prefixes & Suffixes) संज्ञा, सर्वनाम, विशेषण, क्रिया एवं उनके भेद लिंग एवं वचन (Gender & Number) कारक (Karak / Case) काल (Tense) वाक्य रचना — सरल, संयुक्त एवं मिश्रित वाक्य वाक्य शुद्धि / अशुद्धि सुधार (Error Correction) पर्यायवाची शब्द (Synonyms) विलोम / विपरीतार्थक शब्द (Antonyms) अनेकार्थी एवं अनेक शब्दों के लिए एक शब्द तत्सम-तद्भव, देशज एवं विदेशज शब्द मुहावरे एवं लोकोक्तियाँ (Idioms & Proverbs) अलंकार (Figures of Speech) गद्यांश आधारित प्रश्न (Comprehension Passages)

5. English Language & Comprehension

The English section mirrors the Hindi paper in structure — testing grammar, vocabulary, and reading comprehension at a functional, non-literary level.

Topics Covered

Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passages) Vocabulary Synonyms & Antonyms Idioms & Phrases Fill in the Blanks Grammar (general) Tenses Subject-Verb Agreement Verb & Adverb Articles Active & Passive Voice Direct & Indirect (Reported) Speech Error Spotting / Error Correction Sentence Improvement Sentence Rearrangement

How to Approach Section-A Alongside a Forensic Section-B

For Junior Scientific Assistant candidates, Section-B carries the mandatory qualifying threshold and decides tie-breaks in merit, which is why domain revision (forensic biology, ballistics, chemistry, cyber forensic fundamentals, and so on) tends to dominate a study plan. But because Section-A contributes equally to the combined 200-mark score, a lopsided plan that ignores it can quietly cost rank even when the domain paper goes well. A workable split is to treat General Awareness and current affairs as a daily ten-to-fifteen-minute habit, run reasoning and numerical ability as timed practice sets a few times a week, and rotate Hindi and English grammar revision in short bursts rather than saving all five subjects for the final week.

Always verify against the official notification: Subject weightage, question counts, and the exact syllabus wording can vary slightly between advertisement cycles and post categories. Cross-check the current Advt. No. and its annexures on the official DSSSB website before finalising a preparation plan.

Sources & Further Reading

1. DSSSB — Official website: dsssb.delhi.gov.in
2. Merit Pulse — DSSSB Exam Syllabus 2026: Post-Wise Exam Pattern for Advt No. 03/2026
3. Testbook — DSSSB TGT Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026
4. Testbook — DSSSB Scientific Assistant Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2026
5. Testbook — DSSSB Assistant Syllabus and Exam Pattern
6. CareerPower — DSSSB TGT Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026
7. freejobalert — DSSSB Patwari Syllabus 2026
8. Drishti Teaching Exams — DSSSB Exam Pattern, Syllabus for PRT, TGT, PGT (Hindi)
9. Budding Forensic Expert — DSSSB Junior Scientific Assistant 2026: Syllabus, Exam Pattern & Everything Aspiring Forensic Professionals Must Know

This article is an independent, editorially compiled reference based on the DSSSB's published exam scheme and multiple coaching-portal syllabus breakdowns as of July 2026. Advertisement-specific annexures may revise topic wording or weightage in future cycles — always confirm details against the current official notification on dsssb.delhi.gov.in before finalising your preparation.