SSB Interview is an important pathway that helps you to wear the uniform. But this Interview is not a smooth walk; you have to clear its 5-day selection process, which includes psychological and physical examinations. Two of the toughest activities are GD (Group Discussion) and Lecturette. First, understand them briefly.
GD (Group Discussion)
Group Discussion is a small interactive session of 15-20 minutes. Here, the whole group is given a particular topic, and everyone has to discuss that topic. The entire group can share their opinions and views on the given topic. Each person in the group can speak without interrupting others. You have to let others speak. Discussion should be done mutually and in a semicircle. There is no individual speaking time. And you don’t have to stand.
Lecturette
In a lecturette, an individual should come out of the semicircle and stand in front of the GTO and group. In this activity, you are given a cue card with 4 topics, from toughest to easiest in descending order. You have to pick a topic, prepare for three minutes, and then, for the next 3 minutes, you have to speak alone, and the whole group will listen. And there are no extra points for choosing the toughest topic, such as cryptocurrency. GTO will only assess your confidence, your comfort with the topic, and your command over the language.
GD & Lecturette topics for SSB 2026-27
In a 5-day SSB interview, every activities scheduled as per the instructions. The GD and Lecturette used to happen on the same day, on the 3rd or 4th day of the SSB, depending on your chest number. Everything is sequential. The topics for GD and Lecturette include national and international news, events, and ongoing issues. An aspirant should be updated with his/her surroundings. It is expected that every candidate is informed and educated about what is happening. With clear understanding and clarity, you can easily explain any topic. We are giving some recent topics for the SSB 2026-27, which highlight ongoing issues. These topics remain the same for Army SSB, AFSB, and Navy.
01. India-BRICS Summit 2026
- The 18th BRICS Summit is going to be held in Delhi, India, this year in the month of September. India is holding its chairmanship for 2026. The theme for this year is Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability. Currently, BRICS has 11 members, and it aims to strengthen economic and political ties with the emerging and developing economies.
02. Vayu Shakti 2026
- Vayu Shakti 2026 was conducted on 27th February 2026 in Pokhran, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. It was not just a firepower presentation but a demonstration of India’s growing air power. Indian Air Force presented fighter jets, precision-guided weapons - live firing, helicopters, bombers, hitting ground targets- displayed accuracy and combat preparedness.
03. Neighbourhood-First Policy
- India believed in cooperation and brotherhood. India’s Policy towards its neighbours - Nepal, China, Bhutan, srilanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Pakistan. Although its relations with Pakistan have always been a critical topic. India focuses on the collective development of all its neighbouring nations. Also, India views China as a threat to South Asia, so to tackle China, it tries to strengthen ties with its neighbouring countries and work on different issues like disaster management, military exercises, connectivity, tourism, etc.
04. Defence budget 2026-27
- For 2026-27, the Union defence budget allocated Rs. 7.85 lakh crore. This huge budget allocation shows how India’s defence sector is emerging as one of the world's fastest-growing defence sectors. India is ranked 4th globally in overall military strength according to a global index named the Global Firepower Index.
05. India and semiconductor manufacturing
- India is working on the chip-making industry. Its goal is to rank 4th among semiconductor-manufacturing nations by 2035. The first made-in-India chips are expected in 2027-28. Certain building initiatives have been approved by the government with subsidies up to 50% of the costs.
06. Women in Combat roles
- Judicial rulings have enhanced permanent commission and combat roles for women officers in the armed forces. These rulings mark a significant achievement for women in India. These changes deserve infrastructure, adaptable training facilities, better policies, and merit-based inclusion. This will ensure more inclusive and stable growth. A recent example of women in a combat role is sq. ldr bhawana kanth who just graduated from the Indian Air Force’s elite fighter combat leader course. Earning the pride of “top gun” combat fighter.
07. E-20 Blended Petrol
- E20 is a petrol blended with 20% ethanol. The Indian government mandated it nationwide from April 2026. E20 is made from sugarcane, maize, and rice. The aim behind this was to increase farmers’ income, cut emissions, and cut crude oil import bills. The war between America and Iran showed us how crucial crude oil is to the people. But some people report resentment over this issue. They experienced 20-30% lower mileage in their vehicles, and some of the vehicles were designed before 2023, making there vehicle unfit for this change. Environmentalists and environmental enthusiasts fear the high usage of water in making E20, as India still suffers from drought and water scarcity during summers. This is a classic example of trade-offs between energy self-reliance, environmental protection, and consumer transition costs
08. Commonwealth Games 2026
- The commonwealth gams 2026 were held in Glasgow, Scotland. This year, India steadily improved its sporting level in world sports rankings. India finished 4th in the medal table with 39 medals, including 13 gold, 17 silver, and 9 bronze. This time, India excelled in boxing, winning 10 medals with 7 gold medals, which makes it the only nation to win in a single sport.
09. NEP ( National Education Policy) Implementation
- NEP follows a multidisciplinary, value-based, and skill-oriented approach, which makes it different from rigid education systems. As education is a concurrent list subject, it leads to policy-making and implementation in the hands of both the state government and state govt. Its effectiveness varies as each state has its own shortcomings and is working towards them. Some people complained about the privatization and closing of local schools due to this policy. Overall, this policy aims to change the older, rigid education system into a new education system.
10. India’s space mission - Gaganyaan
- Gaganyaan is ISRO’s flagship human spaceflight programme, which will send three crew members to 400 kn low Earth orbit for 3 days and bring them back safely with splashdown in indian waters. It aims to place India among the small group of nations who had completed their human spaceflight programme. It will strengthen India’s strategic and technological position.
11. India’s growing electric vehicle (EV) Push in 2026
- India’s EV market has expanded with every passing year. This shows how rapidly India is growing, with less dependence on petroleum or other fuels and greener and cleaner fuels. In the year 2025-26, India crossed its sales of 25 lakh units, showing how much people in India are invested in cleaner fuels.
12. Digital India
- Digital India is indian government’s flagship program that came in the year 2015. The programme completed its 10 years. Its world largest digital ecosystem,h contributing nearly 12-14% of indian gdp. With billions of internet users, India has worked actively in strengthening its digital platforms. UPI payments, DigiLocker, and Umang platforms have transformed many lives.
13. Swachh Bharat
- Swachh Bharat Mission was launched in 2014 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It was launched to eliminate open defecation by building toilets and managing solid and liquid waste in cities and villages. From 2021- 27, this programme is in its second phase. This programme also functions to recycle and reuse plastic and other waste. Over the past decade, this programme has benefited people in rural and urban areas. With garbage collection from every door to building toilets in every village, this programme aims to make cities cleaner and greener.
14. Asian Games - 2026
- This year, ASIAN GAMES has been organised by Japan in Nagoya. India performed exceptionally well in the Commonwealth, and people are expecting the same in asian games. In the year 2022, asian games in Hangzhou, where India won more than 100 medals. This year, India’s confirmed events are: cricket, hockey, rugby, kabaddi, volleyball, and archery.
15. Delimitation Bill 2026
- The delimitation bill was introduced in April 2026 in the Lok Sabha. This bill was introduced as a means to redraw the Lok Sabha seats based on population. This will eventually lead to an increase in seats from 543 to 850 in the Lok Sabha. But it failed to pass in Parliament for some reason. The southern states, like Kerala and Tamil Nadu, fear that they will lose representation as they are less populated. These states have high literacy and controlled population growth w, whereas states like Bihar, U.P., etc., northern states will get more representation as they are more populous. This will certainly impact the policy recommendations, funds, and infrastructure management in the southern states, which eventually creates resentment.
16. El niño 2026
- El Niño is a climate pattern in which the Pacific Ocean warms up, weakening trade winds and causing dry conditions in India and nearby countries. This year, India is suffering from the El Niño effect. This year, IMD forecasted 800 mm rainfall, which is lower compared toto theormal rainfall of 870mm. RBI has also expected a rise in inflation in the food sector. Experts say this situation can be managed with proper water conservation, agricultural preparedness, and wise planning.
17. Israel - USA war: 2026
- The war between the US-Israel alliance and Iran erupted in February 2026 after a strike killed their supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei. This was triggered by missile attacks and drone attacks, with heavy weaponry. Later, Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz, and this led to heavy oil trade disrtuptions world wide. India is still deeply affected by this blockade. In June, the mutual ceasefire attempt failed, and after that, this work has been going on since August 2026.
18. India - US Navy exercise (EOD) 2026
- India and the US Navy started a 5-day joint Explosive Ordnance Disposal exercise from Aug 10 to Aug 15, at Southern Naval Command in Kochi. It is the eighth edition of the bilateral exercise. This exercise includes practical training, cross-training, expert exchanges, and others. This exercise aims to improve compatibility and cooperation between the two navies in handling explosions and ordnance threats in the waters.
19. Ladakh and the demand for statehood
- Ladakh got its union territory status in 2019. Since then, Ladakh has demanded statehood and inclusion in the 6th statehood. They have been forwarding this demand for the past few years. Engineer and educator Mr. Sonam Wangchuk was deliberately raising his voice for change. Centers see the region as a sensitive zone due to its closeness to the border.
20. India’s Startup Innovation and Unicorns
- India is growing more and more into startups. They have produced more than 100 unicorns, costing $ 1 billion and more. These innovations are being done in different sectors such as edtech, fintech, and e-commerce. India’s growth in this sector is growing rapidly, attracting global trade and investment and strengthening communications with countries around the globe. However, it has some shortcomings, such as unstable profit and sustainability.
21. Women Reservation Act 2026
- Women Reservation Act 2026 was introduced in Parliament in April 2026 with the delimitation bill. This 2023 bill provides 33% reservations in seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. But it can be implemented only when delimitation is completed. That’s why the govt. Presented this bill with delimitation.
22. Deepfakes and AI Misinformation
- AI-generated deepfakes have become a great concern. India has crores of users who are using social media on a daily basis. Deepfakes not only attack a person’s privacy, but they lead to many more issues in society. It circulates misinformation by using deepfakes during elections or political campaigns. This can defame any personality and hurt public sentiments. Governments around the world are working on tightening AI rules and regulations and building special authorities for the particular issue.
23. India’s green hydrogen mission
- India is working towards self-reliance and less dependence, and the green hydrogen mission is a great initiative towards it. Green hydrogen is an initiative to make India a global hub for green fuel and export green hydrogen. This will help India fulfill its climate commitments and establish a new export sector. There are certain challenges that will slow it down ike lack of infrastructure or proper management. But it can be sorted out if executed properly.
24. Right to education and dropout rates
- The right to education ensures compulsory education up to 14 years of age. But increasing dropouts remain a major concern. Especially girls drop out. Reasons can be such as poor sanitation, single boys' toilets, improper education, lack of teachers, lack of basic infrastructure, and schools far from the villages, etc. These issues can be sorted out with commitment and better implementation of policies.
25. The Macca Pact
- In August 2026, Turkiye, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia signed a defence pact called “Macca Pact”; it follows attack on one country means an attack on all three. Very similar to NATO’s Article 5. It is a buildup to the Saudi-Pakistan defence agreement signed in September 2025. This pact came into being when the US-Israel was at war with Iran. The ongoing war with Iran has built up instability in the Gulf region, which has led to the making of this pact. For India, this is a topic of concern as Pakistan is our neighbouring country and we have difficult relations with it. Last year, both countries were involved in Operation Sindoor.
26. NEET Exam Paper Leak
- In May 2026, NTA conducted NEET paper was leaked. This incident led to nationwide unrest and shock, and as a result, around 12 aspirants committed suicide. Later, the government conducted a retest on the 21st of June 2026. But the issue got fired up, and people around the country protested against the failed system and the resignation of the education minister. Later in the month, the education minister resigned, and student protests were called off.
27. Assam Floods
- Assam suffered one of the most severe floods of all time in this year 2026. As the Brahmaputra started flowing above the danger levels, it led to heavy rainfall and floods in the region. Around 80 people died, affecting over 7 lakh people in 900 + villages. People were displaced, animals died, and houses were washed away in floods. Factors like deforestation and weak embankments contributed to the disaster.
28. Jharkhand education protest
- In Jharkhand, students since late July have been protesting against the inconsistencies and flaws in the JSSC and JPSC examinations. Students felt helpless and ignored, and that led to the protest. They demand transparency and a fair investigation of the recruitment issue. The protests include “dharna” and “hunger strike”. The talks with the state government haven’t succeeded so far.
29. Indian Air Force’s Top Gun: Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth
- In August 2026, Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth became the first fighter pilot of indian air force to pass the elite fighter combat leader course at TACDE, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, the Indian Air Force’s “Top Gun school”. Only 1 in 100 fighter pilots got selected for the course. Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth hails from Bihar and was the first of the batch of fighter pilots to pass in 2016. This is a matter of pride for the IAF and the country.
30. G7 Summit 2026
- India attended the 52nd G7 summit in Evian, France, as an invitee at the invitation of France’s President Emmanuel Macron. This was India's 13th guest appearance as a G7 guest and prime minister narendra modi’s 7 consecutive appearance. This year, India is chairing BRICS. This shows how India is working towards its global power mission. Not a G7 country but still invited as a guest, shows growing relations with the superpowers.
How to prepare for a lecturette and GD
There are just a few points to follow to get your SSB done easily. Here are some simple tips and tricks to follow:
Eye contact
Whether you are talking with your peers in GD or in front of the group and gto, always remember to make eye contact. When standing, your posture should be straight,t and while talking, ng look into their eyes. This will create a positive personality in front of GTO and others. And also make you more confident.
Read newspaper
Read a newspaper daily. It is a healthy habit. An aspirant should make a habit of reading a newspaper. This will make you aware of your surroundings. In GD and GTO, you have to be prepared for current topics and events. Editorials will help you understand different ideas very easily. And most importantly,y it will improve your English
Youtube videos
Watching informative videos will only help you to understand tough topics. Some of us take time to understand complex issues; heavy language in newspapers makes us more nervous and anxious. We fear that we will not be able to speak properly in an interview. Watching YouTube videos will make these tough topics easier for your preparation. And help you gain some confidence.
Writing notes
Students usually make notes while studying. If you don’t make notes, start making them before the interview. Whenever you learn something new, be it a word ot topic or anything else, just write it down. You can even write a topic that you have just learned. You can write your observation too. Try to write as much as you can. Writing helps your brain to retain those topics you are weak in or learning.
Prepare well; read out loud the tough words. Speak in front of the mirror to gain confidence. Following these tips will surely make you confident and ready for any interview in your life.
Read more:
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