improvam
UPSC EXAMS · POLICE

UPSC CAPF (Assistant Commandants) Examination 2026: syllabus and eligibility

← All UPSC exams
UPSC CAPF AC key facts
Conducting bodyUnion Public Service Commission (UPSC). Official website ↗
PostsAssistant Commandant (Group A), Border Security Force (108), Assistant Commandant, Central Reserve Police Force (106), Assistant Commandant, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (12), Assistant Commandant, Sashastra Seema Bal (53), Assistant Commandant, Central Industrial Security Force (70)
QualificationA bachelor's degree from a recognised university, or an equivalent qualification. Candidates appearing in their degree exam in 2026 can apply, but must show proof of passing when they qualify for the physical tests.
Age limit20–25 years on 1 August 2026 (general category)
DomicileNot required
Selection stagesWritten exam: Paper I (objective) and Paper II (descriptive) → Physical standards test and physical efficiency test (qualifying) → Interview (personality test) of 150 marks → Medical standards test → Final merit from written exam and interview marks
Latest notificationCentral Armed Police Forces (Assistant Commandants) Examination 2026 notice (No. 08/2026-CAPF) · 349 vacancies

Last checked . Sources

About UPSC CAPF AC

The CAPF (Assistant Commandants) Examination recruits Group A officers into five central armed police forces: BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP and SSB. The 2026 notice lists 349 tentative vacancies, and 10% of all vacancies are earmarked for ex-servicemen. Both men and women can apply.

Eligibility

Age limit

General category: 20–25 years, counted on 1 August 2026.

Age relaxation

  • OBC: 3 years
  • SC: 5 years
  • ST: 5 years
  • Ex-servicemen: 5 years
  • General category candidates must be born between 2 August 2001 and 1 August 2006.
  • Civilian central government servants get up to 5 years, and ex-servicemen are covered by the same relaxation; the total for government service is capped at 5 years.

Qualification

A bachelor's degree from a recognised university, or an equivalent qualification. Candidates appearing in their degree exam in 2026 can apply, but must show proof of passing when they qualify for the physical tests.

Other conditions

  • Minimum physical standards: height 165 cm for men and 157 cm for women; weight 50 kg for men and 46 kg for women; chest 81 cm with 5 cm expansion for men.
  • Fee is Rs 200. Women, SC and ST candidates are exempt.

Selection process

  1. Written exam: Paper I (objective) and Paper II (descriptive)
  2. Physical standards test and physical efficiency test (qualifying)
  3. Interview (personality test) of 150 marks
  4. Medical standards test
  5. Final merit from written exam and interview marks

Exam pattern

Written exam

Mode: Paper I objective in English and Hindi; Paper II descriptive · Duration: Paper I: 2 hours (10 am to 12 noon); Paper II: 3 hours (2 pm to 5 pm) · Negative marking: One third of the marks for a question is cut for each wrong answer in Paper I.

SUBJECTMARKS
Paper I: General Ability and Intelligence250
Paper II Part A: Essay (English or Hindi)80
Paper II Part B: Comprehension, precis and language skills (English only)120

Physical efficiency test (qualifying)

SUBJECT
100 m race: 16 seconds (men), 18 seconds (women)
800 m race: 3 min 45 sec (men), 4 min 45 sec (women)
Long jump: 3.5 m (men), 3.0 m (women), three chances
Shot put 7.26 kg: 4.5 m (men only), three chances

Personality test

SUBJECTMARKS
Interview150

UPSC CAPF AC syllabus

Paper I: General Ability and Intelligence

  • General mental ability: logical reasoning, quantitative aptitude, numerical ability and data interpretation
  • General science, including IT, biotechnology and environmental science
  • Current events of national and international importance
  • Indian polity and economy, security and human rights issues
  • History of India, including the freedom movement
  • Indian and world geography

Paper II: General Studies, Essay and Comprehension

  • Essays on modern Indian history and the freedom struggle, geography, polity and economy, security and human rights, analytical ability
  • Comprehension passages and precis writing
  • Counter-arguments, simple grammar and other language skills

What they ask

Paper I is an objective test of 250 marks covering mental ability, science, current events, polity, economy, history and geography. It is checked first, and only those who clear its minimum marks have Paper II evaluated. Paper II is written: 80 marks of essays in English or Hindi and 120 marks of comprehension, precis and grammar in English only. After the written stage come the physical tests, which are qualifying, and then a 150-mark interview.

How to prepare

  • Secure Paper I first. UPSC evaluates Paper II only for candidates who clear the Paper I minimum, so a weak Paper I makes a good essay worthless.
  • Practise precis and comprehension in English every week. Part B carries 120 marks and cannot be written in Hindi.
  • Start running before the result. The 800 m has to be done in 3 min 45 sec for men and 4 min 45 sec for women, and failing the PET ends your candidature.
  • Write one essay a week on security, human rights or the freedom struggle, since the notice names these as essay areas.
  • Revise polity, history and geography with daily topic-wise practice quizzes on the free Improvam app.

UPSC CAPF AC is one of the exams in the Improvam app. Open it to start a practice quiz.

Open in the Improvam app

Previous papers and answer keys

UPSC CAPF AC FAQs

20 to 25 years on 1 August 2026 for the general category, with 3 more years for OBC and 5 for SC and ST candidates.

Sources

Checked against official sources on . Rules change with each notification, so read the latest one before you apply.

Related exams

MORE UPSC EXAMS

POLICE EXAMS ELSEWHERE