UPSC has released the Central Armed Police Forces (Assistant Commandants) Examination, 2026 notification (Examination Notice No. 08/2026‑CAPF) for recruitment of Group ‘A’ Assistant Commandants in BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP and SSB.
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will conduct the Central Armed Police Forces (Assistant Commandants) Examination, 2026 [CAPF (AC) 2026] to recruit Assistant Commandants (Group ‘A’) in Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Indo‑Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). The written examination is scheduled for 19 July 2026 at multiple centres across India.
Online applications must be submitted within the prescribed dates on UPSC’s online portal.
Apply online: https://upsconline.nic.in
Official website (notification & rules): https://upsc.gov.in
UPSC CAPF (AC) 2026 – Vacancy Details
The tentative number of vacancies to be filled through CAPF (AC) 2026 is 349.
| Force | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Border Security Force (BSF) | 108 |
| Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) | 106 |
| Indo‑Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) | 12 |
| Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) | 53 |
| Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) | 70 |
| Total | 349 |
Vacancies are liable to change based on final requirements. Reservation will be implemented as per Government of India policy, and 10% of the total vacancies are earmarked for Ex‑servicemen.
Pay Scale – Assistant Commandant (CAPF)
Assistant Commandants in CAPFs are Group ‘A’ gazetted officers under the Central Government. They receive pay and allowances as per the 7th Central Pay Commission scales for CAPF officers, along with admissible benefits such as dearness allowance, house rent allowance/house accommodation, transport allowance, uniform and risk allowances, leave travel concessions and pensionary benefits, as notified by the Ministry of Home Affairs from time to time.
Important Dates – UPSC CAPF (AC) 2026
- Notification date: 20 February 2026
- Online application start: 20 February 2026
- Last date to apply online: 12 March 2026 up to 18:00 hrs
- Written exam date: 19 July 2026
- e‑Admit card release: Last working day of the week preceding the exam (download from upsconline.nic.in; no admit cards by post/email)
Applications can only be submitted online; no withdrawal or correction is allowed after submission.
Eligibility Criteria – UPSC CAPF Assistant Commandant 2026
Nationality
- Must be a citizen of India.
- Subjects of Nepal or Bhutan may also be appointed with written consent of the Central Government.
Age Limit (as on 1 August 2026)
- Minimum age: 20 years
- Maximum age: 25 years
- Candidate must have been born between 2 August 2001 and 1 August 2006 (both dates inclusive).
Age Relaxation
- SC / ST: Up to 5 years.
- OBC (Non‑Creamy Layer): Up to 3 years.
- Civilian Central Government Servants / Ex‑servicemen: Up to 5 years in total under this clause, as per rules.
SC/ST/OBC candidates who also come under Civilian Central Government Servant/Ex‑servicemen categories can claim cumulative age relaxation, subject to overall limits.
Educational Qualification
- Must hold a Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university/institution established by an Act of Parliament or State Legislature, or declared as a university under the UGC Act, or possess an equivalent qualification.
- Candidates appearing in or awaiting results of qualifying degree examinations in 2026 are also eligible, but must produce valid proof of passing the exam within the time limit stipulated after the written result.
Professional and technical qualifications recognised by the Government as equivalent to degrees are acceptable.
Restriction on Re‑appearance
- A candidate already finally selected as Assistant Commandant in any CAPF through earlier CAPF (AC) examinations is not eligible to appear again for CAPF (AC) 2026.
Physical & Medical Standards
Candidates must satisfy prescribed Physical Standards and Medical Standards.
Indicative minimum physical standards:
| Parameter | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 165 cm | 157 cm |
| Chest (unexpanded) | 81 cm with 5 cm expansion | Not applicable |
| Weight | 50 kg | 46 kg |
Detailed eyesight criteria, acceptable corrections, and medical conditions are laid down in the official rules. Candidates must also clear an in‑depth medical examination.
NCC ‘B’ or ‘C’ Certificate is a desirable qualification and will be given weightage at the Interview/Personality Test stage.
Application Fee – UPSC CAPF (AC) 2026
- ₹200 for male candidates belonging to General, OBC and EWS categories.
- Exempt from fee: All female candidates, and candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST).
- Payment modes: Net banking, Visa/Master/RuPay Credit/Debit Card, UPI.
The fee is non‑refundable and cannot be adjusted against any other examination.
How to Apply Online – UPSC CAPF AC 2026
All applications must be submitted through UPSC’s online application portal:
Steps:
- Create/Update URN Profile: Register on the portal and create your Universal Registration Number (URN) profile, providing basic details and a valid Photo ID (Aadhaar/Voter ID/PAN/Passport/Driving Licence/other Govt ID).
- Fill the Common Application Form (CAF): Provide personal details, educational qualifications, category, and other required information.
- Fill the Examination‑Specific Module: Select CAPF (AC) 2026, choose exam centre preferences, indicate force preferences, and complete all exam‑specific fields.
- Upload photo and signatures:
- Upload a recent scanned photograph and also capture a live photo as per on‑screen instructions.
- Upload scanned signatures (three signatures in black ink on white paper, in one image).
- Upload documents as required: For date of birth, educational qualification, category, etc., when prompted.
- Pay the exam fee (if applicable) via permitted online methods.
- Submit the form and download/print the application for your records.
No hard copy is to be sent to UPSC. Corrections and withdrawal are not allowed after final submission.
Exam Centres – UPSC CAPF (AC) 2026
The exam will be conducted at a wide range of centres including, but not limited to:
Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Patna, Bhopal, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Guwahati (Dispur), Ranchi, Raipur, Bhubaneswar, Ahmedabad, Jammu, Srinagar, Shillong, Itanagar, Imphal, Kohima, Port Blair, Leh and others.
Most centres have a candidate capacity; allocation is done on a first‑apply‑first‑allot basis (with a few exceptions such as Chennai, Dispur, Kolkata and Nagpur). Once a centre is full, it will no longer be available in the online form. No requests for change of centre are entertained.
UPSC CAPF (AC) 2026 – Selection Process
The selection process has four stages:
- Written Examination (Paper I & II)
- Physical Standards Test (PST) & Physical Efficiency Test (PET)
- Medical Standards Test
- Interview / Personality Test
Stage 1: Written Examination
Date: 19 July 2026
- Paper I – General Ability and Intelligence
- Objective (MCQ), 250 marks
- Duration: 2 hours (10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon)
- Language: English & Hindi
- Negative marking: 1/3rd mark deducted for each wrong answer.
- Paper II – General Studies, Essay and Comprehension
- Descriptive, 200 marks
- Duration: 3 hours (2:00 PM – 5:00 PM)
- Essays can be written in English or Hindi; comprehension, précis and language skills are in English only.
There are minimum qualifying marks for each paper as fixed by UPSC. Paper II is evaluated only for candidates who qualify Paper I.
Stage 2: PST & PET
Candidates who qualify the written exam are called for Physical Standards Test and Physical Efficiency Test.
Physical Efficiency Test (PET):
| Event | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 100 m race | 16 seconds | 18 seconds |
| 800 m race | 3 min 45 sec | 4 min 45 sec |
| Long Jump | 3.5 m (3 chances) | 3.0 m (3 chances) |
| Shot Put (7.26 kg) | 4.5 m (3 chances) | – |
Only candidates meeting physical standards and qualifying all PET events proceed to medical tests and interview.
Stage 3: Medical Standards Test
Candidates must undergo detailed medical examination as per CAPF standards. Those declared unfit can file an appeal for Review Medical Examination within the stipulated time.
Stage 4: Interview / Personality Test
Candidates who clear medical standards are called for Interview/Personality Test carrying 150 marks. The interview assesses leadership, communication, decision‑making, awareness of national and internal security issues and aptitude for a uniformed service. Possession of NCC ‘B’ or ‘C’ certificate is given due weightage at this stage.
Final Merit List
The final merit list is prepared based on Written Exam (Paper I + II) marks plus Interview marks. If there is a tie, UPSC uses tie‑breaking rules involving written marks, Paper I marks, age and other criteria.
Syllabus – UPSC CAPF (AC) 2026
Paper I – General Ability and Intelligence (Objective, 250 Marks)
Key areas:
- General Mental Ability – logical reasoning, quantitative aptitude, data interpretation.
- General Science – everyday science, IT, biotechnology, environment, climate.
- Current Events – national and international issues, polity, economy, sports, culture, security.
- Indian Polity & Economy – Constitution, governance, public administration, economic development, human rights.
- History of India – social, economic and political history, especially the freedom movement.
- Indian & World Geography – physical, social and economic geography of India and the world.
Paper II – General Studies, Essay & Comprehension (Descriptive, 200 Marks)
- Part A – Essay (80 marks):
- Topics on modern Indian history & freedom struggle, polity, economy, security, human rights and analytical issues.
- Part B – Comprehension & Language (120 marks):
- English comprehension, précis writing, counter‑argument writing, grammar, vocabulary and communication skills.
UPSC CAPF (AC) 2026 Preparation Guide – Paper I, Paper II, PET & Interview
A focused four‑pillar strategy works best: Paper I, Paper II, physical fitness for PET, and interview personality.
1. Strategy for Paper I – General Ability & Intelligence
- Build a balanced mix of GS and aptitude, with daily slots for current affairs, static GS and reasoning/quant.
- Practise multiple previous year CAPF papers in timed conditions to manage negative marking and understand pattern.
- Prioritise scoring areas like polity, modern history, geography, security issues, arithmetic and data interpretation.
2. Strategy for Paper II – Essay & Comprehension
- Practise 2 essays per week on CAPF‑relevant themes (internal security, border management, women in forces, federalism, climate‑security).
- Train for English comprehension, précis and grammar through daily practice; summarise editorials to simulate précis and argumentation.
3. PET & Fitness
- Start PET preparation early; test yourself against CAPF standards for 100 m, 800 m, long jump and (for men) shot‑put.
- Follow a weekly plan with running, strength training and jump/shot practice so that you comfortably exceed the minimums rather than just match them.
4. Interview / Personality Test
- Build awareness of each CAPF’s role and deployments, internal security challenges and recent developments.
- Prepare structured answers about your background, motivation to join CAPF, leadership examples and views on tough postings and ethics.
- Use mock interviews or self‑recordings to refine articulation and body language.
FAQs – UPSC CAPF Assistant Commandant Exam 2026
Q1. How many vacancies are there in UPSC CAPF (AC) 2026?
There are 349 tentative vacancies for Assistant Commandants across BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP and SSB, subject to change.
Q2. What is the last date to apply for CAPF (AC) 2026?
The online application form can be submitted up to 12 March 2026, 18:00 hrs on https://upsconline.nic.in.
Q3. What is the age limit and relaxation?
Candidates must be 20–25 years old on 1 August 2026 (born between 2 August 2001 and 1 August 2006), with relaxation of 5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC(NCL) and up to 5 years for eligible Central Government servants and Ex‑servicemen.
Q4. Is there negative marking in CAPF (AC) 2026?
Yes. Paper I has negative marking of one‑third of the marks assigned to a question for each wrong answer; Paper II is descriptive and has no negative marking.
Q5. Can someone already selected as Assistant Commandant appear again?
No. A candidate who has been finally selected as Assistant Commandant in any CAPF through a previous CAPF (AC) exam is not eligible to appear in CAPF (AC) 2026.
Error and Omission Clause
This article summarises the UPSC CAPF (Assistant Commandants) Examination, 2026 notification for quick reference. While it has been prepared carefully, minor errors or subsequent changes to the official rules are possible. Treat this post as an informative guide only; always refer to the latest information and detailed rules on https://upsc.gov.in and https://upsconline.nic.in for final, binding provisions regarding eligibility, vacancies, exam pattern, syllabus and selection procedure.
If you notice any discrepancy or missing detail, please share feedback so that corrections can be made promptly.
Disclaimer
This post is not an official communication from UPSC, CAPFs or the Government of India and does not guarantee selection or appointment. Candidates are solely responsible for verifying their eligibility, filling the online form correctly, paying fees to the correct portal and complying with all official instructions. Examination fees are non‑refundable, and no third party or agent is authorised to influence or guarantee selection in UPSC CAPF (AC) 2026.
