UPSC CAPF Assistant Commandant Exam Pattern, Physical Standards and Selection Process Explained

Overview

The Central Armed Police Forces (Assistant Commandants) Examination, run by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), is the direct route for graduates to join BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP or SSB as a Group A gazetted officer. Many candidates prepare for it alongside the Civil Services or CDS exams, but its structure is quite different: it has a descriptive paper, a physical test that you must clear before the interview, and a medical examination at the very end.

This guide explains each stage using UPSC’s Examination Notice No. 08/2026-CAPF dated 20 February 2026, the most recent full notice for this exam. Rules can change from year to year, so always read the notice for the year you are applying in. For the dates UPSC has announced for the 2027 cycle, see our UPSC Calendar 2027 post.

Vacancies in the 2026 Exam

The 2026 notice listed 349 tentative vacancies. The force-wise split helps you see where most seats usually sit when you fill your preferences.

The notice also reserves 10% of the total vacancies for ex-servicemen.

Eligibility and Age Limit

• Education: a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university, or an equivalent qualification. Final-year students could apply in 2026, but they had to show proof of passing within the time UPSC set if they cleared the written exam.
• Age (2026 exam): at least 20 and below 25 years on 1 August 2026, which means a date of birth between 2 August 2001 and 1 August 2006.
• Upper age relaxation: up to 5 years for SC/ST, up to 3 years for OBC candidates eligible for reservation, and up to 5 years for civilian Central Government employees and ex-servicemen, as set out in the notice.
• Nationality: only Indian citizens can be appointed, unless the Central Government gives written consent.

Unlike some exams, the 2026 notice did not fix a maximum number of attempts. However, anyone already finally selected as an Assistant Commandant through an earlier CAPF exam cannot sit again. You can check your exact age on any cut-off date with our age calculator.

Written Exam Pattern

The written exam has two papers on the same day: Paper I in the morning and Paper II in the afternoon.

Paper I tests general mental ability, general science, current events, Indian polity and economy, Indian history, and the geography of India and the world. One-third of the marks for a question (0.33) are cut for every wrong answer. Marking more than one option also counts as wrong, while leaving a question blank costs nothing.

Paper II has two parts. Part A is an essay section worth 80 marks, which you may write in English or Hindi. Part B, worth 120 marks, covers comprehension, précis writing and other language skills, and must be answered in English only. This is the paper where many candidates lose ground, because it needs regular writing practice rather than only reading.

An important detail: UPSC checks Paper II only for candidates who reach the minimum marks it fixes for Paper I. So a weak Paper I can make your Paper II effort count for nothing.

Physical Standards and Physical Efficiency Test

Candidates who clear the written exam are called for the Physical Standards Test and the Physical Efficiency Test (PET). Both are qualifying only: they add no marks, but failing either one ends your chance in that year, because only those who pass the PET are called for the interview.

The notice also says body weight should match the height-and-age chart given in its appendix. Practise the 800 metre run under timed conditions well before the written result comes out, since the gap between the result and the PET is usually not long enough to build stamina from scratch.

Interview, Medical Test and Final Merit

1. Interview/Personality Test: 150 marks, held by UPSC for candidates who pass the PET.
2. Medical Standards Test: held after the interview. For eyesight, the 2026 notice asks for distant vision of 6/6 in the better eye and 6/12 in the worse eye, near vision of N6 and N9 (corrected), refractive error within -4.00 D to +4.00 D including cylinder, and colour perception of CP-III on Ishihara plates.
3. Final merit: prepared from the combined marks of the written exam (450) and the interview (150). Your force is then allotted on the basis of your rank and the preferences you gave.

When two candidates have equal totals, the notice breaks the tie by written marks, then Paper I marks, and then age, with the older candidate placed higher.

Application Fee

OBC and EWS candidates get no fee exemption. The fee can be paid online by net banking, card or UPI.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Filling force preferences casually. You give them in the online form, and the form cannot be changed after submission. After the written result, qualified candidates get a short window to update their preferences for that exam, so think about posting conditions in each force before you decide.
• Ignoring Paper II until the last month. The English-only Part B carries 120 marks.
• Guessing heavily in Paper I. With a 0.33 penalty per wrong answer, random guessing can pull your score below the Paper I minimum.
• Uploading a photo or signature in the wrong size. Our photo and signature resizer can help, but always follow the sizes given in the current notice.

FAQ

Can women apply for the CAPF AC exam?
Yes. The 2026 notice gives separate physical standards and PET timings for women, and women pay no application fee.

Do PET marks count in the final merit?
No. The physical tests are qualifying only. The merit list uses the written exam and interview marks.

Can I write Paper II fully in Hindi?
Only the essay part (Part A). The comprehension and précis part (Part B) must be answered in English.

How is CAPF AC different from CDS?
CDS leads to the Army, Navy and Air Force academies and ends with an SSB interview, while CAPF AC leads to the central armed police forces with a UPSC interview. Our CDS exam pattern guide explains that route.

Official Links

• UPSC CAPF (ACs) Examination 2026 Notice No. 08/2026-CAPF (PDF)
• UPSC official website

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