Central Armed Police Forces Examination
UPSC examination for recruitment of Assistant Commandants in the Central Armed Police Forces (BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, SSB).
Eligibility
Overview
The CAPF (AC) Examination, conducted annually by UPSC, recruits Assistant Commandants into the Central Armed Police Forces — BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP and SSB.
Conducting authority
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
Nationality
Citizen of India.
Educational qualification
A bachelor's degree from a recognised university.
Age limit and relaxation
| Category | Upper age limit |
|---|---|
| General | 25 years |
| SC / ST, Ex-servicemen commissioned officers, civilian central government servants, J&K residents (specified period) | +5 years |
| OBC | +3 years |
Lower age limit is 20 years across categories.
Physical standards
| Men | Women | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum height | 165 cm | 157 cm |
| Minimum weight | 50 kg | 46 kg |
Vision standards allow up to -4.00 D myopia and +4.00 D hypermetropia including cylinder, subject to the medical standards in the notification.
Number of attempts
Not capped by a fixed attempt count — only the age limit and physical/medical standards apply.
Exam Pattern
Stages
- Written Examination (Paper I objective, Paper II descriptive)
- Physical Standards Test (PST) and Physical Efficiency Test (PET)
- Interview / Personality Test
- Medical Examination
Written exam pattern
| Paper | Nature | Duration | Marks | Content |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | Objective | 2 hours | 250 | General Ability and Intelligence |
| Paper II | Descriptive (6 questions) | 3 hours | 200 | General Studies, Essay and Comprehension |
Both papers are held on the same day, in offline mode.
Marking scheme and negative marking
- Paper I: one-third of the marks deducted per wrong answer.
- Paper II: descriptive, no negative marking.
Selection process
Candidates who clear both written papers proceed to PST/PET (qualifying) and then the Interview/Personality Test; final merit combines the written score with the Interview, subject to clearing the physical and medical standards.
Stages
Preparation Guide
How to prepare
Paper II's essay and precis components are frequently under-practised relative to Paper I's objective preparation — regular timed essay and precis writing, with honest self-review or peer review, closes a gap that shows up clearly at evaluation time. Physical fitness for the PST/PET should be built well in advance rather than crammed in the weeks before the test, since it is a qualifying stage that otherwise disqualifies an already-successful written-exam candidate.
Important dates
CAPF (AC) is conducted once a year by UPSC — confirm the current cycle's application window and exam date directly with the official notification.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Paper II negatively marked? No — only Paper I has negative marking; Paper II is descriptive.
- What happens if I clear the written stage but fail PST/PET? You will not proceed to the Interview stage — PST/PET is a qualifying requirement.
Official website
upsc.gov.in — confirm the current CAPF (AC) notification, force-wise vacancies and physical-standard requirements here.