UPSC CAPF 2026 Asst Commandant Recruitment for 349 Vacancies, Apply Online & Full Details

UPSC CAPF 2026 Asst Commandant Recruitment for 349 Vacancies, Apply Online & Full Details. Central Armed Police Forces (Assistant Commandants) Examination, 2026 Examination Notice No. 08/2026-CAPF | Dated: 20 February 2026 | UPSC Official. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially released the notification for the Central Armed Police Forces (Assistant Commandants) Examination, 2026.

UPSC CAPF 2026 Asst Commandant Recruitment drive aims to fill 349 Assistant Commandant (Group A) posts in various Central Armed Police Forces including BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, and SSB. This is a prestigious recruitment opportunity for candidates aspiring to serve as Group A Gazetted Officers in India’s central armed police forces. Read this complete guide covering all essential details including vacancies, eligibility, fee, selection process, salary, and how to apply online.

📌 Overview – UPSC CAPF 2026 Asst Commandant Recruitment

Particulars	Details
Conducting Body	Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Examination Name	Central Armed Police Forces (Assistant Commandants) Examination 2026
Notice Number	08/2026-CAPF
Date of Notification	20 February 2026
Post Name	Assistant Commandant (AC) – Group A
Forces Involved	BSF, CRPF, ITBP, SSB, CISF
Total Vacancies	349
Age Limit	20 to 25 years (as on 01 August 2026)
Educational Qualification	Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized University
Application Mode	Online Only – https://upsconline.nic.in
Application Start Date	20 February 2026
Last Date to Apply	12 March 2026 (by 18:00 hrs)
Examination Date	19 July 2026
Application Fee	Rs. 200/- (Female/SC/ST: Nil)
Official Website	https://upsc.gov.in | https://upsconline.nic.in

 

UPSC CAPF 2026 Asst Commandant Recruitment – Vacancies (Force-Wise)

A total of 349 vacancies have been announced across five Central Armed Police Forces. The force-wise breakup is as follows:

S.No.	Force	Vacancies
1	Border Security Force (BSF)	108
2	Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)	106
3	Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)	12
4	Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)	53
5	Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)	70
	TOTAL	349

Note: 10% of total vacancies are reserved for Ex-Servicemen. The number of vacancies is subject to change. Reservation benefits apply as per Government policy.

UPSC CAPF 2026 Asst Commandant Recruitment – Age Limit & Relaxations

Candidates must have attained the age of 20 years and must not have attained the age of 25 years as on 1st August, 2026. This means:

1. Born not earlier than: 2nd August, 2001
2. Born not later than: 1st August, 2006

Age Relaxation Table

Category	Age Relaxation
Scheduled Caste (SC)	5 years
Scheduled Tribe (ST)	5 years
Other Backward Classes (OBC)	3 years
Civilian Central Government Servants / Ex-Servicemen	5 years (total)
SC/ST + Central Govt. Servant/Ex-Serviceman (cumulative)	Cumulative benefit allowed

Important: The date of birth accepted by UPSC is that entered in the Matriculation or Secondary School Leaving Certificate. No other document (e.g. Horoscope, Affidavit) is accepted.

UPSC CAPF 2026 Asst Commandant Recruitment – Eligibility Criteria

1. Nationality

Candidates must be citizens of India. Subjects of Nepal or Bhutan may also be eligible with Central Government consent.

2. Gender

Both Male and Female candidates are eligible to apply for the post of Assistant Commandant.

3. Educational Qualification

A candidate must hold a Bachelor’s Degree from a University incorporated by an Act of Central or State Legislature, or an institution established by Parliament, or deemed as a University under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956. Equivalent qualifications are also accepted.
Final year students who have appeared in the qualifying examination but whose results have not yet been declared are also eligible to apply. However, they must produce proof of passing within the prescribed time limit after qualifying the written examination.

4. Physical Standards

Standard	Male	Female
Height	165 cm	157 cm
Chest (unexpanded)	81 cm (min. 5 cm expansion)	Not Applicable
Weight	50 kg (as per height/age)	46 kg (as per height/age)

5. NCC Certificate (Desirable)

Possession of NCC ‘B’ or ‘C’ Certificate is a desirable qualification. It will be given consideration at the Interview/Personality Test stage only.

6. Restriction on Re-Appearance

A candidate who has been finally selected and appointed as Assistant Commandant in any CAPF through a previous CAPF (ACs) Examination is NOT eligible to appear in a subsequent CAPF (ACs) Examination.

UPSC CAPF 2026 Asst Commandant Recruitment – Application Fee Details

Category	Fee
General / OBC / EWS	Rs. 200/-
Female (All Categories)	NIL (Exempted)
Scheduled Caste (SC)	NIL (Exempted)
Scheduled Tribe (ST)	NIL (Exempted)

Payment Modes: Net Banking, Visa/Master/RuPay/Debit/Credit Card, or UPI. Fee once paid is non-refundable and cannot be held in reserve for any other examination.

UPSC CAPF 2026 Asst Commandant Recruitment – Selection Process

The selection process for UPSC CAPF (AC) 2026 consists of multiple stages. Candidates must qualify each stage to proceed to the next.

Stage 1: Written Examination (19 July 2026)

Note: Negative Marking applies for Paper I – 1/3 marks deducted for each wrong answer. Paper II evaluation is done only for candidates who clear minimum qualifying marks in Paper I.

Stage 2: Physical Standards Test (PST) and Physical Efficiency Test (PET)

Event	Male Standard	Female Standard
100 Meter Race	Within 16 seconds	Within 18 seconds
800 Meter Race	Within 3 min 45 sec	Within 4 min 45 sec
Long Jump	3.5 Meters (3 chances)	3.0 Meters (3 chances)
Shot Put (7.26 Kg)	4.5 Meters (3 chances)	Not Applicable

Stage 3: Interview / Personality Test

Candidates who qualify in PST/PET are called for an Interview/Personality Test conducted by UPSC. This carries 150 marks.

Stage 4: Medical Standards Test (MST)

Medical Standards Tests are conducted only for candidates who appeared in the Interview/Personality Test. Appeals against MST results must be made to the Appellate Authority (Ministry of Home Affairs) within 24 hours of result declaration.

Stage 5: Final Merit List

The final merit list is drawn on the basis of marks obtained in the Written Examination + Interview/Personality Test. Service/Force allocation is made based on merit ranking and candidate preferences submitted at the time of application.

UPSC CAPF 2026 Asst Commandant Recruitment – Exam Syllabus

Paper I: General Ability and Intelligence (Objective Type)

1. General Mental Ability – Logical reasoning, quantitative aptitude, numerical ability, data interpretation
2. General Science – Scientific awareness, information technology, biotechnology, environmental science
3. Current Events – National and international events in culture, sports, governance, economy, globalisation
4. Indian Polity and Economy – Constitution, political system, economic development, security, human rights
5. History of India – Social, economic, political aspects; growth of nationalism and freedom movement
6. Indian and World Geography – Physical, social, and economic geography

Paper II: General Studies, Essay and Comprehension (Descriptive)

1. Part A (80 Marks): Essay questions in Hindi or English – Topics include modern Indian history, freedom struggle, geography, polity, economy, security, and human rights
2. Part B (120 Marks): Comprehension, precis writing, developing counter-arguments, grammar, language skills – Must be attempted in English only

UPSC CAPF 2026 Asst Commandant Recruitment – How to Apply Online

All candidates must apply through the official UPSC online portal only. No other mode of application is accepted.

Step-by-Step Application Process

1. Visit the official UPSC online portal: https://upsconline.nic.in
2. Create an Account and generate your Universal Registration Number (URN). The URN is a one-time lifetime registration number used across all UPSC examinations.
3. Fill the Common Application Form (CAF) with personal details, educational qualifications, and category information.
4. Fill the Examination Specific Module for CAPF (ACs) Exam 2026 – select exam centre, pay fee, indicate service/force preference.
5. Upload scanned documents: photograph (20–200 KB, .jpg), signature (three times on white paper using black ink, 20–100 KB, .jpg), and supporting documents (date of birth proof, category certificate, etc.).
6. Capture a live photograph as required during CAF filling.
7. Pay the application fee online (if applicable) through Net Banking / Debit/Credit Card / UPI.
8. Submit the application and note down the Application Number for future reference. Keep a printout or soft copy for records.

Download Notification PDF

Important Notes

1. Candidates serving in Government or Private organizations must inform their Head of Office/Department after applying.
2. No withdrawal of application is allowed once submitted. No modification is permitted after submission.
3. The Aadhaar Card is strongly recommended as the primary ID document for verification.
4. Applications submitted without the required fee or with incomplete information will be summarily rejected.
5. Do NOT submit multiple applications.

UPSC CAPF 2026 Asst Commandant Recruitment – Important Dates

Event	Date
Notification Release Date	20 February 2026
Online Application Start	20 February 2026
Last Date to Apply Online	12 March 2026 (till 18:00 hrs)
Helpdesk Availability	20 Feb 2026 to 12 Mar 2026 (10 AM – 5:30 PM)
e-Admit Card Release	Last working day of the week before exam
Written Examination Date	19 July 2026

UPSC CAPF 2026 Asst Commandant Recruitment – Examination Centres

The examination will be held across 57 centres throughout India. Some of the major centres include:
Agartala, Ahmedabad, Aizawl, Almora, Bengaluru, Bareilly, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cuttack, Dehradun, Delhi,
Dharamshala, Dispur, Faridabad, Gangtok, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, Hyderabad, Imphal, Indore, Itanagar, Jaipur, Jammu, Jodhpur,
Jorhat, Kanpur, Kargil, Kochi, Kohima, Kolkata, Leh, Lucknow, Madurai, Mandi, Meerut, Mumbai, Nagpur, Panaji, Patna, Port Blair,
Prayagraj, Pune, Raipur, Ranchi, Sambalpur, Shillong, Shimla, Srinagar (J&K), Srinagar (Uttarakhand), Thiruvananthapuram, Tirupati, Udaipur, Visakhapatnam.

Note: Allotment of centres is on a ‘first-apply-first-allot’ basis (except Chennai, Dispur, Kolkata, and Nagpur). Candidates are advised to apply early to secure their preferred centre. No request for change of centre will be entertained after allotment.

UPSC CAPF 2026 Asst Commandant Recruitment – Salary and Pay Scale

The post of Assistant Commandant (AC) in CAPFs is a Group A Gazetted Officer post. The pay structure under the 7th Pay Commission is as follows:

Component	Details
Pay Level	Level 10 (7th Pay Commission)
Basic Pay	Rs. 56,100/- per month (starting)
Grade Pay (6th CPC equivalent)	Rs. 5,400/-
Additional Allowances	DA, HRA, TA, Medical, Risk & Hardship Allowances (as applicable)
Gross Salary (approx.)	Rs. 70,000/- – Rs. 1,10,000/- per month (including allowances)

Note: Salary figures are approximate and may vary based on posting location (field/non-field), experience, and applicable allowances. Field postings attract additional risk and hardship allowances.

UPSC CAPF 2026 Asst Commandant Recruitment – Medical Standards

Eye Sight Standards

Vision Type	Better Eye	Worse Eye
Distant Vision (corrected)	6/6 or 6/9	6/12 or 6/9
Near Vision (corrected)	N6	N9

LASIK surgery is permitted subject to prescribed criteria (age 18-35 years, minimum 6 months post-operative period, specific corneal thickness and axial length norms).

General Medical Requirements

1. No degree of deafness, persistent ear discharge, DNS, chronic sinusitis, or atrophic rhinitis
2. No stammering or speech impediment
3. No chronic diseases such as TB, arthritis, high blood pressure, diabetes, bronchial asthma, or heart disease
4. No knock knees, flat foot, or varicose veins
5. No hernias, hemorrhoids, or genito-urinary tract diseases
6. Tattoos are permitted only on specific traditional locations (inner forearm – left arm only, or dorsum of hand), must be less than 1/4 of the body part, and must not be offensive/non-secular

UPSC CAPF 2026 Asst Commandant Recruitment – Category & Reservation Details

1. SC/ST candidates: 5 years age relaxation + fee exemption + reservation in vacancies as per Government policy
2. OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): 3 years age relaxation; OBC certificate must be based on income for FY 2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25, issued on/after 01.04.2025
3. EWS candidates: Reservation as per Government criteria; Income & Asset Certificate based on FY 2024-25 required, issued on/after 01.04.2025
4. Ex-Servicemen: 10% of vacancies reserved; 5 years age relaxation; must provide prescribed certificate and undertaking by closing date
5. Female candidates: Fully exempt from fee payment. Both male and female candidates are equally eligible for all posts

UPSC CAPF 2026 Asst Commandant Recruitment – Helpdesk & Contact Information

Contact Mode	Details
UPSC Helpline Number	011-24041001
Email ID	upscsoap@nic.in
Helpdesk Timing	10:00 AM to 5:30 PM (Working Days, 20 Feb – 12 Mar 2026)
Official Website	https://upsc.gov.in
Application Portal	https://upsconline.nic.in

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – UPSC CAPF 2026 Asst Commandant Recruitment

Q1. What is UPSC CAPF AC Examination 2026?

The UPSC CAPF (AC) Examination 2026 is a national-level competitive examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission to recruit Assistant Commandants (Group A Gazetted Officers) in five Central Armed Police Forces: BSF, CRPF, ITBP, SSB, and CISF.

Q2. What is the total number of vacancies in CAPF AC 2026?

A total of 349 vacancies have been announced across BSF (108), CRPF (106), CISF (70), SSB (53), and ITBP (12). The vacancy count is subject to revision.

Q3. What is the age limit for UPSC CAPF 2026 Asst Commandant Recruitment?

The age limit is 20 to 25 years as on 1st August, 2026. Candidates born between 2nd August 2001 and 1st August 2006 are eligible. Age relaxation is available for SC/ST (5 years), OBC (3 years), and Central Government Servants/Ex-Servicemen (5 years).

Q4. What is the educational qualification required for CAPF AC 2026?

Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized Indian University or equivalent institution. Final year students who have not yet received their results are also eligible to apply provisionally.

Q5. What is the application fee for UPSC CAPF 2026 Asst Commandant Recruitment?

The application fee is Rs. 200/- for General/OBC/EWS candidates. Female candidates and SC/ST candidates are fully exempted from paying the fee.

Q6. When is the last date to apply for UPSC CAPF 2026 Asst Commandant Recruitment?

The last date to submit the online application is 12 March 2026 by 6:00 PM (18:00 hours). Candidates are advised to apply well before the deadline.

Q7. When will the UPSC CAPF 2026 Asst Commandant Recruitment written examination be held?

The written examination is scheduled for 19 July 2026. Paper I (General Ability & Intelligence) will be held from 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon, and Paper II (General Studies, Essay & Comprehension) from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

Q8. Is there negative marking in UPSC CAPF 2026 Asst Commandant Recruitment?

Yes. For Paper I (Objective Type), 1/3 of the marks assigned to a question will be deducted for each wrong answer. There is no penalty for unattempted questions. Paper II is descriptive and has no negative marking.

Q9. Can I change my examination centre after submitting the application?

No. Once you select your examination centre and submit the application, no request for a change of centre will be entertained under any circumstances.

Q10. Can I withdraw my UPSC CAPF 2026 Asst Commandant Recruitment application after submission?

No. Candidates are not allowed to withdraw their applications after submission. No correction, alteration, or modification in any field of the application form is allowed after final submission.

Q11. What is the selection process for UPSC CAPF 2026 Asst Commandant Recruitment?

The selection process consists of: (1) Written Examination, (2) Physical Standards Test (PST) and Physical Efficiency Test (PET), (3) Interview/Personality Test (150 marks), and (4) Medical Standards Test (MST). The final merit list is prepared based on written exam and interview marks combined.

Q12. Is NCC Certificate beneficial for CAPF AC 2026?

Yes. Possession of NCC ‘B’ or ‘C’ Certificate is a desirable qualification. It is considered at the Interview/Personality Test stage and may give you an advantage during the interview evaluation.

Q13. What is the salary of an Assistant Commandant in CAPFs?

The starting basic pay is Rs. 56,100/- per month (Pay Level 10 under the 7th CPC). With Dearness Allowance, HRA, TA, and other allowances, the gross in-hand salary typically ranges between Rs. 70,000/- to Rs. 1,10,000/- per month depending on posting location and seniority.

Q14. How will the service/force be allocated to selected candidates?

Service/Force allocation is made based on the candidate’s position in the final merit list and the Force preferences indicated at the time of applying. Both male and female candidates are eligible for appointment to all five forces.

Q15. What documents should be uploaded with the application?

Candidates must upload scanned copies of: Date of Birth proof (Matriculation/Secondary Certificate), Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC/EWS, if applicable), Ex-Serviceman certificate and undertaking (if applicable), Photograph (20-200 KB, .jpg format), and Signature (three signatures in black ink, 20-100 KB, .jpg format).

Preparation Tips for UPSC CAPF 2026 Asst Commandant Recruitment

1. 1. • Start with NCERT books for History, Geography, Polity, and Science to build strong foundational knowledge.
      • Read a quality national newspaper (The Hindu or Indian Express) daily to stay updated on current events, national and international news, governance, and economic issues.
      • Practice previous years’ question papers and mock tests for Paper I to improve speed and accuracy, and to understand the pattern and difficulty level of questions.
      • For Paper II, practice essay writing in both Hindi and English. Focus on structured arguments, comprehension passages, and precise language in English for the comprehension and precis section.
      • Prepare for Physical Efficiency Tests (PET) alongside your academic preparation. Start physical training early for 100m sprint, 800m run, long jump, and shot put.
      • Brush up on general knowledge of CAPFs – their roles, history, operations, and areas of deployment – for the Interview/Personality Test stage.