UPSC CAPF (AC)
Recruits Assistant Commandants (entry-level Group A officers) for the Central Armed Police Forces — the Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).
Eligibility
A bachelor's degree in any discipline; final-year students may apply provisionally. Age 20–25 years on 1 August of the exam year, relaxed to 28 for Other Backward Classes (OBC) and 30 for Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST). Both men and women are eligible for all five forces, and candidates must meet prescribed physical and medical standards. There is no cap on the number of attempts within the age limit.
Age limit: 20–25 years on 1 August of the exam year (OBC up to 28, SC/ST up to 30)
Exam pattern
Written exam of two papers on the same day, pen-and-paper. Paper I (10 am–12 noon): objective General Ability and Intelligence, 250 marks, with one-third negative marking. Paper II (2–5 pm): descriptive — essays (in Hindi or English) plus précis, comprehension and language skills (English only), 200 marks; it is evaluated only if you clear the Paper I cutoff, and minimum qualifying marks apply in each paper. Qualifiers then face Physical Standards/Physical Efficiency Tests and a medical exam (qualifying), followed by an interview of 150 marks — final merit is out of 600.
Syllabus at a glance
Paper I spans general mental ability, general science, current events of national and international importance, Indian polity and economy, history of India and Indian and world geography. Paper II tests essay writing on polity, security and current themes, plus précis writing, comprehension and grammar. The General Studies content overlaps heavily with the UPSC Civil Services syllabus.
Upcoming dates
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| CAPF AC 2026 written examination | 19 Jul 2026 (Sunday) | confirmed |
| CAPF AC 2026 written result | Oct–Nov 2026 | expected |
| Physical/medical tests for written qualifiers | Dec 2026 – Mar 2027 | expected |
| Interviews and final result (2026 cycle) | Mid-2027 | expected |
| CAPF AC 2027 notification | Feb–Mar 2027 | expected |
| CAPF AC 2027 written examination | Aug 2027 (usual early-August Sunday slot) | expected |
Expected dates follow the usual calendar; confirm on the official notification before planning.
Free prep material
Standard books
- Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth
- Lucent's General Knowledge by Dr Binay Karna and team
- A Brief History of Modern India by Rajiv Ahir (Spectrum)
- Analytical Reasoning by M.K. Pandey
- High School English Grammar and Composition by Wren & Martin
- CAPF Assistant Commandant Solved Papers by Arihant Experts
How toppers play it
- Both papers fall on the same day and Paper II is marked only if you clear the Paper I cutoff — but minimum qualifying marks apply in each paper, so never treat the descriptive paper as an afterthought.
- In Paper II the essay may be written in Hindi or English, but précis, comprehension and grammar must be answered in English — polish formal English writing early.
- Train for the Physical Efficiency Test alongside study: the 100 m sprint, 800 m run, long jump and shot put standards are qualifying and non-negotiable, and injuries at this stage waste a cleared written exam.
- Paper I carries one-third negative marking — use Civil Services-style elimination, and reuse UPSC CSE Prelims preparation since the General Studies overlap is heavy.
- Practise past-paper essays on internal security, policing and border management — CAPF essay themes are noticeably more security-flavoured than CSE.