UPSC CAPF AC Recruitment 2026: 349 Posts, Apply by March 12

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the official notification for the Central Armed Police Forces (Assistant Commandants) Examination, 2026. This is a golden opportunity for eligible male and female candidates aspiring to join prestigious forces like BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, and SSB as Assistant Commandants (Group A). A total of 349 tentative vacancies have been announced. Interested candidates must apply online through the UPSC website by March 12, 2026. Read on for comprehensive details on eligibility, application process, selection criteria, and important dates.

Quick Overview

Vacancy Details

The tentative number of vacancies for the Central Armed Police Forces (Assistant Commandants) Examination, 2026 are as follows. Note that 10% of the total vacancies are earmarked for Ex-servicemen, and the number of vacancies is liable to alteration.

Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification

• A candidate must hold a Bachelor’s degree from a University incorporated by an Act of the Central or State Legislature in India or other educational institutions established by an Act of Parliament or declared to be deemed as a University under Section-3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 or possess an equivalent qualification.
• Candidates who have appeared at an examination the passing of which would render them educationally qualified for the Commission’s examination but have not been informed of the results, as also the candidates who intend to appear at such a qualifying examination in the year 2026, will also be eligible for admission to the examination provisionally.

Age Limit (as on 1st August 2026)

A candidate must have attained the age of 20 years and must not have attained the age of 25 years. This means candidates must have been born not earlier than 2nd August, 2001 and not later than 1st August, 2006.

Age Relaxation

The upper age limit prescribed above will be relaxable for reserved categories as follows:

Nationality & Sex

• Nationality: A candidate must be a citizen of India. Subjects of Nepal or Bhutan may also be appointed with the consent of the Central Government.
• Sex: Both Male and Female candidates are eligible for appointment to the post of Assistant Commandants.

Physical and Medical Standards

Candidates must meet the prescribed Physical and Medical Standards as detailed in Appendix-V of the notification. Key physical standards include:

Eye Sight: Better eye (corrected vision) 6/6, Worse eye (corrected vision) 6/12 for Distant vision. N6 (corrected) / N9 (corrected) for Near vision. LASIK surgery is permitted under specific conditions (Age 18-35 years, etc.).

Other Medical Standards: Detailed criteria for Carrying Angle, Ear, Nose, Teeth, Venereal Disease, Chronic Skin diseases, General Standards (speech, chronic disease, glandular swelling, chest, limbs, hands, feet, congenital malformation, genito urinary tract, inguinal/scrotal swelling, testicles, knock knees, flat foot, varicose veins), Tachycardia/Bradycardia, Hernia, Hemorrhoids, Condylomata Prolapse Rectum, and Tattoo Clause are specified in the official notification. Candidates declared ‘UNFIT’ in Medical Standard Tests will be allowed to appear before the Review Medical Board.

NCC Certificate

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

Application Fee

The application fee details are as follows:

• Payment can be made through Net Banking, Visa/Master/RuPay/Credit/Debit Card, or UPI.
• Fee once paid is non-refundable and cannot be held in reserve for other examinations.

Important Dates

Selection Process

The selection process for UPSC CAPF (ACs) Examination, 2026 involves several stages:

1. Written Examination: This comprises two papers. Candidates must secure minimum qualifying marks in each paper as decided by the Commission. Paper-II will only be evaluated if a candidate qualifies Paper-I.
2. Physical Standards Tests (PST) / Physical Efficiency Tests (PET): Candidates who qualify the written exam will be called for PST/PET. Meeting the prescribed physical standards is mandatory.
3. Interview / Personality Test: Qualified candidates from PST/PET will appear for an Interview/Personality Test, which carries 150 Marks.
4. Medical Standards Tests (MST): Candidates who appear for the Interview/Personality Test will undergo Medical Standards Tests.
5. Final Selection / Merit List: The final merit list will be prepared based on the marks obtained in the Written Examination and Interview/Personality Test.

Tie-Breaking Principle

In case of a tie in aggregate (Final Marks), the following criteria will be applied in order:

1. Candidate securing more marks in the written total will be ranked higher.
2. If written marks are also equal, the candidate securing more marks in Paper-I: General Ability & Intelligence will be ranked higher.
3. If marks in both (i) and (ii) are equal, the candidate senior in age will be ranked higher.
4. If a tie still persists, it will be resolved at the discretion of the Commission.

Exam Pattern

The written examination consists of two papers:

Negative Marking

• There will be a penalty (Negative Marking) for wrong answers in the Objective Type Question Paper (Paper-I).
• For each wrong answer, one-third (0.33) of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted.
• If a candidate gives more than one answer, it will be treated as a wrong answer and penalized.
• No penalty for unanswered questions.

Exam Centers

The examination will be held at 57 centers across India. Allotment of centers will be on a “first-apply-first-allot” basis. Candidates are advised to apply early to secure their preferred center. Chennai, Dispur, Kolkata, and Nagpur do not have a ceiling on the number of candidates.

• Agartala, Ahmedabad, Aizawl, Almora (Uttarakhand), Bengaluru, Bareilly, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cuttack, Dehradun, Delhi, Dharamshala (H.P.), Dharwar, Dispur, Faridabad, Gangtok, Gautam Buddha Nagar (Noida), Ghaziabad, Gurugram, Hyderabad, Imphal, Indore, Itanagar, Jaipur, Jammu, Jodhpur, Jorhat, Kanpur, Kargil, Kochi, Kohima, Kolkata, Leh, Lucknow, Madurai, Mandi (H.P.), Meerut, Mumbai, Nagpur, Panaji (Goa), Patna, Port Blair (Sri Vijaya Puram), Prayagraj (Allahabad), Pune, Raipur, Ranchi, Sambalpur, Shillong, Shimla, Srinagar, Srinagar (Uttarakhand), Thiruvananthapuram, Tirupati, Udaipur, Visakhapatnam.

How to Apply

Candidates must apply online through the UPSC’s online application portal. Follow these steps:

1. Visit the official UPSC online application website: https://upsconline.nic.in.
2. One-Time Registration (OTR): If you haven’t already, complete the Universal Registration (URN) process. A unique URN will be generated, which is common for all UPSC examinations.
3. Fill Common Application Form (CAF): Provide all requisite information, including personal details, educational qualifications, category claims (SC/ST/OBC/EWS/Ex-Servicemen), and preferences for Services/Forces.
4. Upload Documents: Upload a scanned photograph and signature as per the specified dimensions and size (photograph: 20-200 KB, signature: 20-100 KB in .jpg format). Applicants are also required to capture a live photograph while filling the CAF.
5. Provide Photo ID Details: Enter details of one valid Photo ID Card (Aadhaar Card/Voter Card/PAN Card/Passport/Driving License/Any other Photo ID Card issued by State/Central Government). This ID must be carried to the examination/Personality Test.
6. Fill Examination Specific Module: Complete the details specific to the CAPF (ACs) Exam, 2026, including fee payment and center selection.
7. Pay Application Fee: Pay the Rs. 200/- application fee online (if applicable) using Net Banking, Credit/Debit Card, or UPI.
8. Submit Application: Review all details carefully and submit the application. No correction/alteration/modification is allowed after submission.
9. Take a printout of the submitted application form for future reference.

Important Links

Job Profile & Career Scope

An Assistant Commandant (AC) in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) is a Group ‘A’ Gazetted Officer, equivalent to a Captain in the Indian Army. The role involves leading platoons, maintaining law and order, counter-insurgency operations, border guarding, and internal security duties. ACs undergo rigorous training covering combat, tactics, administration, and leadership.

Career Progression: An AC can rise through the ranks to Deputy Commandant, Second-in-Command, Commandant, Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Inspector General (IG), and even Additional Director General (ADG) or Director General (DG), depending on performance and vacancies. The career offers immense opportunities for leadership, adventure, and service to the nation, with various allowances and benefits.

Preparation Tips

Comprehensive Study Plan

• Understand the Syllabus: Thoroughly go through the detailed syllabus for Paper I (General Ability and Intelligence) and Paper II (General Studies, Essay, and Comprehension) available in the official notification’s Appendix-I.
• Focus on Current Affairs: Dedicate significant time to national and international current events, particularly those related to defense, economy, polity, and social issues.
• Strengthen General Studies: Cover subjects like Indian History, Geography, Polity, Economy, and General Science. Use standard textbooks for conceptual clarity.
• Practice Essay Writing: For Paper II, regularly practice writing essays on diverse topics in both Hindi and English (if applicable) to improve structure, coherence, and analytical ability.
• Improve English Language Skills: Work on précis writing, comprehension, and grammar for Paper II’s language skills component.
• Quantitative Aptitude & Reasoning: Practice questions from logical reasoning, numerical ability, and data interpretation for Paper I.

Physical Fitness

• Start Early: Begin physical training well in advance to meet the PST/PET standards (running, long jump, shot put). Consistency is key.
• Endurance Building: Focus on improving stamina for races and overall physical endurance.

Interview Preparation

• Personality Development: Work on communication skills, general awareness, and leadership qualities.
• Mock Interviews: Participate in mock interviews to gain confidence and receive feedback.

Recommended Books

For General Studies & General Ability:

For Essay & Comprehension (Paper II):

• Regularly read newspapers (The Hindu, Indian Express), magazines, and editorials to improve writing skills and gather content for essays.
• Practice précis writing and comprehension passages from previous year’s papers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What is the last date to apply for UPSC CAPF AC Recruitment 2026?

The last date for submission of online applications is March 12, 2026, until 18:00 hours.

Q2: What is the age limit for the CAPF AC exam?

Candidates must be between 20 and 25 years of age as on August 1, 2026. Age relaxation is provided for SC/ST, OBC, Civilian Central Government Servants, and Ex-servicemen as per rules.

Q3: Is there negative marking in the UPSC CAPF AC exam?

Yes, there is a negative marking of one-third (0.33) of the marks assigned to a question for each wrong answer in Paper-I (Objective Type).

Q4: What are the educational qualifications required?

A Bachelor’s degree from a recognized University is the minimum educational qualification. Candidates appearing for their final year degree examination are also eligible provisionally.

Q5: How can I download my e-Admit Card?

The e-Admit Card will be issued on the UPSC website (upsconline.nic.in) on the last working day of the preceding week of the examination date. No physical admit card will be sent by post.

Q6: Are female candidates eligible to apply for CAPF AC posts?

Yes, both male and female candidates are eligible to apply for Assistant Commandants posts in CAPF.

Q7: What documents are required to be carried on the exam day?

Candidates must carry their e-Admit Card along with a valid Photo ID Card (Aadhaar, Voter, PAN, Passport, Driving License) whose details were provided in the application form.

Q8: Can I change my exam center after submitting the application?

No, generally, requests for change of examination centers are not entertained once the application is submitted. Centers are allotted on a “first-apply-first-allot” basis.

Q9: What is the application fee for OBC/EWS candidates?

OBC and EWS male candidates are required to pay an application fee of Rs. 200/-. Female candidates and SC/ST candidates are exempted from paying the fee.

Q10: What is the role of NCC certificates in the selection process?

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