UPSC CAPF Assistant Commandant Notification 2026 has been released by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on February 20, 2026, on its official website to recruit 349 Assistant Commandants in forces like BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, and SSB. The online application process was opened on February 20, 2026, and will close on March 12, 2026. UPSC is set to issue UPSC CAPF admit card 2026 in July 2026(1st week) for the written exam to be held on July 19, 2026. Graduates aged 20 to 25 are eligible to apply. UPSC selection process 2026 includes the written exam, PET & medical exam, and interview stages.
Apply Online for UPSC CAPF 2026 (Link Active)
UPSC CAPF Written Exam 2026 Shift Timings
| Paper | Subject | Shift Timings | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | General Ability and Intelligence | 10:00 AM -12:00 Noon | 250 Marks |
| Paper 2 | General Studies, Essay and Comprehension | 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM | 200 Marks |
Table of Contents
In UPSC CAPF Recruitment 2026, CAPF is the abbreviated form of the Central Armed Police Forces. It is a national-level Assistant Commandant exam conducted to appoint Group A officers in paramilitary forces. This recruitment fills vacancies in Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) such as Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). The exam includes written tests, physical and medical tests, and an interview to select officers for security duties.
The important highlights of UPSC CAPF exam 2026 are given below:
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | UPSC CAPF Assistant Commandant (AC) |
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Exam Level | National level |
| Exam Mode | Offline (Pen & Paper Based) |
| UPSC CAPF 2026 Language |
|
| UPSC CAPF Vacancies 2026 | 349 |
| UPSC CAPF 2026 Selection Process |
|
| Official Website to Apply | upsc.gov.in |
The important dates for UPSC CAPF exam 2026 are given below:
| Events | Dates |
|---|---|
| UPSC CAPF Notification 2026 Release Date | February 20, 2026 |
| UPSC CAPF Application Process 2026 Starts | February 20, 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply for UPSC CAPF Application 2026 | March 12, 2026 |
| Last Date for fee payment of UPSC CAPF 2026 | March 12, 2026 |
| UPSC CAPF Admit Card 2026 Release Date | July 2026 (1st week) |
| UPSC CAPF Written Exam 2026 Date | July 19, 2026 |
| UPSC CAPF Result 2026 Release Date | TBA |
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released UPSC CAPF 2026 Notification on February 20, 2026. It contains complete details about the 349 Assistant Commandants recruitment conducted by UPSC. It includes important dates such as notification release, application timeline, and written exam schedule. The notice explains eligibility criteria like age limit, educational qualification, and physical standards required for candidates. It also provides vacancy details, participating forces, and exam pattern information.
Download UPSC CAPF Notification 2026 PDF
UPSC CAPF 2026 Vacancy has been released along with the notification on February 20, 2026. Candidates can refer to the table below for UPSC CAPF Vacancy 2026 across all forces:
| Security Forces | Number of Vacancies |
|---|---|
| CRPF | 106 |
| BSF | 108 |
| CISF | 70 |
| ITBP | 12 |
| SSB | 53 |
| Total | 349 |
UPSC CAPF 2026 Application Process started from February 20, 2026, and will end on March 12, 2026. Aspirants meeting the minimum CAPF eligibility criteria can apply for UPSC CAPF AC 2026 by filling out UPSC CAPF Application Form 2026 till March 12, 2026. For the successful submission of UPSC CAPF Application Form 2026, candidates must follow the step-by-step process given below:
Step 1: Visit the Official Website
Step 2: Complete One-Time Registration (OTR)
Step 3: Log in to Your Dashboard
Step 4: Fill Out the Application Form
Step 5: Upload Required Documents
During the application process, upload the following scanned documents:
Step 6: Pay the Application Fee
Step 7: Review and Submit
Step 8: Print the Confirmation Page
UPSC CAPF 2026 application fee can be paid via cash by depositing a pay-in slip at any branch of SBI or through SBI net banking, any bank credit card/ debit card, or UPI Payment.
| Category | Application Fee (in Rs.) |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS (Male Candidates) | 200 |
| SC / ST / Female candidates | Nil |
| Refund | No refund applicable |
| Payment | Online mode |
UPSC CAPF AC 2026 eligibility criteria are based on Nationality, educational qualification, age limit, etc. If the aspirants pass the final round, the Interview Round, all of their original documents will be reviewed during the Document Verification stage. To be considered for the desired job description, candidates must meet all of the criteria listed. UPSC CAPF Eligibility Criteria 2026 are divided into the following categories:
A candidate must have attained the age of 20 years and must not have attained the age of 25 years. This means that candidates must have been born not earlier than August 2, 2001, and not later than August 1, 2006.
| Particulars | Age Limit |
|---|---|
| Lower age limit | 20 years |
| Upper age limit | 25 years |
UPSC has provided age relaxations for reserved category candidates for UPSC CAPF exam 2026, which are mentioned below:
| Categories | Age relaxation | Upper Age Limit |
|---|---|---|
| OBC | 3 years | 28 years |
| SC / ST | 5 years | 30 years |
| Civilian Central Government Servants | 5 years | 30 years |
| Ex-Servicemen | 5 year | 30 years |
According to UPSC CAPF eligibility, only candidates of specific nationalities are permitted to take the exam. If the candidate does not have an eligible nationality, they will need the Central Government's formal permission to apply for CAPF Exam. Here are UPSC CAPF nationality criteria 2026 in detail:
| Nationality | Allowed or Not |
|---|---|
| Indian | Allowed to appear for the exam |
| Nepal or Bhutan | Allowed to appear for the exam |
Note:
The candidate must meet the physical requirements set by UPSC to be eligible for this exam. Here are the minimum requirements of UPSC CAPF AC Physical Standards candidates need to have before this exam:
| Specifications | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 165 cm | 157 cm |
| Chest (without expansion) | 81 cm | NA |
| Chest (with expansion) | 5 cm | NA |
| Weight | 50 kg | 46 kg |
In the details given below, candidates can find all the details related to UPSC CAPF AC Medical test 2026:
| Aspects | Better Eye (Corrected Vision) | Worse Eye (Corrected Vision) |
|---|---|---|
| Distant Vision | 6/6 | 6/12 |
| 6/9 | 6/9 | |
| Near Vision | N6 (corrected) | N9 (corrected) |
| With Glasses/LASIK Surgery | ||
| Limits of Refractive errors permitted | -4.00 D (including cylinder) Myopia +4.00 D (including cylinder) Hypermetropia |
|
It should be emphasized that if an applicant has had LASIK surgery, it must have been done following the mentioned criteria:
UPSC CAPF 2026 admit card will be released tentatively in July 2026 (1st week) for the written exam on July 19, 2026. It is a vital document that serves as identification and allows candidates to sit for CAPF (Central Reserve Police Force) exam. It is usually issued by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Candidates can download their UPSC CAPF Admit Card 2026 by following the methods outlined below.
UPSC CAPF AC 2026 Exam Centres can be selected by the candidates according to their preferences. Below is the list of UPSC CAPF Exam Centres given for the reference of the candidates:
| S. No. | Centres |
|---|---|
| 1 | Agartala |
| 2 | Ahmedabad |
| 3 | Aizwal |
| 4 | Almora (Uttrakhand) |
| 5 | Bengaluru |
| 6 | Bareilly |
| 7 | Bhopal |
| 8 | Chandigarh |
| 9 | Chennai |
| 10 | Cuttack |
| 11 | Dehradun |
| 12 | Delhi |
| 13 | Dharamshala (H.P.) |
| 14 | Dharwar |
| 15 | Dispur |
| 16 | Gangtok |
| 17 | Hyderabad |
| 18 | Imphal |
| 19 | Itanagar |
| 20 | Jaipur |
| 21 | Jammu |
| 22 | Jorhat |
| 23 | Kargil |
| 24 | Kochi |
| 25 | Kohima |
| 26 | Kolkatta |
| 27 | Leh |
| 28 | Lucknow |
| 29 | Madurai |
| 30 | Mandi (H.P.) |
| 31 | Mumbai |
| 32 | Nagpur |
| 33 | Panaji (GOA) |
| 34 | Patna |
| 35 | Port Blair |
| 36 | Prayagraj (Allahabad) |
| 37 | Raipur |
| 38 | Ranchi |
| 39 | Sambalpur |
| 40 | Shillong |
| 41 | Shimla |
| 42 | Srinagar |
| 43 | Srinagar (Uttarakhand) |
| 44 | Thiruvananthapuram |
| 45 | Tirupati |
| 46 | Udaipur |
| 47 | Vishakahapatnam |
UPSC CAPF Exam Pattern 2026 includes two papers conducted on the same day in offline mode. Paper 1 covers General Ability and Intelligence with objective-type questions, while Paper 2 includes General Studies, Essay, and Comprehension with descriptive answers. UPSC CAPF Exam Pattern 2026 is given below:
| Paper | Subject | Number of Questions | Total Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | General Ability and Intelligence | 125 | 250 | 2 hours |
| Paper 2 | General Studies, Essay, and Comprehension | 07 | 200 | 3 hours |
| Interview | 150 | - | ||
Note:
Candidates qualifying for the written exam are eligible to appear for UPSC CAPF PET/ PST 2026 round and so on.
| Physical Efficiency Test | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 100-metre race | 16 seconds | 18 seconds |
| 800-meter race | 3 minutes 45 seconds | 4 minutes 45 seconds |
| Long jump | 3.5 meters (3 Chances) | 3.0 meters (3 Chances) |
| Shot Put (7.26 Kgs.) | 4.5 meters | - |
UPSC CAPF 2026 Syllabus is set by UPSC. The subjects and topics asked in UPSC CAPF exam 2026 are mentioned below for aspirants' preparation:
UPSC CAPF 2026 Paper 1 syllabus includes objective-type questions with multiple choices. The subjects include General Mental Ability, General Science, Indian Polity and Economy, History of India, Current Events of National and International Importance, and India & World Geography. The topics of these subjects are:
| Section | Key Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| Mental & Analytical Ability | Logical reasoning, numerical ability, quantitative aptitude, data interpretation |
| Science & Technology Awareness | General science, scientific awareness, IT basics, biotechnology, and environmental science |
| Current Affairs | National & international events, culture, arts, sports, governance, economy, globalisation |
| Indian Polity & Governance | Constitution, political system, public administration, economic development, security issues, human rights |
| History | Indian nationalism, freedom movement, culture and civilisation, modern India |
| Geography | Earth & atmosphere, climate, world regions, Indian resources, oceans, physical geography |
Only those who pass Paper 1 will be eligible for Paper 2. Before beginning their preparation, candidates should familiarise themselves with UPSC CAPF AC Paper 2 2026 as mentioned below:
| Section | Marks | Question Format & Medium | Key Topics Covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part A - Essay | 80 Marks | Long descriptive essays. Answers can be written in Hindi or English | Modern Indian history and freedom struggle, geography, polity, economy, security and human rights issues, analytical ability |
| Part B - Comprehension & Language Skills | 120 Marks | Descriptive questions. English language only | Comprehension passages, précis writing, communication skills, counter-arguments, simple grammar and language testing |
Candidates must check UPSC CAPF Syllabus 2026 to know more about it.
UPSC CAPF 2026 Selection Process is divided into three stages. Candidates who pass all the levels of UPSC CAPF exam 2026 are eligible to be recruited for the rank of Assistant Commandant. UPSC CAPF selection process has three stages:
UPSC CAPF 2026 answer key will be released after the written exam is conducted on July 19, 2026. It can be downloaded from UPSC website. Candidates must follow the steps given below to get access to UPSC CAPF Answer Key 2026:
UPSC CAPF Written Exam Result 2026 will be released online on the official UPSC website for the written exam to be held on July 19, 2026. The result will be declared in three phases: Written Exam, PET/PST/ Medical Test, and the final CAPF result. Candidates can check their UPSC CAPF result 2026 by following the processes outlined below:
UPSC has uploaded past years' papers of UPSC CAPF annually on its official website. To prepare for the next CAPF exam, applicants can access the paper standard, the level of difficulty of questions asked, the exam pattern, and the syllabus. UPSC CAPF Previous Year Papers is given below:
| Year | Paper 1 | Paper 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Download Here | Download Here |
| 2021 | Download Here | Download Here |
| 2020 | Download Here | Download Here |
| 2019 | Download Here | Download Here |
| 2018 | Download Here | Download Here |
| 2017 | Download Here | Download Here |
UPSC CAPF AC 2026 Salary is determined based on the 7th Annual Salary Committee. According to the 7th Salary Committee, UPSC CAPF AC salary structure includes basic salary and other benefits such as Travel, Medical, and Expense Allowances.
| Particulars | Amount |
|---|---|
| Basic Pay | INR 15,600 |
| Grade Pay | INR 5,400 |
| Dearness Allowance (DA) | INR 26,250 |
| In-hand Salary | INR 44,135 |
| Total | INR 51,480 |
The commission will hold UPSC CAPF exam 2026 to select candidates for the position of Assistant Commandant in the Central Armed Police Forces. The application form is available from February 20, 2026. Candidates who are interested and qualified will be able to fill out and submit their applications online. Candidates will be chosen based on a written exam, a PET/PST, and an Interview/ Personality Test.
Ques: Is UPSC CAPF exam 2026 conducted online or offline?
Ans: UPSC CAPF exam 2026 is conducted in an offline mode using pen and paper. Candidates must answer objective-type questions on an Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) sheet for the written tests.
Ques: What educational qualification is required to be eligible for UPSC CAPF exam 2026?
Ans: Candidates must have a bachelor's degree from a recognized university or an equivalent qualification to fulfill the eligibility requirements for UPSC CAPF exam.
Ques: Can only Indian citizens apply for UPSC CAPF exam 2026?
Ans: Yes, only Indian citizens are eligible to apply for UPSC CAPF exam 2026. Certain provisions exist for candidates who are subjects of Nepal or Bhutan, as specified in UPSC guidelines.
Ques: Can final-year graduation students apply for UPSC CAPF exam 2026?
Ans: Yes, candidates in their final year of graduation can apply for UPSC CAPF exam, provided they can produce proof of passing the degree exami at the time of the selection process.
Ques: Is there any relaxation in physical standards for candidates belonging to specific categories in UPSC CAPF exam 2026?
Ans: Yes, certain relaxations in physical standards are provided to candidates belonging to reserved categories such as SC/ST/OBC, as per UPSC CAPF rules and regulations.
Ques: What are the steps involved in UPSC CAPF selection process 2026?
Ans: The selection process for UPSC CAPF 2026 includes a written exam, a Physical Efficiency Test (PET) and Physical Standards Test (PST), a Personality/Interview test, and a medical exam.
Ques: Can I join the National Security Guard (NSG) after joining UPSC CAPF AC 2026?
Ans: While joining NSG after serving in CAPF is possible, it depends on fulfilling specific criteria, performance, and the availability of positions within the NSG. Deputation from CAPF services to NSG is governed by organizational rules.
Ques: What is the application fee for SC candidates for UPSC CAPF exam 2026?
Ans: SC, ST, and female candidates are exempted from paying the application fee for UPSC CAPF exam 2026. General and OBC candidates need to pay the prescribed fee.
Ques: Is there a negative marking in UPSC CAPF written test 2026?
Ans: Yes, there is a negative marking for incorrect answers in the objective-type questions of Paper-I. One-third of the marks assigned to a question are deducted for each incorrect response.
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