UPSC CAPF AC Syllabus 2026 serves as the essential guide for the aspirants of Central Armed Police Forces (Assistant Commandants) exam. This prestigious examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) recruits Assistant Commandants for major forces including BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP and SSB.
These officers hold leadership positions in maintaining internal security, border security and law enforcement. As per the official notification released on 20th February 2026, UPSC CAPF AC 2026 written exam is scheduled on 19th July 2026.
With applications open till mid-March 2026 and a total of around 349 vacancies announced, candidates should check the official UPSC website for latest updates on eligibility, exact vacancies and dates.
Overview of UPSC CAPF AC Exam
The exam generally targets graduates aged 20–25 years (with relaxation for reserved categories). It selects candidates for Group A Gazetted posts in CAPFs. Always verify detailed eligibility (including nationality, education and physical criteria) in the official 2026 notification.
Exam Pattern for UPSC CAPF AC (Written)
The written examination consists of two papers on the same day.
Paper I – General Aptitude and Intelligence
- Type: Objective (MCQs)
- Questions: 125
- Marks: 250
- Duration: 2 hours
- Medium: Bilingual (Hindi & English)
- Negative Marking: 1/3rd marks deducted for each wrong answer
Paper II – General Studies, Essay and Comprehension
- Type: Descriptive
- Components: Essay, Comprehension, Summarizing, Language/Grammar
- Marks: 200
- Duration: 3 hours
- Medium: Essay in Hindi or English; Other parts (comprehension, summary etc.) in English only
| Paper | Subject | Type | No. of Questions | Marks | Duration | Medium |
| I | General Ability & Intelligence | Objective | 125 | 250 | 2 hours | Hindi & English |
| II | General Studies, Essay & Comprehension | Descriptive | ~6–7 | 200 | 3 hours | Essay: Hindi/English; Others: English only |
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Selection Process for UPSC CAPF AC
The selection process is multi-stage and merit-based.
- written examination – Paper I and Paper II (Total 450 marks).
- Physical Standard Test (PST) and Physical Efficiency Test (PET) – Qualifying in nature.
- medical standard test – Detailed medical examination as per CAPF norms.
- Personality Test/Interview – Conducted by UPSC, usually 150 marks.
- final merit list – Based on aggregate marks of written examination (Paper I + II) and Interview, subject to qualifying PST, PET and Medical tests.
Syllabus for UPSC CAPF AC Paper I (General Aptitude & Intelligence)
Paper I tests General Mental Ability, General Science, Current Affairs, Indian Polity and Economy, Indian History and India and World Geography.
General Mental Ability (Reasoning and Aptitude)
The written examination of Paper I consists of the following General Aptitude subjects including General Mental Ability:
- logical reasoning
- Quantitative Aptitude
- numerical ability
- data interpretation
general Science
- General awareness about science and technology in general science and everyday life.
- Scientific approach, understanding and appreciation of scientific phenomena.
- Developments in information technology, biotechnology and environmental sciences.
Current affairs of national and international importance
Questions will be from current events in the following areas:
- Culture, Music, Art, Literature
- game
- Governance, social and development issues
- Industry, Trade, Globalization
- National and international organizations and events
Indian politics and economy
Questions will test knowledge of the following:
- Indian Political System and Constitution of India
- Social system and public administration
- economic development in india
- Regional and international security issues
- Human rights and indicators
indian history
Questions will test awareness of the growth of nationalism and freedom movement in India:
- Indian History, Culture and Civilization
- freedom movement in india
- Indian Constitution and Administration (Elementary)
- Five Year Plans of India (Basic)
- Panchayati Raj, Co-operation, Community Development
- Forces that shaped modern India – Renaissance, exploration and discovery
India and World Geography
Geography related topics generally include:
- Earth: Latitude, Longitude, Concept of Time, International Date Line
- Earth’s movements and their effects
- Origin of Earth, Rocks and Classification, Weathering
- earthquakes and volcanoes
- ocean currents and tides
- Atmosphere and its composition, temperature and pressure
- Planetary winds, cyclones and anticyclones
- Humidity, Condensation, Precipitation, Types of Climate
- Major natural areas of the world
- Regional Geography, Mineral and Power Resources of India
- India’s import and export
- Basics of World Geography
UPSC CAPF Syllabus for Paper II
Paper II consists of General Studies, Essay and Comprehension in the form of descriptive questions. In Part B, the essay component can be written in English or Hindi, while the comprehension and other language parts should be written in English only.
Part A – Essay (80 marks)
Essay topics may include:
- modern indian history
- freedom struggle
- Geography
- Politics
- economy
- Security (Internal Security, Border Management, Disaster Management)
- human rights
- Analytical Ability (Social/Ethical Issues)
Part B – General Studies and Comprehension (120 Marks)
This part tests:
- comprehensible part
- concise writing
- Communication and Language Skills
- develop countermeasures
- Simple Grammar and Vocabulary
- Other aspects of written English expression
Physical Standard Test (PST) and Physical Efficiency Test (PET)
PST (Minimum Standards – Broadly as per norms)
- Height: Male – 165 cm; Female – 157 cm (Relaxations apply)
- Chest (Men only): 81 cm without expansion + 5 cm with expansion
- Weight: Male – 50 kg; Female – 46 kg (proportionate to height)
Exact category-wise details are in the official notification.
PET (qualification)
Specific events (confirm with notification):
- 100 meter race: Men – ~16 seconds; Female – ~18 seconds
- 800 meters race: Men – ~3 minutes 45 seconds; Women – Adjusted Criteria
- Long jump and high jump: minimum distance/height with limited efforts
medical standard test
Focus on overall fitness:
- Vision: 6/6 or 6/9 (corrected), border on refractive errors; LASIK allowed under criteria
- Color Perception: CP-III (Ishihara)
- No chronic disease (eg, TB, diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular problems)
- General ENT, Teeth, Skin; no distortion
Personality Test/Interview
- 150 marks
- UPSC Board assesses leadership, communication, decision making, awareness of national/security issues and motivation for uniformed service
- Final qualification combines written (450) + interview (150) marks
Recommended Books for UPSC CAPF AC Exam
You can add the title “Exam Books” with targeted recommendations:
Paper I – General Aptitude and Intelligence:
- NCERT for History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Science (Class 6-12).
- Lucent’s General Knowledge or similar GK manual.
- Quantitative Aptitude by RS Aggarwal for Mathematics and Numerical Ability.
- A standard logic book (for example, by RS Aggarwal or similar).
Paper II – GS, Essay and Comprehension:
- Previous Years CAPF AC Papers (Essay and Comprehension Exercises).
- A good essay book for UPSC (Civil Services Level) for structure and content.
- Wren and Martin or similar for English grammar and composition.
Current Affairs:
- Daily newspaper, monthly current affairs magazine, PIB and government portal for schemes and security issues.
Tips to prepare for UPSC CAPF AC
- Align studies with the official syllabus and pattern.
- Practice MCQs for Paper I focusing on speed and avoiding negative marking.
- Write time bound essay, summary and comprehension for Paper II; Ask for feedback.
- Emphasize security, governance and current affairs.
- Train consistently for PET (running, jumping, endurance).
- Take mocks for all the steps.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Ignoring course details or relying excessively on unrelated topics.
- Careless attempts in Paper I due to negative marking.
- Neglect of Descriptive Exercises for Paper II.
- Abandoning physical preparation.
- Avoiding full mocks and assessments.
UPSC CAPF AC Syllabus 2026 (FAQs)
Q: What is the UPSC CAPF AC Exam?
Ans: The UPSC CAPF AC Exam is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to recruit Assistant Commandants (Group A Gazetted Officers) in Central Armed Police Forces such as BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP and SSB.
Q: What is the exam date for UPSC CAPF AC 2026?
Ans: As per the official notification, the written examination for CAPF AC 2026 is scheduled to be held on 19th July 2026.
Q: What is the age limit for UPSC CAPF AC 2026?
Ans: Candidates must be between 20 to 25 years of age as per the prescribed date in the notification. Age relaxation is applicable for reserved categories as per government norms.
Q: What is the educational qualification required for CAPF AC?
Ans: Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university. Final-year students may apply subject to fulfilling conditions mentioned in the official notification.
Q: Is there negative marking in the CAPF AC written exam?
Ans: Yes. In Paper I (Objective type), one-third (1/3rd) of the marks assigned to a question are deducted for every incorrect answer.
Q: What is the total marks for the CAPF AC selection process?
Ans: The written examination carries 450 marks (Paper I + Paper II), and the Interview/Personality Test carries 150 marks. The final merit list is prepared out of 600 marks, subject to qualifying PST, PET and Medical tests.
Q: Can the CAPF AC Essay be written in Hindi?
Ans: Yes. The Essay portion in Paper II can be written in either Hindi or English. However, comprehension, précis writing and other language sections must be answered in English only.
Q: Are Physical Tests compulsory for CAPF AC?
Ans: Yes. Candidates who qualify in the written examination must undergo the Physical Standard Test (PST) and Physical Efficiency Test (PET). These tests are qualifying in nature.
Q: What is the salary of a CAPF Assistant Commandant?
Ans: Assistant Commandants are appointed at Pay Level 10 (₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500) along with allowances such as DA, HRA, transport allowance and other admissible benefits as per government rules.
Q: How many attempts are allowed for UPSC CAPF AC?
Ans: There is no fixed limit on the number of attempts. Candidates can apply multiple times until they reach the maximum permissible age limit.