What is CAPF (ACs)?
The Central Armed Police Forces (Assistant Commandants) Examination is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for recruitment to the post of Assistant Commandant in the Central Armed Police Forces, according to the vacancies and conditions notified for the examination.
The forces covered under the examination include BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP and SSB, subject to the applicable notification.
Forces Covered Under CAPF AC Examination
BSF
Border Security Force
CRPF
Central Reserve Police Force
CISF
Central Industrial Security Force
ITBP
Indo-Tibetan Border Police
SSB
Sashastra Seema Bal
CAPF Eligibility
| Requirement | General Information |
|---|---|
| Educational Qualification | A Bachelor's degree from a recognised university or institution is required, subject to the conditions in the current notification. |
| Age | The age limit and exact date-of-birth window are specified in each UPSC notification. Category-wise relaxations may apply. |
| Nationality | Nationality/citizenship conditions are specified by UPSC in the examination notification. |
| Gender | Both male and female candidates may apply, subject to the conditions of the notification. |
| Medical Standards | Candidates must meet the prescribed physical and medical standards. |
Important: Do not publish a fixed age range without checking the latest UPSC notification. The exact DOB window can change from one examination year to another.
CAPF Written Exam Pattern
| Paper | Subject | Type | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General Ability and Intelligence | Objective | 250 | 2 Hours |
| Paper II | General Studies, Essay and Comprehension | Descriptive | 200 | 3 Hours |
| Total | Both Papers | 450 | 5 Hours |
Paper II includes essay, précis writing, comprehension and other language/analytical components as prescribed by UPSC. Candidates should follow the latest syllabus and instructions.
CAPF Subjects
| Paper | Subject / Section | Main Areas |
|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General Ability and Intelligence | Logical reasoning, quantitative aptitude, data interpretation, general science, current affairs, history, geography and polity/economy |
| Paper II | Essay | National issues, security, social/economic issues, governance and current affairs |
| Paper II | General Studies | Indian polity, economy, history, geography, security and current events |
| Paper II | Comprehension | Reading comprehension, précis writing, communication and analytical writing |
Paper I — Subject-wise Preparation
| Subject | Important Topics |
|---|---|
| General Mental Ability | Logical reasoning, analytical ability, numerical ability, data interpretation and basic quantitative aptitude |
| General Science | Physics, Chemistry, Biology, environment, technology and everyday science |
| Current Affairs | National and international events, government schemes, defence, security, sports, science and important organisations |
| Indian Polity | Constitution, Parliament, President, Supreme Court, federalism, rights, governance and public policy |
| Indian Economy | Basic economic concepts, growth, inflation, budget, banking, development and government programmes |
| History | Ancient, Medieval and Modern India, Freedom Movement and important developments |
| Geography | Physical geography, Indian geography, climate, resources, agriculture and population |
Paper II — Writing Preparation
| Area | Preparation Focus |
|---|---|
| Essay | Structure, introduction, arguments, examples, balanced analysis, conclusion and current examples |
| Precis | Read carefully, identify the central idea and write a concise summary in the required format |
| Comprehension | Reading speed, factual understanding, inference and clear answers |
| Grammar & Language | Clear expression, correct sentence construction, vocabulary and appropriate usage |
| Current Issues | Internal security, border management, terrorism, cyber security, disaster management, social issues and governance |
Recommended Books — Subject Wise
| Subject | Books / Material | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| General Studies | NCERT Classes 6–12 + standard CAPF General Studies guide + PYQs | Foundation and revision |
| Polity | NCERT Political Science + M. Laxmikanth, Indian Polity | Concepts and exam-oriented revision |
| History | NCERT History + a standard Modern India/Freedom Movement reference | Concepts and chronology |
| Geography | NCERT Geography 6–12 + Atlas | Indian and physical geography |
| Economy | NCERT Economics + standard basic Indian Economy reference + current affairs | Concepts and current application |
| Science | NCERT Science 6–10 + selected 11–12 Science topics | General science foundation |
| Reasoning | Standard reasoning/quantitative aptitude practice book + CAPF PYQs | Speed and accuracy |
| English | Standard English grammar/reference book + comprehension and précis practice | Paper II writing skills |
| Current Affairs | Reliable newspaper/current-affairs source + monthly revision notes | Current events and examples |
| Previous Year Papers | Official UPSC CAPF question papers | Real exam pattern and practice |
NCERT Books for CAPF
| Subject | NCERT Classes | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| History | 6–12 | Important |
| Geography | 6–12 | Very Important |
| Political Science | 6–12 | Very Important |
| Economics | 9–12 | Important |
| Science | 6–10 | Very Important |
| Mathematics | 6–10 | Useful for basic aptitude |
NCERT provides the foundation, but CAPF preparation also requires the UPSC syllabus, current affairs, answer-writing practice and previous-year papers.
Selection Process
Written Exam
Paper I and Paper II conducted by UPSC.
PET / PST
Candidates qualifying the written stage undergo the prescribed physical standards and physical efficiency tests.
Medical
Medical examination according to the applicable service standards.
Interview / Personality Test
Personality assessment and interview for candidates who qualify the earlier stages.
Final Merit
Final selection is based on applicable written, interview and other prescribed requirements.
Physical Standards & PET
CAPF requires candidates to meet prescribed physical standards and qualify the Physical Efficiency Test. Standards can differ by gender and may have specific relaxations or service-wise conditions.
| Area | Preparation |
|---|---|
| Running | Build endurance gradually with regular running and timed practice. |
| Long Jump | Practise technique, leg strength and landing safely. |
| Shot Put | Where applicable, practise technique and strength under proper guidance. |
| General Fitness | Strength, mobility, stamina and healthy body composition. |
Important: Do not use unofficial height, chest, running-time or other physical figures as final rules. Always check the latest UPSC notification and medical/physical standards.
Documents Required
- 10th certificate / matriculation document for date-of-birth proof as prescribed
- Degree certificate / provisional degree and marksheets
- Valid photo identity details
- Category certificate, if applicable
- Other certificates required for age, education, reservation or relaxation, where applicable
- Original documents for verification at later stages as instructed by UPSC
CAPF Application Process
Notification
Read the latest UPSC CAPF notification and check eligibility.
OTR / Registration
Complete the required UPSC online registration process.
Application
Fill personal, educational and examination details carefully.
Fee
Pay the applicable examination fee where required.
Admit Card
Download the e-Admit Card from the official UPSC portal.
Examination
Appear for the written examination at the allotted centre.
Preparation Strategy
NCERT First
Build your GS foundation from relevant NCERT books.
Current Affairs
Maintain daily and monthly notes on national and international issues.
Answer Writing
Practise essays, précis, comprehension and structured answers regularly.
PYQs
Solve official UPSC papers and identify repeated themes.
Mock Tests
Practise Paper I with a timer and analyse mistakes.
Physical Fitness
Prepare PET and maintain fitness alongside written preparation.
Official UPSC Resources
Important Note
Age, vacancies, fee, physical standards, PET details, medical standards and other conditions can change between CAPF notifications. Always use the latest UPSC notification as the final authority.
CAPF क्या है?
Central Armed Police Forces (Assistant Commandants) Examination का आयोजन UPSC द्वारा Assistant Commandant के पद पर भर्ती के लिए किया जाता है। भर्ती notified vacancies और applicable rules के अनुसार होती है।
इस examination में BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP और SSB शामिल होते हैं, subject to the applicable notification.
CAPF में शामिल Forces
BSF
Border Security Force
CRPF
Central Reserve Police Force
CISF
Central Industrial Security Force
ITBP
Indo-Tibetan Border Police
SSB
Sashastra Seema Bal
CAPF Eligibility
| Requirement | जानकारी |
|---|---|
| Educational Qualification | Recognised university/institution से Bachelor's degree, latest notification की conditions के अनुसार। |
| Age | Exact age और DOB window latest UPSC notification में देखें। Category-wise relaxation लागू हो सकती है। |
| Nationality | Nationality/citizenship conditions UPSC notification में दी जाती हैं। |
| Gender | Male और female candidates applicable conditions के अनुसार apply कर सकते हैं। |
| Medical | Prescribed physical और medical standards पूरे करने होते हैं। |
CAPF Written Exam Pattern
| Paper | Subject | Type | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General Ability and Intelligence | Objective | 250 | 2 Hours |
| Paper II | General Studies, Essay and Comprehension | Descriptive | 200 | 3 Hours |
| Total | Both Papers | 450 | 5 Hours |
CAPF Subjects
| Paper | Subject | Main Areas |
|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General Ability & Intelligence | Reasoning, aptitude, science, current affairs, history, geography, polity और economy |
| Paper II | Essay | National issues, security, social/economic issues, governance और current affairs |
| Paper II | General Studies | Polity, economy, history, geography, security और current events |
| Paper II | Comprehension | Comprehension, précis, communication और analytical writing |
Subject-wise Books
| Subject | Books / Material |
|---|---|
| General Studies | NCERT 6–12 + standard CAPF GS guide + PYQs |
| Polity | NCERT Political Science + M. Laxmikanth, Indian Polity |
| History | NCERT History + standard Modern India reference |
| Geography | NCERT Geography 6–12 + Atlas |
| Economy | NCERT Economics + standard Indian Economy reference + current affairs |
| Science | NCERT Science 6–10 + selected higher-class topics |
| Reasoning | Standard reasoning/aptitude book + CAPF PYQs |
| English | Standard grammar/reference book + précis and comprehension practice |
| Current Affairs | Reliable newspaper/current-affairs source + monthly notes |
NCERT Books
| Subject | Classes | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| History | 6–12 | Important |
| Geography | 6–12 | Very Important |
| Political Science | 6–12 | Very Important |
| Economics | 9–12 | Important |
| Science | 6–10 | Very Important |
| Mathematics | 6–10 | Useful for basic aptitude |
Selection Process
Written Exam
Paper I और Paper II।
PET / PST
Written stage qualify करने के बाद prescribed physical standards और efficiency tests।
Medical
Applicable medical standards के अनुसार medical examination।
Interview
Personality assessment और interview।
Final Merit
Applicable written, interview और other requirements के आधार पर final selection।
Physical Standards & PET
CAPF में prescribed physical standards और Physical Efficiency Test qualify करना होता है। Standards gender और applicable rules के अनुसार अलग हो सकते हैं।
| Area | Preparation |
|---|---|
| Running | Regular running और timed practice से endurance बढ़ाएँ। |
| Long Jump | Technique, leg strength और safe landing की practice करें। |
| Shot Put | जहाँ applicable हो, proper guidance में technique और strength की practice करें। |
| General Fitness | Strength, mobility, stamina और healthy body composition पर ध्यान दें। |
महत्वपूर्ण: Height, chest, running time या अन्य physical figures के लिए unofficial websites पर निर्भर न रहें। Latest UPSC notification को final मानें।
Preparation Strategy
NCERT First
Relevant NCERT से GS foundation मजबूत करें।
Current Affairs
Daily और monthly current-affairs notes बनाएँ।
Answer Writing
Essay, précis और comprehension की नियमित practice करें।
PYQs
Official UPSC papers solve करें और repeated topics पहचानें।
Mock Tests
Paper I को timer के साथ practise करें।
Physical Fitness
Written preparation के साथ PET की तैयारी भी करें।
Official UPSC Resources
महत्वपूर्ण सूचना
CAPF की age, vacancies, fee, physical standards, PET details और medical standards notification के अनुसार बदल सकते हैं। Latest UPSC notification को final authority मानें।