UPSC CAPF

UPSC CAPF (AC): Overview, Eligibility, Exam Pattern

Overview

The UPSC CAPF (Central Armed Police Forces) Assistant Commandant exam, conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), recruits candidates for the prestigious role of Assistant Commandants in various paramilitary forces including the CRPF, BSF, CISF, and SSB. This exam is held annually and requires candidates to be aged between 20 to 25 years with a minimum educational qualification of graduation. The selection process includes a written exam, physical standards/efficiency tests, and an interview. Successful candidates assume leadership roles, commanding troops in diverse operational environments, and may also serve in key national security organizations. The exam is highly competitive, with around 3 lakh applications received each year. Detailed eligibility criteria, application procedures, and exam syllabus are available on the UPSC official website.

Exam Highlights:

Exam Highlights

Details

Exam Conducted By

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)

Name of the Post

Assistant Commandant

Number of Vacancies

Approximately 506

Frequency

Once a year

Age Limit

20-25 years

Educational Qualification

Graduation

Application Mode

Online

Application Fee

INR 200

Gender

Male and Female

Selection Procedure

Written Exam, Physical Test, Interview

Number of Applications

Approximately 3 lakh

E-Admit Card

Issued 3 weeks before the exam

Withdrawal of Application

Yes

Official Website

www.upsc.gov.i

Eligibility

The eligibility criteria for the UPSC CAPF (Central Armed Police Forces) Assistant Commandant exam outline specific requirements that candidates must meet to apply for this prestigious role. Candidates aspiring to become Assistant Commandants in various paramilitary forces under the Ministry of Home Affairs need to fulfill criteria related to nationality, age, education, and physical fitness. These criteria ensure that applicants possess the necessary qualifications and capabilities to undertake the responsibilities associated with the role effectively.

  • Nationality: Must be a citizen of India.
  • Age Limit: Between 20 and 25 years as of August 1 of the exam year.
    • Age relaxation:
    • OBC candidates: Up to 3 years.
    • SC/ST candidates, ex-servicemen, residents of Jammu & Kashmir: Up to 5 years.
  • Educational Qualification: Must have a bachelor's degree from a recognized university/institution.
  • Physical Standards:
    • For Male Candidates:
      • Minimum Height: 165 cm
      • Minimum Weight: 50 kg
    • For Female Candidates:
      • Minimum Height: 156 cm
      • Minimum Weight: 46 kg

Exam Pattern

The CAPF (ACs) Exam 2025, conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), is designed to assess candidates for the role of Assistant Commandants across various paramilitary forces under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The exam will be held offline on 03rd August 2025 and will consist of two papers conducted in a single day.

Paper I evaluates candidates’ logical reasoning, general awareness, and problem-solving abilities, while Paper II tests comprehension, essay writing, and communication skills. The structure is carefully framed to test both aptitude and language proficiency, making it essential for candidates to prepare holistically.

Details

Paper I

Paper II

Subject

General Ability and Intelligence

General Studies, Essay, and Comprehension

Type of Questions

Objective (MCQs)

Descriptive (Subjective answers)

Medium of Exam

English & Hindi (for all questions)

Essay: English or Hindi (choice given)

Precis, Comprehension & Language: English only

Number of Questions

125 (approx.)

Varies (essay + comprehension + precis writing tasks)

Marks

250

200

Duration

2 Hours (10:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon)

3 Hours (2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.)

Negative Marking

1/3rd marks deducted for each wrong answer

Not Applicable

Key Points for Candidates

  • Minimum Qualifying Marks: Candidates must score minimum qualifying marks in each paper (decided by UPSC).
  • Evaluation Criteria: Paper II will be evaluated only for candidates who qualify in Paper I.
  • Medium Rules for Paper II:
    • Essay can be written in English or Hindi (to be indicated in Attendance Sheet & Answer Book).
    • Comprehension, Precis, and Language skills must be attempted in English only. Answers written in other mediums will not be credited.

Important Dates

On March 5, 2025, the UPSC released the notification for the CAPF (Central Armed Police Forces) 2025 exam on its official website, www.upsc.gov.in. This notification announced a total of 357 vacancies for the Assistant Commandant positions across various paramilitary forces under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The CAPF 2025 application form was also made available on the same date. The written examination for CAPF 2025 is set to take place on August 3, 2025. Aspiring candidates are encouraged to visit the UPSC website for detailed information and to apply within the stipulated timeline to participate in this prestigious examination.

CAPF Exam Events 2025

Dates

Availability of online application form

5 March 2025

Last date for application form submission

25 March 2025

Beginning of the application withdrawal process

May 2024, last week

Closing of the application withdrawal process

June 2024, 1st week

Admit card issue date

The last working day in the week before the exam

Date of exam

03 August 2025

Result declaration

September 2025 (expected)

PET/ PST and medical test date

September 2025 (expected)

Detailed Application Form (DAF) release date

September 2025 (expected)

Last date for DAF submission

October 2025 (expected)

Date of interview

October 2025 (expected)

Final result declaration

October 2025 (expected

Official Notification

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the official notification for the UPSC CAPF AC 2025 Exam on its official website @upsc.gov.in. This notification invites online applications for 357 Assistant Commandant posts under the Central Armed Police Force. Interested candidates can apply online starting from March 5, 2025, with the deadline for application submission set for March 25, 2025. Applicants must complete a one-time registration profile before proceeding with the online application process.

The detailed notification PDF containing information on vacancies, application dates, eligibility criteria, and other pertinent details is available on the UPSC website. Candidates are advised to carefully review the notification before applying to ensure they meet all requirements. For more information and to download the official notification PDF, candidates can visit the UPSC official website.

UPSC CAPF (AC) Notification 2025

https://upsc.gov.in/sites/default/files/Notif-CAPF-25-Engl-050325.pdf 

Application Procedure

For candidates interested in applying for the UPSC CAPF AC 2025 Exam, the application process is currently active and can be accessed through the official UPSC website at https://upsconline.gov.in. The deadline for submission is set for March 25, 2025, at 6:00 pm. It is crucial to note that applications can only be submitted online through the designated portal, and any other mode of submission will not be accepted.

Here are the steps to fill out the UPSC CAPF Application Form 2025:

  1. Visit the official website of the Union Public Service Commission: https://upsconline.gov.in.
  2. Locate and click on the link labeled ‘One Time Registration (OTR) For Examinations of UPSC and Online Application’.
  3. On the One-Time Registration page, click on the ‘New Registration’ tab.
  4. Enter your details such as name, gender, date of birth, father’s name, mother’s name, minority status (if applicable), mobile number, valid email ID, and Class X board examination roll number. Answer security questions as prompted.
  5. Enter the captcha code displayed on the screen and submit to create your OTR profile.
  6. A password/OTP and an OTR ID will be sent to your registered email ID/mobile number.
  7. Click on the ‘Login’ button and enter your login credentials (email ID/mobile number/OTR ID and password/OTP).
  8. Fill in the verification code and click on the ‘Login’ button to access the application form.
  9. Complete the application form by entering all required details and upload documents as specified.
  10. Pay the application fee for Assistant Commandant posts as per the instructions provided.
  11. Review all entered details carefully and submit the application.

By following these steps meticulously, candidates can complete the UPSC CAPF AC Application Form 2025 process and ensure their eligibility for the examination. It is essential to provide accurate information to avoid any issues with the application submission

Syllabus

The UPSC CAPF (Central Armed Police Forces) Assistant Commandant Examination 2025 consists of two written papers designed to test candidates’ aptitude, knowledge, analytical ability, and communication skills. Together, both papers carry 450 marks.

Paper

Sections / Parts

Topics Covered

Paper I

General Ability & Intelligence

(250 Marks – 2 Hours, Objective)

1. General Mental Ability

Logical reasoning, quantitative aptitude including numerical ability, and data interpretation

2. General Science

General awareness, scientific temper, comprehension and appreciation of scientific phenomena of everyday observation; Information Technology, Biotechnology, Environmental Science

3. Current Events of National & International Importance

Awareness of current events in culture, music, arts, literature, sports, governance, societal & developmental issues, industry, business, globalisation, interplay among nations

4. Indian Polity & Economy

Political system and Constitution of India, social systems, public administration, economic development, regional & international security issues, human rights (including indicators)

5. History of India

Social, economic & political aspects of Indian history; growth of nationalism and freedom movement

6. Indian & World Geography

Physical, social & economic aspects of geography pertaining to India and the World

Paper II

General Studies, Essay & Comprehension

(200 Marks – 3 Hours, Descriptive)

Part A – Essay (80 Marks)

Long narrative essays in English or Hindi on topics such as: modern Indian history (freedom struggle), geography, polity, economy, security & human rights issues, analytical ability

Part B – Comprehension & Language Skills (120 Marks)

To be attempted in English only: comprehension passages, précis writing, developing counter arguments, simple grammar, and other aspects of language testing

Admit Card

Applicants are now able to download their CAPF Admit Card 2025 directly from the official website. By carefully following step-by-step instructions, candidates can obtain their UPSC CAPF AC admit card 2025. The admit card will be released and accessible on the official UPSC CAPF website.

Steps to Download UPSC CAPF AC Admit Card

To download the CAPF Admit Card 2025, candidates should first visit the official UPSC website and navigate to the admit card section on the homepage. Look for the option labeled "E-Admit Cards for UPSC Examinations" and click on it. From the list that appears, select the link for CAPF Admit Card 2025.

Next, enter your login details such as your registration ID or roll number along with your date of birth. Once logged in, your UPSC CAPF Admit Card 2025 will be displayed on the screen. Download the admit card and ensure to keep multiple copies for future reference.

Alternatively, candidates can use the direct link provided specifically for downloading the UPSC CAPF hall ticket 2025. This process ensures that candidates have easy access to their admit cards for the upcoming examination