Last Verified: 2026-03-01 from official conducting body notifications.
Official Overview & Examination Scope
Purpose, Scope & Academic Impact
The Central Armed Police Forces (Assistant Commandants) examination is conducted by UPSC for direct entry as Assistant Commandants (equal in rank to Assistant Commissioner of Police / Captain in the Army) in India's elite border guarding and internal security forces: BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, and SSB.
Eligibility Criteria & Academic Qualifications
Exam Pattern & Test Structure
Total: 450 Marks (Written) + 150 Marks (Interview) = 600 Marks| Section / Paper | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I: General Ability and Intelligence (CBT/OMR) | 125 MCQs (General Science, Polity, History, Reasoning) | 250 Marks | 2 Hours (10 AM - 12 PM) |
| Paper II: General Studies, Essay and Comprehension | Descriptive Essays, Arguments, Reports, Précis, English | 200 Marks | 3 Hours (2 PM - 5 PM) |
Paper I: +2 marks for correct, -0.66 marks for wrong. Paper II evaluated only if candidate meets minimum qualifying cutoff in Paper I. Physical Efficiency Test (PET) is qualifying. Personality Test carries 150 Marks.
Negative Marking Rule: -0.66 mark penalty on Paper I MCQs
Recommended Preparation Roadmap & Strategy
Cutoff Trends & Score Benchmark
Paper I qualifying cutoff hovers between 115 and 130 out of 250. Final cutoff for allocation as Assistant Commandant is typically 320-345 out of 600.
Recruited Posts, Services & Cadres
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the role of an Assistant Commandant in CAPF?
An Assistant Commandant is a Group 'A' Gazetted officer commanding a company of approximately 135 paramilitary personnel responsible for border security, counter-insurgency operations, or VIP/industrial security.
What physical fitness tests are conducted for CAPF AC?
Candidates must clear a 100m sprint (16 sec for men, 18 sec for women), 800m race (3 min 45 sec for men, 4 min 45 sec for women), Long Jump (3.5m for men, 3.0m for women), and Shot Put (4.5m for men).
Related Examinations & Pathways
Explore other national, state-level, or professional examinations in this discipline.
NDA & NA Examination (UPSC)
The National Defence Academy (NDA) examination is conducted by UPSC for commissioning permanent officers directly out of Class 12 into the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. The selection process comprises a 900-mark written examination followed by a rigorous 5-day Service Selection Board (SSB) interview and medical board.
CDS Examination (Combined Defence Services - UPSC)
The Combined Defence Services (CDS) examination is conducted by UPSC for commissioning graduates as officers in the Indian Armed Forces. Successful candidates enter the Indian Military Academy Dehradun (Army), Indian Naval Academy Ezhimala (Navy), Air Force Academy Hyderabad (Air Force), or Officers Training Academy Chennai (Short Service Commission).
AFCAT (Air Force Common Admission Test)
AFCAT is conducted by the Indian Air Force for commissioning male and female officers into the Flying Branch (Fighter, Transport, Helicopter pilots) and Ground Duty branches (Logistics, Administration, Accounts, Aeronautical Engineering). Qualified candidates attend the 5-day Air Force Selection Board (AFSB) and medicals.