UPSC CAPF AC
Address:
Union Public Service Commission Dholpur House, Shahjahan Road New Delhi - 110069
UPSC CAPF AC Syllabus for Paper 1
UPSC CAPF AC exam has two papers. The UPSC CAPF Paper-I includes General Ability
& Intelligence, and Paper-II includes General Studies, Essay & Comprehension. Where total marks for both papers
are a maximum of 550. In this section, questions will be asked on the below-mentioned topics. Let’s now have a look at
the detailed Syllabus of Paper-1 and Paper-2 of the UPSC CAPF Exam:
Paper 1: General Ability & Intelligence
UPSC CAPF Paper 1 consists of questions from General Mental Ability, General Science, Current Affairs, Indian Polity,
Indian History, and India & World Geography. Check the section-wise UPSC CAPF Syllabus from here and prepare
accordingly for the examination.
General Mental Ability
The UPSC CAPF Paper-I will have a written test that covers the following important General Ability topics and subjects,
including General Mental Ability.
- Logical Reasoning
- Quantitative Aptitude
- Numerical ability
- Data Interpretation
General Science
- General Awareness
- Scientific Temper
- Comprehension & Appreciation of Scientific Phenomena
- Information Technology
- Biotechnology
- Environmental Science
Current Affairs
Questions will be from Current Affairs of national and international importance in areas of:
- Culture
- Music
- Arts
- Literature
- Sports
- Governance
- Societal and Developmental Issues
- Industry
- Business
- Globalisation
Indian Polity
Questions will be asked from:
- Indian political system
- Constitution of India
- Social systems and public administration
- Economic development in India
- Regional and international security issues
- Human rights & its indicators
Indian History
Questions will be asked to test candidates’ knowledge of the growth of nationalism in India and the freedom movement.
- Indian History, Culture and Civilisation
- Freedom Movement in India
- Indian Constitution and Administration
- Elementary knowledge of Five Year Plans of India
- Panchayati Raj
- Co-operatives and Community Development
- Forces shaping Modern India
- Renaissance
- Exploration and Discovery
India & World Geography
- Earth
- Latitudes and Longitudes
- Concept of time
- International Date Line
- Movements of Earth and their effects
- Origin of Earth
- Rocks and their classification
- Weathering
- Earthquakes and Volcanoes
- Ocean Currents and Tides
- The atmosphere and its composition
- Temperature and Atmospheric Pressure
- Planetary Winds
- Cyclones and Anti-cyclones
- Humidity
- Condensation and Precipitation
- Types of Climate
- Major Natural Regions of the World
- Regional Geography of India
- Mineral and Power resources
- Imports and Exports of India
- World Geography
UPSC CAPF Syllabus for Paper 2
This paper has General Studies, Essays, and Comprehensions as descriptive question-answer. In Paper II 2nd part is Essay
Writing and Comprehension, for Essay Writing in this part candidates have two options of writing the Essay component in
English or Hindi. But in addition, the other part is Comprehension has to be written in English medium only. The
question will be asked related to English language and Grammar skills.
Part A (80 Marks): Essay
The topics of essay questions could be on:
- Modern Indian History
- Freedom Struggle
- Geography
- Polity
- Economy
- Security
- Human Rights
- Analytical Ability
Part B (120 Marks)
- Comprehensions
- Précis writing
- Communications/language skills
- Developing counter arguments
- Simple grammar
- Other aspects
UPSC CAPF AC Eligibility Criteria, Age Limit and Qualification
UPSC CAPF Eligibility Criteria include educational qualifications, age limit, physical standards, etc has been
discussed in the article. Both male and female candidates who have completed their Graduation Degree can apply for
Assistant Commandant posts.
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is responsible for conducting the Central Armed Police Force Assistant Commandant Exam (UPSC CAPF AC Exam) every year to recruit candidates for Grade A Officers (Assistant Commandants) posts in all Paramilitary Forces of India (BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP and SSB). Candidates who have a complete Bachelor’s
Degree/Graduation and are under the age limit of 20 to 25 years are eligible to apply online for UPSC CAPF AC . In
this article, we have a detailed breakdown of the UPSC CAPF AC Eligibility Criteria , which covers nationality, age
limits, educational qualifications, physical standards, and medical requirements for Assistant Commandant posts.
UPSC CAPF AC Eligibility Criteria
Both male & female candidates are eligible to apply for AC posts in various paramilitary forces of India. Candidates
are advised to provide the right details about their eligibility along with valid proof while filling out their UPSC
CAPF application form. Otherwise, it will lead to disqualification at the initial stage. The parameters that
are taken into consideration by the Union Public Service Commission to evaluate a candidate’s eligibility for Assistant
Commandant posts are specified below:
- Age Limit
- Educational Qualification
- Nationality
- Physical Standards
- Medical Standards
UPSC CAPF AC Age Limit
The minimum age limit for UPSC CAPF AC posts is 20 years, and candidates must not be more than 25 years of age. Only those who fall within this prescribed age limit can apply for Assistant Commandant posts.
UPSC CAPF AC Age Relaxations
Apart from the prescribed age limit, candidates who belong to special reserved categories such as OBC, ST/SC. etc. gets
age relaxation in the upper age limit. Those who belong to a scheduled caste or scheduled tribe receive 5 years of age relaxation in the prescribed maximum
age limit.
| Categories | Age Relaxations |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 5 years |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 5 years |
| OBC | 3 years |
| Civilian Central Government Servant | 5 years |
| Jammu & Kashmir Domiciled | 5 years |
| Ex-Servicemen Commissioned Officer | 5 years |
Required Educational Qualification for UPSC CAPF AC
The candidates must hold some minimum educational qualifications to become eligible for Assistant Commandant or AC
posts. As per UPSC CAPF Eligibility Criteria , candidates holding a bachelor’s degree from a government-recognised university, those having technical & professional degrees, etc. are eligible to apply.
- Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree from any government-recognised university or any institution established by
the Act of Legislature. - Those who are waiting for their graduation examination results are eligible, but their admission to the UPSC CAPF
examination is provisional until a valid proof of passing graduation is provided by the candidates. - Degrees from universities founded by Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956, or under a Parliamentary Act are also
recognised. - Those who have obtained technical or professional degrees from recognised institutions are also eligible.
Note:- In certain cases, a candidate who does not meet any of the criteria mentioned above can still be considered
provisionally qualified by UPSC if they have taken an exam conducted by one of the other Institutions whose standards
validate UPSC CAPF eligibility.
UPSC CAPF Nationality
Those who want to appear for the Assistant Commandant examination must belong to certain nationalities as specified in
the UPSC CAPF Eligibility Criteria . Candidates who are Indian citizens are eligible to apply. Check below to get complete details about CAPF nationality requirements.
- Candidates who are citizens of India or hold Indian citizenship of India are eligible for AC posts.
- Those who belong to Bhutan & Nepal can also apply for the UPSC CAPF examination.
Note:- Any candidate who belongs to some other nationality can only appear for the CAPF examination with the consent of
the Central Government.
Physical Standards Required for UPSC CAPF AC Exam
Along with other eligibility parameters, it is also important to fulfil physical standards for the UPSC CAPF
examination. The physical standards consider mainly three factors i.e. height, weight & chest measurements.
Male candidates must be 167 cm tall with 50 kg weight, whereas female candidates must be 157 cm tall with 46 kg weight. Candidates must note that chest measurements of female candidates are not applicable for Assistant Commandant posts.
| Genders | Height Measurements | Weight Measurements | Chest Measurements (Unexpanded) |
| Male | 165 cm | 50 kg | 81 cm |
| Female | 157 cm | 46 kg | Not Applicable |
UPSC CAPF Physical Efficiency Tests (PET)
Written test qualified candidates who meet the prescribed Physical Standards test will be called to appear for the
Physical Efficiency Test. PET will be done through the candidates’ performances per the following parameters. The PET
test is qualifying in nature, and no marks will be awarded for the PET test.
| UPSC CAPF Physical Efficiency Tests (PET) |
| Tasks | Male | Female |
| 100 Meters race | 16 seconds | 18 seconds |
| 800 Meters 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 (3 chances) | |
UPSC CAPF AC Medical Standards
Candidates must meet certain medical standards before they apply for UPSC CAPF, such as
candidates must have a distant vision of 6/6 or 6/9 for better eyes and 6/12 or 6/9 for worse eyes.
Along with eyesight standards, there are some other medical standards for Assistant Commandant (AC) posts, which
are provided below.
| Body Parts | Medical Standards |
| Eyes | Near Vision: N9 for better eye & N6 for worse eye Distant Vision: 6/6 or 6/9 for better eye & 6/12 or 6/9 for worse eye Limits of Refractive Errors Permitted: -4.00 D Myopia, +4.00 D Hypermetropia for both better and worse eye |
| Teeth | The candidates must possess a sufficient number of healthy teeth to guarantee appropriate mastication. Also, candidates must not have severe pyorrhea. |
| Ear | The candidate should not have any degree of deafness or persistent ear discharge. Candidate should not have any other condition (congenital or acquired) like atresia of the meatus, exostosis, or neoplasm which is causing obstruction of ear passage and should not have a history of recurrent earache, tinnitus, and vertigo |
| Chronic Skin Disorder | Those candidates who do not have any skin disorders are eligible to apply. Chronic skin disorders such as Leprosy, chronic dermatitis, extensive Pityriasis Versicolor, psoriasis, SLE, etc should not be present in any candidate. |
| Carrying Angle | Male: 15 Degrees
Female: 20 Degrees |
| Neck | The candidate should not have any symptoms of cervical or spinal vertebral disease, enlarged lymph nodes, thyroid, or other neck swellings, or problems completely extending the neck. |
| Nose | Those having DNS, atrophic rhinitis, tuberculous ulceration, or chronic sinusitis are not eligible to apply. |
| Veneral Disease | Candidates shouldn’t have a history of STIs. In addition, there shouldn’t be any clinical symptoms or indicators of an active sexually transmitted infection. |
UPSC CAPF AC Salary , In-Hand Salary, Allowances (Rank wise)
CAPF AC Salary structure has been discussed in the article along with basic pay, grade pay, allowances, etc.
here. Selected candidates will get a initial salary of Rs. 56,100/- which further increase with increase in rank.
UPSC CAPF Assistant Commandant is one of the most respected and authoritative posts in the country that draws lakhs of
aspirants every year. For candidates preparing for the UPSC AC Exam, understanding the salary structure and job profile
is important. The initial salary during the training period of a CAPF AC employee is Rs. 56,100/- and increases up to Rs. 2,25,000/- depending upon different ranks. Get complete insights into Salary, including in-hand pay, allowances, and other relevant information.
UPSC CAPF AC Salary
The additional perks, benefits & allowances provided to AC employees make UPSC CAPF Assistant Commandant Salary
attractive. The package offered to CAPF employees is quite rewarding and will increase with time.
The grade pay of an Assistant Commandant employee is Rs. 5400/-. Candidates will also get some great growth opportunities in this field, so it is not wrong to say that choosing a career as a CAPF AC employee is a great choice.
CAPF Assistant Commandant Salary Structure
The salary structure for UPSC CAPF Assistant Commandant posts includes different components such as grade pay,
basic pay, dearness allowance, and in-hand salary. All these components together make up a competitive and lucrative
salary structure. All necessary deductions and additions are included in this structure provided below for CAPF AC
Salary .
| Components | Amounts |
| Basic Pay | Rs. 15,600/- |
| Grade Pay | Rs. 5,400/- |
| Dearness Allowance | Rs. 26,250/- |
| Initial In-Hand Salary | Rs. 49,135/- |
| Total Salary | Rs. 56,100/- |
CAPF AC In-Hand Salary
Candidates who pass all the stages of the UPSC CAPF examination process will be hired for assistant commandant posts and will receive Rs. 49,135/- as their CAPF AC initial in-hand salary. The in-hand salary refers to an amount that a CAPF AC employee takes home after necessary deductions applicable by
the government.
UPSC CAPF AC Allowances and Perks
Apart from the monthly CAPF AC Salary , employees also receive some additional allowances, which make the salary
structure better and attract candidates towards pursuing a career with huge benefits that relate to their personal life,
health, etc.
The candidates who are hired as Assistant Commandants get allowances such as transport allowance, hardship allowance, house rent allowance, dearness allowance, etc.
- House Rent Allowance (HRA)
- Dearness Allowance (DA)
- Medical Allowance (MA)
- Special Duty Allowance (SDA)
- Hardship Allowance (HA)
- Transport Allowance (TA)
- Ration Money Allowance
Rank-Wise UPSC CAPF AC Salary Structure
The highest rank officer in CAPF is Director General with a pay scale of Rs. 2,25,000/-, and the lowest rank officer is Assistant Commandant with a pay scale of Rs. 56,100/- to Rs. 1,77,500/- and pay band 3. Check the table below to get rank-wise pay scales of officers along with their pay grades.
| Ranks | Pay Scales | Pay Bands |
| Assistant Commandant | Rs. 56,100/- to Rs. 1,77,500/- | Pay Band 3 |
| Deputy Commandant | Rs. 67, 00/- to Rs. 2,08,700/- |
| Commandant | Rs. 78,800/- to Rs. 2,09,200/- |
| Senior Commandant | Rs. 1,23,000/- to Rs. 2,15,900/- | Pay Band 4 |
| Deputy Inspector General | Rs. 1,31,000/- to Rs. 2,16,600/- |
| Inspector General | Rs. 1,44,000/- to Rs. 2,18,000/- |
| Additional Director-General | Rs. 1,82,000/- to Rs. 2, 24,100/- |
| Director-General | Rs. 2,25,000/- | Apex Fixed |
CAPF AC Salary Slip
The salary slip is issued to CAPF AC employees every month once the salary is credited to their accounts. This slip
includes a complete breakdown of incomes and deductions that a candidate has received in that particular month, along
with the total amount sent as their UPSC CAPF Assistant Commandant monthly salary.
UPSC CAPF AC — Important Books
Paper I: General Ability & Intelligence
Indian Polity
- Indian Polity — M. Laxmikanth (Most recommended)
History
- A Brief History of Modern India — Spectrum Publications
- NCERTs (Class 6–12) for Ancient, Medieval & Modern History
Geography
- Certificate Physical & Human Geography — Goh Cheng Leong
- NCERTs (Class 6–12) for Indian & World Geography
Economy
- Indian Economy — Ramesh Singh
- Economic Survey (latest edition)
General Science
- Lucent’s General Science
- NCERTs (Class 6–10) for Physics, Chemistry, Biology
General Mental Ability / Reasoning
- A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning— R.S. Aggarwal
- Quantitative Aptitude— R.S. Aggarwal
General Knowledge / Current Affairs
- Lucent’s General Knowledge
- Manorama Yearbook
(latest edition) - The Hindu / Indian Express (daily reading)
Paper II: General Studies, Essay & Comprehension (Descriptive)
- Word Power Made Easy — Norman Lewis (Vocabulary & English)
- High School English Grammar — Wren & Martin
- Yojana & Kurukshetra magazines (for essay topics)
- The Hindu editorials (for essay and comprehension practice)
Integrated CAPF-Specific Guides
- CAPF AC Guide Paper I — Disha Publication (covers full syllabus with PYQs)
- CAPF AC Guide Paper II — Disha Publication
- 14 Previous Year Solved Papers — Disha Publication
- Arihant CAPF AC Paper I— Arihant Publications
- Kiran’s CAPF Solved Papers— Kiran Publication
1. What is the UPSC CAPF AC Exam?
The UPSC CAPF AC Examination is a national-level competitive exam conducted by the Union Public Service Commission to recruit Assistant Commandants (AC) in the Central Armed Police Forces.
2. Which forces recruit officers through this exam?
Selected candidates are appointed as Assistant Commandants in the following forces:
- Border Security Force (BSF)
- Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)
- Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)
- Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
- Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)
3. What is the educational qualification required?
Candidates must have a Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized university . Final-year students can also apply, provided they produce proof of passing before the final selection.
4. What is the age limit?
- Minimum Age: 20 years
- Maximum Age: 25 yearsAge relaxation is provided for reserved categories as per government rules.
5. What is the selection process?
The selection process includes:
- Written Examination
- Physical Efficiency Test (PET) & Medical Standards Test
- Interview / Personality Test
6. What are the subjects in the written exam?
The written exam has two papers:
Paper I (Objective – 250 Marks)
- General Ability
- Intelligence
Paper II (Descriptive – 200 Marks)
- Essay Writing
- Precis Writing
- Comprehension
- Communication Skills
7. What is the application mode?
Applications must be submitted online through the official website of the Union Public Service Commission.
8. What is the salary of an Assistant Commandant?
The salary is based on Level-10 Pay Matrix :
- Basic Pay: ₹56,100 per month
- With allowances, the total salary can reach ₹70,000–₹1,00,000+ per month depending on posting.
9. Is there negative marking in the exam?
Yes. In Paper I ,1/3rd mark is deducted for each incorrect answer . Paper II is descriptive and evaluated separately.
10. Can female candidates apply?
Yes. Both male and female candidates are eligible for the UPSC CAPF AC Examination , provided they meet the physical and medical standards.
11. How many attempts are allowed?
There is no fixed limit on attempts . Candidates can attempt the exam until they reach the maximum age limit.
12. What is the official website for the exam?
Candidates should visit the official website of the Union Public Service Commission for notifications, application forms, and updates.
