March 26, 20268 min read

UPSC CAPF AC Exam Pattern 2025: Paper I, Paper II, Interview and Physical Tests

Complete UPSC CAPF Assistant Commandant exam pattern — Paper I General Ability (250 marks), Paper II Essay and Comprehension (200 marks), Interview (150 marks), Physical Standards and Medical Examination.

UPSC CAPF Assistant Commandant exam pattern CRPF BSF CISF SSB interview

UPSC CAPF (Central Armed Police Forces) Assistant Commandant exam is held for direct recruitment of officers to BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, and SSB. Unlike the Civil Services exam, CAPF AC has a two-paper written examination followed by a physical test and interview — making it a physically and intellectually demanding selection process.

Forces Covered Under CAPF AC Recruitment

Force	Full Name
BSF	Border Security Force
CRPF	Central Reserve Police Force
CISF	Central Industrial Security Force
ITBP	Indo-Tibetan Border Police
SSB	Sashastra Seema Bal

The selection for NIA (National Investigation Agency) Inspector is also conducted through this exam in some cycles.

Selection Stages Overview

Stage	Component	Marks
Stage 1	Written Exam — Paper I (Objective)	250
Stage 1	Written Exam — Paper II (Descriptive)	200
Stage 2	Physical Standard Test (PST)	Qualifying
Stage 2	Physical Efficiency Test (PET)	Qualifying
Stage 2	Medical Standard Test	Qualifying
Stage 3	Interview (Personality Test)	150

Total marks for merit: 250 (Paper I) + 200 (Paper II) + 150 (Interview) = 600 marks

Paper I — General Ability and Intelligence (250 marks)

125 questions | 250 marks | 2 hours

This is an objective multiple-choice paper. Each question carries 2 marks.

Negative marking: 1/3 mark per wrong answer (i.e., 0.66 marks deducted for each wrong response).

Section	Approximate Questions	Notes
General Mental Ability	25-30	Reasoning, analytical ability
General Science	15-20	Physics, Chemistry, Biology basics
Current Affairs	15-20	National and international events
Indian Polity	10-15	Constitution, governance
History	10-15	Ancient to modern, freedom struggle
Indian Economy	10-15	Economic developments, schemes
Geography	10-15	Physical geography, Indian geography
Defence	5-10	Indian armed forces, defence organization

Detailed Syllabus — Paper I

General Mental Ability

Verbal and non-verbal analogies
Number and letter series
Blood relations, direction sense
Coding-decoding, venn diagrams
Syllogisms, data sufficiency
Logical reasoning, critical thinking
Spatial reasoning, mirror images

General Science

Physics: mechanics, heat, light, electricity, sound, magnetism
Chemistry: basic chemistry, elements, compounds, mixtures, acids, bases, salts
Biology: cell structure, human body systems (digestive, circulatory, respiratory, nervous), plant biology basics, diseases and immunity
Environmental science: ecosystem, food chains, pollution, climate change basics

Current Events of National and International Importance

Last 12 months of national/international current affairs
Government schemes and policies
Sports, awards, appointments
Defence developments, border-related news
International treaties and India's foreign policy developments

History of India and Indian National Movement

Ancient Indian culture and civilization
Medieval India — major dynasties
British colonial period
Important freedom fighters and movements
Post-Independence India: constitutional developments, Five-Year Plans

Indian Polity and Governance

Constitution of India — preamble, fundamental rights and duties, directive principles
Parliament and state legislature structure
Judiciary — Supreme Court, High Courts, subordinate courts
Federalism and centre-state relations
Constitutional bodies: UPSC, CAG, Election Commission, NHRC
Important amendments
Role and functioning of armed police forces in democracy

Indian Economy and Development

GDP, GNP, economic growth basics
Monetary and fiscal policy
Planning: NITI Aayog
Major schemes: PMAY, PM-Kisan, Swachh Bharat
International institutions: World Bank, IMF
Trade policy, Make in India

Geography

Physical features of India: Himalayas, Gangetic plain, coastal plains, islands
Rivers: major rivers, tributaries, river projects
Climate: monsoon system, seasons
Natural resources: soil types, forest cover, minerals
World physical geography: continents, oceans, important straits

Indian Defence Forces and Organization

Structure of Indian Army, Navy, Air Force
Ranks and insignia
CAPF forces and their roles (border security, industrial security, etc.)
Recent defence acquisitions and indigenization
Geographical deployment of different CAPF forces

Paper II — General Studies, Essay and Comprehension (200 marks)

3 hours | Descriptive paper | Written by hand

This paper has no MCQs — it is entirely descriptive. It evaluates writing ability, comprehension, and the capacity to articulate arguments clearly.

Component	Marks
Essay	80
Comprehension (précis and question-answers)	80
Short Précis Writing	40

No negative marking. The paper can be written in English or Hindi (candidate's choice, to be declared at the time of examination). Essay (80 marks): One essay of approximately 600-800 words on a current topic. Topics have ranged across social issues, defence policy, economic development, environment, and value-based topics (integrity, leadership, public service). Comprehension (80 marks): Two passages are given. Questions test:

Direct comprehension of the passage
Ability to infer meanings
Vocabulary in context
Summary writing

Précis Writing (40 marks): Condense a given passage to approximately 1/3 of its original length while retaining key points.

Physical Standard Test (PST)

All candidates who qualify the written exam are called for PST, PET, and Medical examination.

Height Requirements

Category	Male	Female
General	165 cm	157 cm
Scheduled Tribes (ST)	162.5 cm	154 cm
Candidates from North East, hilly regions	Relaxation as per notification

Chest Measurements (Male Only)

Category	Unexpanded	Expansion
General	81 cm	Minimum 5 cm
ST, Hill regions	78 cm	Minimum 5 cm

Female candidates: No chest measurement requirement.

Weight

Weight should be proportionate to height and age as per medical standards. No fixed minimum — assessed by medical board.

Physical Efficiency Test (PET)

The PET is qualifying. Events and standards:

Male Candidates

Event	Qualifying Standard
100 metres race	16 seconds
800 metres race	3 minutes 45 seconds
Long jump	3.5 metres (3 chances)
Shot put (7.26 kg)	4.5 metres (3 chances)

Female Candidates

Event	Qualifying Standard
100 metres race	18 seconds
800 metres race	4 minutes 45 seconds
Long jump	3.0 metres (3 chances)
Shot put (4 kg)	3.0 metres (3 chances)

PET is conducted at designated test centres. Candidates are required to carry original identity documents and the PST/PET call letter.

Medical Standard Test

Medical examination is conducted by a Medical Board. Key standards:

Vision:

Distant vision: 6/6 in one eye and 6/9 in the other (corrected)
Near vision: N-5 in better eye, N-6 in worse eye
Candidates with corrected vision (glasses/lenses) are eligible up to certain limits

General medical:

No flat feet, knock knee, or bow leg
No varicose veins
No significant hearing impairment
No mental health conditions
Dental fitness (minimum required teeth)

Interview (Personality Test) — 150 marks

The interview is conducted by UPSC after the Physical Standards and Medical tests. Only medically fit candidates appear for the interview.

Duration: 20-30 minutes What's assessed:

Mental alertness and quick understanding
Critical power of assimilation
Clear and logical exposition
Balance of judgment
Variety and depth of interest
Leadership qualities
Social cohesion and integrity
Command presence (relevant for armed police officers)

Questions commonly cover: why CAPF specifically, knowledge of force you've applied for (BSF mission vs CRPF mission), current security challenges facing India, personal background and motivation, ethical scenarios.

Final Merit Calculation

Component	Marks
Paper I (Written, Objective)	250
Paper II (Written, Descriptive)	200
Interview	150
Total	600

PST, PET, and Medical are qualifying — they don't add to marks. Category-wise merit lists are drawn from the 600-mark total.

FAQ

What is the age limit for UPSC CAPF AC?

The age limit is 20-25 years (General category). Age relaxation: 5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC. Ex-servicemen get relaxation up to the period of service plus 3 years.

Is there an attempt limit for CAPF AC like UPSC IAS?

UPSC CAPF does not have a specified attempt limit like Civil Services (which has 6 attempts for General). However, the age limit effectively limits how many times you can appear.

Which force is most preferred among CAPF AC recruits?

Post preference is filled by candidates at the time of applying. Most candidates prefer CISF for its postings in urban/industrial locations, or CRPF for its prominent operational role. BSF and ITBP offer frontier postings. Final allotment depends on rank and vacancies.

Is the CAPF AC exam good preparation for UPSC Civil Services?

The written exam overlaps considerably with UPSC Prelims (Paper I content) and touches Essay and Comprehension like UPSC Mains. Many aspirants appear for CAPF as a practice exam and also for a backup appointment.

Track UPSC CAPF notification dates, written exam results, and interview schedule at SarkariNaukriHub.