March 26, 20268 min read

CISF Recruitment 2026 — Constable, Head Constable, SI, ASI Posts, Physical Standards, Salary & Career in Industrial Security

Complete guide to CISF recruitment. Constable GD, Head Constable, Sub-Inspector, and ASI posts, physical standards for height/chest/running, salary under 7th CPC, selection process, and unique postings at airports, metros, and nuclear installations.

CISF paramilitary airport security constable SI government jobs central armed forces

If you've ever walked through airport security in India, the personnel checking your boarding pass and running the baggage scanner were almost certainly CISF. The Central Industrial Security Force is the only armed force in India with a mandate to protect critical infrastructure — airports, nuclear power plants, metro rail systems, government PSUs, and sensitive installations. It's a unique force, and the career it offers is distinctly different from BSF or CRPF.

CISF is under the Ministry of Home Affairs and has over 1.8 lakh personnel deployed across India. The postings are overwhelmingly urban or at industrial sites, which is a significant draw compared to other Central Armed Police Forces. Let's break down how to get in.

CISF at a Glance

Full form: Central Industrial Security Force
Parent body: Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India
Mandate: Security of critical infrastructure — airports, metro systems, nuclear installations, space centres, PSUs, government buildings
Strength: ~1,80,000 personnel
Headquarters: New Delhi
Key deployments: All major airports (Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, etc.), Delhi Metro, Mumbai Metro, nuclear power plants (NPCIL sites), ISRO centres, ONGC/BHEL/NTPC installations, Parliament House complex

Unlike BSF (border security) or CRPF (internal security/anti-Naxal operations), CISF's work is primarily industrial and infrastructure security. This means more structured shifts, better urban postings, and a relatively more predictable work environment.

Entry Routes and Posts

Post	Entry Route	Pay Level	Approx. Gross Salary
Constable GD	SSC GD Constable Exam	Level 3 (₹21,700 basic)	₹26,000–₹32,000
Constable (Fire)	SSC GD / Direct CISF notification	Level 3	₹26,000–₹32,000
Head Constable (Ministerial)	SSC Head Constable exam	Level 4 (₹25,500 basic)	₹30,000–₹38,000
ASI (Stenographer)	Direct CISF notification	Level 5 (₹29,200 basic)	₹34,000–₹42,000
Sub-Inspector (GD)	SSC CPO Exam	Level 6 (₹35,400 basic)	₹42,000–₹52,000
Sub-Inspector (Exe)	Direct / UPSC CAPF	Level 6	₹42,000–₹52,000
Assistant Commandant	UPSC CAPF (AC) Exam	Level 8 (₹47,600 basic)	₹58,000–₹70,000

The gross salary figures include Basic Pay + DA (~53%) + HRA (city-dependent) + Transport Allowance + Ration Money. CISF personnel posted at airports often get additional allowances.

Eligibility and Physical Standards

Constable GD (via SSC GD)

Educational: 10th pass (Matriculation) from a recognized board Age: 18–23 years (relaxation: OBC +3, SC/ST +5) Physical Standards:

Parameter	Male (General/OBC)	Male (SC/ST)	Female (General/OBC)	Female (SC/ST)
Height	170 cm	162.5 cm	157 cm	150 cm
Chest (unexpanded)	80 cm	76 cm	N/A	N/A
Chest (expanded)	85 cm	81 cm	N/A	N/A
Weight	Proportionate	Proportionate	Proportionate	Proportionate

Physical Efficiency Test (PET):

Test	Male	Female
Running	5 km in 24 minutes	1.6 km in 8.5 minutes
Long Jump	3.65 m (3 chances)	2.7 m (3 chances)
High Jump	1.2 m (3 chances)	0.9 m (3 chances)

Sub-Inspector GD (via SSC CPO)

Educational: Bachelor's degree from any recognized university. Age: 20–25 years. Physical standards are similar to Constable GD — Male height 170 cm (General/OBC), 162.5 cm (SC/ST); Female height 157 cm, 150 cm respectively. PET: Male 1.6 km in 6.5 min; Female 1 km in 4 min, plus long jump, high jump, and shot put.

Assistant Commandant (via UPSC CAPF)

Bachelor's degree, age 20–25. Officer-level entry through UPSC's CAPF (AC) exam — Written Test + Physical Standards + Interview.

Selection Process

For Constable GD (SSC GD Route)

Stage	Details
Stage 1 — CBT	Computer Based Test: General Intelligence, General Knowledge, Elementary Maths, English/Hindi (80 Q, 160 marks, 60 min)
Stage 2 — PET/PST	Physical Efficiency Test + Physical Standard Test (height, chest measurements)
Stage 3 — Medical	Detailed medical examination (eyesight, hearing, general fitness)
Stage 4 — Document Verification	Original certificates, caste certificate, domicile

Eyesight requirement: Distant vision 6/6 and 6/9 without glasses (corrected to 6/6 and 6/6 with glasses). Colour vision must be normal — CP-III standard.

For Sub-Inspector (SSC CPO Route)

Stage	Details
Paper I — CBT	General Intelligence, General Knowledge, Quantitative Aptitude, English (200 Q, 200 marks, 2 hours)
PET/PST	Physical Efficiency + Physical Standards
Paper II — CBT	English Language & Comprehension (200 Q, 200 marks, 2 hours)
Medical	Detailed medical examination
Document Verification	Final verification of credentials

Posting Locations — The Airport Advantage

This is where CISF is genuinely different from other CAPFs. A significant portion of CISF personnel are posted at:

Airports: Delhi (IGI), Mumbai (CSMIA), Bengaluru (KIA), Hyderabad (RGIA), Chennai, Kolkata, and 60+ other airports across India. Airport security is CISF's most visible role. Metro Rail Systems: Delhi Metro, Mumbai Metro, Bengaluru Metro, Kolkata Metro, Chennai Metro, Hyderabad Metro. As new metro systems open across Indian cities, CISF deployments expand. Industrial Installations: ONGC platforms, NTPC power plants, BHEL factories, nuclear power stations (Kudankulam, Tarapur, Kaiga, Kalpakkam), ISRO centres (Sriharikota, Thiruvananthapuram), refineries. Government Buildings: Parliament House complex, Reserve Bank of India offices, important government buildings. Practical implication: CISF postings are overwhelmingly in cities or at specific industrial sites. You're far less likely to be posted in remote border areas compared to BSF or in Naxal-affected regions compared to CRPF.

Career Growth

Starting Rank	Promotion Path	Approximate Timeline
Constable GD (Level 3)	Head Constable (Level 4)	8–10 years
Head Constable (Level 4)	ASI (Level 5)	5–7 years after HC
ASI (Level 5)	SI (Level 6)	5–8 years after ASI
SI (Level 6)	Inspector (Level 7)	6–8 years after SI
Inspector (Level 7)	Assistant Commandant (Level 8)	Through LDCE or seniority
Assistant Commandant (Level 8)	Deputy Commandant → Commandant → DIG → IG	Progressive promotions

Constable-to-Inspector promotions are time-bound but can take 20–25 years. The Limited Departmental Competitive Exam (LDCE) offers a faster route for motivated personnel to jump grades.

Allowances and Benefits

Beyond basic salary, CISF personnel receive: free ration or ration money, kit maintenance allowance, risk and hardship allowance (for nuclear/high-security postings), rent-free accommodation in barracks/quarters, free medical for self and family, CSD canteen facility, children education allowance, and standard CAPF leave entitlements.

How to Apply

For Constable GD: Apply through SSC GD notification on ssc.gov.in. Select CISF as your force preference.
For Sub-Inspector: Apply through SSC CPO notification on ssc.gov.in. Select CISF as your force preference.
For Assistant Commandant: Apply through UPSC CAPF (AC) notification on upsc.gov.in.
For Head Constable / ASI (direct): Watch for CISF-specific notifications on cisfrectt.in.
Track all notifications on SarkariNaukriHub

FAQ

Is CISF considered a paramilitary or armed police force? Technically, CISF is a Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), not a paramilitary force. The CAPFs — CISF, CRPF, BSF, SSB, ITBP, AR, NSG — are all under MHA. The term "paramilitary" is commonly used colloquially but is officially reserved for forces like Assam Rifles. Can I choose airport posting in CISF? No. Posting is decided by the CISF administration based on vacancies and operational requirements. However, given that airports account for a large share of CISF deployments, the probability of an airport posting at some point in your career is reasonably high. Is CISF safer than BSF or CRPF? CISF's mandate is industrial security, not border security or counter-insurgency. The operational risk profile is generally lower than BSF (border patrol, shelling zones) or CRPF (anti-Naxal, Kashmir). That said, CISF personnel at sensitive installations do face security threats. What happens if I fail the medical test? If you fail the initial medical, you can request a Review Medical Examination (RME) within a specified period. The RME is conducted by a higher medical board, and its decision is final.