UPSC CAPF AC Syllabus 2026: Paper 1 & 2, PET, PST , Exam Pattern & Preparation Tips

The UPSC CAPF AC Syllabus 2026 serves as the essential guide for aspirants targeting the Central Armed Police Forces (Assistant Commandant) examination. Conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), this prestigious exam recruits Assistant Commandants for key forces including BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, and SSB.

These officers hold leadership positions in maintaining internal security, border protection, and law enforcement. The UPSC CAPF AC 2026 written exam is scheduled for 19 July 2026, as per the official notification released on 20 February 2026.

With applications open until mid-March 2026 and a total of approximately 349 vacancies announced, candidates should refer to the official UPSC website for the latest updates on eligibility, exact vacancies, and dates.

Overview of UPSC CAPF AC Exam

The exam targets graduates aged typically 20–25 years (with relaxations for reserved categories). It selects candidates for Group A Gazetted posts in CAPFs. Always verify detailed eligibility (including nationality, education, and physical criteria) in the official 2026 notification.

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Exam Pattern for UPSC CAPF AC(Written)

The written exam features two papers on the same day.

Paper I – General Ability & Intelligence

• Type: Objective (MCQs)

• Questions: 125

• Marks: 250

• Duration: 2 hours

• Medium: Bilingual (Hindi & English)

• Negative Marking: 1/3rd marks deducted for each wrong answer

Paper II – General Studies, Essay & Comprehension

• Type: Descriptive

• Components: Essays, comprehension, précis, language/grammar

• Marks: 200

• Duration: 3 hours

• Medium: Essay in Hindi or English; other parts (comprehension, précis, etc.) in English only

Selection Process for UPSC CAPF AC

The selection process is multi-stage and merit-based.

• Written Examination – Paper I and Paper II (total 450 marks).

• Physical Standards Test (PST) & Physical Efficiency Test (PET) – qualifying in nature.

• Medical Standards Test – detailed medical examination as per CAPF norms.

• Personality Test / Interview – conducted by UPSC, typically 150 marks.

• Final Merit List – based on aggregate marks of written exam (Paper I + II) and interview, subject to qualifying PST, PET and medical tests.

Syllabus for UPSC CAPF AC Paper I (General Ability & Intelligence)

Paper I tests General Mental Ability, General Science, Current Affairs, Indian Polity & Economy, Indian History, and India & World Geography.

General Mental Ability (Reasoning & Aptitude)

Paper I written test covers the following General Ability topics, including General Mental Ability:

• Logical Reasoning

• Quantitative Aptitude

• Numerical Ability

• Data Interpretation

General Science

• General Science and general awareness of science & technology in everyday life.

• Scientific temper, comprehension and appreciation of scientific phenomena.

• Developments in information technology, biotechnology and environmental science.

Current Affairs of National & International Importance

Questions will be from current events in areas of:

• Culture, Music, Arts, Literature

• Sports

• Governance, societal and developmental issues

• Industry, Business, Globalisation

• National and international organizations and events

Indian Polity & Economy

Questions will test knowledge of:

• Indian political system and Constitution of India

• Social systems and public administration

• Economic development in India

• Regional and international security issues

• Human rights and indicators

Indian History

Questions will test awareness of the growth of nationalism and the freedom movement in India:

• Indian History, Culture and Civilisation

• Freedom Movement in India

• Indian Constitution and Administration (elementary)

• Five Year Plans of India (basic)

• Panchayati Raj, Co-operatives, Community Development

• Forces shaping modern India – Renaissance, exploration and discovery

India & World Geography

Geography-related topics generally include:

• Earth: latitudes, longitudes, concept of time, International Date Line

• Movements of Earth and their effects

• Origin of Earth, rocks and classification, weathering

• Earthquakes and volcanoes

• Ocean currents and tides

• Atmosphere and its composition, temperature and pressure

• Planetary winds, cyclones and anti-cyclones

• Humidity, condensation, 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 basics

UPSC CAPF Syllabus for Paper II

Paper II includes General Studies, Essays, and Comprehension as descriptive questions. In Part B, the Essay component can be written in English or Hindi, while the comprehension and other language parts must be written in English only.

Part A – Essay (80 Marks)

Topics for essays may include:

• Modern Indian History

• Freedom Struggle

• Geography

• Polity

• Economy

• Security (internal security, border management, disaster management)

• Human Rights

• Analytical Ability (social/ethical issues)

Part B – General Studies & Comprehension (120 Marks)

This part tests:

• Comprehension passages

• Précis writing

• Communication and language skills

• Developing counter-arguments

• Simple grammar and vocabulary

• Other aspects of written English expression

Physical Standards Test (PST) & Physical Efficiency Test (PET)

PST (Minimum Standards – Broadly as per norms)

• Height: Men – 165 cm; Women – 157 cm (relaxations apply)

• Chest (Men only): 81 cm unexpanded + 5 cm expansion

• Weight: Men – 50 kg; Women – 46 kg (proportionate to height)

Exact category-wise details are in the official notification.

PET (Qualifying)

Typical events (confirm with notification):

• 100m race: Men – ~16 seconds; Women – ~18 seconds

• 800m race: Men – ~3 min 45 sec; Women – adjusted norms

• Long Jump & High Jump: Minimum distances/heights with limited attempts

Medical Standards Test

Focuses on overall fitness:

• Vision: 6/6 or 6/9 (corrected), limits on refractive errors; LASIK permitted under criteria

• Color perception: CP-III (Ishihara)

• No chronic illnesses (e.g., TB, diabetes, hypertension, heart issues)

• Normal ENT, teeth, skin; no deformities

Personality Test / Interview

• 150 marks

• UPSC board assesses leadership, communication, decision-making, awareness of national/security issues, and motivation for uniformed service

• Final merit combines written (450) + interview (150) marks

Recommended Books for UPSC CAPF AC Exam

You can add an “Exam Books” heading with targeted recommendations:

Paper I – General Ability & Intelligence:

• NCERTs (Class 6–12) for History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Science.

• Lucent’s General Knowledge or similar GK manual.

• Quantitative Aptitude by R.S. Aggarwal for maths and numerical ability.

• A standard reasoning book (e.g., by R.S. Aggarwal or similar).

Paper II – GS, Essay & Comprehension:

• Previous Years’ CAPF AC Papers (essay and comprehension practice).

• A good Essay book for UPSC (civil services level) for structure and content.

• Wren & Martin or similar for English grammar and composition.

Current Affairs:

• Daily newspaper, monthly current affairs magazine, PIB and government portals for schemes and security issues.

Tips for Preparing for UPSC CAPF AC

• Align study with the official syllabus and pattern.

• Practice MCQs for Paper I, focusing on speed and negative marking avoidance.

• Write timed essays, précis, and comprehension for Paper II; seek feedback.

• Emphasize security, governance, and current affairs.

• Train consistently for PET (running, jumps, stamina).

• Take mocks for all stages.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Ignoring syllabus details or over-relying on unrelated topics.

• Careless attempts in Paper I due to negative marking.

• Neglecting descriptive practice for Paper II.

• Skipping physical prep.

• Avoiding full mocks and evaluation.