The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially released the recruitment notification for the Central Armed Police Forces (Assistant Commandants) Examination 2026. This is a great opportunity for Indian citizens to serve as Group A officers in India's elite paramilitary forces, including the BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, and SSB.

In this comprehensive guide, we cover everything you need to know about the UPSC CAPF AC 2026 notification, including eligibility, the exam pattern, and the step-by-step application process.

1. Vacancy Details: UPSC CAPF AC Recruitment 2026

2. Important Dates

3. Eligibility Criteria

4. Selection Process & Exam Pattern

5. Physical Efficiency Test (PET) Standards

6. How to Apply Online

7. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Vacancy Details: UPSC CAPF AC Recruitment 2026

The UPSC has announced a total of 349 vacancies for the post of assistant commandant. The distribution across different forces is as follows:

Force	Number of Vacancies
Border Security Force (BSF)	108
Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)	106
Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)	70
Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)	53
Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)	12
Total	349

Important Dates

To ensure you don't miss out, keep a close watch on these critical dates:

Notification Release: February 2026
Online Registration Starts: February 20, 2026
Last Date to Apply: March 12, 2026 (until 6:00 PM)
Written Exam Date: July 19, 2026

Eligibility Criteria

Before applying, candidates must ensure they meet the following requirements:

Age Limit: Candidates must be between 20 and 25 years old as of August 1, 2026. Specifically, applicants must have been born between August 2, 2001, and August 1, 2006.

Relaxation: 5 years for SC/ST and 3 years for OBC candidates.

Educational Qualification: A bachelor's degree from a recognised university or equivalent is mandatory.
Desirable Qualification: Candidates holding NCC 'B' or 'C' certificates will be given preference during the interview/personality test stage.

Selection Process & Exam Pattern

The selection for assistant commandant is a rigorous multi-stage process:

1. Written Examination: Consists of two papers:

o Paper I: General ability and intelligence (250 marks, objective type).

o Paper II: General Studies, Essay and Comprehension (200 Marks).

2. Physical Standards/Physical Efficiency Tests (PET).

3. Medical Examination.

4. Interview / Personality Test.

Physical Efficiency Test (PET) Standards

Candidates who clear the written exam must meet these physical standards:

Test	Men	Women
100-Metre Race	16 Seconds	18 Seconds
800-Metre Race	3 min 45 Sec	4 Min 45 Sec
Long Jump	3.5 Meter (3 chances)	3.0 Meter (3 chances)
Shot Put (7.26 Kg)	4.5 Meters (3 chances)	-