The Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) refers to the uniform nomenclature of seven security forces in India under the authority of the Ministry of Home Affairs. They are the Assam Rifles (AR), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), National Security Guard (NSG), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).   

Recruitment is conducted mainly in three modes

Gazetted Officers: Officers in CAPFs are recruited through the Central Armed Police Forces (Assistant Commandants) Examination conducted by UPSC.

Subordinate Officers: Sub Inspectors are recruited through competitive examination conducted by the Staff Selection Commission and they are referred as DASOs (Directly Appointed Subordinate Officers).

Constables: Constables are recruited through competitive examination conducted by the Staff Selection Commission.  

CAPF - AC Examination Pattern

Central Armed Police Forces Examination Recruitment for Assistant Commandant takes place after a selection procedure that includes:

Scheme of Exam: The examination shall be conducted according to the following plan;

(i) Written Examination

• Paper 1 : General Ability and Intelligence
• Paper 2: General Studies, Essay and Comprehension

(ii) Physical Standards/Physically Efficiency Test and Medical Standard Tests

(iii) Interview / Personality Test 

(i) Written Examination:

Paper-I:

Paper-II:

Note:

• In Paper II, candidates should have to ensure that they should have to write the answers only in the medium allowed by the Commission for the different Components as mentioned.
• Other than the allowed medium, no credit will be given for answers written other than the selected language. So, candidates will be required to indicate the medium of Essay Component in the Attendance Lists and on the Answer Book.
• No credit will be given for the Essay Component if the candidate indicates a medium on the Attendance List and on the Answer Book other than the one in which he/she has written the Essay.
• In each paper, there will be minimum qualifying marks separately as fixed by the Commission in their discretion. Firstly, Paper-I will be evaluated and the evaluation of Paper-II will be done only for those candidates who obtain the minimum qualifying marks in Paper-I.

Physical Standards/Physically Efficiency Test and Medical Standard Tests:

For those candidates who meet the prescribed Physical Standards will be put through the Physical Efficiency Tests as mentioned below

Note:

At the time of PET, Pregnant female candidates will be a disqualified and the candidates will be rejected.

(iii) Interview/Personality Test:

The candidates who are declared qualified in the Medical Standards Tests will be called for Interview/Personality Test to be conducted by UPSC. The candidates who are declared medically unfit but allowed to appear before the “Review Medical Board” on their appeal by the Appellate Authority will be called for Interview/Personality Tests provisionally.

The Interview/Personality Test will carry 150 Marks. The candidates who are short-listed for Interview/Personality Test, including those shortlisted for Interview/Personality Test provisionally will be issued a Detailed Application Form (DAF) in which among other things, they will be required to indicate their preference of Forces.

Nationality:

No person who is not a citizen of India shall, except with the consent of the Central Government signified in writing be appointed or employed under these Rules. Provided that nothing contained in these rules shall debar the appointment, enrollment or employment of a subject of Nepal or Bhutan under these Rules.

Sex

Both Male and Female candidates are eligible for appointment to the post of Assistant Commandants.  

Educational Qualification

Here are the certain educational qualifications that the applicants must possess to be eligible for CAPF:

• As part of UPSC CAPF Eligibility Criteria, candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree from a government recognised university. The University should be incorporated by an Act of the Central or State Legislature in India
• Other educational institutions established by an Act of Parliament or declared to be deemed as a University under Section-3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 are also acceptable
• Those candidates, who have appeared in the qualifying examination and have yet not got their results, can also apply for CAPF Exam. But, it must be kept in mind that the admission would be provisional until the candidate produces proof of passing the examination after qualifying the entrance test of CAPF

Age Limit 

• The candidate must have acquired a minimum age of 20 years. The upper age limit of the candidate must be 25 years. However, the upper age limit up to a maximum of five years can be relaxed for candidates belonging to SC/ST category
• Up to a maximum of three years for the candidates belonging to Other Backward Classes can be relaxed The candidate who wishes to apply for CAPF must be an Indian national. Both female and male candidates can apply for the CAPF exam. There are different medical standards set by UPSC to apply for the desired post through UPSC CAPF 
• The candidates who have already been once selected on the basis of the CAPF exam earlier cannot apply for the exam   

Paper I : General Ability and Intelligence

1. General Mental Ability

2. General Science

3. Current Events of National and International Importance:

4. Indian Polity and Economy:

5. History of India:

6. Indian and World Geography:

Paper II: General Studies, Essay and Comprehension