The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially released the notification for the Central Armed Police Forces (Assistant Commandants) Examination, 2026. This highly competitive exam recruits Assistant Commandants (ACs) in key Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF): Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). The much-anticipated UPSC CAPF AC Notification 2026 was issued on February 20, 2026, following a brief administrative postponement from the originally planned February 18 date. Online applications opened immediately on February 20, 2026, and the portal remains active until March 12, 2026 (till 6:00 PM). All registrations and submissions must be completed exclusively via the official UPSC website.
UPSC CAPF Assistant Commandant Recruitment 2026
| Exam Name | Central Armed Police Forces (Assistant Commandants) Examination, 2026 |
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Post Name | Assistant Commandant (AC) |
| Total Vacancies | 349 |
| Participating Forces | BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, SSB |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Application Start Date | 20th February 2026 |
| Application End Date | 12th March 2026 (till 6:00 PM) |
| Official Website | upsc.gov.in |
Eligibility Criteria for UPSC CAPF AC 2026
Educational Qualification
- Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university or equivalent. Final-year students can apply provisionally but must produce proof at the time of detailed application or interview.
Age Limit
- Minimum Age: 20 years
- Maximum Age: 25 years
- Crucial Date for Age Calculation: Candidates must have been born not earlier than 2nd August 2001 and not later than 1st August 2006. (Note: The exact cut-off date will be confirmed in the detailed notification).
Selection Process
The UPSC CAPF AC recruitment follows a rigorous multi-stage process:
- Written Examination
- Physical Efficiency Test (PET) / Physical Standards Test (PST)
- Interview / Personality Test
Important Dates
| Notification Release | Postponed; Revised date announced |
| Start of Online Application | 20th February 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 12th March 2026 (6:00 PM) |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | 12th March 2026 |
| Written Examination Date | 19th July 2026 (Tentative) |
| Admit Card Release | To be notified (likely 2-3 weeks before exam) |
How to Apply Online for UPSC CAPF AC 2026
- Visit the official UPSC portal: https://upsconline.nic.in or upsc.gov.in.
- Click on the “Online Application” link for CAPF (AC) Examination, 2026.
- Complete Part I registration (basic details, photo, signature upload).
- Proceed to Part II (fee payment, choice of exam center, etc.).
- Pay the application fee: ₹200 (via online modes; exempted for female/SC/ST candidates).
- Submit before March 12, 2026, 6:00 PM. Take a printout for records.
Important Links
| Notification | Check Here |
| Apply Link | Check Here |
