UPSC CAPF Assistant Commandant Syllabus: Exam Pattern, Salary, and Benefits

The CAPF or Central Armed Police Forces refers to one of the five security forces of India who are supposed to defend the national interests of the country, mainly from internal threats. The security forces in CARF include Assam Rifles (AR), National Security Guards (NSG), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), and Indian-Tibetan Border Policy (ITBF).

In this article, read about the syllabus of the UPSC CAPF Assistant Commandant exam, the paper pattern, the salary of the officers, and the benefits they receive.

CAPF Assistant Commandant Syllabus and Exam Pattern

To apply for the exam, the candidates must be a citizen of India and a graduate in any discipline. There are four stages in the exam that include a written test, physical efficiency and medical standards test,  and an interview. There are two papers in the written test.

Paper 1

It is a bilingual and multiple-choice exam that tests the General Ability & Intelligence of the candidate. It carries 250 marks and the candidates are supposed to complete the exam within 2 hours. The topics covered in the exam are as follows-

• General Mental Ability
• General Science
• Current Events
• Indian Polity and Economy
• Indian History
• Indian and World Geography

Paper 2

The paper is descriptive and is conducted for over 3 hours. It covers concepts of General Studies, Essay, and Comprehension. The paper has been allotted 200 marks and it is divided into two parts. The concepts and question-types in the paper include:

Part A- Essay Question

80 marks in total

• Ancient and Modern Indian History
• Geography
• Indian Polity
• Economics
• Security
• Human Rights
• Analytical Ability

Part B- Language Abilities Tested

These questions carry 120 marks in total

• Comprehension
• Precis Writing
• Communications
• Developing Counter Arguments
• Basic Grammar Concepts

Physical Efficiency Test (PET) or Physical and Medical Standards Test

The Physical Efficiency Test includes the 100-meter race, 800-meter race, long jump, and shot-put. Candidates who clear the test qualify for the Medical test. In the Medical Standards Test, the candidates who qualify the following criteria, are selected for the Interview:

• Distance Vision (Corrected)- Better Eye (6/6), Worse Eye (6/9)
• Near Vision- Better Eye N6, Worse Eye N9
• Color Vision Standard- Color Perception III

Also Read: Tips and Important Questions for your UPSC Interview Preparation

Interview and Personality Test

Candidates who qualify for the above-mentioned tests, appear for the interview where they are tested for their attitudes, skills, and abilities. Before the interview, they would be asked to fill a detailed application form listing out their preferences of the Armed Forces they would like to join. The candidates should be prepared with current events, explanations to their answers on the application form, and personal bio-data along with hobbies and opinions on current events. The interview carries 150 marks.

Merit-Based Selection

While the candidates cannot reach the next round unless they qualify the former rounds, they are expected to maintain a good rank overall during every stage. The final selection for the exam is based on merit that is calculated based on their scores in every stage.

Salary and Other Benefits Received

The salary of a CAPF Assistant Commandant falls under Pay Band 3 and they earn around ₹56,100- ₹1,77,500. A CAPF Officer receives benefits like dearness allowance, medical allowance, house rent allowance, transport allowance, hardship allowance, and special duty allowance. They have a chance to get promoted in about 0-6 years based on their performance and vacancies in the departments.

Conclusion

Now that you’re aware of the salary and perks of being a CAPF Assistant Commandant, are you considering it as a career option? The CAPF Assistant Commandant receives a great number of facilities from the government and it is known to be a noble profession as well. If you want to find the CAPF AC previous year papers, you can find them on UPSC’s official website. If you’re appearing for UPSC CAPF 2020 in December, let us know in the comments about your choice of Armed Forces.

Also Read: A Guide to Clear UPSC CDS Exam in your First Attempt