UPSC CAPF AC 2026 · Syllabus & exam pattern
UPSC CAPF AC Syllabus 2026 and Exam Pattern: Subject-wise Topics
Subjects, number of questions, marks, duration and negative marking for every stage, as printed in the official notice.
UPSC CAPF AC exam pattern 2026
Stages of selection
- 1Written examination: Paper-I (objective) and Paper-II (descriptive), both on 19 July 2026
- 2Physical Standards Tests (PST) and Physical Efficiency Tests (PET)
- 3Interview / Personality Test (150 marks)
- 4Medical Standards Tests (for candidates who appeared in the interview)
Paper-I: General Ability and Intelligence
2 hours (10 am – 12 noon)
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General mental ability, general science, current events, Indian polity and economy, history of India, Indian and world geography | See notice | 250 |
Objective (multiple-choice) questions in English and Hindi. Negative marking: one-third (0.33) of the marks of a question for each wrong answer; no penalty for an unanswered question.
Paper-II: General Studies, Essay and Comprehension
3 hours (2 pm – 5 pm)
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Part-A: Essay (English or Hindi) | — | 80 |
| Part-B: Comprehension, précis and language skills (English only) | — | 120 |
Paper-II is evaluated only for candidates who get the minimum qualifying marks in Paper-I.
Interview / Personality Test
—
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Interview / Personality Test | — | 150 |
Merit list is drawn on the written examination and interview marks.
Source: Central Armed Police Forces (Assistant Commandants) Examination, 2026 — Examination Notice No. 08/2026-CAPF (published 20 February 2026). Confirm in the official notice before applying.
Written exam pattern and negative marking
Both papers are held on the same day, 19 July 2026. Paper-I (250 marks) runs from 10 am to 12 noon and is an objective, multiple-choice test with questions in English and Hindi. Paper-II (200 marks) runs from 2 pm to 5 pm and is a descriptive paper written in the answer book.
In Paper-I, each wrong answer costs one-third (0.33) of the marks for that question. Marking more than one answer to a question counts as a wrong answer. There is no penalty for a question left blank.
UPSC fixes minimum qualifying marks separately in each paper at its discretion. Paper-II is evaluated only for candidates who get the minimum qualifying marks in Paper-I, so Paper-I acts as the gate to the rest of the process.
Written examination and interview
| Stage | Type | Time | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper-I: General Ability and Intelligence | Objective (English and Hindi) | 2 hours | 250 |
| Paper-II, Part-A: Essay | Descriptive (English or Hindi) | 3 hours (whole paper) | 80 |
| Paper-II, Part-B: Comprehension, précis, language skills | Descriptive (English only) | 3 hours (whole paper) | 120 |
| Interview / Personality Test | Interview | — | 150 |
Merit list is drawn on the written examination (450) and interview (150) marks.
UPSC CAPF syllabus, topic by topic
Paper-I tests general ability across six areas. Paper-II is split into an essay part, which you may write in Hindi or English, and a language part that must be attempted in English only.
Topics listed in the notice (Appendix I, Part B)
| Paper / area | Topics |
|---|---|
| Paper-I: General Mental Ability | Logical reasoning, quantitative aptitude including numerical ability, and data interpretation |
| Paper-I: General Science | General awareness, scientific temper, comprehension and appreciation of scientific phenomena of everyday observation, including new areas such as information technology, biotechnology and environmental science |
| Paper-I: Current Events of National and International Importance | Culture, music, arts, literature, sports, governance, societal and developmental issues, industry, business, globalisation and interplay among nations |
| Paper-I: Indian Polity and Economy | The country's political system and the Constitution of India, social systems and public administration, economic development in India, regional and international security issues, and human rights including its indicators |
| Paper-I: History of India | Social, economic and political aspects, including the growth of nationalism and the freedom movement |
| Paper-I: Indian and World Geography | Physical, social and economic geography of India and the world |
| Paper-II, Part-A: Essay (80 marks) | Long narrative answers in Hindi or English; indicative topics are modern Indian history especially the freedom struggle, geography, polity and economy, security and human rights issues, and analytical ability |
| Paper-II, Part-B: Comprehension (120 marks) | Comprehension passages, précis writing, developing counter-arguments, simple grammar and other aspects of language testing — English only |
Frequently asked questions
What is the UPSC CAPF AC exam pattern?
Paper-I: General Ability and Intelligence: General mental ability, general science, current events, Indian polity and economy, history of India, Indian and world geography (2 hours (10 am – 12 noon)). Objective (multiple-choice) questions in English and Hindi. Negative marking: one-third (0.33) of the marks of a question for each wrong answer; no penalty for an unanswered question. Paper-II: General Studies, Essay and Comprehension: Part-A: Essay (English or Hindi), Part-B: Comprehension, précis and language skills (English only) (3 hours (2 pm – 5 pm)). Paper-II is evaluated only for candidates who get the minimum qualifying marks in Paper-I. Interview / Personality Test: Interview / Personality Test (—). Merit list is drawn on the written examination and interview marks.
What is the exam pattern of UPSC CAPF?
Paper-I, General Ability and Intelligence, is a 2-hour objective paper of 250 marks. Paper-II, General Studies, Essay and Comprehension, is a 3-hour descriptive paper of 200 marks (essay 80, comprehension 120). The interview carries 150 marks.
Is there negative marking in UPSC CAPF?
Yes, in the objective Paper-I: one-third (0.33) of the marks of the question for each wrong answer. Unanswered questions carry no penalty.
Can I write UPSC CAPF Paper-II in Hindi?
Only Part-A, the essay, can be written in Hindi or English. Part-B (comprehension, précis and language skills) must be attempted in English only.