UPSC CAPF Exam Eligibility Criteria 2024: Age Limit, Qualification, Physical and Medical Standards

UPSC CAPF Exam Eligibility Criteria: Would you like to become a Grade A officer as an Assistant Commandant in India’s paramilitary forces? If so, you should first be aware of the eligibility required by the Union Public Service Commission to apply for the CAPF examination in 2024.

Candidates should ensure that they are eligible for the exam. Those seeking applications must affirm that they meet all admission criteria for this test. Provisional admission at any stage of examination is subject to the fulfilment of prescribed eligibility conditions.

According to the UPSC Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) (Assistant Commandants) exam notification, both male and female candidates are eligible to apply for the Assistant Commandant posts.

For the examination, candidates should qualify themselves by conforming to eligibility conditions. They are not guaranteed admission at any stage of the examination including the Written Examination, Physical and Medical Standards Tests, Physical Efficiency Test (PET), and Interview/Personality Test. This provisional admission is subject to verification of their eligibility. At any time before or after such tests, if it is found that they do not fulfil such condition for eligibility as may be seriously displeasing to them, their candidature will be cancelled by the Commission.

In this article, we will discuss the complete UPSC CAPF eligibility criteria 2024 as per the latest notification.

UPSC CAPF 2024 Eligibility Criteria Summary

Criteria Summary
Age Limit Minimum age: 20 years; Maximum age: 25 years; Date range: August 2, 1999 – August 1, 2004; Relaxation for SC/ST: Up to 5 years, OBC: Up to 3 years, Ex-Servicemen: Up to 5 years
Educational Qualification Graduation degree from recognized university or equivalent; Provision for candidates with technical/professional qualifications; NCC ‘B’ or ‘C’ Certificates desirable
Nationality Only Indian citizens eligible; Citizens of Nepal/Bhutan with government consent may also apply
Restriction on Re-Appearance Candidates finally selected previously not eligible for subsequent exams
Physical Standards Height: Men – 165 cm, Women – 157 cm; Chest: Men – 81 cm (unexpanded), Women – Not applicable; Weight: Men – 50 kg, Women – 46 kg
Medical Standards Eye Sight, LASIK surgery criteria, Carrying Angle, Ear, Nose, Neck, Teeth, Venereal Disease, Chronic Skin Diseases
Document Verification Post-Interview protocol for verifying eligibility through original certificates; Ensuring compliance and preparation for verification

UPSC CAPF 2024 Eligibility Criteria

A candidate’s suitability for the Assistant Commandant position is evaluated by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) based on a comprehensive set of criteria. Described below are its various aspects:

  1. Age Limit
  2. Educational Qualification
  3. Nationality
  4. Restriction on Re-Appearance of Candidates:
  5. Physical Standards
  6. Medical Standards

The structure of these criteria is like that of a strong building UPSC uses to scrutinize candidates for Assistant Commandant posts. This is done to make sure that only qualified, able and trained people are chosen for important defense positions in India.

Let’s discuss each criterion one by one:

1. UPSC CAPF Age Limit 2024

Age Limits for UPSC CAPF Assistant Commandant Recruitment: Minimum Age: Candidates should be at least 20 years old as on August 1, 2024 but not exceed the age of 25; which means they are supposed to have been born in between August 2, 1999, and August 1, 2004. The age limit is one of the main criteria for UPSC CAPF eligibility criteria 2024.

1. Minimum Age: 20 years
2. Maximum Age: 25 years
3. Date Range: August 2, 1999 – August 1, 2004

Upper Age Limit Relaxation:

  • Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST): Up to 5 years
  • Other Backward Classes (OBC) eligible for reservation: Up to 3 years
  • Civilian Central Government Servants: Up to 5 years
  • Ex-Servicemen: Up to 5 years
  • Total Relaxation Claimed on Account of Government Service: Limited to 5 years

 Ex-Servicemen Criteria:

– Ex-Servicemen include those who served in any rank below officer’s grade or equivalent rank in the Army, Navy or Air Force of Indian Union and have retired from such service after having otherwise attested services rendered thereon with release or without release on medical grounds or invalidment therefrom and awarded medical or other disability pension; also those who have been discharged from such service on own request but could have been permitted to retire prior to normal retirement age on compassionate grounds due to medical necessity attributable to that military service.

– Aspirants under this category should enclose with their applications accordingly prescribed certificate and Undertaking latest by May14th ,2024

Acceptable Proof of Age:

– This will be accepted only when it tallies with Matriculation or Secondary School Leaving Certificate or in an equivalent certificate recognized by an Indian University.

– It will not be accepted if it is supported by horoscopes or affidavits on the date of birth and other documents or if the commission has recorded it on August 4, 2024 at CAPF (Assistant Commandant) Exam itself with inadvertent errors substantiated by appropriate documents.

No Change in Date of Birth

After submission in the application form, no change will be permitted by the commission except where any inadvertent error in the date of birth is noticed before the CAPF (AC)-2019 exam which would have been dealt with further subject to the presentation of supporting document of matriculation certificate and its correction should not be later than August 4th, 2024 by candidates themselves.

For any amendment in their date of birth, the candidates must indicate specifics while addressing the commission including Examination Name and Year; Registration ID; Roll Number (if received); Full Name; Postal Address and Active Email ID etc.

2. UPSC CAPF Minimum Educational Qualifications

Another important aspect to know about UPSC CAPF 2024 eligibility criteria is qualification criteria. Here is the main detail about qualification.

Qualification Requirement: A graduation degree from a University recognized by an Act of the Central or State Legislature in India is compulsory. The candidates may also have qualifications from other educational establishments created under Section-3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 or declared as deemed to be universities by an Act of Parliament.

  • Note 1: Candidates with results awaited for their qualifying examination and intending to appear for such exams in 2024 are eligible for the examination. However, they will be provisionally admitted only if they produce proof of having passed the requisite examination along with the Detailed Application Form before closing date specified for Central Armed Police Forces (Assistant Commandants) Examination, 2024.
  • Note 2: Few cases occur where candidates without these qualifications may still be considered eligible provided they have passed an exam conducted by other institutions of repute that satisfied the Commission’s criteria for admission.
  • Note 3: Also, any candidate possessing technical and professional qualifications that are equivalent to a Bachelor Degree is eligible to apply.

3. UPSC CAPF  Nationality 2024

Only Indian citizens can be appointed or employed under these Rules unless the Central Government gives written consent. However, citizens of Nepal or Bhutan may also be appointed, enrolled, or employed under these Rules.

Both males and females are eligible for the position of Assistant Commandant.

4. Restriction on Re-Appearance of Candidates:

Condition: Candidates who have been finally selected based on a previous examination for the post of Assistant Commandant in any of the forces participating in the Central Armed Police Forces (Assistant Commandants) Examination are not eligible to appear for subsequent examinations for the recruitment of Assistant Commandants in the participating CAPFs.

This rule hinders repetition by candidates who may already be Commissioned Officers and who have participated in selection processes involving filling the positions of Assistant Commandants in Participating CAPFs.

5. UPSC CAPF Physical Standards 2024

The candidates should know about physical standards which is the main component of UPSC CAPF 2024 eligibility criteria.

Requirement: Candidates are required to meet the specified Physical and Medical Standards outlined in Appendix V of the Notice for Admission to the Central Armed Police Forces (Assistant Commandants) Examination, 2024.

Possession of NCC ‘B’ or ‘C’ Certificates:

Desirable Qualification: Holding an NCC ‘B’ or ‘C’ Certificate is considered a desirable qualification. These certificates will be taken into consideration during the Interview/Personality Test stage only.

Physical Standards 

Category Requirement Men Women
Height Minimum 165 cm 157 cm
Chest Unexpanded 81 cm Not applicable
Expanded (minimum)
(with 5 cm)
Weight Minimum 50 kg 46 kg

6. Medical Standards

Medical Standards:

(a) Eye Sight:

  • Better eye (corrected vision): Distant vision 6/6, Near vision N6 (corrected)
  • Worse eye (corrected vision): Distant vision 6/12, Near vision N9 (corrected)
  • Limits of Refractive errors permitted:
    • Myopia: Up to -4.00 D (including cylinder)
    • Hypermetropia: Up to +4.00 D (including cylinder)
  • Colour Perception: CP-III by ISIHARA plates

LASIK Surgery:

  • LASIK surgery correction is permitted subject to the following criteria: a) Age: 18-35 years b) Axial-length: 21-26 mm c) Corneal-thickness: 425 microns d) Pre LASIK error: Up to 6 D e) Post operative: Should be stable, refractive flap period f) Interval: 6 months (post-operative period mandatory, candidate must have completed 6 months after LASIK surgery when considering for recruitment in CAPFs).

(b) Carrying Angle:

  • Male: Should not exceed 15 degrees
  • Female: Should not exceed 20 degrees

(c) Ear: i) No degree of deafness or persistent ear discharge should be present. ii) No conditions causing ear passage obstruction like atresia of the meatus, exostosis, neoplasm, and no history of recurrent earache, tinnitus, or vertigo.

(d) Nose:

  • Absence of DNS, atrophic rhinitis, tubercular ulceration, or chronic sinusitis.

(e) Neck:

  • No enlarged lymph nodes, thyroid swelling, or other neck abnormalities.
  • Full extension capability without any evidence of spinal or cervical vertebrae disease.

(f) Teeth:

  • Sufficient sound teeth for efficient mastication, without severe pyorrhea.

(g) Venereal Disease:

  • No active signs of clinical VD.

(h) Chronic Skin Diseases:

  • Absence of chronic skin diseases like Leprosy, chronic dermatitis, extensive Pityriasis Versicolor, psoriasis, SLE, etc.

Please refer official notification of UPSC Exam notice No,09/2014-CPF dated 24-04-2024 for more information – Visit Here. The official website is upsc.gov.in.  Check More Govt Jobs Notices

Verification of Eligibility Conditions: Post-Interview Protocol for UPSC CAPF Candidates

  1. Purpose for Document Verification: One of the important steps in the selection of UPSC CAPF Assistant Commandant is verifying eligibility conditions through original documents. This verification is done after a candidate has cleared the Interview/Personality Test stage of the examination.
  2. Submission of Original Certificates: Candidates are required to submit their original certificates after they have passed the interview/personality test and met the prescribed criteria given by UPSC. These documents generally include educational certificates, age proof, nationality proof and other document(s) as specified in UPSC official notification.
  3. Ensuring Eligibility Compliance: The main idea behind this verification process is that those who have finally qualified for the last stage of examination should be proved conforming with all eligibility norms as prescribed by UPSC. By so doing it makes sure that only eligible candidates proceed further during recruitment processes thereby bringing some genuineness to selection.
  4. Preparation for Document Verification: Applicants must ready their original documents and organize them properly so that when they get selected for Interview/Personality Test phase they can easily be verified. Any irregularities or problems discovered during this inspection could result in disqualification or termination of candidature, emphasizing how important it is to maintain eligibility throughout the examination process.

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