The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially published the provisional Answer Key for the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) Assistant Commandant Examination 2026. Candidates who appeared for the national-level written examination conducted on 19 July 2026 can now access and download the official answer key PDF directly from the UPSC website to calculate their raw scores.
Force-Wise Vacancy Breakdown
The UPSC CAPF AC Recruitment 2026 aims to fill a total of 349 posts across five paramilitary forces under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA):
Eligibility Criteria & Fee Summary
Educational Qualification
- Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline from a recognized University or institution incorporated by an Act of the Central or State Legislature in India.
Age Limit (Crucial Date: 1st August 2026)
- Minimum Age: 20 Years
- Maximum Age: 25 Years(Candidates must have been born not earlier than 2nd August 2001 and not later than 1st August 2006).
- Age Relaxation: Upper age limit relaxation is applicable as per Government rules:
- SC / ST Candidates: Up to 5 years
- OBC Candidates: Up to 3 years
- Civilian Central Government Servants & Ex-Servicemen: Up to 5 years
Application Fee Structure
- General / OBC / EWS Male Candidates: ₹200/-
- SC / ST / All Female Candidates: Exempted (₹0/-)
- Payment Modes Accepted: SBI Net Banking, Visa/MasterCard/RuPay Debit or Credit Card, or UPI payments.
Key Timeline of Events
Physical Efficiency Test (PET) & Physical Standards (PST)
Candidates who clear the written exam cut-off must meet the following mandatory Physical Standards and complete the Physical Efficiency Test (PET):
Note: The Physical Efficiency Test (PET) is qualifying in nature. Failure to clear any single event leads to disqualification.
Selection Process & Marking Scheme
The selection for UPSC CAPF (AC) comprises four successive stages:
- Written Examination:
- Paper I: General Ability and Intelligence (250 Marks, 125 Objective MCQs). Negative marking of 0.66 marks (1/3rd) per wrong answer.
- Paper II: General Studies, Essay, and Comprehension (200 Marks, Descriptive type). evaluated only if the candidate meets the minimum qualifying marks in Paper I.
- Physical Standards / Physical Efficiency Tests (PST / PET): Mandatory physical evaluation.
- Detailed Medical Examination (DME): Conducted by designated medical boards of CAPF.
- Personality Test / Interview: Carries 150 Marks. Final merit is determined by combining the scores of Written Examination (450 Marks) and Interview (150 Marks).
Step-by-Step Walkthrough: How to Download Answer Key
- Go to the official UPSC portal at upsc.gov.in.
- Under the “Examination” tab or “What’s New” section on the homepage, select “Answer Keys”.
- Locate the link titled “Answer Key: Central Armed Police Forces (ACs) Examination, 2026”.
- Click to open the Answer Key document corresponding to your question paper booklet series (Series A, B, C, or D).
- The PDF will display on your screen. Save and download the file for reference.
Essential Official Links
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
When was the UPSC CAPF AC Answer Key 2026 published?
The provisional answer key was officially made available on 22nd July 2026 on upsc.gov.in.
What is the formula to calculate raw marks for CAPF Paper I?
Each correct answer awards +2 marks. For every incorrect response, 0.66 marks (1/3rd penalty) are deducted. Unattempted questions carry zero penalty. Formula:
$$\text{Total Score} = (\text{Correct Answers} \times 2) – (\text{Incorrect Answers} \times 0.66)$$
Are login credentials required to download the UPSC CAPF Answer Key?
No. UPSC releases the answer keys as open PDF files for all question booklet series (A, B, C, and D) directly in the public domain.
What is the next stage after the release of the UPSC CAPF Answer Key?
UPSC will evaluate Paper-I and Paper-II scripts and publish the list of candidates shortlisted for the Physical Standards Test (PST) and Physical Efficiency Test (PET).
