UPSC CAPF AC Syllabus 2026: Paper I and Paper II Topics

The UPSC CAPF AC syllabus covers two written papers: an objective paper on General Ability and Intelligence, and a descriptive paper on General Studies, Essay and Comprehension. Candidates for the post of Assistant Commandant in the Central Armed Police Forces have to prepare for both, along with the physical stage and the interview that follow.

This page turns the official scheme into a working checklist. It explains what each paper tests, which areas deserve the most time, and how to plan your weeks so the syllabus is covered before the next exam cycle.

The Union Public Service Commission lists the broad areas of each paper, not a topic-by-topic list. The topic lists below are built from the official scheme and from the kind of questions asked in earlier years. Use them as a working checklist, not as an official list.

Table of Contents

• Syllabus at a glance

• Key points to know before you start

• Paper I syllabus

• Paper II syllabus

• Overlap between the two papers

• Interview and physical stages

• How to cover the syllabus

• Where to practise

Syllabus at a glance

The marks and timings follow the 2026 notification as reported by public sources.Key points to know before you start

• Paper I is a gate: Paper II is evaluated only for candidates who reach the minimum marks in Paper I. A weak objective score ends your attempt before your writing is read.

• Paper II is a separate skill: It tests writing, not recall. Reading more will not replace regular essay and precis practice.

• Language differs by part: Paper I is bilingual. The essay part of Paper II can be written in English or Hindi, while the comprehension and precis part is in English.

• Old pages may mislead: Older pages may still show previous-year schedules or marks. Follow the official notification for the cycle you are applying to.

Paper I syllabus: General Ability and Intelligence

Paper I has 125 multiple-choice questions for 250 marks, with negative marking for wrong answers. UPSC groups it into six areas. The table shows what to cover and where to begin.

High-weight areas in Paper I

Questions in this paper reward steady coverage of general studies more than deep specialisation. In earlier cycles, polity, modern history, geography, general science and current events have supplied most of the factual questions, while reasoning and data interpretation decide how many you can solve quickly.

Since wrong answers lose marks, the aim is a reliable base across all six areas rather than mastery of one. Use mock tests to find which area is costing you the most negative marks.

Reasoning and numerical ability

This part is the most score-controllable. Practise a fixed set of question types, such as series, coding, syllogisms, directions, percentage and data tables, until you can solve them in under a minute. Use it to protect your time for the knowledge-based questions.

Paper II syllabus: General Studies, Essay and Comprehension

Paper II carries 200 marks and is written over 3 hours. Based on the scheme, it has two parts.

Part A: Essay

Essay topics usually come from modern Indian history and the freedom struggle, geography, polity and economy, and security and human rights issues. Analytical thinking is also tested, so a topic may ask you to weigh two views rather than describe a subject.

• Structure: Plan an introduction, three or four body points with examples, and a balanced conclusion.

• Content: Use facts from your Paper I preparation, such as constitutional provisions, reports, schemes and recent events.

• Security themes: Border management, internal security, terrorism, cyber safety and human rights often connect well with this exam.

Part B: Comprehension, precis and language

Part B tests whether you can read and compress information accurately. Questions typically include:

• Comprehension: Answer questions on a passage using only what it says.

• Precis writing: Shorten a long passage to about one-third without losing the main idea.

• Counter-arguments: Build an argument against a given statement in a few clear points.

• Grammar and usage: Correct sentences, fill in blanks and rewrite in better English.

The marks split inside Part B can differ by year, so check the current notification for the exact weightage.

Overlap between the two papers

You do not have to study the same subject twice. A single reading can serve both papers if you take notes in the right form.

Interview and physical stages

The interview (personality test) carries 150 marks and has no published syllabus. It assesses awareness, clarity of thought, leadership potential and suitability for the service. The best preparation is steady reading of current affairs on security and governance, plus a clear account of your own background and Detailed Application Form.

The physical standards test, physical efficiency test and medical standards are qualifying and do not add marks. They do not have a syllabus, but they need dedicated training time. Eligible candidates should check the notification for the exact standards.

How to cover the syllabus

A phased plan works better than studying subjects at random. The weeks below suit a preparation window of about six months, and you can compress them if you have less time.

1. Weeks 1 to 8, foundation: Cover polity, modern history, geography and economy from standard books. Start daily newspaper reading, and begin running practice.

2. From week 3, current affairs: Spend 30 to 40 minutes a day and write monthly notes with dates and names.

3. From week 6, topic tests: Solve topic-wise questions and short 20-minute sectional tests to find weak areas.

4. From week 10, writing: Write one essay and one precis every week, and ask a teacher or peer to review them.

5. Final phase, full mocks: Attempt full-length Paper I tests under timed conditions, review the same day and revise your error log.

Do not leave physical training for the end. Two or three sessions a week from the start make the PET far less stressful.For the official scheme and syllabus text, refer to the examination notice on the UPSC website.