The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially published the cut-off marks for the Central Armed Police Forces (Assistant Commandants) Examination, 2020. Aspirants who appeared for the exam or are currently preparing for upcoming CAPF attempts can now check and download the original cut-off PDF directly from the UPSC website. These cut-off marks show the minimum scores required for shortlisting candidates for the next stages of recruitment in forces like BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP and SSB.
I am covering this topic because the CAPF AC examination continues to attract thousands of graduates across India who aspire to join the paramilitary forces in commanding roles. The exam is known for its detailed written papers, strict physical standards and the competitive personality test. Knowing the officially released cut-off marks helps aspirants assess how they performed and plan their preparation better. The CAPF AC 2020 cut-off is also a useful benchmark for understanding difficulty levels, category-wise trends and what score range is generally considered safe for clearing the written stage and reaching the interview. Analysing these numbers gives clarity to future candidates and helps them approach the exam with realistic goals and better strategy.
About the CAPF (Assistant Commandants) Examination
The Central Armed Police Forces (ACs) Examination is conducted annually by the Union Public Service Commission to select Assistant Commandants for India’s major paramilitary forces. These include the Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).
The CAPF AC exam includes:
- Paper I: General Ability and Intelligence (Objective-Type)
- Paper II: General Studies, Essay and Comprehension (Descriptive)
- Physical Standards Test and Physical Efficiency Test
- Interview/Personality Test
The selection process is known for its rigour, as the final merit list is prepared after combining written exam marks with the interview score.
Key Details of the Examination
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | Central Armed Police Forces (Assistant Commandants) Examination, 2020 |
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Mode of Examination | Written Examination + PST/PET + Interview |
| Forces Covered | BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, SSB |
| Written Papers | Paper I (250 marks), Paper II (200 marks) |
| Official Website | https://www.upsc.gov.in |
Why Knowing the Cut-off is Important
For CAPF aspirants, understanding the cut-off marks is important for several reasons. It helps them:
- Understand the actual competition level for different categories
- Analyse the difficulty of the written papers
- Set realistic targets for upcoming attempts
- Focus on high-scoring topics and manage time effectively
- Prepare for both the written stage and interview with better clarity
Cut-off analysis also helps candidates evaluate whether their mock test marks are in the right range. Since CAPF is an all-India exam with limited vacancies, even small variations in score can influence selection chances.
How to Download the Official Cut-off Marks PDF
Aspirants can easily download the official CAPF AC 2020 Cut-off Marks PDF by following these steps:
- Visit the official UPSC website at https://www.upsc.gov.in
- Click on the “Examinations” tab on the homepage
- Select “Cut-off Marks” from the dropdown list
- Locate “Central Armed Police Forces (ACs) Examination, 2020”
- Click the link to open and download the official PDF file
It is recommended to save a copy for future use, especially if you want to compare year-wise cut-off trends for better preparation planning.

















