The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially released the cut-off marks for the Central Armed Police Forces (Assistant Commandants) Examination, 2021. Candidates who appeared for the exam, or those preparing for upcoming CAPF exams, can now check and download the official cut-off PDF directly from the UPSC website. These marks show the minimum scores required for selection to various central armed forces like BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, and SSB.
I’m covering this topic because the CAPF (AC) exam continues to be one of the most respected pathways for joining India’s paramilitary forces as a Class-I officer. Knowing the official cut-off marks helps aspirants understand the real competition level and evaluate their own preparation. The 2021 cut-off marks, published by UPSC, not only reveal the level of difficulty that year but also serve as a useful benchmark for candidates planning to appear in future exams. Analysing the trends in these marks can help aspirants set better targets and design a focused study plan to clear the next CAPF exam with confidence.
About the CAPF (Assistant Commandants) Examination
The Central Armed Police Forces (Assistant Commandants) Examination is conducted every year by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to recruit officers for India’s paramilitary organisations. The exam provides entry into 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 recruitment process involves three main stages — Written Examination, Physical Efficiency Test (PET) and Medical Examination, followed by the Personality Test/Interview. The written test includes two papers:
- Paper I: General Ability and Intelligence (250 marks)
- Paper II: General Studies, Essay, and Comprehension (200 marks)
The exam tests not only academic knowledge but also decision-making skills, mental alertness, and leadership qualities — essential for commanding forces on the ground.
Key Details of the CAPF (ACs) 2021 Examination
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | Central Armed Police Forces (Assistant Commandants) Examination, 2021 |
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Forces Covered | BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, SSB |
| Mode of Selection | Written Exam, PET/Medical Test, Interview |
| Total Marks | 600 (Written + Interview) |
| Official Website | https://www.upsc.gov.in |
Importance of Analysing the Cut-off
For every CAPF aspirant, studying the official cut-off is a crucial step in exam preparation. It helps in:
- Understanding how marks vary across categories
- Identifying which paper requires more focus (Paper I or II)
- Planning a realistic scoring strategy for upcoming exams
- Comparing performance trends year-on-year
- Balancing written and interview preparation effectively
The 2021 cut-off indicates that the overall difficulty level was moderate to high, especially in Paper II, where analytical and essay-type questions demanded clarity of thought and structured writing.
How to Download the Official Cut-off PDF
To download the UPSC CAPF (ACs) 2021 Cut-off Marks PDF, follow these steps:
- Visit the official UPSC website – https://www.upsc.gov.in
- Click on the “Examinations” tab on the homepage
- Select “Cut-off Marks” from the dropdown list
- Find and click on “Central Armed Police Forces (ACs) Examination, 2021”
- The official PDF will open — download and save it for reference
It’s advisable for candidates to go through the complete PDF, which also includes category-wise and paper-wise details of the examination.
