The CISF AC(EXE) 2026 LDCE I is a limited departmental executive competitive exam conducted by UPSC for promotion to the post of Assistant Commandants within the Central Industrial Security Force. Not all candidates are eligible to participate in this exam. Only the departmental candidates can take part.
PYQ is at the bottom of this article
Schedule
| Application form Opens | 03-Dec |
| Application form last date | 23-Dec |
| Exam Date | 08-Mar-26 |
What is eligibility
Candidates must check the eligibility criteria before applying to the posts.You can check You can check the eligibility here
- Eligibility: Candidates must have completed 4 years of regular service in the rank of Sub Inspector (GD) or Inspector (GD), including basic training, and must have a clean service record.
Selection Process:
- It involves three steps first is a written exam second is physical efficiency/medical tests, and a third a personal interview.
- Exam Frequency: Once a year
- Application: You can fill the application form online on official UPSC website, with a hard copy routed through the proper channel in the CISF.
- Past Exam Dates:
- Its result came out in June 2025 for the exam conducted on April 27, 2025, and
- The Number of Vacancies: Usually around 20-23 posts in recent years.
- Exam Pattern: The written exam typically includes two papers—General Ability & Intelligence and Professional Skills, and Essay, Precis Writing, and Comprehension.
The exam is conducted for in-service CISF personnel aiming for promotion to Assistant Commandant (Executive) rank.
We will understand the eligibility criteria and service length required for CISF AC(EXE) LDCE as follows:
- The candidate must be an Indian citizen.
- The candidate should have completed a minimum of 4 years of regular service in the rank of Sub Inspector (GD) or Inspector (GD), including the period of basic training.
- The candidate must have a clean record of service up to the issue of the offer of appointment.
- The age limit to apply is up to 35 years as of the specified date in the notification (usually the age is considered as of August 1 of the exam year).
- Age relaxation applies here too, and a 5-year relaxation is provided for candidates belonging to the Scheduled Castes (SC) and the Scheduled Tribes (ST).
- The candidate must hold a Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university.
How to calculate the Qualifying Service period
The following method you can apply for calculating your service period.
The qualifying service period is calculated from the date of first appointment to the relevant post (including probation) until the cut-off date/notification date.
- You must note that only regular service is taken; periods of Extraordinary Leave (EOL) or suspension are usually excluded.
- Short service periods less than 3 months may not be counted or are rounded according to specific rules (e.g., 3 or more months may count as 6 months).
- If the service period involves promotion or pay scale upgrades, combined service in eligible pay scales is considered to meet the minimum qualifying period.
- Training period before regular appointment typically counts as service, but certain types of training or probation may or may not count depending on rules.
- For CISF specifically, the requirement is usually 4 years of regular service in the relevant rank including training.
- The exact cut-off date for calculating service length is usually the date of issue of the exam notification or a specified cut-off date in that notification.
Documents to prove qualifying service
- Service Book: This is the primary document showing complete service details, including date of joining, postings, promotions, and leaves.
- Appointment Order: The official order of appointment to the post(s) held.
- Service Verification Certificate: Issued by the competent authority, certifying the period of qualifying service.
- Pay Slips/Certificates: Recent pay slips or certificates verifying continuous service and pay scale.
- Leave Records: Documents showing leave availed, especially noting any extraordinary leave or suspension periods that may not count towards qualifying service.
- Training Completion Certificate: To confirm inclusion of training period if applicable.
- No Objection Certificate or clearance certificates may also be needed to verify service record
Exam Pattern
The exam pattern and marks distribution for CISF AC(EXE) LDCE are as follows:
Written Examination
The written exam consists of two papers:
- Paper I: Objective type questions with two sections:
- General Ability and Intelligence: 75 questions, 150 marks
- Professional Skills: 75 questions, 150 marks
- Total marks for Paper I: 300
- Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Paper II: Descriptive type questions with two sections:
- Essay (option to write in English or Hindi)
- Precis Writing and Comprehension (medium English only)
- Total marks for Paper II: 100
- Duration: 2 hours
Other Selection Stages
- Physical Efficiency Test (PET) with specified race, long jump, and shot put standards.
- Medical Examination
- Interview / Personality Test
Summary Table of Marks and DurationPaper Subjects Number of Questions Total Marks Duration Paper I General Ability & Intelligence 75 150 Professional Skills 75 150 2.5 hours Paper II Essay, Precis Writing & Comprehension Descriptive 100
Cut off Marks
| Category | Vacancy | Recommendation of Ex-Servicemen candidates | Vacancy after recommendation of Ex-Servicemen candidates | Recommendation of candidates (Non-Ex-S) | Minimum qualifying standards in paper-I (out of 250) | Minimum qualifying standards in paper-I + Paper-II [Written Stage] (out of 450) | Marks secured by the last recommended candidate [Final Stage] (Out of 600) |
| General | 216 | 07 | 209 | 153 | 97.44 | 182* | 311 |
| EWS | 54 | – | 54 | 54 | 85.34 | 167* | 292 |
| OBC | 127 | 03 | 124 | 124 | 97.44 | 182* | 308 |
| SC | 80 | 03 | 77 | 77 | 84.68 | 164* | 283 |
| ST | 38 | – | 38 | 38 | 86.03 | 168* | 286 |
| Ex-S | 52 | 13 [07-Gen , 03-OBC, 03-SC] | 25.54 | 66# | 155 | ||
| Total | 515@ | 13 | 502 | 446 |
Exam Paper
Paper 1: General Ability & Intelligence and Professional Skills (300 marks, 150 questions, 2.5 hours)
- Part A: General Ability and Intelligence
- Logical reasoning, quantitative aptitude including numerical ability and data interpretation
- General Science including IT, Biotechnology, Environmental Science
- Current affairs of national and international importance in culture, sports, governance, business, etc.
- General awareness including history of India, Indian and world geography, Indian polity and economy
- Part B: Professional Skill
- CISF related professional skills such as industrial security, safety and firefighting, disaster management, aviation security, crime and intelligence, perimeter security, bomb detection and disposal, VIP security, internal security, drone technology, and security consultancy
- Law covering sections of Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita 2023, Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, labour laws, criminal offences including UAPA and IT Act, human rights, and sexual harassment prevention act
- Computer skills including security, basic hardware and software, AI
- Service rules and HR matters including CCA rules, CISF act and rules, and HR functions related to CISF
Paper 2: Essay, Precis Writing and Comprehension (100 marks, 2 hours)
- Essay writing on topics related to modern Indian history, freedom struggle, polity, economy, security and human rights
- Precis writing and comprehension passages with grammar and language testing (comprehension and precis to be done in English)
The written exam is followed by Physical Efficiency Test (PET), medical examination, and interview/personality test.
This syllabus is for the 2025 examination and follows the revised format published by UPSC.
Written Examination:
- Consists of two papers:
- Paper 1: General Ability & Intelligence (75 questions, 150 marks) + Professional Skill (75 questions, 150 marks)
- Total Questions: 150
- Total Marks: 300
- Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Questions are objective (multiple-choice) type in both Hindi and English.
- Paper 2: Essay, Precis Writing, and Comprehension
- Marks: 100
- Duration: 2 hours
- Essay can be written in Hindi or English; precis and comprehension in English only.
- Paper 1: General Ability & Intelligence (75 questions, 150 marks) + Professional Skill (75 questions, 150 marks)
Marking Scheme:
- Paper 1: Each question has equal marks (300 marks divided equally among 150 questions, so 2 marks per question).
- Paper 2: Written descriptive paper worth 100 marks.
- There is no negative marking mentioned explicitly in the official notification for CISF AC LDCE.
Physical Efficiency Test (PET), Medical Examination, and Interview/Personality Test follow the written exam.
Final selection merit is based on marks obtained in the Written Examination and Interview/Personality Test.
Physical Efficiency Test
| Physical Efficiency Test | ||
| Male | Female | |
| 100 Mtr Race | 16 Second | 18 Second |
| 800 Meters race | 3.45 Minutes | 4.45 Minute |
| Long Jump | 3.5 Meters 3 Chances | 3.0 Meters 3 Chances |
| Shot Put (7.26 Kgs.) | 4.5 Meters 3 Chances | |
Important point to note-
The candidate will have to qualify at the Physical Standards/Physical Efficiency Tests or Medical Standards Tests if not qualified, their candidature is liable for cancellation.
Others Requirments
| Men | Women | |
| Height | 162 Gen & SC | 157 Cms ( Gen & SC) |
| 162.5 cms ( ST) | 154 cms ( ST) | |
| Chest ( unexpanded ) | 81 cms (with 5 cm minimum expansion ) | NA |
| Weight | Corresponding to height | Corresponding to height |
| Medical | Shape I | Shape I |
| Eye Sight | ||
| Better Vision(corrected Vision) | Worse Vision (Corrected Vision) | |
| Distant Vision | 6/6 or 6/9 | 6/12 or 6/9 |
| Near vision | JI (corrected) | J 2 Corrected |
Interview or Personality
The interview phase to assess for three main points, including not only his/her mental calibre but also his/her social traits and integrity of character.
Physical Make-up (a) Appearance (b) Bearing (c) Manners and Mannerisms
General Intelligence, Aptitude and Interest (a) Ability to perceive, analyse and present facts and situations. (b) Work-related aptitudes, like discipline, empathy etc. (c) Extra-curricular activities-participation in games, sports, debates etc.
Disposition (a) Leadership, drive, determination, quick decision making etc. (b) Self-reliance. (c) Ability to face stress and crisis. (d) Courage-moral and physical.
Behavioural aspect of personality (a) Inter-personal relations with superiors and subordinates. (b) Commitment to values, integrity, secular and national orientation.
How to apply?
Candidates who wish to apply for CISF ACs LDCE, 2025 have to register themselves before filling up the Online Application Form at the website www.upsconline.nic.in.
Please create your registration account by clicking appropriately on the link provided below the “login” button.
On the registration module, provide your Name (as recorded in the matriculation/secondary examination certificate), CISF Number, Rank and Date of Birth (as recorded in the matriculation/secondary examination certificate).
Download PYQs for your preparation
General Ability and Mental Test
