What Do You Need for CISF AC(EXE) LDCE?
CISF AC(EXE) LDCE at a Glance
A Limited Departmental Competitive Examination: serving CISF personnel compete for promotion to Assistant Commandant (Executive), a Group A post.
2026 vacancies: General 16, SC 3, ST 1. Fee ₹200; SC/ST exempt. As reported — always confirm on upsc.gov.in.
Who Is Eligible?
1. Serving CISF member
Only departmental candidates in the ranks and with the minimum service set out in the recruitment rules.
2. Age
Not more than 35 years as on 1 August of the exam year (relaxable for SC/ST), as reported for 2026.
3. Education
As specified in the rules — check the notification.
4. Application
Apply online on upsconline.nic.in, then send the printout to CISF headquarters through proper channel.
Selection Process
Written exam
Paper I (objective) and Paper II (descriptive), conducted by UPSC.
Physical & medical
PET and medical standards test by CISF for written qualifiers.
Interview
Personality test by UPSC.
Final result
Merit list published by UPSC.
Written Exam Pattern
Paper I is objective with negative marking; Paper II is descriptive.
| Paper / Part | Qs | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| I — General Ability & Intelligence | 75 | 150 |
| I — Professional Skill | 75 | 150 |
| II — Essay, Précis & Comprehension | — | 100 |
| Written total | 400 |
Marks as reported for 2026. Paper II essay in English or Hindi; précis and comprehension in English only.
Physical and Medical Standards
| Standard | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Height (Gen/SC) | 165 cm | 157 cm |
| Height (ST) | 162.5 cm | 154 cm |
| Chest | 81 cm (+5 cm) | — |
| Medical category | SHAPE-1 | SHAPE-1 |
Weight in proportion to height. A Physical Efficiency Test is also conducted by CISF. As reported — check the notification.
Syllabus Overview
Tap a part to see its main areas. Follow the official syllabus in the notification.
General Ability & IntelligencePaper I — objective
- General mental ability and reasoning
- Quantitative aptitude and data interpretation
- General science and current events
- Indian polity, economy, history and geography
Professional SkillPaper I — objective
- CISF Act, rules and organisation
- Industrial security, airport and VIP security
- Fire service and disaster management
- Criminal law, procedures and evidence relevant to CISF duties
- Internal security and counter-terrorism basics
Essay, Précis & ComprehensionPaper II — descriptive
- Essay on current, security or social topics (English or Hindi)
- Précis writing (English)
- Reading comprehension (English)
How to Prepare
Balance duty with steady preparation — about five months to the 2027 exam.
Know your rules
Professional Skill is half of Paper I — revise CISF acts, rules and SOPs.
Practise reasoning
Solve aptitude and reasoning MCQs daily.
Read the news
Security, current events and government policy help in both papers.
Write essays
Write one essay and one précis each week and get feedback.
Stay fit
Keep within SHAPE-1 medical standards and train for the PET.
Prepare for the interview
Be ready to discuss your service experience and leadership.
CISF AC(EXE) LDCE Dates
2026: exam 8 March 2026, written result 13 April, interviews 17–19 August, final result 3 September 2026. 2027: notification expected around 25 November 2026, exam around 14 March 2027, as reported. Always check the official website.
FAQs
What is the CISF AC(EXE) LDCE?
The Limited Departmental Competitive Examination for Assistant Commandant (Executive) in the Central Industrial Security Force. UPSC conducts it for eligible serving CISF personnel. Official information is on upsc.gov.in.
Who can apply?
Only eligible departmental CISF personnel, as defined in the recruitment rules notified by the Ministry of Home Affairs — including rank, length of service and educational qualification. The age limit is 35 years (relaxable for SC/ST), as reported for 2026.
Can outside candidates take this exam?
No. Outside candidates join as Assistant Commandant through the UPSC CAPF (AC) exam.
Is there negative marking?
Yes, in the objective Paper I — one-third of a question’s marks is deducted for each wrong answer, as reported.
What is the pay?
Assistant Commandant is a Group A post at Pay Level 10 (₹56,100 basic) plus allowances, as reported.
In which language is Paper II?
The essay can be written in English or Hindi; précis and comprehension are in English only.