Assistant Commandant (AC) is a Group-A Gazetted Officer (equivalent to Deputy Superintendent of Police) in the Central Armed Police Forces of India. ACs in Central Armed Police Forces are appointed directly through UPSC selection process and are called Directly Appointed Gazetted Officers (DAGO). These officers can reach up to the ranks of IG and ADG in their own organisations without having conferred to the Indian Police Service.
Assistant Commandant is a specialized service that guarantees lots of opportunities to work for the improvement of internal and border security of our country. The nature of work profile that you will have, shall be determined by the Force which you are joining. If you join BSF, SSB, ITBP ; then you will be working towards the goal of securing the borders of India. The life in these forces is quite akin to Army rather than Police, as these forces operate in a Battalion structure. Similarly CRPF gives you exposure towards dealing with various internal security threats and CISF provides opportunity in both industrial and internal security roles. Personally, you get to live an active lifestyle, as sports and games are part and parcel of these services. You are never bound to a boring desk job which demands sitting for long periods, doing tedious file work. Assistant Commandant Cadre gives you a unique opportunity to work towards making India a safer nation, you will surely get a lot of job satisfaction. The respect in the society for a professional and non corrupt armed personnel is an added advantage.
Career as Assistant Commandant
Now, if we talk about career progression, it is quite good in CAPFs. There is a very high possibility that you will retire as Deputy Inspector General of a range or Inspector General of a sector, if you enter the service at a young age of around 25 years. Above that, there is only one position available to the cadre officers i.e. Additional Director General. There are very few posts at that level, and you can imagine how tough the competition gets at that level, only very few do get to serve as ADG.
Now let us also understand the various stages of career in more details.
The CAPFs have a basic structure corresponding to the Infantry Command Model upto the Battalion level with minor variations.
3 Sections comprising of 12 personnel each constitute 1 Platoon. Platoon has strength of around 36 personnel and is headed by a Sub Inspector.
3 Platoons constitutes 1 Service Company. Company has strength of about 132 personnel and is headed by an Assistant Commandant.
7 such Service Companies with HQ Company constitute a Battalion. It is headed by a Commandant.
5 Battalions are normally placed under the command of a Range DIGP for supervision of their Adm/Ops responsibilities, but due to asymmetrical deployment, Range DIGPs are normally having more Units under their ops command.
3-4 Ranges form a Sector which is commanded by anInspector General of Police.
The promotion pattern varies widely in various CAPFs. Generally speaking it takes about 6 years for an AC to get promoted as DC. Then further 6 years (total 12 years) to get promoted as 2I/C. After that one can become Commandant in 16-20 years of service. And after serving as 3 years one becomes eligible for promotion as DIG. Then after serving as DIG for 4 years , eligibility for becoming IG is fulfilled.
Work Profile of Assistant Commandant-
Apart from performing various decision making and supervisory functions, similar to any other Group ‘A’ service, the executive officers of the CAPF perform several other managerial functions peculiar to the service, besides leading the troops in the field. Their role and performance, therefore, assumes a great significance due to the special features of an emergency Force which is pressed in aid to civil power to perform multiple roles in extremely difficult situations.
The intake of officers at the level of Assistant Commandant is 50% through direct recruitment from open market, 33% by promoting Inspectors and remaining 17% through Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE), wherein Inspectors and Sub Inspectors fulfilling the criteria are eligible. The direct entry of officers is regulated through an All India Competitive Examination conducted by the UPSC. The cadre of officers is controlled by the Government of India and the officers come under the category of Group-‘A’ General Central Service.
The nature of duties as explained above calls for display of exceptionally high level of personality traits and skills from Group-‘A’ officers. Some of them are enumerated below:-
· High degree of physical fitness to withstand rigours of extreme climatic conditions, frequent moves and hazardous operational conditions.
· Regular updation of his professional skills for handling naxal/insurgency operations integrating weapon systems, tactics, technology and human resources.
· Dexterity to deal with complex and diverse public order problems.
· Mental capabilities to quickly comprehend, analyze and formulate action plan in crisis situations.
· Capability to integrate the activities of the Force with various local agencies and develop a common operating strategy while maintaining the identity of the Force.
· Capacity to garner resources in unfamiliar and often hostile circumstances.
· Develop and foster team spirit in the Force · High sensitivity to human values, protection and preservation of human rights under extremely adverse circumstances.
THE JOB PROFILES OF THE EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
ASSISTANT COMMANDANT He commands a Company of 135 armed men.
His responsibilities carry:-
i. Planning and conduct of operations.
ii. Ensuring on the job training to keep the Company in constant state of operational preparedness for requirement in any situation.
iii. Organizing independent intelligence network for operational efficiency.
iv. Ensuring efficacy and serviceability of armaments in the Company.
v. Administering office, personnel management and grievance redressal.
vi. Exercising of disciplinary powers.
vii. Drawal and disbursement of pay and allowances and maintaining connected books of accounts.
viii. Provisioning.
ix. Close supervision of camping, security and messing arrangements, besides, meeting recreational and welfare needs.
x. Representing the Force in the field and requiring:-
a. Effective interaction with the local authorities to enhance operational capabilities.
b. Obtaining support from Battalion Headquarter and local officers relating to housing, logistics and other administrative needs
EXAM PATTERN.
UPSC Central Police Forces Exam Pattern 2017
The UPSC CAPF Assistant Commandant Exam consists of the following features:
- The Exam consists of Two Papers.
- Paper I is Objective type.
- Paper I consist of 125 Questions asked from General Ability & General Intelligence.
- Duration of Paper I is 2 Hours.
- Paper I is held for a total of 250 Marks.
- Paper II is Subjective Nature.
- Paper II is held for a total of 200 Marks.
- Duration of Paper II is 3 Hours.
- Paper II consists of General Studies, Essay & Comprehension related Questions.
- Aspirants who get qualified in the Written Test will be called for Physical Efficiency Test & Personal Interview.
| Exam | Paper | Subject | Type | Questions | Marks | Duration |
| Written Test | I | General Ability and Intelligence | Objective | 125 | 250 | 2 Hours |
| II | General Studies, Essay & Comprehension | Subjective | – | 200 | 3 Hours |
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