BSF Recruitment 2026: Apply Online for 1,167 Sub-Inspector Posts

Serving personnel across India’s Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) looking to accelerate their career progression into leadership ranks have a major opportunity this month. The Directorate General, Border Security Force (BSF), acting as the nodal recruiting agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs, has officially opened online registrations for the Sub-Inspector (General Duty) Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE) 2026 (Advertisement No. A.2/SI (LDCE)/CAPFs Exam-2026/Pers(Rectt)/BSF/2026). Through this large-scale departmental recruitment drive, 1,167 Sub-Inspector (GD) vacancies will be filled across four premier paramilitary forces: BSF, CRPF, ITBP, and SSB.

The online application window went live on November 12, 2026, and eligible serving jawans and non-commissioned officers posted across border outposts, training centers, and battalion headquarters—including units in New Delhi, Lucknow, Kanpur, Unnao, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Patna, Guwahati, Jammu, and Bengaluru—can submit their forms via the official portal bsf.mha.gov.in (and rectt.bsf.gov.in) until Thursday, December 31, 2026 (11:59 PM). Selected candidates will be appointed in Pay Matrix Level-6 (₹35,400 to ₹1,12,400 per month) plus admissible central paramilitary allowances.

Force-Wise Vacancy Breakdown Across BSF, CRPF, ITBP, and SSB

Out of the 1,167 total Sub-Inspector (GD) posts, the highest share belongs to the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), followed by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB):

Participating Force	Unreserved (UR)	Scheduled Caste (SC)	Scheduled Tribe (ST)	Gender-Wise Split (Where Notified)	Total Vacancies
ITBP	342	56	32	Combined	430
CRPF	292	57	28	347 Male / 30 Female	377
BSF	182	35	18	223 Male / 12 Female	235
SSB	97	19	9	Combined	125
Grand Total	913	167	87	—	1,167

(Note: The recruiting authority has clarified that the number of vacancies remains provisional and may increase or decrease depending on administrative requirements.)

Eligibility Criteria: Rank, Service Tenure, Academic Degree, and Age Limit

Because this is a Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE) rather than an open civilian recruitment, applicants must satisfy strict academic, rank, service-record, and medical benchmarks:

Educational Qualification: Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a recognized university.
Eligible Ranks & Service Requirement: Applicants must have completed at least four years of regular service (including basic training) in their respective force. For BSF, CRPF, and ITBP, serving Constables (GD), Constables (Tradesmen), Head Constables (GD), and Assistant Sub-Inspectors (GD) are eligible. For SSB, only serving ASIs (GD) are eligible to apply. Personnel currently serving on deputation or attachment outside their parent force may also apply through their parent unit for a No Objection Certificate (NOC).
Service Record & Medical Category: Applicants must hold at least a "Good" APAR grading over the preceding five years (or four years if they have completed exactly four years of service), maintain an unblemished service record without major penalties until appointment, and belong to the SHAPE-1 medical category.

Maximum Attempts & Age Limit: Each departmental candidate is permitted a maximum of three attempts at the CAPF SI LDCE. The upper age limit is fixed at 32 years for General/UR candidates and 37 years for SC/ST candidates (5-year relaxation), calculated as of December 31, 2026.

Selection Process and Exam Pattern

Shortlisted personnel will pass through four structured stages: a 200-mark objective Computer-Based Test (CBT) lasting 3 hours and 30 minutes (covering General Intelligence & Reasoning, Comprehension & Communication Skill, Numerical Ability, and General Awareness & Professional Knowledge—requiring 45% in each section and 50% aggregate for General candidates, or 40% sectional and 45% aggregate for SC/ST), followed by Physical Standard & Efficiency Tests (PST/PET), Document Verification, and a Detailed Medical Examination (DME).

Step-by-Step Guide to Apply Online Before December 31

Visit the official BSF recruitment website at bsf.mha.gov.in or rectt.bsf.gov.in.

Open the recruitment section and click on the CAPF Sub-Inspector (GD) LDCE 2026 registration link.

Complete your one-time registration and log in to access the departmental application form.

Enter your personal details, force name, regiment/force number, date of enlistment, and academic qualifications accurately.

Upload scanned copies of your photograph, signature, graduation certificate, and prescribed service documents in the specified format.

Review every entry carefully—as no correction window is permitted after final submission—submit the form, and print the confirmation receipt for parent-unit verification before December 31, 2026.