BSF Eligibility Criteria Selection Process, Age Limit, Height, Chest

BSF Eligibility Criteria Selection Process, Age Height Chest: BSF is a paramilitary force under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Every year BSF is notified for recruitment at various categories, some through UPSC (for gazetted) and some for non-gazetted posts by SSC.

Border Security Force is providing a wonderful opportunity for those who want to serve the nation directly in uniform with pride and valor. There are separate vacancies for males and females with different physical standards. BSF has different grades and each has distinct eligibility criteria.

BSF rank hierarchy which as follows:

General Duty Cadre

Constable

Sub-Inspector

Communication Set-up

Assistant Commandant

Assistant Sub Inspector (Radio Mechanic)

Head Constable (Radio Operator)

HC

Head Constable (Fitter)

See Also: Upcoming BSF Recruitment

BSF Eligibility Criteria 2025 For Constable – Age Limit Chest Height

BSF Constable (General Duty) comes under a non-gazetted officer cadre. Constable is an important element of BSF and it is the most opted trade among aspirants because hundreds of vacancies are released every year for this trade.

Eligibility criteria are categorized under age, education, physical standards, etc. Candidates must fulfill all the criteria before applying for the post.

BSF constable Age limit

An applicant must be between 18 to 23 years old as of the 1st of August every year. Relaxation for SC/ST/OBC, ex-servicemen, and other categories will be provided according to the government orders.

Constable educational qualification

Candidates should have passed class 10th or above from a recognized board or university. No percentage criteria are needed for constable GD.

Physical Standards

• Height: required for male candidates is 170 cms and for females is 157 cms.
• Chest: required for males without expansion is 80 cms and with minimum expansion of 5 Cms.
• Weight: for both males and females is proportionate to their height and age as per medical standards.
• Relaxation: for candidates belonging to Garhwalis, Kumaonis, Gorkhs, Dogras, Marathas, states of Sikkim, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Kashmir and Leh & Ladakh regions of J&K as per their height, chest & weight as follows:

Schedule Cast and Other Backward Cast
S/No	Height	Chest	Weight
Males	165 cms	80 to 85 cms	Proportionate to height and age as per medical standards
Females	155 cms	–
Scheduled Tribe
Males	162.5 cms	78 to 83 cms	Proportionate to height and age as per medical standards
Females	150 cms	76 to 81 cms

Medical Standards: The minimum far vision should be 6/6 and 6/9 for both eyes without wearing glasses. Candidates must not have squints in their eyes and have high color vision.

Note: Candidates should not have knock knee, flat foot, and varicose vein and should be in good mental and body health, free from any kind of physical defect. This criterion is the same for all BSF rank hierarchies.

# Constable Selection Process

The constable selection procedure is completed in 6 steps, which are mentioned below:

Physical Standard Test (PST): Candidates must go through the physical standards that are set for their height, weight, and chest. If anyone does not fulfill the required standards, will be eliminated.

Document Verification: After the physical standard test, candidates have to bring their original certificates with them while verification is mentioned in educational qualification.

Physical Efficiency test (PET): Those who qualify for the above two levels, are going to take their efficiency tests which are race, long jump, and high jump. This test is qualifying in nature because it does not carry any marks. There is no PET for Ex-Servicemen, they would be required to pass the medical examination. Here is a brief description of these:

	Race	High Jump	Long Jump
Male	5 km in 24 minutes	11 feet with 3 chances	3-1/2 feet with 3 chances
Female	1.6 km in 8.30 minutes	9 feet with 3 chances	3 feet with 3 chances

Written test: Successful candidates of PET, will take the written exam which contains an objective paper (Hindi and English) of 100 questions with a total of 100 marks and there is no negative marking.
Medical Exam: Candidates should be mentally and bodily fit and satisfy the conditions of medical standards.
Merit List: In the last, the merit list will be drawn including the marks of the written exam as per their category.

Eligibility Criteria For Head Constable (Operator) & Head Constable (Fitter)

The age and medical criteria for both the post is same as Constable and the remaining criteria are as follows:

Educational Qualification

• For HC Operator, candidates must be matric or equivalent and have 2 years of ITI certificate in Radio and TV/Electronics, or 10+2 with PCM from a recognized board.
• For HC Fitter, must be matric or equivalent plus two years of ITI certificate in engine/fitter/Diesel Mechanic/Automobile/Motor Mechanic from a recognized institution by State/Central Government or equivalent, or 10+2 or equivalent with PCM from a recognized board.

Physical Standards for Operators & Fitters

Particulars	Height	Chest		Weight
		Expanded	Unexpanded
For general category	170 cms	85 cms	80 cms	According to height
SC/ST (Adivasis/Tribals)	must be 162.5 cm	81 cms	76 cms
Those having 165 cms height	must be 165 cm	83 cms	78 cms

Eligibility Criteria For Sub Inspector (SI)

SI is the lowest rank officer under central armed police forces and its exam is conducted by Staff Selection Commission (SSC). SI vacancies are filled directly by 1/3 of the post and the remaining 2/3 by promotion itself. Criteria for SI direct recruitment are as follows:

Candidate’s Age must be 20 to 25 years. Age relaxation is provided from time to time for SC/ST/OBC according to government instructions.

Educational Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in any stream from a recognized university or equivalent, must be required.

Physical Standards:

• The required height for male candidates is 170 cm and for female candidates is 157 cm.
• The height required for candidates belonging to hilly areas (Garhwal, Kumaon, HP, Leh & Ladakh, Kashmir valley, Gorkhas, Marathas, Sikkimies, Dogras & NE States) is 165  and 155cms of male and female.
• The height eligible for candidates belonging to scheduled tribes is 162.5 cm for males and 154 cm for females.
• The chest requirement for males of this post is 80 to 85 cm for general, 80 to 85 cm for candidates belonging to hilly areas, and 77 to 82 cm for scheduled tribes.
• Weight is measured according to height as per medical standards.

Medical Standards: The distant vision should be 6/6 or 6/9 for both eyes without wearing glasses.

# Sub Inspector Selection Process

The inspector selection process includes different stages for candidates to reach their desired rank. The selection procedure starts with Paper I and is followed by PET/PST, then qualified candidates will give Paper II and then a medical examination. In the last, the merit list would be drawn. Let’s know in brief about these levels:

Written Examination: the written exam is divided into two categories i.e. Paper I and Paper II. Paper I is a multiple choice-based paper of total 200 marks and 200 questions with 2 two-hour duration. Paper I is further divided into four sections, each carrying 50 questions of 50 marks.

In Paper II, the questions will be subjective type means you have to write by using a pen. The paper is of total 200 marks with 2 hours duration.

Candidates can give the exam in any format i.e. Hindi and English and there is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer. So, candidates should keep this thing in mind while taking the exam.

Physical Standard Test (PSI)/Physical Endurance Test (PET): After qualifying Paper I successfully, candidates first go through physical standards, and then by physical endurance test, it can be vice-versa. PET doesn’t contain any marks but it would be a qualifying or eliminating nature. Those who qualify endurance test successfully will proceed tothe next level i.e. Paper II. The PET includes:

Male	Female
100 meters race in 16 seconds	100 meters in 18 seconds
1.6 km race in 6.5 seconds	800 meters race in 4 minutes
3.65 meters long jump in 3 chances	2.7 meters (9 feet) long jump in 3 chances
1.2 meters high jump in 3 chances	0.9 meters (3 feet) high jump in 3 chances
4.5 meters shotput (16 lbs) in 3 Chances	–

Medical Exam & Merit List: Candidate must satisfy the eye vision as mentioned in medical standards and should be in good body and mental health. After the medical exam, a merit list is drawn which includes the marks of the written exam, andthe final selection will be made as per the merit list.

Eligibility Criteria for Assistant Sub Inspector (Radio Mechanic)

In the SI radio mechanic trade, the criteria for age and physical standard are the same as in SI. The educational qualification required for this post is Matric with 3 years diploma in Electronics / Radio and TV technology / Tele-Communications / Computer / Electrical / Mechanical / Engineering / Domestic appliance from a recognized institution by State/Central Government or should have 10+2 or equivalent with 50% marks in PCM from a recognized board.

The candidates who will qualify for the medical should have eyesight near vision for a better eye J-I, J-II, 6/6, and 6/9 highgradese. Candidates have to pass the high-gradcolorur vision test.

Eligibility Criteria For Assistant Commandant (AC)

Assistant Commandant is a gazetted officer category and is filled up by an examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). There is a direct recruitment for assistant commandant post by 50% (including 10% from SSCO) and the remaining 50% by promotion from the procedure Inspector to AC. The eligibility criteria for AC is as follows:

The age of the candidate must be from 19 to 25 years. In the case of SC/ST/OBC, relaxation is given as per the instructions provided by the government of India.

Educational Qualification: Candidates must have a graduate degree in any stream from a recognized institution/university or equivalent. NCC ‘C’ or ‘B’ certificate or achievements in sports or athletics will add an advantage to your qualification.

Physical Standards

• The required height for male and female candidates is 165 cm and 157 ccm respectively.
• The required chest for males is 81 to 86 command there is no chest measurement forfemalese cancandidateseight required for males is 50 kgs and for females, taken according to their height but it should be not less than 46 kgs.

Medical Standards

• For males, distant vision should be 6/6 or 6/9 and near vision be J-I (with or without glasses).
• For females, distant vision should be 6/12 or 6/9 and near vision should be J-II (with or without glasses).
• Color vision should be high.

# Assistant Commandant Selection Process

The selection procedure for assistant commandant is similar to sub-inspector, but there is only one difference in the personal interview. The process starts with a written exam, followed by a PET/PST/Medical exam, an Interview, anda merit list at the end.

Written Examination: The written exam is composed of two papers whichares Paper I and Paper II. Paper I (General Ability and Intelligence) if 200 marks and contains 125 multiple choice questions (Hindi and English) with a duration of 2 hours.

Paper II (General Studies, Essay, and Comprehension) is a subjective paper of 200 marks with a total duration of 3 hours. Candidates will have the option to write in English or Hindi medium, but for precise writing, comprehension components, and other communications/ language skills will be given in English medium only.

Physical Standards, Physical Efficiency, and Medical Standards Tests: After clearing the written exam, candidates will call for physical standards, physical efficiency, and medicaltestst. This section doesn’t carry any marks. Candidates must satisfy all physical standards before proceeding tthe o physical efficiency test, which includes:

Male	Female
100 meters race in 16 secs	100 meters race in 18 secs
800 meters race in 3 mins 45 secs	800 meters race in 4 min 45 secs
3.5 meters long jump in 3 chances	3 meters long jump in 3 chances
4.5 meters shotput (7.26 kgs)	–

Candidates are examined by the medical officers and must be mentally and bodily fit and not have any injuries.

Interview/Personality Test: Shortlisted candidates are called for an interview and those who are declared unfit are permitted to attend a personal interview provisionally before the Review Medical Board on their appeal by Appellate Authority. This section is of 150 marks.

Merit List: After completing all the stages, the merit list will be shown based on written as well as personal interview marks and it will be considered as final selection by the commission.

Eligibility Criteria for Assistant Commandant (Technical)

For technical trade, the candidates with B.Sc (Physics, Chemistry & Mathematics) and educational qualification mentioned above in assistant commandant eligibility criteria with Electronics stream are appointed for the rank of Assistant Commandant (Technical) and after this, they getexperienced through Battalion Signal Officers Course. Later on, the experienced officers work with upper posts of the Communication Hierarchy.

So, this is all about eligibility criteria and the selection process of BSF ranks. Hope this article will help you but if you still have any questions to ask, then feel free to comment below.