Assam Public Service Commission (APSC)
Last Date: 07 June 2026

Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) has released Advertisement No. 02/2026 for 22 posts of Class-I (Junior Grade) Home Guards in the Assam Home Guards Services under the Home and Political Department, Government of Assam. Online applications open May 8, 2026, and the closing date is June 7, 2026. The last date for fee payment is June 9, 2026.

Before the details, here is the full picture at a glance:

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APSC Class-I Home Guard Recruitment - Complete Details

The Assam Home Guards Services is a uniformed auxiliary force operating under the Home and Political Department of the Assam Government, distinct from the regular police establishment. Class-I (Junior Grade) officers in this service occupy a supervisory position within the force structure, responsible for overseeing guard deployment, coordination with district administration, and managing operational activities of the Home Guard units under their charge. This is a gazetted or near-gazetted level entry into a uniformed state government service, carrying a Pay Band-3 salary structure that places it well above typical Group C appointments.

Twenty-two posts in this cycle is a small batch relative to the statewide reach of the service. APSC Class-I recruitments - whether for police, home guards, or other civil services - consistently attract large applicant volumes because they offer the most direct pathway from a graduate degree to a supervisory state government role with full service benefits. The selection process is multi-stage and demanding: a 400-mark written examination, physical fitness testing, medical assessment, and a 50-mark interview conducted by the Commission. Candidates who clear all four stages will be absorbed into a permanent state government cadre.

Assam domicile is mandatory for this recruitment. Candidates from other states cannot apply, and the requirement for a valid Permanent Resident Certificate (PRC) or Employment Exchange Registration Certificate as proof of residency is an early-stage check that distinguishes this from open central government recruitments.

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Vacancy Details

The total advertised vacancy is 22 posts with category-wise distribution as follows.

A few points worth understanding about this table. The PwBD figure of 7 in the notification appears unusually high relative to the total of 22 is noted as being per draft advertisement received from Government against total numbers of posts in the cadre, not just this cycle's vacancies. The actual number applicable to the 22 posts being recruited now may differ. Candidates claiming PwBD reservation should note separately that the PwBD category is marked as "Not Applicable" in the notification's eligibility section, which creates an apparent contradiction - candidates should treat the Commission's guidance as authoritative and contact APSC at cceapsc@gmail.com for clarification before applying under PwBD.

Ex-Servicemen from Assam must upload both the Ex-Servicemen Identity Card issued by the Zila Sainik Welfare Office of Assam and their Discharge Book to claim the reserved post. Ex-Servicemen from other states cannot claim this reservation.

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Application Fee

The Rs.47.20 processing fee is charged by CSC-SPV (a MeitY-approved technology partner) and is payable by all candidates regardless of category. The application fee component itself is what is waived for SC/ST/BPL/PwBD applicants - the portal processing charge remains.

Applications without the prescribed fee are summarily rejected. Fee once paid is not refunded under any circumstances, and it cannot be held in reserve for any other APSC examination. If there is a payment failure or double debit, click "Check Status" on the portal; double debits are automatically refunded by the bank within 5 to 7 working days. For payment-related queries, contact GRAS Helpdesk at 1800-102-1686 between 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM on working days. Candidates without debit card or internet banking access may visit the nearest Common Service Centre (CSC) to complete the application.

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Age Limit

Age is calculated as on 01-01-2026. Candidates must be at least 21 years and not more than 38 years on that date.

Age proof must be the Class X or Class XII Examination Admit Card, Pass Certificate, or Marksheet issued by a recognised Central or State Board, where the date of birth is clearly recorded. No other document is accepted as age proof. Once the date of birth is entered in the online application, no subsequent request for change will be considered or granted.

The upper age limit of 38 years for the general category is notably strict for a gazetted-level position. Many aspirants who spent years preparing for the Assam Civil Services will find themselves age-barred from this recruitment, which filters the field toward candidates who have been specifically targeting Class-I uniformed services within a tight window.

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Educational Qualification

A graduate degree in any discipline from a University recognised by the Government is the minimum educational qualification. There is no subject-specific requirement, no minimum percentage stipulation, and no preference for any stream. Arts, Science, Commerce, and professional degree holders are all equally eligible.

Candidates must upload all semester or year-wise marksheets reflecting subjects studied along with the final passing certificate. All marksheets from Class 10 (HSLC) onwards up to the qualifying examination level must be available for production at the Interview stage.

Candidates currently in the final year of graduation are not mentioned as eligible in the notification. The standard APSC practice applies - the closing date of the online application is the reference date for determining eligibility, and the qualification must have been completed by that date. Candidates in the final semester should verify their situation carefully before applying.

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Selection Process

Written Examination

The written examination carries a total of 400 marks across two papers.

Paper I => General Ability and Intelligence Test (200 marks): Objective multiple-choice type, questions in English only. Topics covered include General Mental Ability, General Science, Current Events of National and International Importance, Indian Polity and Economy, History of India, and Indian and World Geography.

Paper II => General Studies, Essay and Comprehension (200 marks): This paper has two components with different language options.

Part A => Essay (80 marks): Candidates may write in either English or Assamese. Topics broadly cover modern Indian history especially the freedom struggle, geography, polity and economy, security and human rights issues, and analytical ability.

Part B => Comprehension, Precis Writing, and Language Skills (120 marks): Must be attempted in English only. Topics include comprehension passages, precis writing, developing counter arguments, and grammar.

Candidates must clearly indicate on the Attendance List and on the Answer Book the medium they have chosen for the Essay component of Paper II. No credit is given for Essay answers written in a medium different from what is indicated. Paper I is evaluated first; Paper II is evaluated only for those who obtain the minimum qualifying marks in Paper I.

Physical Efficiency Test (PET)

Candidates who qualify in the written examination are called for Physical Standards verification and then the Physical Efficiency Test. Pregnant female candidates are disqualified at the PET stage.

Medical Standards Test

Conducted only for candidates who qualify the PET. Medical examination checks standards specified in Schedule-IV (2) of the Assam Home Guards Service Rules, 2020. Appeals against Medical Standards Test results must be made to the Appellate Authority within 15 days of the result declaration. Candidates declared unfit but allowed to appear before the Review Medical Board on appeal may attend the Interview provisionally.

Interview / Personality Test

Candidates who clear the Medical Standards Test are called for an Interview / Personality Test conducted by the Commission, carrying 50 marks. The Commission does not pay travel or other expenses for attending the Interview.

Final Merit

The merit list is drawn on the combined marks of the Written Examination (400 marks) and the Interview/Personality Test (50 marks), for a total of 450 marks. PET and Medical Tests are qualifying stages that determine eligibility for the Interview, not marks-bearing stages.

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Physical Standards

Candidates must meet minimum physical measurements to proceed to the PET stage.

Height (minimum)

Chest (minimum — Male/Female)

Weight must be proportionate to height and age as per medical standard.

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Medical Standards, Salary, Job Location, and Service Conditions

The medical requirements are extensive and apply the standards of Schedule-IV(2) of the Assam Home Guards Service Rules, 2020. Key conditions include: uncorrected vision of 6/6 in one eye and 6/9 in the other (no glasses permitted), no degree of deafness or persistent ear discharge, no DNS or chronic sinusitis, no chronic diseases including TB, diabetes, hypertension, bronchial asthma, or any heart disease, no varicose veins or knock knees, normal pulse rate between 50 and 100 per minute, and no hernia or haemorrhoids. Candidates who have undergone LASIK surgery must have completed at least six months post-surgery before appearing for recruitment.

The pay structure is Pay Band-3: Rs.22,000 to Rs.97,000 with Grade Pay of Rs.11,800, plus other allowances admissible to Assam State Government employees. This is a substantive state government service appointment and not contractual. The posting is within Assam, with zone-wise deployment based on the district zones identified in the notification.

The PET and Medical Test are conducted centrally at Guwahati by the State Level Recruitment Board (SLPRB), after the written examination results are declared.

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How to Apply

1. Visit the APSC Recruitment Portal at https://apscrecruitment.in
2. If not already registered, click "Register Here" and complete the One Time Registration (OTR) process with basic personal details; use a valid and active email address and mobile number
3. Log in using your registered email or mobile number and password
4. Check your OTR profile - age, caste, and minimum educational qualification certificates will be fetched from the OTR profile; update the profile before applying if additional documents need to be uploaded
5. Select the Class-I (Junior Grade) Home Guards advertisement and click Apply
6. Fill all mandatory fields carefully; mandatory fields are marked with an asterisk
7. Upload all required documents in PDF format: file size must not exceed 4 MB, scanning at 200 DPI in greyscale is recommended, and the file must be legible in print
8. Upload your recent photograph (50 KB to 200 KB, not older than 3 months) and signature (50 KB to 200 KB)
9. Upload the Small Family Norms Declaration in Form-A as required by Govt. Notification No. ABP.69/2019/17 dated 6 November 2019; this form is available on www.apsc.nic.in under Forms and Downloads (Or, you can check the Important Links section below, which contains a direct link.)
10. Review all details and uploaded documents using the Preview option before final submission; no editing is allowed after final submission
11. Click "Proceed to Pay" and complete the prescribed fee payment online or through the nearest CSC
12. After successful submission, an auto-generated confirmation email/SMS will be sent to your registered email/mobile; take a printout of the submitted application form and keep it

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Required Documents and Important Instructions

Documents required at the application upload stage: Date of Birth proof (Class X or Class XII Admit Card/Pass Certificate/Marksheet from a recognised Board); all semester/year marksheets and pass certificates from Class 10 through the qualifying degree; Permanent Resident Certificate (PRC) or Employment Exchange Registration Certificate as Assam domicile proof; caste certificate issued by the competent authority (for SC/ST/OBC/MOBC); BPL certificate where applicable; Ex-Servicemen Identity Card from Zila Sainik Welfare Office of Assam and Discharge Book for Ex-Servicemen; NOC from competent authority for serving regular government employees; and Small Family Norms Declaration in Form-A.

At the Interview stage, original documents with self-attested copies must be produced: Class X/XII Board documents reflecting date of birth, all marksheets from HSLC onwards, experience certificate if applicable, caste certificate from Govt. of Assam for reserved category candidates, BPL certificate, and the Small Family Norms Declaration.

Critical instructions: Candidature at all stages is provisional and subject to eligibility verification. Category cannot be changed at any stage after the original application is submitted. Candidates who furnish wrong or erroneous information may be disqualified from all APSC examinations for a period specified by the Commission. Canvassing in any form disqualifies a candidate. No documents will be accepted after final submission of the online application. Everything must be uploaded before clicking Final Submit. No withdrawal of candidature is permitted after application submission.

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What This Recruitment Demands That Most Candidates Underestimate

The Physical Barrier Is Real and Should Be Tested Before Applying

The APSC Class-I Home Guard written examination attracts large numbers of well-qualified graduate candidates who prepare thoroughly for the academic components but do not attempt to test their physical fitness beforehand. The PET standards - 100 metres in 16 seconds for males, 800 metres in 3 minutes 45 seconds, and a long jump of at least 3.5 metres - are genuinely demanding for anyone who has not been maintaining an active fitness routine. These are not symbolic qualifying marks designed to be cleared easily. The 800-metre time standard in particular requires a sustained aerobic fitness level that takes months of consistent training to build. Candidates who have been sedentary through their graduation years should be honest with themselves about their fitness baseline before investing months of preparation in the written examination. Getting through the written test and then being eliminated at the PET is a waste of effort that is entirely preventable.

The medical standards are equally stringent. The uncorrected vision requirement of 6/6 and 6/9 without glasses is an outright disqualifier for a large segment of graduates who wear spectacles. LASIK surgery candidates must have completed six months post-surgery. These are non-negotiable medical benchmarks set by the Assam Home Guards Service Rules 2020, and the review medical board process is the only avenue for appeal, which is narrow.

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The Paper II Language Strategy That Candidates Often Get Wrong

Choosing Your Essay Medium Wisely in the APSC Class-I Written Exam

Paper II of the written examination has a structural choice that candidates must make deliberately, not casually. The Essay component (Part A, 80 marks) allows writing in either Assamese or English. The Comprehension, Precis Writing, and Language Skills component (Part B, 120 marks) must be in English only. The choice of medium for the Essay must be declared on the Attendance List and on the Answer Book - if what you write and what you declare do not match, the Essay component gets zero marks regardless of content quality.

The strategic question is whether to write the Essay in Assamese or English. Candidates who are equally comfortable in both should consider that English medium allows a consistent approach across both parts of the paper. Candidates whose analytical and expressive ability is significantly stronger in Assamese - particularly for topics like the freedom struggle, Assamese history, or security issues with regional dimensions - should use that advantage. However, be aware that Precis Writing and comprehension in Part B cannot be in Assamese regardless of what you choose for the Essay. The split medium approach requires careful mental switching during the exam, and that transition should be practiced before the actual exam, not discovered for the first time inside the hall.

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Understanding the Cadre and Career Context Before You Commit

What the Class-I Home Guards Role Actually Means Long Term

The Assam Home Guards Services operates differently from the regular Assam Police. Home Guard units function as an auxiliary force under district administration for law and order supplementation, disaster response, election duty, and guarding duties at government establishments. Class-I (Junior Grade) officers hold supervisory command responsibility within this framework. The cadre is distinct from the Assam Police Service and the Assam Civil Service, which means career progression, promotion timelines, and deputation opportunities follow the Home Guards Service Rules rather than the more visible state civil services framework.

For candidates considering this versus the Assam Civil Service examinations or the Assam Police Sub-Inspector recruitment, the salary comparison is favourable here - Pay Band-3 with Grade Pay of Rs.11,800 is a significantly higher starting level than most sub-ordinate state service positions. But the service conditions, including potential deployment for guard duties and field operations, are different from desk-based civil service roles. Candidates should read the Assam Home Guards Service Rules 2020 before committing to this as their primary target, particularly the provisions around transfers, duties, and promotion pathways.

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Candidates who have read the full notification often still have specific questions that the official document does not address clearly. Here are direct answers to the most commonly asked ones:

❓Frequently Asked Questions 

How many posts are available in APSC Class-I Home Guard Recruitment 2026?

A total of 22 posts are advertised for Class-I (Junior Grade) Home Guards in the Assam Home Guards Services. Of these, 7 are reserved for women (RFW) across categories, and 1 post is reserved for Ex-Servicemen.

What is the last date to apply?

The online application closes on June 7, 2026. The last date for payment of application fee is June 9, 2026 - two days after the application window closes. Candidates should complete the fee payment before the application form is submitted to avoid rejection.

Who is eligible to apply?

Indian citizens who are permanent residents of Assam, aged between 21 and 38 years as on January 1, 2026, and holding a graduate degree in any discipline from a recognised University are eligible. A valid PRC or Employment Exchange Registration Certificate is required as domicile proof.

What is the age limit including all relaxations?

General category: 21 to 38 years. OBC/MOBC: up to 41 years. SC/ST: up to 43 years. Ex-Servicemen Unreserved: up to 50 years. Ex-Servicemen OBC/MOBC: up to 53 years. Ex-Servicemen SC/ST: up to 55 years. All ages calculated as on January 1, 2026.

What educational qualification is required?

A graduation degree in any discipline from a Government-recognised University. Stream and percentage are not specified. All semester or year-wise marksheets and the final pass certificate must be uploaded.

What is the selection process?

Written Examination (400 marks total across two papers) followed by Physical Efficiency Test and Medical Standards Test (both qualifying), followed by an Interview/Personality Test (50 marks). Final merit is based on combined written exam and interview marks (450 marks total).

What is the salary for Class-I Home Guards in Assam?

The pay scale is Rs.22,000 to Rs.97,000 with a Grade Pay of Rs.11,800 under Pay Band-3, plus other allowances admissible to Assam State Government employees.

What is the application fee?

General category: Rs.297.20 total (Rs.250 application fee plus Rs.47.20 processing fee). OBC/MOBC: Rs.197.20 total (Rs.150 plus Rs.47.20). SC/ST/BPL/PwBD: Rs.47.20 total (only processing fee, application fee is nil). Fee once paid is non-refundable.

How do I apply online?

Register on the APSC Recruitment Portal at https://apscrecruitment.in through the OTR process. Log in, update your OTR profile with required documents, select this advertisement, fill the form, upload documents in PDF format, preview all details, click "Proceed to Pay," complete fee payment, and take a printout of the submitted application. No editing is allowed after final submission.

What is the official website for this recruitment?

apscrecruitment.in is the official APSC Recruitment Portal. All official information and updates will be published on the APSC website and apsc.nic.in.

Is PwBD reservation applicable for this post?

The notification marks PwBD as "Not applicable" under eligibility criteria, which is the operative guidance for candidates. The reservation table shows a PwBD figure that relates to the full cadre strength, not just this cycle's vacancies. Candidates with disabilities should contact APSC at cceapsc@gmail.com for clarification before applying.

Where will the PET and Medical Test be conducted?

Both the Physical Efficiency Test and the Medical Standards Test will be conducted centrally at Guwahati by the State Level Recruitment Board (SLPRB), after the written examination results are declared.

Where will the written examination be held?

APSC will conduct the examination zone-wise depending on the number of applicants by district. The six zones are: Silchar (Hailakandi, Sribhumi, Cachar), Jorhat (Golaghat, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Majuli, Charaideo, Sivasagar, Tinsukia), Nagaon (Dima Hasao, Hojai, Nagaon, Morigaon, Karbi Anglong, West Karbi Anglong), Tezpur (Biswanath, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Sonitpur, Udalguri), Kokrajhar (Bongaigaon, Chirang, Dhubri, Goalpara, Kokrajhar, South Salmara), and Guwahati (Barpeta, Baksa, Kamrup, Kamrup Metro, Nalbari, Darrang, Bajali, Tamulpur). The Commission may adjust the number of zones based on applicant numbers.

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What to Focus On Right Now

The application window runs from May 8 to June 7, 2026. The most important immediate step is updating the OTR profile on apscrecruitment.in before filling the application form, since age, caste, and educational qualification data are fetched from there. Any mismatch between the OTR data and the documents uploaded will create problems that cannot be corrected after final submission.

The Small Family Norms Declaration Form-A is a mandatory upload that candidates frequently search for at the last moment - download it from www.apsc.nic.in under Forms and Downloads (Or, you can check the Important Links section below, which contains a direct link), fill it before starting the application, and have it ready as a PDF.

For candidates who meet the written exam eligibility, the realistic preparation timeline between now and the likely exam date also needs to cover physical fitness. Start both tracks simultaneously. The written examination and the PET are equally eliminatory, and the competition in this batch will be considerable given the Pay Band-3 salary on offer for a graduate-level entry post.

All official updates - exam dates, admit cards, results etc will be published on apscrecruitment.in and apsc.nic.in. Helpline: 1800-572-23-43 (10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, working days). Email: cceapsc@gmail.com.

This article is based on the official notification and simplified for easy understanding. For the most accurate and updated information, always refer to the official website.