MHA Revises BSF Assistant Commandant Recruitment Rules, Raises Age Limit to 60 Years
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has introduced significant amendments to the recruitment regulations for the position of Assistant Commandant (Official Language) within the Border Security Force (BSF). These changes, which came into effect on February 3, 2026, include a notable increase in the maximum age limit for candidates and revised eligibility criteria for deputation.
Key Amendments to Recruitment Rules
The updated regulations, officially titled the Border Security Force, Assistant Commandant (Official Language) Group ‘A’ Combatised Post Recruitment (Amendment) Rules, 2026, modify the previous rules established in 2015. One of the most prominent revisions is the enhancement of the upper age limit for applicants. Specifically, Rule 7 of the 2015 rules has been amended by replacing "fifty-seven years" with "sixty years," thereby permitting candidates up to 60 years of age to be considered under the new provisions.
Revised Deputation and Eligibility Criteria
The notification also outlines updated deputation criteria for the post. Eligibility now extends to officers from various sectors, including:
- Central government departments
- State governments and Union Territories
- Autonomous bodies and statutory organisations
- Public sector undertakings
- Universities and recognised research institutions
To qualify, candidates must hold analogous posts on a regular basis or possess specified years of regular service in Level-9 (Rs 53,100-1,67,800) or Level-8 (Rs 47,600-1,51,100) of the pay matrix. Additionally, the maximum age limit for deputation is set at 56 years as of the application closing date.
Educational and Experience Requirements
In terms of academic qualifications, applicants must possess a Master's degree from a recognised university in either Hindi or English. Alternatively, candidates with a Master's degree in any other subject are eligible if Hindi and English were compulsory or elective subjects, or served as the medium of examination at the degree level.
Furthermore, candidates are required to have at least three years of experience in one of the following areas:
- Translation work between Hindi and English
- Teaching Hindi or English
- Research in Hindi or English
The notification also specifies that departmental Subedar Major (Hindi Translator) in Level-8 with four years of regular service will be considered, with the eligibility service for feeder posts remaining at two years.
Role and Importance of the Position
The BSF, as India's primary border guarding force under the MHA, is tasked with securing the India-Bangladesh and India-Pakistan borders, as well as operating across linguistically diverse regions. The Assistant Commandant (Official Language) plays a crucial role in:
- Ensuring compliance with the Official Languages Act, 1963
- Translating operational and administrative documents
- Preparing bilingual correspondence
- Promoting Hindi in official work to support the Government's Rajbhasha policy
The original recruitment rules were published on October 9, 2015, and were last amended on July 19, 2017. These latest revisions aim to broaden the pool of eligible candidates and strengthen the official language cadre within the BSF.
