BSF Constable (GD) Recruitment: New Reservation Policy

The Ministry of Home Affairs has officially amended the Border Security Force, General Duty Cadre (Non-Gazetted) Recruitment Rules, 2015. The most significant change is the 5-fold increase in the reservation for Ex-Agniveers.

1. New Reservation Structure

The recruitment for Constable (General Duty) will now follow a revised quota system:

• Ex-Agniveers: 50% reservation (Increased from the earlier 10%).

• Ex-Servicemen: 10% reservation.

• Combatised Constable (Tradesmen): Up to 3% reservation for annual absorption.

• General Candidates: The remaining 47% (which includes the 10% for Ex-Servicemen) will be open for general applicants.

2. Physical Test Exemptions

In a massive relief for former Agniveers, they are now completely exempt from:

• Physical Efficiency Test (PET): Running, long jump, etc.

• Physical Standard Test (PST): Measurement of height, chest, and weight.

Note: Ex-Agniveers are already trained by the Armed Forces, so they only need to clear the written examination to qualify.

3. Age Relaxation for Ex-Agniveers

The standard age for SSC GD recruitment is 18–23 years. However, Ex-Agniveers will get the following benefits:

• First Batch of Ex-Agniveers: Upper age limit relaxation of 5 years.

• Subsequent Batches: Upper age limit relaxation of 3 years.

4. Selection Process & Phases

The recruitment will now be conducted in two distinct phases to manage the new quota:

Important Note: If the 50% seats for Ex-Agniveers are not filled in Phase 1, those remaining vacancies will be added to the Phase 2 recruitment conducted by the SSC for other candidates.

Impact on SSC GD 2027

For students preparing for SSC GD 2027, this means the competition for the non-reserved seats will be higher, as a significant portion of BSF vacancies is now earmarked for trained ex-military personnel. It is advised to focus heavily on the written examination as the number of "General" seats in the BSF category may see a reduction due to this 50% reservation.

Below is the comparison table for eligibility and a strategic study plan to help you navigate these changes for the 2027 recruitment cycle.

Eligibility Comparison: General vs. Ex-Agniveers

This table highlights the significant advantages given to Ex-Agniveers compared to General candidates in the BSF recruitment process.

2027 Strategic Study Plan (CBT Focused)

Since Ex-Agniveers are exempted from physical tests, the Computer-Based Test (CBT) is the only major hurdle for them. For General candidates, the competition for the remaining seats will be fierce, making the CBT score even more critical.

Phase 1: Foundation (Months 1-2)

• Mathematics: Focus on Number Systems, Percentages, and Ratios. These are the building blocks of most questions.

• Reasoning: Master Analogies and Series. These are "quick-win" marks.

• General Awareness: Read NCERT (Class 6-10) for History and Geography. Start a habit of reading daily Current Affairs.

Phase 2: Speed & Accuracy (Months 3-4)

• Maths/Reasoning: Move to Profit & Loss, Time & Work, and Coding-Decoding. Practice 20 questions of each daily.

• Language (Hindi/English): Focus on Grammar, Synonyms, and Cloze tests. This section is often the highest-scoring for prepared candidates.

• Weekly Mock: Take 1 full-length mock test every Sunday to assess your time management (80 questions in 60 minutes).

Phase 3: Revision & Mocks (Final 2 Months)

• Daily Mocks: Switch to daily mock tests. Analyze your mistakes—don't just check the score.

• Current Affairs: Revise the last 12 months of news, specifically focusing on "Sports," "Appointments," and "Defense news."

• Formula Sheet: Keep a "cheat sheet" of Math formulas and Reasoning tricks for quick revision.

Exam Pattern Overview (SSC GD 2027)

• Total Questions: 80 (20 per section)

• Total Marks: 160 (2 marks each)

• Negative Marking: 0.25 or 0.50 (As per the latest SSC notification)

• Duration: 60 Minutes

Pro-Tip: For General candidates, aim for a score of 135+ out of 160 to stay safe, as the BSF seats for the open category have effectively decreased due to the new 50% quota.

1. Detailed Syllabus & Exam Pattern (CBT)

The exam is a Computer-Based Test (CBT) consisting of 80 questions for a total of 160 marks. You have 60 minutes to complete it.

2. Recommended Booklist

Choosing the right books is crucial because the competition for "General" seats will be much higher due to the 50% reservation for Ex-Agniveers.

3. Pro-Tips for 2027 Aspirants

1. Written Score is King: For general candidates, the "safe score" will likely rise to 140+/160 because the number of available seats in BSF has halved.

2. Mocks are Mandatory: Start taking full-length mocks at least 6 months before the exam.

3. Physical for General: While Ex-Agniveers skip the physicals, General candidates must stay fit for the 5km race (24 mins for males) and 1.6km race (8.5 mins for females).