BORDER SECURITY FORCE, CHIEF LAW OFFICER, ADDITIONAL CHIEF LAW OFFICER AND LAW OFFICER RECRUITMENT AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE (AMENDMENT) RULES, 2026
Issued by Ministry of Home Affairs · Border Security Force
Read or download the official PDF of this gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on 20th August 2026. Classified under Extra Ordinary.
Executive Summary & Key Takeaways
Executive Summary The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued the Border Security Force (BSF) Law Officer Recruitment and Conditions of Service (Amendment) Rules, 2026, effective from August 20, 2026. These rules amend the 2023 framework to refine recruitment methods, eligibility criteria, and terminology for Chief, Additional Chief, and Law Officers. Key updates include clarified pathways for promotion, deputation, and the re-employment of ex-servicemen.
Key Points / Main Content
General Administrative Changes
- Terminology Update: In the recruitment schedule (Serial numbers 1–4), the heading of Column (10) is changed from “post” to “vacancies” for positions ranging from Chief Law Officer/Inspector General to Law Officer Grade-II/Deputy Commandant.
Recruitment Method: Law Officer Grade-I (Commandant)
- Hiring Hierarchy: Recruitment is to be conducted via promotion, failing which it shall be handled through deputation or absorption.
- Ex-Servicemen: Provisions are established for the re-employment of ex-servicemen for this grade.
Recruitment Method: Law Officer Grade-II (Deputy Commandant)
- Hiring Hierarchy: Vacancies are filled via deputation, absorption, or re-employment; if these fail, direct recruitment is permitted.
- Eligibility for BSF Officers: Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Law and have five years of Group ‘A’ service in the BSF, including at least three years of experience in legal matters.
- Eligibility for Government/UT Officers: Officers must hold analogous posts or have five years of regular service in Level-10 (Rs. 56100–177500), possess a Law degree, and have six years of experience in legal work.
Provisions for Ex-Servicemen and Deputation
- Re-employment Criteria: Armed Forces personnel due to retire or transfer to reserve within one year, who possess the required qualifications for deputation, will be considered for re-employment.
- Deputation Limits: The period of deputation, including previous ex-cadre posts, shall ordinarily not exceed four years.
- Age Limit: The maximum age for appointment by deputation is 56 years as of the application closing date.
- Eligibility Restrictions: Departmental candidates in the feeder category for promotion are explicitly barred from being considered for appointment via deputation.
Impact Analysis
Border Security Force (BSF) Officers Impact Officers in the legal cadre or Group ‘A’ service are subject to revised promotion and deputation hierarchies. Those seeking Law Officer Grade-II positions must now meet specific minimum years of legal experience (3 years). Action Required Eligible officers must ensure their service records reflect the required legal experience and educational qualifications when applying for vacancies or promotions under the new hierarchy.
Central/State Government and Union Territory Officers Impact Legal officers in other government departments now have defined pathways (Level-10 service and 6 years of legal experience) to join the BSF on deputation or absorption. Action Required Interested officers must verify that their current pay matrix and years of experience align with the new Level-10 requirements before applying.
Ex-Servicemen (Armed Forces Personnel) Impact Personnel nearing retirement (within one year) have a formalized route for re-employment into BSF legal roles, provided they meet deputation standards. Action Required Personnel must apply within the one-year window prior to their retirement or transfer to reserve to be considered under the re-employment provisions.
Ministry of Home Affairs / BSF Administration Impact The departments must update recruitment notices and vacancy circulars to reflect the change from "post" to "vacancies" and implement the updated hiring hierarchies. Action Required Administrative bodies must apply the 56-year age cap and the 4-year deputation limit strictly to all new appointments.
Key Entities Referenced
Border Security Force, Chief Law Officer, Additional Chief Law Officer and Law Officer Recruitment and Conditions of Service (Amendment) Rules, 2026: The specific rules notified to update the recruitment, promotion, and deputation procedures for legal officer positions within the Border Security Force.
Border Security Force Act, 1968: The governing legislation that grants the Central Government authority under Section 141 to frame and amend rules for the Border Security Force.
Border Security Force (BSF): The primary paramilitary organization whose legal cadre, ranging from Inspector General to Deputy Commandant, is governed by these recruitment and service rules.
Border Security Force, Chief Law Officer, Additional Chief Law Officer and Law Officer Recruitment and Conditions of Service Rules, 2023: The principal rules that established the initial service and recruitment conditions, which are being modified by the 2026 amendment notification.
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रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-20082026-275624
CG-DxLx-xEG-I2D0H0x8x2x0 26-275624
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असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (i)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (i)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 681] नई दिल्ली, बहृ स्ट्पजतिार, अगस्ट्त 20, 2026/श्रािण 29, 1948
No. 681] NEW DELHI, THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2026/SHRAVAN 29, 1948
गहृ मत्रं ालय
अजधसचू ना
नई दिल्ली, 20 अगस्ट् त, 2026
सा.का.जन. 747(अ).— केंद्रीय सरकार, सीमा सुरक्षा बल अजधजनयम, 1968 (1968 का 47) की धारा 141 की
उप-धारा (2) के खंड (न) द्वारा प्रित्त िजियों का प्रयोग करत े हुए, सीमा सुरक्षा बल, मुख्य जिजध अजधकारी, अपर मुख्य जिजध
अजधकारी और जिजध अजधकारी भती तथा सेिा ित ें जनयम, 2023 का संिोधन करन े के जलए इसके द्वारा जनम्नजलजखत जनयम
बनाती ह,ै अथाात:् –
1. (1) इन जनयमों का संजक्षप्त नाम सीमा सुरक्षा बल, मुख्य जिजध अजधकारी, अपर मुख्य जिजध अजधकारी और जिजध
अजधकारी भती तथा सेिा ितें (संिोधन) जनयम, 2026 ह।ै
(2) ये रािपत्र म ेंउनके प्रकािन की तारीख को प्रिृत्त होंगे।
6419 GI/2026 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(i)]
2. सीमा सुरक्षा बल, मुख्य जिजध अजधकारी, अपर मख्ु य जिजध अजधकारी और जिजध अजधकारी भती में तथा सेिा ित ें
जनयम, 2023 की अनुसूची में, –
(क) मुख्य जिजध अजधकारी/महाजनरीक्षक, अपर मख्ु य जिजध अजधकारी/उप महाजनरीक्षक, और जिजध अजधकारी ग्रेड-
I/कमांडेंट और जिजध अजधकारी ग्रेड-II/उप कमाडं ेंट के पिों स े संबंजधत क्रम संख्या 1, 2, 3 और 4 के सामने,
क्रमिः, स्ट्तंभ (10) के िीर्ाक म,ें "पि" िब्ि के जलए, "ररजिया"ं िब्ि रखा िाएगा;
(ख) जिजध अजधकारी ग्रडे -I/कमाडं ेंट के पि स े संबंजधत क्रम संख्या 3 के सामने, स्ट्तंभ (10) म,ें प्रजिजियों के जलए
जनम्नजलजखत प्रजिजियां रखी िाएंगी, अथाता ्: –
"प्रोन्नजत द्वारा, जिसके न हो सकने पर प्रजतजनयुजि/आमेलन द्वारा।
भूतपूिा सैजनकों के जलए : पुनर्नया ोिन"।
(ग) जिजध अजधकारी ग्रेड-II/ उप कमांडेंट के पि से संबंजधत क्रम सख्ं या 4 के सामन,े –
(i) स्ट्तंभ (10) म,ें प्रजिजि के जलए जनम्नजलजखत प्रजिजि रखी िाएगी; अथाता ्: –
"प्रजतजनयुजि या आमले न या पनु र्नायोिन द्वारा, जिसके न हो सकने पर सीधी भती द्वारा"।
(ii) स्ट्तंभ (11) म,ें "लाग ूनहीं" प्रजिजि के जलए जनम्नजलजखत प्रजिजियां रखी िाएंगी, अथाात:् –
"प्रजतजनयुजि/आमले न द्वारा:
(i) (क) सीमा सुरक्षा बल म ेंकायारत कोई भी ऐसा अजधकारी जिसके पास दकसी मान्यता प्राप्त जिश्वजिद्यालय
या संस्ट्थान स ेजिजध में स्नातक की जडग्री हो;
(ख) सीमा सुरक्षा बल म ें सेिा समूह 'क' में जनयुजि के पश्चात की गई पांच िर्ा की सेिा का अनुभि, जिसम ें
जिजध संबंधी कायों से जनपटने का न्यूनतम तीन िर् ा का अनुभि हो; या
(ii) केन्द्रीय सरकार या राज्य सरकार या संघ राज्यक्षेत्र प्रिासन के ऐसे अजधकारी:
(क) (i) िो मलू कैडर या जिभाग में जनयजमत आधार पर सििृ पि धारण दकए हुए हों; या
(ii) जिन्होंने िेतन मैररक्स में स्ट्तर-10 (रु. 56100-177500) म ेंपांच िर्ा की जनयजमत सेिा की हो,
और
(ख) जिनके पास जनम्नजलजखत िैजक्षक अहता ाए ंऔर अनुभि हों:
(i) दकसी मान्यता प्राप्त जिश्वजिद्यालय या संस्ट्थान से जिजध म ेंस्नातक की जडग्री हो; और
(ii) जिनके पास जिजध संबंधी कायों से जनपटने का न्यूनतम छह िर्ा का अनुभि हो।
भतू पिू ासजै नकों के जलए :
पुनर्नायोिन: 1. सिस्त्र बलों के ऐस े कार्माकों पर भी जिचार दकया िाएगा िो एक िर् ा की अिजध के भीतर सेिाजनिृत्त होन े
िाले ह ैंया जिन्ह ेंररििा में स्ट्थानांतररत दकया िाना है, और िो प्रजतजनयुजि के जलए जनधााररत आिश्यक अनुभि एिं योग्यताए ं
रखते हों तथा समतुल्य पि पर रह ेहों ।[भाग II—खण् ड 3(i)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3
2. ऐसे व्यजियों को उस तारीख तक प्रजतजनयुजि के जनबंधनों पर रखा िाएगा जिस तारीख को िे सिस्त्र बलों स े कायामुि
होने िाले ह;ैं उसके पश्चात उन्ह ेंपुनर्नायोिन पर िारी रखा िा सकेगा;
रटप्पण 1: पोर्क िग ा के ऐसे जिभागीय अभ्यथी िो प्रोन्नजत की सीधी पंजि में ह,ैं प्रजतजनयुजि पर जनयुजि के जलए जिचार
दकए िाने के पात्र नहीं होंगे। इसी प्रकार, प्रजतजनयुि व्यजि प्रोन्नजत द्वारा जनयुजि के जलए जिचार दकए िान े के पात्र नहीं
होंगे।
रटप्पण 2: प्रजतजनयुजि की अिजध, जिसके अंतगात केंद्रीय सरकार के उसी या दकसी अन्य संगठन या जिभाग म ें इस जनयुजि
से ठीक पहल े धाररत दकसी अन्य काडर-बाह्य पि पर प्रजतजनयजु ि की अिजध ह,ै साधारणतः चार िर्ा से अजधक नहीं होगी।
रटप्पण 3: प्रजतजनयुजि द्वारा जनयुजि के जलए अजधकतम आयु-सीमा आिेिन प्राप्त करन े की अंजतम तारीख को छप्पन िर् ा से
अजधक नहीं होगी।"
[फा. सं. C-17/05/2025/Pers-Confd/BSF]
म. मणृ ाल, अिर सजचि
रटप्पण.– मलू जनयम भारत के रािपत्र, असाधारण, भाग 2, खंड 3, उपखंड (i) में अजधसूचना संख्या सा.का.जन. 20 (अ),
तारीख 11 िनिरी, 2023 द्वारा प्रकाजित दकए गए थ े।
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 20th August, 2026
G.S.R. 747(E).— In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (n) of sub-section (2) of section 141 of the
Border Security Force Act, 1968 (47 of 1968), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules further to
amend the Border Security Force, Chief Law Officer, Additional Chief Law Officer and Law Officer Recruitment and
Conditions of Service Rules, 2023, namely:-
1. (1) These rules may be called the Border Security Force, Chief Law Officer, Additional Chief Law
Officer and Law Officer Recruitment and Conditions of Service (Amendment) Rules, 2026.
(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
2. In the Border Security Force, Chief Law Officer, Additional Chief Law Officer and Law Officer Recruitment
and Conditions of Service Rules, 2023 in the Schedule, -
(a) against serial numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4 relating to the posts of Chief Law Officer/Inspector General, Additional
Chief Law Officer/Deputy Inspector General and Law Officer Grade-I/Commandant and Law Officer Grade-
II/Deputy Commandant, respectively, in the heading of Column (10), for the word “post”, the word “vacancies”
shall be substituted;
(b) against serial number 3 relating to the post of Law Officer Grade-I/ Commandant, in column (10), for the
entries, the following entries shall be substituted, namely: -
“By promotion failing which by deputation/absorption.
For ex-servicemen: Re-employment”.
(c) against serial number 4 relating to the post of Law Officer Grade-II/Deputy Commandant, -
(i) in column (10), for the entry, the following entry shall be substituted; namely: -4 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(i)]
“By deputation or absorption or re-employment failing which by direct recruitments”.
(ii) in column (11), for the entry “Not applicable” the following entries shall be substituted, namely: -
By deputation/absorption:
(i) (a) any Officer serving in the Border Security Force having Bachelor Degree in Law from a recognised
University or Institute;
(b) five years’ experience rendered after appointment thereto in Group-‘A’ service in the Border Security
Force with minimum three years’ experience in dealing with law; or
(ii) Officers of the Central Government or State Government or Union territory Administration:
(a) (i) holding analogous posts on a regular basis in the parent cadre or department; or
(ii) with five years’ regular service in the Level- 10 (Rs. 56100-177500) in the pay matrix, and
(b) possessing the following qualifications and experience:
(i) Bachelor Degree in Law from a recognised University or Institute; and
(ii) possessing minimum six years’ experience in dealing with law.
For ex-Servicemen:
Re-employment: 1. The Armed Forces Personnel due to retire or who are to be transferred to reserve within a period of
one year and having the requisite experience and qualifications prescribed for deputation and held equivalent post shall
also be considered.
2. Such persons would be given deputation terms up to the date on which they are due for release from the Armed
Forces; thereafter they may be continued on re- employment;
Note 1: The departmental candidates in the feeder category who are in the direct line of promotion shall not be eligible
for consideration for appointment on deputation. Similarly, deputationist shall not be eligible for consideration for
appointment by promotion.
Note 2: The period of deputation including the period of deputation in another ex-cadre post held immediately preceding
this appointment in the same or some other organisation or department of the Central Government shall ordinarily not
exceed four years.
Note 3: The maximum age-limit for appointment by deputation shall be not exceeding fifty-six years as on the last date
of receipt of applications.
[F.No. C-17/05/2025/Pers-Confd/BSF]
M. MRINAL, Under Secy.
Note.- The principal rules were published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (i), vide
notification number G.S.R. 20 (E), dated the 11th January, 2023.
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.