ITBP Education & Stress Counsellor Head Constable 2026: Eligibility, Physical Test and Selection Guide
The Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force (ITBPF), under the Ministry of Home Affairs, has invited online applications for 16 posts of Head Constable (Education & Stress Counsellor). If you studied Psychology in graduation, or hold a B.Ed. or B.T., this is a rare uniformed job that actually uses your subject. It is a Group ‘C’ post at Pay Level-4 (₹25,500 – ₹81,100) in one of India’s Central Armed Police Forces. Only 16 seats exist, so every detail below matters.
The online window is open from 28 September 2026 to 27 October 2026 (11:59 PM). Both men and women can apply, but the physical test is real, and there is no seat at all for SC candidates this time. Read this full guide before you pay the fee, so you know exactly where you stand. We at GovtJobsAlert.in have checked every figure against the official notification for you.
What Are the Key Highlights of ITBP Education & Stress Counsellor Recruitment 2026?
ITBPF guards the India-China border and is governed by the ITBPF Act, 1992 and ITBPF Rules, 1994. This post is filled on a temporary basis and is likely to become permanent. Selected candidates can be posted anywhere in India or abroad.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force (MHA) |
| Post | Head Constable (Education & Stress Counsellor) |
| Total Vacancies | 16 (Male 14, Female 2) |
| Group | General Central Service, Group ‘C’ Non-Gazetted (Non-Ministerial) |
| Pay Scale | Pay Level-4, ₹25,500 – ₹81,100 (7th CPC) |
| Age Limit | 20 to 25 years as on 27/10/2026 |
| Application Mode | Online only |
| Last Date | 27 October 2026 (11:59 PM) |
| Job Location | Anywhere in India or abroad |
How Many Vacancies Are in ITBP Head Constable Education & Stress Counsellor 2026?
The seats are split by gender, and the category split is different for men and women, so check your own row.
| Post / Gender | Category-wise Vacancies | Total |
|---|---|---|
| HC (Education & Stress Counsellor) – Male | UR 3 / SC 0 / ST 2 / OBC 8 / EWS 1 | 14 |
| HC (Education & Stress Counsellor) – Female | UR 1 / SC 0 / ST 0 / OBC 1 / EWS 0 | 2 |
| Total | UR 4 / SC 0 / ST 2 / OBC 9 / EWS 1 | 16 |
There is no SC seat for men or women, and no ST or EWS seat for women. You can still apply and compete on the Unreserved seats on merit. 10% of the vacancies are reserved for Ex-Servicemen in each category; if those stay unfilled, they go to other candidates of the same category. If enough women are not found, the women’s seats go to male candidates of the same category. The vacancies are tentative and may increase or decrease without notice.
What is the Eligibility for ITBP Education & Stress Counsellor Head Constable 2026?
Indian citizens, including subjects of Nepal or Bhutan, can apply. Candidates of the physically handicapped (PwBD) category are not eligible for this recruitment.
Educational Qualification
| Route | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Option 1 | Degree from a recognized University or equivalent, with Psychology as a subject |
| Option 2 | Degree from a recognized University with B.Ed. (Bachelor of Education) or B.T. (Bachelor of Teaching) or equivalent |
Either route is enough. So a B.A. with Psychology works, and so does any graduate who has also finished a B.Ed. or B.T.
Age Limit
You must be between 20 and 25 years on 27 October 2026, which means born not earlier than 28 October 2001 and not later than 27 October 2006. The date of birth in your Matriculation certificate is final, and no later request to change it will be considered.
| Category | Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC / ST | 5 years |
| OBC (NCL) | 3 years |
| Ex-Servicemen (UR / General) | 3 years after deducting military service |
| Ex-Servicemen (OBC-NCL) | 6 years (3 + 3) after deducting military service |
| Ex-Servicemen (SC / ST) | 8 years (3 + 5) after deducting military service |
| Departmental candidates | 5 years |
🎂 Not sure if you meet the age criteria? Use our free Age Calculator for Government Exams to find your exact age on the cut-off date and instantly check your eligibility — including any age relaxation you qualify for. →
Your SC, ST, OBC (NCL) or EWS status is checked as on the closing date. The OBC-NCL certificate must be based on income for 2025-26, 2024-25 and 2023-24, and the EWS certificate must be valid for 2025-2026. Both must be in your hands before 27 October 2026.
Physical Standards
| Standard | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Height – all States / UTs (general) | 170 cm | 157 cm |
| Height – Garhwali, Kumaoni, Gorkha, Dogra, Maratha, NE States, Sikkim, Himachal, Kashmir region, Ladakh | 165 cm | 155 cm |
| Height – ST (incl. Mizos, Nagas) | 162.5 cm | 154 cm |
| Chest – general and hill/NE categories | 80 cm (85 cm expanded) | Not measured |
| Chest – ST | 77 cm (82 cm expanded) | Not measured |
Weight must match your height and age as per medical standards. To claim the height or chest relaxation, you need the certificate in Annexure-V.
Medical Standards
| Standard | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Distant vision (uncorrected) | 6/6 better eye, 6/9 worse eye |
| Near vision | N6 better eye, N9 worse eye |
| Visual correction | Not permitted of any kind, even by glasses |
| Colour vision | CP III by Ishihara; binocular vision required |
| Body defects | No knock-knees, flat foot, varicose veins or squint |
| Tattoos | Only inner left forearm or back of hands, smaller than 1/4 of that part; religious symbols and names allowed |
What is the Salary of ITBP Education & Stress Counsellor Head Constable 2026?
The post carries Pay Level-4 in the Pay Matrix, ₹25,500 – ₹81,100 as per the 7th CPC.
- Dearness Allowance and Ration Money
- Special Compensatory Allowance while posted in specified border areas
- Free accommodation or HRA, and Transport Allowance
- Leave Travel Concession and free medical facilities
- Other allowances admissible in the Force
On joining, you choose either the New Defined Contribution Pension Scheme (NPS) or the UPS, as the notification allows. Remember that you must serve at least 10 years; resigning earlier means refunding three months’ pay and allowances or the training cost, whichever is higher.
What is the Selection Process for ITBP Education & Stress Counsellor 2026?
| Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| Phase I – Physical Efficiency Test (PET) | Qualifying only; every event must be cleared |
| Phase I – Physical Standard Test (PST) | Height, chest and weight check; biometric verification before PET/PST |
| Phase II – Written Examination | 100 marks, objective MCQ (OMR or CBT); merit list prepared category-wise |
| Phase III – Verification of Original Documents | Original certificates checked |
| Detailed Medical Examination (DME) | Fitness as per MHA guidelines |
| Review Medical Examination (RME) | Only for those declared unfit in DME, with written consent within 24 hours; held preferably the next day of DME |
PET events (Ex-Servicemen do not take PET, but must clear PST, the written exam and medical):
| Event | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Race | 1.6 km in 7.30 minutes | 800 m in 4.45 minutes |
| Long Jump | 11 feet (3 chances) | 9 feet (3 chances) |
| High Jump | 3½ feet (3 chances) | 3 feet (3 chances) |
Written exam pattern (2 hours):
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General English | 10 | 10 |
| General Hindi | 10 | 10 |
| General Awareness | 10 | 10 |
| Quantitative Aptitude & Simple Reasoning | 10 | 10 |
| Psychology | 60 | 60 |
| All five subjects | 100 | 100 |
Psychology syllabus (60 marks):
| Topic | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Psychology, Intelligence & Creativity, Problem Solving | 10 | 10 |
| Personality, Attitude, Stereotypes, Prejudice & Discrimination, Group Dynamics | 10 | 10 |
| Psychopathology | 15 | 15 |
| Counseling Psychology | 15 | 15 |
| Managing Human Resources | 10 | 10 |
Psychology carries 60 of the 100 marks, so this subject decides your rank. The notification says there will be no negative marking.
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Qualifying marks – UR, EWS, Ex-Servicemen | 35% |
| Qualifying marks – SC / ST / OBC (NCL) | 33% |
| Answer key | Uploaded after the exam |
| Re-evaluation / re-checking | Not provided |
| Tie-break | Older candidate first, then alphabetical order (English) |
| Reserve list | None |
You can start with our syllabus and exam pattern guides.
ITBPF reserves the right to change the sequence of the recruitment process, and to cancel or postpone the recruitment for administrative reasons. Every event, from PET to DME/RME, is covered by CCTV or videography.
Which Mistakes Can Cancel Your ITBP Stress Counsellor Candidature?
| Condition | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Colour blindness | A colour blind person shall not be eligible for recruitment |
| PwBD | Physically handicapped candidates are not eligible to apply |
| Offline or late application | Offline applications will be rejected summarily; applications after the last date will not be accepted |
| Incomplete application | Will be summarily rejected, with no correspondence |
| False information | Any false or incorrect detail in the application leads to cancellation of candidature |
| Change of category | Not allowed later; the candidature of such a candidate shall be cancelled |
| Reserved-category certificate | If not produced in the prescribed format when sought, your claim is not entertained and you are treated as UR |
| Fee paid offline | The application is rejected and the payments made shall stand forfeited |
| Government employees | Must give an original NOC (Annexure-IV) at documentation, else they will be summarily rejected |
| Biometric failure | If your fingerprint cannot be captured (mehndi, wax) you will not be allowed to appear; failure at any stage cancels candidature |
| PET / PST | Failing any PET event means elimination, with no appeal for PET; a PST height/chest appeal is allowed the same day |
| Weight | Underweight/overweight candidates are not debarred at PST; this is decided at the DME stage (next stage onward) |
| Documentation | Candidates who fail at documentation are eliminated; the board decides on candidature if certificates are missing |
| Malpractice | Mobile phones, Bluetooth devices, impersonation or unfair means at any stage mean your candidature will be cancelled |
| Pregnancy | A woman found 12+ weeks pregnant is declared temporarily unfit; her seat is kept and PET is retaken six weeks after confinement |
| Injury and travel | ITBPF is not responsible for any damage or injury during recruitment; no TA/DA is paid |
| Rejected applicants | No correspondence will be entertained from ineligible candidates whose applications are rejected |
Plan to stay more than one day at the recruitment centre at your own arrangement. Disputes fall under courts in Delhi only.
How to Apply Online for ITBP Education & Stress Counsellor Recruitment 2026?
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Visit the ITBPF recruitment portal (link in Essential Links below) |
| 2 | Create your profile with a genuine e-mail ID and mobile number, and fill gender, category and employment status correctly |
| 3 | Fill the online application form carefully and upload the photograph asked for |
| 4 | Pay ₹100 online through the payment gateway if you are a male UR, OBC or EWS candidate |
| 5 | Submit before 27 October 2026 (11:59 PM), then print the application form |
| 6 | Download your admit card from the portal when it is issued |
Keep your degree certificate, 10th certificate, category certificate in the prescribed Annexure format and, if you are a government employee, your original NOC ready; missing these at documentation can end your candidature. Carry the printed application form and admit card to PET/PST, or you will not be allowed in. Keep extra copies of the same passport photo you uploaded, since you will need it at every stage.
What Are the Important Dates for ITBP Education & Stress Counsellor 2026?
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online application starts | 28 September 2026 (00:01 AM) |
| Last date to apply and pay fee | 27 October 2026 (11:59 PM) |
| Cut-off date for age and category | 27 October 2026 |
| Admit card / PET-PST date | To be announced on the recruitment portal |
Apply early. ITBPF is not responsible for power, internet or technical problems you face while applying online, and all further notices come on the recruitment portal only.
What is the Application Fee for ITBP Education & Stress Counsellor 2026?
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Male – UR / OBC / EWS | ₹100 |
| SC / ST | Exempted |
| All Female candidates | Exempted |
| Ex-Servicemen | Exempted |
The fee is paid online only through the payment gateway on the recruitment portal. Fee once paid will not be refunded under any circumstances.
ITBP HC Education & Stress Counsellor 2026 Essential Links
- Download ITBP Head Constable (Education & Stress Counsellor) 2026 Official Notification PDF
- Apply Online for ITBP Head Constable (Education & Stress Counsellor) Recruitment 2026 – 16 Posts
- Visit ITBP Head Constable (Education & Stress Counsellor) Official Website
- Join WhatsApp Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Telegram Channel for Government Jobs
If you have Psychology in your degree or a B.Ed. or B.T., and you are fit enough for the race and jumps, this post is made for you. Start your running practice today, revise core Psychology, and apply well before 27 October 2026. Watch our admit card updates for the PET/PST call, and keep visiting GovtJobsAlert.in for more CAPF job news.