📌 Key Summary
- UPSC released the notice for Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner (APFC) recruitment on 19 August 2026, announcing 80 total vacancies in the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation under the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
- The online application window runs from 22 August 2026 to 11 September 2026 through the UPSC Online Recruitment Application portal at upsconline.nic.in.
- Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized university and stay within the upper age limit of 35 years for general and EWS categories as of 11 September 2026, with relaxations for SC, ST, OBC, and PwBD candidates.
- Selection combines a 120-question, 300-mark offline Recruitment Test with a personal interview, weighted 75:25 in the final merit list.
- Selected candidates join at Pay Level-10 of the 7th Pay Commission matrix, drawing a basic pay of ₹56,100 per month plus standard central government allowances.
The Union Public Service Commission released a short notice for the Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner (APFC) recruitment on 19 August 2026, announcing a direct recruitment drive for 80 posts in the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation. EPFO functions under the Ministry of Labour and E
How Many Vacancies Does the UPSC EPFO APFC 2026 Recruitment Have?
The UPSC EPFO APFC 2026 recruitment carries a total of 80 vacancies distributed across reservation categories. Multiple independent exam-prep sources report an identical category-wise breakup, which strengthens confidence in these figures even though the detailed notification has not yet been independently verified against UPSC’s own document.
| Category | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Unreserved (UR) | 29 |
| Other Backward Classes (OBC) | 18 |
| Scheduled Castes (SC) | 15 |
| Scheduled Tribes (ST) | 10 |
| Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) | 8 |
| Total | 80 |
Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) reservation is mentioned by at least one source as 3 posts within this total, but this specific figure appears in fewer sources than the category breakup above and should be confirmed once the detailed notification is available.
What Are the Important Dates for UPSC EPFO APFC 2026?
The UPSC EPFO APFC 2026 application window opens on 22 August 2026 and closes on 11 September 2026, with all applications submitted online through the UPSC Online Recruitment Application (ORA) portal at upsconline.nic.in. The age cutoff date for eligibility calculation is also 11 September 2026, meaning candidates must meet the age requirement specifically as of that date rather than the notification release date or exam date. UPSC has not yet announced the Recruitment Test exam date, admit card release date, or result date; sources indicate admit cards are typically released 2 to 3 weeks before the exam, following UPSC’s standard pattern for this recruitment cycle.
What Is the Eligibility Criteria for UPSC EPFO APFC 2026?
Candidates need a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized university to qualify for the APFC post, with a diploma in Company Law, Labour Laws, Management, or Public Administration listed as desirable but not mandatory. The upper age limit is 35 years for general and EWS candidates as of the 11 September 2026 cutoff date, and candidates must also meet the minimum age requirement, which one source lists as 21 years for this post category. Nationality eligibility follows UPSC’s standard rule: applicants must be Indian citizens, subjects of Nepal or Bhutan, Tibetan refugees settled permanently in India since before 1962, or persons of Indian origin who migrated from specified countries and settled permanently in India.
What Age Relaxation Applies to Reserved Categories?
Age relaxation reduces the effective age barrier for candidates in specific categories relative to the 35-year general limit. SC and ST candidates receive a 5-year relaxation, OBC (non-creamy layer) candidates receive 3 years, and PwBD candidates receive a relaxation ranging from 10 to 15 years depending on the specific disability category. Existing EPFO employees, central or state government servants, and ex-servicemen including Emergency Commissioned Officers and Short Service Commissioned Officers each receive an additional 5-year relaxation under standard central recruitment rules.
What Is the Selection Process for UPSC EPFO APFC 2026?
Selection for APFC follows two sequential stages: a Combined Recruitment Test followed by a personal interview for shortlisted candidates. The Recruitment Test is an offline, pen-and-paper objective exam, and only candidates who clear this stage advance to the interview round. The final merit list combines Recruitment Test and interview scores in a 75:25 weightage ratio, meaning the written test carries substantially more weight than the interview in determining the overall rank. This selection structure applies specifically to the APFC post and differs from the process for the separately recruited Enforcement Officer/Accounts Officer post within the same broader EPFO recruitment drive.
What Is the Exam Pattern for the UPSC EPFO APFC Recruitment Test?
The Recruitment Test consists of 120 objective-type multiple-choice questions worth a total of 300 marks, with 1/3 of a question’s allotted marks deducted for each incorrect answer. The test covers General English, Indian culture and current events, governance and the Constitution, current economic trends, accounting and labour law topics, computer applications and general science, elementary mathematics and mental ability, and social security in India. This subject spread reflects the administrative and labour-law nature of the APFC role rather than a general-knowledge-only format.
What Salary Does an APFC Officer Receive?
Selected APFC officers are placed at Pay Level-10 of the 7th Central Pay Commission matrix, with a basic entry pay of ₹56,100 per month, rising up to ₹1,77,500 at the top of the scale. Officers also receive standard central government allowances, including Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance, Transport Allowance, and medical benefits, on top of the basic pay figure. This pay level places APFC among the more competitive Group ‘A’ administrative postings available through a UPSC-conducted direct recruitment exam, distinct from the Civil Services Examination cadre postings.
How Do You Apply for UPSC EPFO APFC 2026 Online?
Applying for UPSC EPFO APFC 2026 requires completing a One-Time Registration (OTR) on the UPSC Online Recruitment Application portal before filling out the specific application form. Candidates who already have OTR credentials from a previous UPSC exam can log in directly and select the APFC post under the relevant special advertisement number rather than repeating registration.
- Visit the UPSC ORA portal at upsconline.nic.in.
- Complete One-Time Registration if you have not registered previously, or log in with existing OTR credentials.
- Select the Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner post from the current recruitment listings.
- Enter personal details, educational qualifications, and category information accurately.
- Upload a recent photograph, signature, and any required category or disability certificates in the prescribed format.
- Pay the application fee online, or through cash deposit at an SBI branch if that option is available.
- Preview all entered details before final submission, since corrections after submission depend on a separate correction window opened later by UPSC.
- Submit the form and download the confirmation receipt for your records.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many vacancies are available in UPSC EPFO APFC Recruitment 2026?
A: UPSC has announced 80 total vacancies for Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner. The category breakup is UR-29, OBC-18, SC-15, ST-10, and EWS-8, based on the short notice released 19 August 2026.
Q: When can I apply for UPSC EPFO APFC 2026?
A: The online application window opens 22 August 2026 and closes 11 September 2026. Applications must be submitted through the UPSC Online Recruitment Application portal at upsconline.nic.in.
Q: What is the age limit for UPSC EPFO APFC 2026?
A: The upper age limit is 35 years for general and EWS candidates as of the 11 September 2026 cutoff date. SC/ST candidates get 5 years relaxation, OBC candidates get 3 years, and PwBD candidates get 10 to 15 years.
Q: What is the selection process for APFC recruitment?
A: Selection involves a Combined Recruitment Test followed by a personal interview for shortlisted candidates. The final merit list weighs the written test and interview in a 75:25 ratio.
Q: What salary does a selected APFC officer receive?
A: Selected officers join at Pay Level-10 of the 7th Pay Commission matrix, with a basic pay of ₹56,100 per month rising to ₹1,77,500, plus standard central government allowances.