UPSC EPFO Recruitment 2026: APFC 80 Posts, EO/AO 156 Posts, Exam Date, Syllabus, PYQ and Interview
EPFO recruitment through UPSC at a glance (as of 2 November 2026)
- 80 APFC posts (Special Advt 52/2026, 21 Aug 2026): applications closed 11 Sep 2026; pen-and-paper Recruitment Test (RT) scheduled for 20 December 2026.
- 74 APFC posts (Advt 52/2025): interviews 16–27 November 2026 at UPSC, Dholpur House, New Delhi (schedule dated 30.10.2026, 260 roll numbers).
- 156 Enforcement Officer / Accounts Officer (EO/AO) posts (Advt 52/2025): shortlisted for interview after scrutiny (notice dated 22.07.2026). UPSC has not published an interview schedule for them yet.
- Test pattern: 2 hours, objective type, bilingual, one-third negative marking. The 2025 paper had 120 items for 300 marks.
- Question paper PDF: UPSC has published the 2025 RT paper; it is mirrored on this site (see the PYQ page).
The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) recruits its Group-A officers through the Union Public Service Commission. This page tracks the two live cycles, the Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner (APFC) posts and the Enforcement Officer / Accounts Officer (EO/AO) posts, with each fact linked to the UPSC document it comes from.
EPFO recruitment 2026: important dates
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Special Advt 52/2025: 156 EO/AO + 74 APFC applications | 29.07.2025 – 18.08.2025 | Closed |
| Recruitment Test (2025 cycle, EO/AO + APFC) | Held in late November 2025; UPSC uploaded the question paper on 01.12.2025 | Done |
| EO/AO (156): scrutiny notice, representations by | 22.07.2026 notice; representations till 31.07.2026 | Done |
| APFC (74): final status of candidature after scrutiny | 21.09.2026 | Done |
| APFC (74): interviews | 16.11.2026 – 27.11.2026 (9 interview days) | Upcoming |
| EO/AO (156): interview schedule | Not announced | Awaited |
| Special Advt 52/2026: 80 APFC posts | Applications 22.08.2026 – 11.09.2026 (18:00 hrs) | Closed |
| APFC (80): Recruitment Test | 20.12.2026 (UPSC may change date or centres) | Upcoming |
| APFC (80): e-admit card | Not announced; will appear on upsconline.nic.in | Awaited |
Note
- Applications for the 80 APFC posts are closed. If you applied, keep checking the UPSC e-admit card page; if you did not, the next opportunity depends on a fresh UPSC advertisement, and none is open at present.
EPFO APFC 2026: vacancy, pay and eligibility (Special Advt 52/2026)
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Post | Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner (APFC), EPFO, Ministry of Labour & Employment |
| Vacancies | 80: UR 29, EWS 8, OBC 18, SC 15, ST 10 (3 of the 80 reserved for PwBD) |
| Vacancy number | 26085201722 |
| Pay | Level 10 in the Pay Matrix (7th CPC); Group ‘A’, permanent, probation of one year |
| Age limit | 35 years (UR/EWS), 38 years (OBC), 40 years (SC/ST); up to 10 years more for PwBD, subject to a maximum of 56 |
| Essential qualification | Degree of a recognised university or equivalent |
| Desirable | Diploma in Company Law / Labour Laws / Public Administration |
| Application fee | Rs. 25 (women, SC, ST and PwBD candidates are exempt) |
| Headquarters | New Delhi; the post carries All-India service liability |
| Test centres | 84 centres; allotment on a first-apply-first-allot basis (except Chennai, Dispur, Kolkata, Nagpur) |
The EO/AO posts of the 2025 cycle (156 vacancies, UR 78, EWS 1, OBC 42, SC 23, ST 12, with 9 for PwBD) required a bachelor’s degree in any subject, per the scrutiny notice of 22.07.2026.
Download links for EPFO notices and papers
| Document | Link |
|---|---|
| Special Advt 52/2026: 80 APFC posts (29 pages) | Download from GSMitra · UPSC |
| Interview schedule, 74 APFC posts (30.10.2026) | Download from GSMitra · UPSC |
| Recruitment Test 2025 question paper (General Ability Test, 44 pages) | Download from GSMitra (26 MB) · UPSC |
| Scrutiny status, 74 APFC posts (21.09.2026) | UPSC (PDF) |
| Scrutiny notice, 156 EO/AO posts (22.07.2026) | UPSC (PDF) |
| UPSC Recruitment Tests page | upsc.gov.in |
Selection process and exam pattern
- Stage 1: Recruitment Test (RT). Two hours, objective type multiple choice, English and Hindi. All questions carry equal marks; every wrong answer costs one-third of the marks for that question.
- Stage 2: Interview. The notice weights RT and interview 300 and 100 marks (ratio 75:25).
- Minimum marks for interview: General/EWS 50, OBC 45, SC/ST/PwBD 40 (in the notice’s wording, ‘standard of suitability’).
The full syllabus, the topic list and a preparation plan for the 20 December test are on the EPFO APFC syllabus and exam pattern page. Past paper: EPFO previous year question paper.
Latest EPFO updates
- 30 Oct 2026: UPSC released the interview schedule for the 74 APFC posts; interviews run 16–27 November.
- 21 Sep 2026: UPSC published the final status of candidature for the 74 APFC posts after scrutiny.
- 21 Aug 2026: Special Advertisement 52/2026 invited applications for 80 APFC posts; the RT is set for 20 December 2026.
- 22 Jul 2026: scrutiny notice for the 156 EO/AO posts; candidates could send representations till 31 July.
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Frequently asked questions
When is the UPSC EPFO APFC exam in December 2026?
The Recruitment Test for the 80 APFC posts of Special Advertisement 52/2026 is scheduled for 20 December 2026 as per the advertisement. UPSC may change the date or centres, and any change is notified on upsc.gov.in.
How many posts are there in UPSC EPFO APFC 2026?
80 posts of Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner (UR 29, EWS 8, OBC 18, SC 15, ST 10) under Special Advertisement 52/2026. A separate, earlier cycle (Advt 52/2025) had 74 APFC and 156 EO/AO posts.
When are the EPFO APFC interviews?
For the 74 APFC posts of Advt 52/2025, interviews are from 16 to 27 November 2026 at UPSC, Dholpur House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi. Reporting time is 9:00 AM for the morning session and 12:00 PM for the afternoon session.
Is the EPFO EO/AO interview schedule out?
Not yet. As of 2 November 2026 UPSC’s interview page lists only the 74 APFC posts. The 156 EO/AO candidates were shortlisted after scrutiny (notice of 22 July 2026).
What is the EPFO APFC exam pattern?
A two-hour objective test in English and Hindi with one-third negative marking, followed by an interview. RT and interview are weighted 75:25.
Are EPFO previous year question papers available?
Yes. UPSC uploaded the 2025 Recruitment Test paper (General Ability Test) for the EO/AO and APFC posts, and a copy is on the GSMitra PYQ page.
What is the age limit for EPFO APFC?
35 years for UR/EWS, 38 for OBC and 40 for SC/ST, with up to 10 more years for PwBD (maximum 56), per Special Advertisement 52/2026.
Official sources
- UPSC Special Advertisement No. 52/2026 (21.08.2026)
- UPSC Special Advertisement No. 52/2025 (29.07.2025)
- UPSC interview schedule, 74 APFC posts (30.10.2026)
- UPSC Recruitment Tests: notices, question papers, results