The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released Special Advertisement No. 52/2026 for recruitment to the post of Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner (APFC) in the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), Ministry of Labour & Employment.
A total of 80 APFC vacancies are available. The post is a permanent Group ‘A’ position with Level-10 pay under the 7th CPC. Online applications started on 22 August 2026 and the last date to apply is 11 September 2026 up to 6:00 PM.
EPFO APFC Recruitment 2026 – Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Organisation | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Department | Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation |
| Ministry | Ministry of Labour & Employment |
| Post Name | Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner (APFC) |
| Total Vacancies | 80 |
| Advertisement No. | Special Advertisement No. 52/2026 |
| Vacancy No. | 26085201722 |
| Job Type | Permanent |
| Pay Level | Level-10, 7th CPC |
| Minimum Qualification | Degree from a recognised University |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Application Start Date | 22 August 2026 |
| Last Date | 11 September 2026, 6:00 PM |
| Recruitment Test | 20 December 2026 |
| Official Website | www.upsc.gov.in |
| Also Read – GSRTC Helper Bharti 2025 |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| UPSC Advertisement | Special Advertisement No. 52/2026 |
| Online Application Starts | 22 August 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 11 September 2026, 6:00 PM |
| Recruitment Test | 20 December 2026 |
| Interview Date | To be intimated separately |
The eligibility of candidates in all respects will be determined with reference to the closing date of the online application.
EPFO APFC Application Fee
The application fee is ₹25.
However, Female, SC, ST and PwBD candidates of any community are exempted from paying the fee.
| Candidate Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| UR/EWS/OBC Male | ₹25 |
| Female | No Fee |
| SC/ST | No Fee |
| PwBD | No Fee |
OBC, EWS and Unreserved male candidates are required to pay the prescribed fee. The fee can be paid through Debit Card, Credit Card, UPI or Internet Banking. Once paid, the fee is not refundable.
EPFO APFC Vacancy 2026
UPSC has announced 80 vacancies for Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner.
The category-wise vacancy distribution is:
| Category | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| UR | 29 |
| EWS | 08 |
| OBC | 18 |
| SC | 15 |
| ST | 10 |
| Total | 80 |
Out of these, 3 vacancies are reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD). The notification identifies suitable disability categories as per the applicable provisions.
EPFO APFC Salary 2026
The Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner post carries Level-10 in the Pay Matrix as per the 7th Central Pay Commission. The notification also describes the post as a permanent Central Board Group ‘A’, Non-Ministerial position, equivalent to Group ‘A’ of the Central Government at the corresponding pay level.
The post has a one-year probation period. The headquarters is New Delhi, but the post carries All India Service liability, meaning selected officers can be required to serve anywhere in India.
Educational Qualification
Candidates must have a Degree from a recognised University or equivalent.
The notification also mentions the following as a desirable qualification:
- Diploma in Company Law
- Diploma in Labour Laws
- Diploma in Public Administration
The desirable qualification is not the minimum essential qualification.
Experience
The advertisement does not prescribe a specific work experience requirement as an essential qualification for this APFC post.
However, UPSC may use higher qualifications, relevant experience, desirable qualifications or a Recruitment Test for shortlisting if the number of applications is large. Therefore, candidates should mention all relevant qualifications and experience in the application.
EPFO APFC Age Limit
The age limit is:
- UR/EWS: 35 years
- OBC: 38 years
- SC/ST: 40 years
- PwBD: Additional relaxation up to 10 years, subject to the maximum age limit of 56 years.
The age is determined with reference to the closing date of the online application.
Other applicable relaxations are available for categories such as Ex-Servicemen, Central/UT Government employees, EPFO employees and PwBD candidates as per the conditions mentioned in the notification.
EPFO APFC Selection Process
The selection process includes a Recruitment Test (RT) followed by an Interview for shortlisted candidates.
The UPSC notification states that the APFC Recruitment Test will be a pen-and-paper based test and is scheduled for 20 December 2026. The RT will be used to shortlist candidates for the interview.
Selection Weightage
| Stage | Marks | Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| Recruitment Test | 300 | 75% |
| Interview | 100 | 25% |
| Total | 400 | 100% |
The notification states that this weightage may be adopted as per the prevailing practice.
EPFO APFC Exam Pattern 2026
The Recruitment Test will be:
- Duration: 2 hours
- Type: Objective-type multiple-choice questions
- Medium: English and Hindi
- Negative Marking: One-third of the marks assigned to a question for every wrong answer
- Unattempted questions: No penalty
All questions carry equal marks.
EPFO APFC Syllabus
The syllabus broadly covers:
- General English
- Indian Culture, Heritage and Freedom Movements
- Developmental Issues and Present Trends in Indian Economy
- Governance and Constitution of India
- General Science and Basic Knowledge of Computer Applications
- Elementary Mathematics, Statistics and General Mental Ability
- Industrial Relations, Labour Codes and Social Security in India
- Principles of Accountancy, Auditing and Insurance
- Current Events of National and International Importance
These topics are listed in Appendix-I of the official advertisement.
Interview Minimum Qualifying Standard
The minimum suitability standard for the interview is:
| Category | Minimum Marks |
|---|---|
| General/EWS | 50 |
| OBC | 45 |
| SC/ST/PwBD | 40 |
The interview carries 100 marks. Candidates selected through the Recruitment Test must meet the applicable suitability standards at both stages.
EPFO APFC Job Responsibilities
An Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner may handle several important areas of EPFO work, including:
- Enforcement
- Recovery
- Accounts
- Administration
- Cash
- Legal work
- Pension
- Computer-related work
- Conducting inquiries
- Settlement of claims
- General administration
- Maintenance of cash books
- Bank statement reconciliation
- MIS returns
These responsibilities are specifically mentioned in the recruitment advertisement.
How to Apply for EPFO APFC Recruitment 2026
Candidates have to apply online through the UPSC Online Recruitment Application portal.
Step-by-step process
- Visit the UPSC Online Recruitment Application Portal.
- Create your account and complete the Universal Registration Number (URN).
- Complete the Common Application Form (CAF).
- Select the APFC recruitment vacancy.
- Enter your personal, educational and other required details.
- Upload the required certificates and documents.
- Upload the photograph and complete the live photo capture as instructed.
- Upload your signature. The notification requires the signature to be made three times one below another on plain white paper using black ink.
- Pay the applicable ₹25 fee, if required.
- Carefully check all details before final submission.
- Submit the application and retain the generated Application Number and URN.
- Take a printout of the finally submitted application for future use.
Important: After submission, candidates cannot withdraw the application or make corrections/alterations in the application form.
Important Links
| Purpose | Link |
|---|---|
| Apply Online | Click Here |
| UPSC Official Website | Click Here |
| Notification PDF | Click Here |
Documents Required
Candidates should keep supporting documents ready for the claims made in the application. These can include:
- 10th/Matriculation certificate showing date of birth
- Degree/Diploma certificate
- Relevant mark sheets
- Experience certificates, where applicable
- SC/ST/OBC certificate, if applicable
- OBC non-creamy layer declaration
- PwBD certificate, where applicable
- Age-relaxation certificate, where applicable
- Equivalent qualification order/letter, if applicable
- Other documents supporting claims made in the application
The notification specifies separate requirements for different claims and categories.
EPFO APFC Recruitment Test Centres
The Recruitment Test is proposed to be conducted across 84 centres. Major centres include Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Nagpur, Surat, Thane, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Patna and others.
Candidates should apply early because most centres have a capacity limit and allotment will be made on a first-apply-first-allot basis. Once a centre reaches its capacity, it will be frozen.
Final Words
The EPFO APFC Recruitment 2026 is a strong opportunity for graduates looking for a permanent Group ‘A’ government job. UPSC has announced 80 Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner vacancies with Level-10 pay, and the recruitment will be conducted through a Recruitment Test followed by Interview.
Eligible candidates should complete the online application before 11 September 2026, 6:00 PM and start preparing for the Recruitment Test scheduled for 20 December 2026. Candidates should carefully read the official advertisement and ensure that every detail entered in the application is correct.
