UPSC EPFO Notification 2026: EO/AO & APFC Vacancies

The UPSC EPFO APFC Notification 2026 is expected in September 2026, with the written UPSC EPFO recruitment exam likely in December 2026. An RTI filed in April 2026 confirmed that EPFO has requested UPSC to fill 80 APFC posts and 311 EO/AO posts.

However, the 311 EO/AO vacancies were later withdrawn by EPFO, and UPSC has confirmed that EO/AO vacancies will not be notified in 2026.

This article covers the latest APFC vacancy status, expected notification and exam dates, eligibility criteria, application process, exam pattern, and preparation strategy to help aspirants understand what to expect from the UPSC EPFO APFC Exam 2026.

Last Update: UPSC has announced the APFC recruitment with the official release of the EPFO APFC 2026 notification.

Full Form of UPSC EPFO, APFC, EO and AO

• UPSC: Union Public Service Commission (the body responsible for conducting the recruitment test)

• EPFO: Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (the recruitment division of the Ministry of Labour & Employment)

• APFC: Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner (a Group A, Level 10 post)

• EO: Enforcement Officer (a Group B, Level 8 post recruited through the same paper as AO)

• AO: Accounts Officer (a Group B, Level 8 post recruited through the same paper as EO)

UPSC EPFO EO/AO Vacancies Withdrawal: Latest Update

The UPSC EPFO EO/AO vacancies for 2026 have been updated following changes to the recruitment proposal. Although EPFO had initially raised a requirement for EO/AO posts, the 311 proposed vacancies were later withdrawn, and UPSC officially returned the EO/AO request to EPFO. As a result, EO/AO recruitment is not expected to be notified by UPSC in 2026, and a combined EO/AO and APFC exam will not be conducted this cycle. 

For now, the EO/AO recruitment remains cancelled for the 2026 cycle, subject to any fresh official update from UPSC or EPFO.

UPSC EPFO Notification 2026: Important Dates for the APFC Exam

In order not to miss out on any crucial date of UPSC EPFO 2026 recruitment, please stay updated with the following crucial events.

UPSC EPFO APFC Past Year Notification 

UPSC EPFO APFC Vacancy Trend: Past Years

UPSC EPFO EO/AO & APFC 2025 Recruitment: Current Update 

The UPSC EPFO APFC 2025 recruitment is currently being processed under a special recruitment case. 

• Recruitment Test Result: UPSC announced the EPFO Recruitment Test results on 22nd December 2025.
• EO/AO Posts: The 2025 recruitment includes 156 EO/AO posts under a special recruitment case.
• Interview Shortlist: UPSC shortlisted 458 candidates for the EO/AO interview on 22 July 2026.
• Provisional Shortlist: 116 candidates were provisionally shortlisted, subject to document submission.
• Document Deadline: Required documents or representations were to be submitted by 31 July 2026.
• Interview Schedule: UPSC’s official interview schedule should be checked for the latest dates.
• APFC Recruitment: UPSC has also listed a special recruitment case for 74 APFC posts under Advertisement No. 52/2025 (Special). The recruitment notice was issued in April 2026, and UPSC’s recruitment notices page lists the 74-post APFC case separately from the 156-post EO/AO case.

Note: UPSC EPFO APFC 2025 recruitment is separate from the APFC recruitment cycle for 2026. The UPSC EPFO APFC 2026 recruitment process has started simultaneously with the ongoing UPSC EPFO APFC 2025 recruitment process.

UPSC EPFO Notification 2026: APFC Exam Vacancy  

The total number of vacancies notified under UPSC EPFO Recruitment 2026 is 80. The following table shows the category-wise break-up of vacancies:

Category-Wise APFC Vacancy

* Out of the 80 vacancies, 3 vacancies are reserved for candidates belonging to the PwBD category.

Important Information Mentioned in the UPSC EPFO Notification 2026

Here is the important information mentioned in the UPSC EPFO notification 2026:

UPSC EPFO APFC Educational Qualification 2026

Mandatory Qualification

• Applicants must have a Bachelor’s Degree from a recognised university/institution.
• The degree can be in any discipline unless otherwise mentioned in the official notification.
• Applicants must possess the required qualification by the cut-off date.

Desired Qualification

Applicants with further qualifications and/or professional experience would definitely increase their chances of making an impact at the UPSC EPFO Recruitment 2026. Some of the desirable qualifications and experience include –

• Two years of experience in Administration/Accounts/Legal Matters in any government or private organisation (listed)
• Bachelor’s degree in Law
• Integrated Five-year Degree in Law
• Master’s in Business Administration
• Post Graduate Diploma in Management
• Company Secretary
• Chartered Accountants
• Cost and Management Accountant
• Diploma in Company Law/Labour Laws/Public Administration

Note: In case a candidate falls under the category of SC/ST, then at any point during the selection procedure, if there are not enough candidates available to fill the available positions, then the UPSC can relax the qualifications required to claim the experience, provided that the candidate is otherwise suitably qualified.

UPSC EPFO APFC Age Limit & Relaxation 2026

• Age calculation for UPSC EPFO APFC examination is done on the basis of the date of online application submission.
• The minimum age has not been specified in the official notification.
• Upper age limit for General category: 35 years.

Age limit for UPSC EPFO APFC 2026 differs depending on category, and special provisions exist for eligible candidates. The relevant upper age limits are mentioned below:

UPSC EPFO APFC Exam Pattern 2026

The recruitment process for the UPSC EPFO APFC examination 2026 includes the following:

UPSC EPFO APFC Recruitment Test Pattern 2026

The UPSC EPFO APFC Recruitment Test 2026 consists of an objective-type test with 120 questions, 300 marks and 2 hours duration. The important information regarding the examination pattern is as follows:

UPSC EPFO APFC Interview Pattern 2026

• UPSC EPFO APFC Interview is an important part of the selection procedure and carries a total of 100 marks. 
• This phase, also known as the Personality Test, evaluates a candidate’s personality, suitability for the role, and communication skills.
•  Candidates should prepare well by focusing on their communication skills, subject knowledge related to EPFO and social security, awareness of pertinent labour laws, and overall personality and suitability for the APFC role.
• You must meet the minimum category‑wise cutoff: 50 marks for UR/EWS, 45 for OBC, and 40 for SC/ST/PwBD.

Note: The weightage assigned to the Recruitment Test and Interview will be in the ratio of 75:25, respectively.

UPSC EPFO APFC Syllabus 2026

The UPSC EPFO syllabus is composed of the following subjects:

• 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

UPSC EPFO APFC Exam Centres 2026

Here are the centres for the UPSC EPFO APFC Recruitment Test (RT) exam:

Note: The UPSC EPFO APFC interview centre will be mentioned on your interview call letter.

How to Apply for the UPSC EPFO APFC Online?

Follow the below-mentioned steps to apply for the UPSC EPFO APFC 2026 exam:

• Visit the UPSC Website: Visit the official UPSC Online Recruitment Application (ORA) portal at upsconline.nic.in.
• Complete Registration: If you are new to the system, register through the One Time Registration (OTR) process by providing your basic details.
• Log in with Your Credentials: Log in using your UPSC EPFO ID & password obtained after completion of One Time Registration.
• Fill in the Application Form: Enter your personal, educational, and professional information in the online application form.
• Upload Required Documents: Provide a scan of a recent photograph, signature, and other relevant certificates if required.
• Review & Submit Application: Carefully go through your application, pay the required fees, and then submit the application form.
• Download/Print Application: Once the application form has been filled out & submitted, download the printout of the same for future use.

What is the UPSC EPFO APFC Application Fee 2026?

The following are the new application fee and intimation charges for the UPSC EPFO APFC Exam 2026:

How to Pay Fees for the UPSC EPFO APFC 2026 Exam?

Candidates can pay the UPSC EPFO APFC Exam 2026 application fee by:

• Paying the fee in cash at any branch of the SBI.
• Using the net banking facility of any bank.
• Using Visa/Master/Rupay/Credit/Debit Card/UPI payment.

Are there any Changes Expected in the UPSC EPFO APFC 2026 Notification?

Considering the current scenario, there is just one change expected, which is from the combined notification of EO/AO & APFC to the notification of UPSC EPFO APFC only.

Other than that, there will be no other modification regarding the eligibility criteria, pattern, syllabus, and application process in the next UPSC EPFO Notification 2026.

Should You Start Preparing for UPSC EPFO APFC Before the Notification?

Yes. Start your preparation now.

The 80 vacancies of APFC are live, and the notification has not been withdrawn yet. With the UPSC EPFO Notification 2026 expected to come in August/September 2026, it is good to start early.

The syllabus is supposed to be broadly in line with the APFC syllabus. Starting from now would help you to develop strong concepts, revise regularly, practice mock tests, and keep yourself updated on current affairs. It is always beneficial to begin early, as it enables you to prepare systematically for the UPSC EPFO APFC Exam 2026.

Final Thoughts

I hope I have been able to clarify all your queries about the UPSC EPFO Notification 2026. Understanding these facts right from the beginning ensures that those who aspire will be able to plan their preparation in a structured manner.

With the notification and exam timeline in focus, the next step is to build a preparation strategy based on the syllabus, strengthen core concepts and practise regularly.

Ready to prepare with the right strategy? Connect with Vyasa IAS and take the next step towards your UPSC EPFO APFC Exam 2026 goal with our EPFO APFC courses.

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