UPSC EPFO 2026 · Syllabus & exam pattern
UPSC EPFO Syllabus 2026 and Exam Pattern: Subject-wise Topics
UPSC EPFO selection: Recruitment Test (RT) (2 hours); Interview (—), as per the official notice published 22 August 2026 (online applications open).
Subjects, number of questions, marks, duration and negative marking for every stage, as printed in the official notice.
UPSC EPFO exam pattern 2026
Stages of selection
- 1Recruitment Test (RT): pen-and-paper, objective multiple-choice, 2 hours, 300 marks
- 2Interview: 100 marks
- 3Final weightage of RT and interview in the ratio 75:25
Recruitment Test (RT)
2 hours
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Objective multiple-choice test on the nine syllabus areas (General English to Current Events) | Not stated in the advertisement | 300 |
All questions carry equal marks. Every wrong answer carries a deduction of one-third of the marks assigned to that question; no penalty for a question left unanswered. Medium: both English and Hindi. OMR answer sheet, black ball pen only. The RT minimum is decided by the Commission case by case.
Interview
—
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Interview | — | 100 |
Minimum interview marks: UR 50, OBC 45, SC/ST/PwBD 40 (out of 100). RT and interview are weighted 75:25.
Source: Special Advertisement No. 52/2026 — Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner, EPFO (Vacancy No. 26085201722) (published 22 August 2026 (online applications open)). Confirm in the official notice before applying.
Recruitment Test pattern, negative marking and interview
The Recruitment Test is a pen-and-paper test of two hours with objective, multiple-choice questions. All questions carry equal marks, and the medium is both English and Hindi. Answers are marked on an OMR sheet with a black ball pen only.
Every wrong answer carries a deduction of one-third of the marks assigned to that question. If no answer is marked for a question, there is no penalty for it. The advertisement does not print the number of questions.
300 marks are given to the RT and 100 to the interview, and the two are weighted in the ratio 75:25. The RT minimum is decided by the Commission case by case; in the interview you need at least 50 (UR), 45 (OBC) or 40 (SC/ST/PwBD) out of 100.
Selection scheme
| Stage | Type | Time | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recruitment Test | Objective, pen and paper (English and Hindi) | 2 hours | 300 |
| Interview | Interview | — | 100 |
Weightage of RT and interview: 75:25. Negative marking: one-third of the marks of the question per wrong answer.
UPSC EPFO Recruitment Test syllabus
The Recruitment Test is a single two-hour objective paper of 300 marks (equal marks per question; one-third of a question's marks deducted for each wrong answer; no penalty for unanswered questions). The advertisement does not print the number of questions.
The syllabus in Appendix I, Part II of the advertisement lists nine areas, reproduced below in the order printed.
Syllabus areas (Appendix I, Part II)
| No. | Topic |
|---|---|
| i | General English — to evaluate a candidate's understanding of English language & workman-like use of words |
| ii | Indian Culture, Heritage and Freedom Movements |
| iii | Developmental Issues and Present Trends in Indian Economy |
| iv | Governance and Constitution of India |
| v | General Science and Basic Knowledge of Computer Applications |
| vi | Elementary Mathematics, Statistics and General Mental Ability |
| vii | Industrial Relations, Labour Codes and Social Security in India |
| viii | Principles of Accountancy, Auditing and Insurance |
| ix | Current Events of National and International Importance |
The advertisement prints these headings without further sub-topics.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UPSC EPFO exam pattern?
Recruitment Test (RT): Objective multiple-choice test on the nine syllabus areas (General English to Current Events) (2 hours). All questions carry equal marks. Every wrong answer carries a deduction of one-third of the marks assigned to that question; no penalty for a question left unanswered. Medium: both English and Hindi. OMR answer sheet, black ball pen only. The RT minimum is decided by the Commission case by case. Interview: Interview (—). Minimum interview marks: UR 50, OBC 45, SC/ST/PwBD 40 (out of 100). RT and interview are weighted 75:25.
Is there negative marking in the UPSC EPFO Recruitment Test?
Yes. Every wrong answer carries a deduction of one-third of the marks assigned to that question. Unanswered questions carry no penalty.
What is the UPSC EPFO exam pattern?
A two-hour, pen-and-paper objective Recruitment Test of 300 marks in English and Hindi, followed by a 100-mark interview. The RT and interview are weighted 75:25.
What is the UPSC EPFO syllabus?
Nine areas: General English; Indian Culture, Heritage and Freedom Movements; Indian Economy; Governance and Constitution; General Science and Computer Applications; Elementary Mathematics, Statistics and General Mental Ability; Industrial Relations, Labour Codes and Social Security; Accountancy, Auditing and Insurance; and Current Events.