UPSC Section Officers LDCE 2026
UPSC has notified the Combined Section Officers' (Grade-'B') Limited Departmental Competitive Examination 2026 for eligible departmental candidates. Apply online on upsconline.nic.in by 6 October 2026, 6:00 PM, then have the printed copy forwarded through your Ministry or Department and the Cadre Controlling Authority so that it reaches UPSC by 23 October 2026. The examination is on 12 and 13 December 2026. Vacancies are not yet finalized. This is not an open graduate recruitment.
Apply Online Now âComplete Details
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Notification | 16 September 2026 | Done |
| Online Application (upsconline.nic.in) | 16 September 2026 to 6 October 2026 (till 6:00 PM) | Open |
| Printed copy to reach UPSC through the Cadre Controlling Authority | By 23 October 2026 | Upcoming |
| e-Admit Card | Last working day of the week preceding the exam, as per the notice | Tba |
| Written Examination | 12 & 13 December 2026 | Upcoming |
| Representation on Question Paper & Provisional Answer Keys | 3rd day to 7th day (6:00 PM) after the exam date | Upcoming |
Who can apply
This is a limited departmental competitive examination. The notice says it is held under the Rules published by the Department of Personnel and Training in the Gazette of India dated 16 September 2026. Service category, length of service and other conditions come from those Rules; the examination notice does not restate them.
- Check your eligibility in the Notice and Rules before applying. UPSC says the conditions cannot be relaxed.
- Indicate clearly in the application the category you are competing for.
- Your Ministry/Department and the Cadre Controlling Authority verify eligibility before forwarding your application.
Services covered (paragraph 5)
| Category | Service |
|---|---|
| Category I | Section Officers' Grade of the Central Secretariat Service |
| Category II | Section Officers' Grade of the General Cadre of the Indian Foreign Service, Branch 'B' |
| Category III | Section Officers' Grade of the Railway Board Secretariat Service |
| Category VIII | Section Officers' Grade of the Intelligence Bureau |
| Category X | Section Officers in Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service |
| Category XI | Assistant Director/Section Officers/Manager Grade-'I' in Employees' State Insurance Corporation |
Vacancies: not finalized. UPSC says the concerned Cadre Controlling Authorities have not yet finalized the number of vacancies, so no figure is given in the notice.
Stages named in the notice
- Written Examination (objective-type papers carry negative marking for wrong answers).
- Evaluation of Service Record.
Admission at every stage is provisional and subject to meeting the prescribed eligibility conditions. Only candidates whose printed application is forwarded by the CCA are admitted.
Tie-breaking order (paragraph 15)
- Higher written total.
- Higher marks in Paper-II (Procedure of Practice in the Govt. of India Secretariat and attached Offices and General Financial and Service Rules) and Paper-III (Noting and Drafting, Precis Writing) together.
- Higher marks in Paper-III.
- Candidate senior in age.
- Any remaining tie at the Commission's discretion.
Marks are rounded off to two decimal digits at all stages.
Exam-day rules
- Centres: Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Nagpur. No change of centre is entertained.
- Entry closes 30 minutes before each session. Face authentication is mandatory.
- Carry your official Identity Card along with the e-Admit Card.
- Representations on question papers and provisional answer keys: from the 3rd day after the exam date to 6:00 PM on the 7th day, online only.
How to apply
- Read the notification and governing rules, and confirm eligibility with your departmental establishment section.
- Apply online at upsconline.nic.in (One-Time Registration/URN, Common Application Form, then the examination-specific module) between 16.09.2026 and 06.10.2026, 6:00 PM. Indicate the category you are competing for.
- Take the printed copy of the online application by 06.10.2026.
- Submit the complete printed copy to your Ministry/Department. After verification and certification it goes to the Cadre Controlling Authority, with a copy endorsed to UPSC.
- The CCA sends it to the Under Secretary (E-VI), Union Public Service Commission, Dholpur House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi-110069, to reach by 23.10.2026. Late applications are summarily rejected.
UPSC helpline (application window): 011-24041001 or 011-40303444, email upscsoap@nic.in, 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM on working days from 16.09.2026 to 06.10.2026.
Full Details
Current Status at a Glance
Current update: Eligible departmental candidates must submit the online application by 6 October 2026 at 6:00 PM. The printed application must follow the prescribed departmental and Cadre Controlling Authority route and reach UPSC by 23 October 2026. The examination is scheduled for 12â13 December 2026. UPSC has not finalized the vacancy count. This is a limited departmental examination, not an open recruitment for all graduates.
- Current status: Online application window open until Tuesday, 6 October 2026, 6:00 PM.
- Authority: Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Notice F.No.9/02/2026-E.IB, dated 16.09.2026.
- Previous stage: Notification (16 September 2026). Current stage: online application. Next stage: departmental forwarding of the printed application (by 23 October 2026), then the e-Admit Card and the examination on 12 and 13 December 2026.
- Last verified: 2 October 2026, against the UPSC examination notice listing (last updated 01 Oct 2026) and the official notice PDF. No corrigendum or extension was listed.
- Candidate action: Confirm your eligibility with your department, complete the online form on upsconline.nic.in, and arrange departmental forwarding of the printed copy.
Your online application is only one part of the process. Eligible departmental candidates should also arrange submission through their Ministry or Department and the relevant Cadre Controlling Authority. Start that coordination before the online deadline rather than waiting until the forwarding deadline.
Current status and who should apply
This is a limited departmental competitive examination. Confirm your service category and eligibility under the official rules before completing the form. General job seekers should not treat it as an open graduate recruitment drive. Vacancy totals are not finalized in this notice.
The notice says the examination will be held under the Rules published by the Department of Personnel and Training in the Gazette of India dated 16 September 2026. Detailed eligibility (service category, length of service and other conditions) is set by those Rules, not by the examination notice itself. This page does not restate age, service-length or fee conditions because the notice does not state them.
Application checklist
- Read the notification and governing rules, and confirm eligibility with your departmental establishment section.
- Complete the official online process and retain the submitted form and application details.
- Ask your department about its internal processing deadline, required endorsements and forwarding evidence.
- Track the prescribed departmental route; an online acknowledgement alone should not be treated as proof that forwarding is complete.
Career Growth and Work Profile
For an eligible employee, this examination is a departmental route toward the relevant Section Officer or equivalent role. Before applying, review the responsibilities and service conditions of your own cadre. Career progression and appointment conditions vary; this page should not promise a salary, promotion date or pension entitlement.
Historical Cut Off Trends
No verified historical cutoff comparison is supplied here. Avoid a predicted safe score. If official past cutoffs are added later, identify the exam year and service category and explain whether the figures are comparable.
Post Specific Selection Nuances
Departmental forwarding is a separate requirement worth checking early. Candidates should ask who certifies eligibility, who forwards the application and how receipt is tracked. The published schedule should be used with any subsequent official amendments.
According to the notice, admission at every stage (the written examination and the evaluation of service record) is provisional and depends on meeting the prescribed eligibility conditions. Only candidates whose printed application is forwarded by the Cadre Controlling Authority are considered. Results for Category II and Category III are subject to the court and tribunal matters named in paragraph 3 of the notice.
Common mistakes
- Assuming every government employee or graduate is eligible.
- Confusing the online deadline with departmental forwarding requirements.
- Using the separate Stenographers notice for this exam.
- Accepting unofficial vacancy, salary or cutoff claims.
SO LDCE 2026 and Stenographers LDCE are separate notices
UPSC lists the Combined Section Officers’ (Grade-‘B’) LDCE 2026 and the Combined Stenographers’ (Grade-‘B’/Grade-‘I’) LDCE 2022, 2023 and 2024 under one entry, with the same dates. They are two separate notices with different service categories. Use the Section Officers notice for this examination. The Stenographers notice is available separately on upsc.gov.in.
Source
Official source: UPSC examination notice “Combined Section Officers’ (Grade-‘B’) Limited Departmental Competitive Examination, 2026” dated 16.09.2026 (Notif-CmbSO-LDCE-2026-Engl-160926.pdf on upsc.gov.in). Main dates: notice page 1. Services and vacancy position: paragraph 5. Application and forwarding: paragraph 7. Last verified 2 October 2026.
Related: Latest government jobs · Exam Calendar
Important Links
Downloads
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a limited departmental exam. Applicants must satisfy the applicable service rules.
Use the official UPSC online portal linked in the source section.
6 October 2026 at 6:00 PM, on upsconline.nic.in.
By 23 October 2026, forwarded through your Ministry/Department and the Cadre Controlling Authority. Your department may set an earlier internal date, so ask early. Late applications are summarily rejected.
On 12 and 13 December 2026.
Check and complete the prescribed departmental forwarding process as well.
The notification does not provide a finalized vacancy total.
Confirm eligibility with your department, complete the official process and retain evidence of departmental forwarding.