UPSC Section Officers and Stenographers LDCE 2026 Notification Out - Apply Online by 6th October 2026

Both the Section Officers' Grade-B LDCE and the Stenographers' Grade-B/Grade-I LDCE share the same notification date, application window, and examination dates.

For the Combined Section Officers' (Grade-'B') LDCE, 2026, the notification lists the services/categories for which recruitment is to be made, but explicitly states that the number of vacancies in various categories has not yet been finalized by the concerned Cadre Controlling Authorities (CCAs), and therefore no vacancy figures are indicated in the notice at this stage. Candidates must clearly indicate in their application the Category for which they are competing. For Category II (Section Officers' Grade of the General Cadre of IFS, Branch 'B'), appointment/seniority will be subject to any judicial directive/judgement bearing on recruitment/seniority in that cadre. For Category III (Section Officers' Grade of RBSS), the result for 2026 would be provisional, subject to the outcome of O.A. No.215/2022 before the Central Administrative Tribunal, Principal Bench, New Delhi, and revision of

Both examinations are Limited Departmental Competitive Examinations, meaning eligibility is restricted to serving government employees who meet the conditions prescribed for their respective service/cadre. The Section Officers' Grade-B LDCE will be held in accordance with the Rules published by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) in the Gazette of India dated 16th September 2026. Final selection under different categories will be decided based on guidelines issued by DoPT vide O.M. No. 36012/2016/2019-Estt (Res.) dated 12.04.2022, subject to the final outcome of Civil Appeal No.629 of 2022 arising out of SLP (C) No.30621/2011. Specific qualification, minimum service, and grade-pay eligibility conditions for candidates are not detailed in the provided notification excerpt. Candidates should refer to the detailed Rules published in the Gazette of India dated 16.09.2026, and the

The Combined Section Officers' (Grade-'B') LDCE, 2026 will be held at the following five centres. No request for change of examination centre will be entertained. If a candidate appears at a venue other than the one indicated in the e-Admit Card, they will not be allowed to take the examination. Centres and dates are liable to change at the discretion of the Commission.

Application fee details are not specified in the provided notification excerpts for either examination. Candidates should check the Examination Specific Module on the online application portal (https://upsconline.nic.in) or the full official notification on https://upsc.gov.in for applicable fee information, including any fee payment steps that the helpdesk can assist with during the application window.

The Combined Section Officers' (Grade-'B') LDCE, 2026 includes Objective Type Question Papers as well as descriptive papers. The notification specifically references the following papers for tie-breaking purposes: Paper-II: Procedure of Practice in the Govt. of India Secretariat and attached Offices and General Financial and Service Rules (duly taking into account the requirement of relevant categories of services) Paper-III: Noting and Drafting, Precis Writing There will be a penalty (negative marking) for wrong answers marked in the Objective Type Question Papers; the specific quantum of negative marking is not stated in the provided excerpt. Marks obtained by candidates will be rounded off up to two decimal digits at all stages of the examination, using the standard rounding-off principle, wherever applicable. Detailed exam pattern and syllabus for the Stenographers' LDCE are not spec

For the Section Officers' Grade-B LDCE, admission to the Written Examination and evaluation of Service Record is purely provisional, subject to candidates satisfying the prescribed eligibility conditions. If it is found, on verification before or after the Written Examination or evaluation of Service Records, that a candidate does not fulfil any eligibility condition, their candidature will be cancelled by the Commission. Where candidates' Final Marks (aggregate) are equal, ties will be resolved in the following order: The candidate securing more marks in the written total will be ranked higher. If still equal, the candidate securing more marks in Paper-II and Paper-III put together will be ranked higher. If still equal, the candidate securing more marks in Paper-III (Noting & Drafting, Precis Writing) will be ranked higher. If still equal, the candidate senior in age will be ranked high

Candidates should carefully refer to the Notice and Rules before filling the application to confirm eligibility; prescribed conditions cannot be relaxed. Candidates must finally select their preferred examination centre before submitting the application (Section Officers' LDCE); no request for change of centre will be entertained under any circumstances. Admission to the examination at all stages is purely provisional, subject to satisfying prescribed eligibility conditions; candidature will be cancelled if found ineligible at any stage. Candidates must produce their official Identity Card at the time of the examination, along with the e-Admit Card. Signatures on the application form, Attendance List, and correspondence with the Commission must be identical; any variation may lead to cancellation of candidature. No correspondence will be entertained to change any entries made in the appl