UPSC SO LDCE Notification 2026: Departmental, Apply till 6 October
UPSC Section Officers Grade-B LDCE 2026. Online till 06.10.2026 18:00, print by 23.10, exam 12–13 December. upsconline.nic.in.
Details taken from the official notification. Confirm on the official website before applying. Official Website Official notification
Overview at a Glance
| Organisation | Union Public Service Commission |
|---|---|
| Advertisement No. | F.No. 9/02/2026-E.IB |
| Qualification | Serving eligible staff of the relevant cadre; DoPT Rules 16.09.2026 |
| Selection Process | Written test + service-record evaluation |
| State / UT | All India, Delhi |
| Job Location | Concerned secretariat / cadre — five exam cities |
| Official Website | www.upsc.gov.in |
Important Dates
| Application Begins | |
|---|---|
| Last Date to Apply | |
| Exam Date |
Vacancy Details
| Post Name | Category | Posts | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| SO Grade-B LDCE (count with CCA) |
The Union Public Service Commission has issued the notice for the Combined Section Officers’ (Grade-‘B’) LDCE, 2026 (F.No. 9/02/2026-E.IB, 16.09.2026) on upsc.gov.in. This is a limited departmental exam, not an open recruitment. Cadre Controlling Authorities have not finalised vacancy numbers, so the notice prints none. Apply online from 16.09.2026 to 06.10.2026 18:00 on upsconline.nic.in; the printed copy must reach the Commission through the proper channel by 23.10.2026. The written test is on 12–13 December 2026. A Combined Stenographers’ (Grade-B / Grade-I) LDCE for 2022, 2023 and 2024 was notified the same day; the written papers fall on the same dates. Eligibility sits in the DoPT Rules and the service rules — only notice facts are below.
UPSC SO LDCE Notification 2026 Out @upsc.gov.in
Rules were notified by DoPT in the Gazette dated 16.09.2026. Final selection uses the written test plus service-record evaluation, subject to DoPT OM dated 12.04.2022 and pending court matters. Category III (RBSS) results stay provisional (OA 215/2022).
SO Grade-B LDCE 2026 PDF · Stenographers LDCE 2022–24 PDF (Hindi)
Official links
Highlights
Particular | Notice |
|---|---|
Exams | Combined SO (Grade-B) LDCE 2026; Steno (B/I) LDCE 2022–24 |
Type | Limited departmental — serving eligible staff |
Vacancies | Not finalised by CCAs; no figure in the notice |
Online apply | 16.09.2026 – 06.10.2026 18:00 |
Printed copy at UPSC | 23.10.2026 (Ministry / CCA channel) |
Written exam | 12 and 13.12.2026 |
Centres | Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Nagpur |
Helpdesk | 011-24041001 / 011-40303444, upscsoap@nic.in |
SO LDCE categories (para 5)
Category | Service |
|---|---|
I | CSS — Section Officers’ Grade |
II | IFS Branch B General Cadre — SO Grade |
III | Railway Board Secretariat Service — SO Grade |
VIII | Intelligence Bureau — SO Grade |
X | AFHQ Civil Service — Section Officers |
XI | ESIC — Assistant Director / SO / Manager Grade-I |
Mark the category clearly on the form. Stenographer services are listed only in that LDCE PDF.
Important dates
Event | Date |
|---|---|
Notification | 16.09.2026 |
Online form | 16.09.2026 – 06.10.2026 18:00 |
Printed copy CCA → UPSC | 23.10.2026 |
e-Admit Card | Last working day of the week before the exam, on upsconline |
Written exam | 12–13.12.2026 |
Question/key representations | Day 3 to 18:00 on day 7, portal only |
Eligibility
Only serving staff who meet the DoPT Rules (Gazette 16.09.2026) and the relevant service rules. Those conditions are not relaxed. Admission is provisional through the written test and service-record check. Carry the official identity card and e-Admit Card. Centre change is not allowed.
Selection
Stage | Notice |
|---|---|
Written | Negative marking on objective papers; Paper-II (procedure/rules) and Paper-III (noting, drafting, précis) are named in the tie-break |
Service record | Evaluated; final merit uses both |
Ties: aggregate → written total → Paper-II+III → Paper-III → age.
How to apply
On upsconline.nic.in complete the account, URN and CAF (live photo, three signatures).
Fill the examination module: category, centre, fee (asked in the module; the rupee amount is not printed in this PDF).
Submit by 06.10.2026 18:00 and take a print the same day.
The Ministry/Department verifies and sends it to the CCA; the CCA must reach Under Secretary (E-VI), UPSC, Dholpur House, by 23.10.2026.
Only printed copies forwarded by the CCA are considered. UPSC does not accept delay in the post.
Fee
The notice refers to fee in the examination module but does not print an amount — read the form.
Submit online before 06.10.2026 18:00 and get the print forwarded in time. If anything changes, follow only the UPSC PDFs.
Important Links
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply?
Only serving eligible staff of the relevant cadre. Not an open recruitment. Conditions are in the DoPT Rules.
Last date?
Online by 06.10.2026 18:00; printed copy via the CCA channel to UPSC by 23.10.2026.
How many vacancies?
The notice says CCAs have not finalised numbers — none are printed.
When is the exam?
12 and 13 December 2026 at Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Nagpur.
