UPSC LDCE Recruitment 2026 Notice Out: Apply Online to Section Officer and Stenographer Departmental Exams by October 6

• UPSC has opened applications for Section Officer Grade-B and Stenographer Grade-B/Grade-I Limited Departmental Competitive Examinations.
• Online applications are open from September 16 to October 6, 2026, while the examinations are scheduled for December 12 and 13.
• The recruitment is limited to eligible serving employees of specified government services and cadres; the number of vacancies will be communicated by the respective Cadre Controlling Authorities.

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has opened the online application process for its Combined Section Officers’ (Grade-B) Limited Departmental Competitive Examination 2026 and Combined Stenographers’ (Grade-B/Grade-I) Limited Departmental Competitive Examination for the years 2022, 2023 and 2024. Applications can be submitted online until 6:00 PM on October 6, 2026.

The Limited Departmental Competitive Examinations are intended for serving government employees who meet the prescribed service and cadre conditions. The exact number of vacancies has not yet been finalized and will be communicated by the respective Cadre Controlling Authorities. The examinations are scheduled to be conducted on December 12 and 13, 2026.

For the Section Officers’ LDCE, candidates who complete the online process must also submit a printed copy of their application through their Ministry or Department to the concerned Cadre Controlling Authority. The printed application is required to reach UPSC by October 23, 2026.

UPSC Section Officer and Stenographer LDCE 2026

UPSC issued the examination notices on September 16, 2026. The Section Officers’ examination covers several Central Government services, including the Central Secretariat Service, Indian Foreign Service Branch ‘B’, Railway Board Secretariat Service, Intelligence Bureau, Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service and Employees’ State Insurance Corporation.

Important Dates

UPSC Section Officer LDCE Vacancy Categories

UPSC has identified the participating services for the Combined Section Officers’ Grade-B LDCE 2026, although the exact number of posts under each category is yet to be finalized.

Vacancy numbers will be determined or communicated by the concerned Cadre Controlling Authorities.

Who Can Apply for UPSC LDCE 2026?

These examinations are departmental examinations rather than open recruitment for the general public. Applicants must be serving employees belonging to the respective eligible government service or cadre.

Detailed eligibility conditions are governed by the applicable rules published by the Department of Personnel and Training in the Gazette of India dated September 16, 2026. Candidates should verify the service requirements and other conditions applicable to their particular category before submitting an application.

Admission to the examination remains provisional until UPSC and the concerned authorities verify the candidate’s eligibility and service particulars.

Section Officer LDCE Exam Centres

The Combined Section Officers’ Grade-B Limited Departmental Competitive Examination 2026 is scheduled to be conducted at five centres:

• Chennai
• Delhi
• Kolkata
• Mumbai
• Nagpur

Requests for a change of examination centre are not permitted under the stated examination conditions.

UPSC LDCE Exam and Selection Process

Selection is based on the written examination along with assessment of service records, subject to verification of the candidate’s eligibility.

The Section Officers’ LDCE includes objective and descriptive components. The examination includes papers covering government secretariat procedure, general financial and service rules, noting and drafting, and précis writing. Negative marking applies to incorrect answers in objective-type papers as prescribed in the examination notice.

Where candidates obtain equal final aggregate marks in the Section Officers’ examination, the prescribed tie-breaking process considers written examination marks, combined marks in Papers II and III, Paper III marks and then age in the specified sequence.

How to Apply for UPSC LDCE Recruitment 2026

1. Go to the UPSC online application portal at upsconline.nic.in.
2. Complete the required Account Creation, Universal Registration and Common Application Form processes.
3. Select the appropriate Section Officers’ or Stenographers’ Limited Departmental Competitive Examination.
4. Complete the Examination Specific Form by 6:00 PM on October 6, 2026.
5. Upload the required photograph, live photograph, signature and other prescribed information or documents.
6. Submit the online application and retain a copy for departmental requirements.
7. Section Officer LDCE applicants must print their submitted application and forward it through their Ministry/Department to the concerned Cadre Controlling Authority so that it reaches UPSC by October 23, 2026.
8. Candidates should subsequently download their e-Admit Card when made available by UPSC.

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