On 20 April 2026, EPFO confirmed that it has sent a requisition to UPSC for the recruitment of 391 vacancies, including 311 EO/AO and 80 APFC posts. This marks a notable increase compared to the previous year’s vacancies.
This update is expected to bring relief to aspirants awaiting the UPSC EPFO EO/AO and APFC 2026 notification, particularly as these examinations are conducted irregularly and offer limited opportunities.
Irregular UPSC EPFO EO/AO & APFC Notification Cycle Continues
In recent years, the UPSC has released notifications for EO/AO and APFC posts at irregular intervals, reflecting that there is no fixed annual schedule.
UPSC EPFO EO/AO Notification Years
- 2017
- 2021
- 2023
- 2025
- 2026
UPSC EPFO APFC Notification Years
- 2012
- 2015
- 2023
- 2025
On 20 April 2026, an RTI response from EPFO confirmed that the recruitment process for EO/AO and APFC positions is currently underway.
- Syllabus
- Previous Year Papers
- Preparation Sources
- Strategy
Expected UPSC EPFO EO/AO & APFC Notification Release
Now that USPC has received the requisition from the EPFO, it will initiate the recruitment process for drafting and releasing the official UPSC EPFO EO/AO and AFPC notification. While the exact timeline will be determined by UPSC, the examination may be conducted in late 2026.
With the confirmation of the UPSC EPFO EO/AO and APFC vacancies, you can expect the notification to be released in August 2026. Please note that no official notification release date has been announced yet.
UPSC EPFO EO/AO and APFC Vacancy Trends Show Sharp Increase
Here are the past trends of the UPSC EPFO EO/AO and APFC vacancies:
| UPSC EPFO Past Year Vacancies | ||
| Year | EO/AO | APFC |
| 2012 | – | 253 |
| 2015 | – | 170 |
| 2017 | 257 | – |
| 2021 | 421 | – |
| 2023 | 418 | 159 |
| 2025 | 156 | 74 |
| 2026 | 311 | 80 |
The latest figures indicate a sharp rise in EO/AO vacancies, with 311 posts expected in 2026, nearly double the 156 vacancies reported in 2025.
For APFC, the expected 80 vacancies represent a modest increase from 74 in the previous cycle.
UPSC EPFO EO/AO and APFC Selection Process
The UPSC EPFO recruitment process typically comprises 2 stages:
- Recruitment Test (RT)
- Interview
Final selection is based on a 75:25 weightage, with 75% marks from the Recruitment Test and 25% from the interview.
- Syllabus
- Previous Year Papers
- Preparation Sources
- Strategy
What Next?
With the requisition now submitted, the focus shifts to UPSC, which is expected to release the official notification in August 2026. This will be followed by the application process, announcement of exam dates, conduct of the Recruitment Test, and interviews.
For aspirants, this marks a crucial preparation window. Given that the gap between notification and examination is usually short, starting early can provide a significant advantage. Your focused UPSC EPFO preparation strategy should include:
- Building strong fundamentals in key subjects such as Indian Polity, Economy, Labour Laws, and Social Security
- Practising UPSC EPFO previous year questions
- Taking regular sectional and full-length mock tests
- Strengthening conceptual clarity while staying updated with current affairs
With vacancies now confirmed, the recruitment process is effectively set in motion, leaving only the official schedule to be announced.
