UPSC ESIC Deputy Director Exam Pattern 2026: RT & Interview

The UPSC ESIC Deputy Director exam pattern consists of just 2 stages:

• Recruitment Test (RT)
• Interview

Understanding the detailed UPSC ESIC DD exam pattern is crucial to determining whether this exam aligns with your strengths and background.

In this article, I’ll share the complete pattern details of the ESIC Deputy Director 2026 exam, including mode, number of questions, marking scheme, duration, and more. 

Let’s get started. 

UPSC ESIC Deputy Director Exam Pattern: Recruitment Test

The 1st stage of the UPSC ESIC Deputy Director selection process is the Recruitment Test, which is divided into 2 parts:

• Part A: English
• Part B: General Ability

Let’s go through the remaining details of the UPSC ESIC Deputy Director Recruitment Test.

Mode

• The UPSC ESIC Deputy Director RT is conducted offline in pen-and-paper mode.
• Both Part A and Part B will be clearly mentioned in your question paper. 

Paper Type

• UPSC ESIC Recruitment Test consists of objective-type multiple-choice questions (MCQs).
• You must mark your answers on an OMR sheet using a blue or black ballpoint pen.

Language

• The UPSC ESIC DD exam is available in Hindi and English:
  • Part A: English
  • Part B: Bilingual (Hindi and English)

Total Questions

• The ESIC DD recruitment test consists of 120 questions:
  • Part A: 20 questions
  • Part B: 100 questions

Maximum Marks 

• The ESIC DD RT carries a total of 300 marks:
• Each question carries 2.5 marks
  • Part A: 50 marks
  • Part B: 250 marks

Negative Marking

• 1/3rd marks are deducted for every wrong answer (i.e., 0.83 marks)
• No marks are deducted if you leave any question unattempted.

Time

• You’ll get a composite 2 hours to attempt the ESIC DD Recruitment Test.
• There is no sectional timing for Part A and Part B.

Important Note: PwBD candidates with 40% or more impairment are eligible for 20 minutes extra time per hour in the RT.

Here’s a table summarizing the UPSC ESIC Deputy Director exam pattern information for better clarity.

Is the UPSC ESIC DD Recruitment Test Qualifying in Nature?

• No. The ESIC DD Recruitment Test is not merely qualifying in nature. 
• The marks you score in the RT are counted in the final merit list along with the interview marks.

UPSC ESIC Deputy Director 2026 Interview Pattern

The Interview, also known as the Personality Test, is the final stage of the UPSC ESIC Deputy Director selection process. You will be called for this stage only after successfully clearing the Recruitment Test (RT).

Here are the key details of the interview stage:

Mode

• The UPSC ESIC Deputy Director interview is conducted in person (offline).

Location

• You need to visit the UPSC head office, i.e., UPSC, Dholpur House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi.

Language

• You have the option to choose between Hindi and English.

Number of Questions

• There is no fixed number of questions in the interview. 
• The question count varies based on the panel’s approach and the flow of your interaction.

Marks

• The interview carries a total of 100 marks.

Time

• The interview typically lasts between 20 to 45 minutes, depending on the panel and discussion depth.

Cut Offs

• The ESIC DD interview has category-wise minimum qualifying marks:
  • General (UR): 50 marks
  • OBC: 45 marks
  • SC/ST/PH: 40 marks

I’ve presented the key details in the table below for easier understanding.

What is the Weightage of RT & Interview in the ESIC DD Final Selection?

The final selection for the UPSC ESIC Deputy Director post is based on a combined weightage of the Recruitment Test (RT) and the Interview:

• Recruitment Test (RT): 75% weightage
• Interview: 25% weightage

This means your RT score carries the maximum weight in the final merit list, but you still can’t ignore your interview. 

Does ESIC DD Exam Pattern Change Frequently?

No. The ESIC Deputy Director exam pattern has remained unchanged for the past 2 recruitments—2022 and 2012. 

Can UPSC Change the ESIC DD Exam Pattern This Year?

Yes, UPSC has the authority to change the ESIC DD exam pattern at any time. But, there is no indication that the ESIC DD exam pattern will change this year.

However, if UPSC decides to revise the pattern, the updated details will be clearly mentioned in the latest official ESIC DD notification.

After knowing the ESIC Deputy Director exam pattern, let’s get an overview of the official syllabus. 

UPSC ESIC Deputy Director Syllabus 2026

Here is the official syllabus mentioned in the UPSC ESIC Deputy Director notification: 

Part A: English

• To test the candidate’s understanding of the English Language and workmanlike use of words.

Part B: General Ability

• Principles of Human Resource Management 
• Principles of Marketing Management 
• Principles of Accounting & Financial Management 
• Right to Information Act 
• Numerical Ability & Logical Reasoning 
• Fundamentals of Computer Application 
• General Science 
• Public Administration and Developmental Issues 
• Freedom Movement & Indian Union 
• Current Events of National and International Importance

Please note that this is just an overview of the syllabus. Check out our article to download the detailed UPSC ESIC Deputy Director syllabus. 

Conclusion

Now that you know the detailed UPSC ESIC Deputy Director exam pattern, you can plan your preparation strategy with confidence. Your next step should be to go through the detailed syllabus and analyse the PYQs to gain deeper insight into the actual exam trends.