Topics Covered: UPSC LEO 2025 Notification, UPSC Labour Enforcement Officer Exam Dates, Vacancy in UPSC LEO, Selection Procedure – Phase 1/Recruitment Test (RT) & Interview, Pattern, LEO Syllabus, Cut Off, Exam Analysis, UPSC LEO PYQs, Preparation Strategy, Best Books for Preparation, Job Profile of UPSC Labour Enforcement Officers, Promotions, Salary, Exam Centers, Application Form, Application Fees, How to Apply for the UPSC LEO Exam, Admit Card, Result, and Training.

The UPSC LEO exam offers an opportunity to directly contribute to the welfare of workers and the enforcement of labor laws across the nation. As a LEO, you’ll be responsible for ensuring compliance with labor regulations, promoting social justice in workplaces, and more.

Below, I’ll take you through everything you need to know about the UPSC LEO exam, helping you prepare with confidence.

LEO Full Form

The full form of LEO is Labour Enforcement Officer, a prestigious position under the Ministry of Labour and Employment. Established in 1936, this ministry plays a vital role in ensuring labor welfare, resolving industrial disputes, and overseeing the implementation of labor laws in India.  

The LEO position plays a key role in enforcing labor laws and ensuring fair treatment for workers in the country. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts a competitive exam for this post, making it one of the most sought-after opportunities for aspirants interested in public administration and labor welfare.

UPSC LEO
Free E-Book
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  • Syllabus
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UPSC LEO Notification 2025

The official UPSC LEO notification for 2025 is expected in April/May month of 2025. Once released, I’ll update this page with the latest UPSC Labour Enforcement Officer notification.

UPSC LEO Important Dates 2025

As I mentioned above, the UPSC LEO exam is not conducted regularly. UPSC conducts this exam according to the availability of posts. Below are the expected dates of the UPSC LEO 2025 exam.

UPSC LEO
Important Dates
EventsTentative Month
UPSC LEO 2025 Notification ReleaseApril-May 2025
UPSC LEO 2025 Online Registration StartApril-May 2025
UPSC LEO 2025 Online Registration Last DateMay 2025
Last Date to Pay the Application FeeMay 2025
UPSC LEO Recruitment Test Date July-August 2025
UPSC LEO Interview DateOctober 2025 Onwards

Click on the link to download the UPSC LEO 2025 Notification PDF for free. (The link will be active once the UPSC LEO 2025 notification is released.)

Expected UPSC LEO Vacancies 2025

  • In the 2017 and 2022 exams, there were 33 and 42 vacancies, respectively. 
  • While we initially expected a similar number of vacancies in the range of 33 to 42, a recent RTI reveals that 66 positions are currently vacant for the UPSC LEO post. 
  • Therefore, we anticipate that the UPSC LEO 2025 notification will announce 66 vacancies.

UPSC LEO Eligibility Criteria 2025

UPSC LEO eligibility criteria include age limit, educational qualification, nationality, and number of attempts.

UPSC LEO Eligibility Criteria—education qualification, age limit, nationality, and allowed number of attempts.
  • As per a recent RTI, 66 vacancies have been mentioned for the UPSC LEO post. 

Let’s now understand the eligibility requirements for the UPSC LEO 2025 exam

UPSC LEO Age Limit & Relaxation 2025

  • The age for the UPSC LEO exam is calculated as of the last date for submission of the online application.
  • There is no minimum age mentioned in the official notification. 
  • The maximum age limit for UPSC LEO exam for the unreserved/general category is 30 years.
  • Different reserved categories receive different age relaxations.

You can find the age relaxation details in the UPSC LEO Eligibility article.

UPSC LEO Education Qualification 2025

Here is the minimum essential and desirable educational qualification required to apply for the UPSC LEO 2025 exam:

Essential Education Qualification

To apply for the UPSC LEO exam, you must possess both a degree and a diploma in one of the specified subjects listed below.

  1. Degree in any discipline with any one of the following subjects from a recognized University or Institute:
  • Commerce 
  • Economics
  • Sociology
  • Social Work 
  1. Diploma in either of the following from a recognized University or Institute:
  • Law
  • Labour Relations
  • Labour Welfare 
  • Labour Laws 
  • Industrial Relations 
  • Sociology 
  • Commerce 
  • Social Work 
  • Welfare Business Administration 
  • Personnel Management

Desirable Education Qualification

1 year experience in either of the following:

  • Labour Law
  • Labour Welfare
  • Labour Relations
  • Personnel Management in an Industrial Organization 
  • a Government Establishment

Important Note: Qualifications are relaxable at the discretion of the Union Public Service Commission for reasons to be recorded in writing in case of candidates otherwise well qualified.

UPSC LEO Eligibility - essential and desirable Educational Qualifications

Nationality for UPSC LEO

You should be an Indian citizen to be eligible for the UPSC LEO exam. 

Number of Attempts for UPSC LEO

  • UPSC puts no restriction on the number of attempts.
  • As long as you meet all the eligibility criteria, you are eligible to apply for the UPSC LEO exam.
UPSC LEO
Free E-Book
  • Eligibility
  • Pattern
  • Syllabus
  • Sources
  • Strategy

UPSC LEO Pattern 2025

The selection procedure of the UPSC LEO exam consists of:

  1. Phase 1 (Recruitment Test)
  2. Phase 2 (Interview)

UPSC LEO Exam Pattern 2025

Here is the UPSC LEO pattern:

  • Phase 1, also known as a recruitment test (RT), is an objective-type test conducted offline.
  • It lasts 2 hours and carries a total of 300 marks.
  • The test consists of 120 questions, each carrying 2.5 marks.

Negative marking applies, with a deduction of 1/3rd of a mark for every incorrect answer.

UPSC LEO Recruitment Test Pattern includes mode, duration, marks, number of questions, marking scheme, and more.
  • Phase 2, also known as personality test or interview, assesses your personality, suitability, and communication skills.
  • It carries a total of 100 marks, and there is a category-wise minimum cut-off, which is
    • 50 marks for UR/General
    • 45 marks for OBC
    • 40 marks for SC/ST/PH
UPSC LEO Pattern - Interview

After understanding the UPSC LEO pattern, it’s time to take a look at the syllabus.

UPSC LEO Syllabus

The official syllabus of the UPSC LEO exam broadly comprises the following topics:

  • Constitutional Provisions Relating to Labour
  • Industrial Relations
  • Social Security
  • Labour Welfare
  • Special Legislations Relating to Building and Other Construction Workers
  • Wages and Bonus
  • New 4 Labour Codes
  • Trade Union Movement
  • General Mental Ability
  • Current Events of National and International Importance

Here you can find the UPSC LEO syllabus in detail.

UPSC LEO Cut Off Marks

Below, I have mentioned the UPSC LEO cut off marks of the past years:

Important Note: The cut-offs of 2022 have not been released yet. We’ll update them once UPSC releases 2022 cut-off marks. The table below shows the cut-off marks for the recruitment test, interview, and final selection for the year 2017:

UPSC LEO 2017
Cut-Off Marks
CategoryUROBCSCST
Recruitment Test160.00 142.00128.50133.00 
Interview50454040
Final Selection237.50219.72 194.25228.58 
Highest Marks267.23251.92 268.47228.58

Best Books for the UPSC LEO Preparation

Here are the recommended books and resources to prepare for the UPSC LEO exam:

Industrial Relations & Labour Laws Books for UPSC LEO
BookAuthor/Publication
Industrial Relations and Labour LawsPiyali Ghosh
Elementary Maths Books for UPSC LEO
BookAuthor/Publication
Quantitative AptitudeDr. R.S. Aggarwal
Current Books for UPSC LEO
For current events, I don’t recommend relying on a single book. Instead, here are some effective resources you should consider to comprehensively cover this section:
WebsiteNewspapers
PIB
UNESCO website
Down To Earth website
The Hindu 
Indian Express 
Social Security Books for UPSC LEO
For social security, I don’t recommend relying on a single book. Instead, here are some effective resources you should consider to comprehensively cover this section:

PIB
PRS
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment 
Ministry of Women and Child Development 
Ministry of Health and Family welfares
Ministry of Minority Affairs
Ministry of Labour and Employment
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs

UPSC LEO Salary 

A Labour Enforcement Officer is a Grade B post with Level 7 in the Pay Matrix. The basic pay for the LEO position is ₹44,900 with a Grade Pay of ₹4,800. In addition to the basic pay, they are entitled to various allowances such as Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), and Transport Allowance (TA) which vary depending on the location of their posting. 

So, the in-hand salary of a LEO with allowances is ₹80-90k per month (without income tax deduction). Also, a LEO is liable to leased accommodation, travel allowance, monthly medical allowance, etc.

UPSC LEO
Free E-Book
  • Eligibility
  • Pattern
  • Syllabus
  • Sources
  • Strategy

UPSC LEO Job Profile 

Labour Enforcement Officers play a crucial role in ensuring compliance with labor laws and safeguarding the rights of workers. Their responsibilities span across multiple areas to ensure fair practices in the labor sector. Here are the key responsibilities:

  • Inspection and Enforcement: Conduct inspections of establishments to ensure compliance with labor laws and regulations, focusing on promoting welfare and fair practices in Central Sphere Undertakings.
  • Legal Action: Initiate and oversee the prosecution of cases against defaulters who violate labor laws or fail to adhere to statutory obligations.
  • Dispute Resolution: Facilitate the conciliation of industrial disputes to maintain harmony between employers and workers, ensuring a constructive resolution process.
  • Trade Union Verification: Verify trade union memberships to ensure transparency and foster a better understanding of the trade union movement.
  • Specialized Labour Inquiries: Undertake special inquiries and investigations into labor-related matters to address pressing issues and provide actionable recommendations.

Who Should Prepare for the UPSC LEO Post?

Anyone who aspires to be a Grade B officer and working in the Ministry of Labour & Employment with very little effort should consider preparing for the UPSC LEO exam.

There can be multiple motivational factors to prepare for this exam, for eg., you get postings in metro cities, have an opportunity to work on a wider canvas, have great work-life balance, job security, job satisfaction, and more.

Moreover, this exam is a great opportunity for UPSC EPFO EO/AO & APFC Aspirants. Individuals preparing for the UPSC EPFO EO/AO & APFC exams should also consider attempting the LEO exam. The EO/AO and APFC syllabus overlaps with the LEO syllabus.

UPSC LEO Exam Centers

Here are the centers for the UPSC LEO Recruitment test (RT) exam:

UPSC LEO 2025
RT Exam Centers
AhmedabadBhopalChennaiDelhiDispur (Guwahati)
JaipurJammuKochiKolkataLucknow
MumbaiNagpurPort BlairRanchiVishakhapatnam

Important Note: The details of the UPSC LEO interview centers will be mentioned in the interview call letter.

How to Apply for the UPSC LEO Online

Follow the below-mentioned steps to apply for the UPSC LEO exam:

  1. Step 1: Visit the official website of the Union Public Service Commission
  2. Step 2: Complete the One-Time Registration (OTR) process by providing your basic details to create an account.
  3. Step 3: Log in with the UPSC LEO registration ID and password received after OTR completion.
  4. Step 4: Fill in the personal, educational, and professional details in the online registration form.
  5. Step 5: Submit a scanned copy of a recent photograph, signature, and any other specified certificates.
  6. Step 6: Thoroughly review your application, pay the required fees, and submit the application form.
  7. Step 7: After submitting the application form, you can download and take its printout for future reference.
UPSC LEO
Free E-Book
  • Eligibility
  • Pattern
  • Syllabus
  • Sources
  • Strategy

Conclusion

On this page, I have covered all the important information you need regarding the UPSC LEO 2025 exam, which includes notification, exam dates, vacancies, eligibility criteria, pattern, syllabus, cutoff, results, and more. I hope this information will help you get a complete picture of the UPSC Labour Enforcement Officer exam, and you can prepare with confidence.