UPSC Recruitment 2026: Apply Online for Various Group ‘A’ & Group ‘B’ Gazetted Posts

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially released Advertisement No. 05/2026, opening doors for direct recruitment to a wide range of highly sought-after Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ Gazetted positions across various central ministries, departments, and Union Territory administrations. If you have been waiting for an elite government career track that leverages your specialized technical, engineering, or scientific background, this notification demands your immediate attention.

Key Dates & Core Recruitment Details

Before diving into specific job matrices, highlight these critical timelines to ensure your application is logged well before the online portal links close:

Parameter	Important Information
Notification Advertisement No.	05/2026
Online Application Start Date	May 23, 2026
Closing Date for Online Applications	June 12, 2026 (18:00 HRS / 6:00 PM Sharp)
Crucial Date for Determining Eligibility	June 12, 2026 (The prescribed closing date)
Official Application Portal	https://upsconline.nic.in/ora/

Major Vacancy Highlights & Department Breakdowns

This cycle features technical positions across engineering, aviation safety, chemistry, earth sciences, and regional governance. Here is an exhaustive breakdown of the primary job profiles available:

1. Airworthiness Officer – Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)

Vacancies: 25 posts (UR-04, EWS-09, OBC-04, SC-03, ST-05).
Pay Scale: Level-10 in the Pay Matrix as per 7th CPC.
Upper Age Limit: 35 years for UR/EWS, 38 years for OBC, and 40 years for SC/ST.
Essential Qualifications:
- A Bachelor’s degree in Physics, Mathematics, Aircraft Maintenance, or an Engineering Degree in Aeronautical, Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics, or Telecommunication.
- A valid Aircraft Maintenance Engineer’s (AME) License (Category B1 or B2) issued by the DGCA. Note: Candidates holding an Aeronautical Engineering degree can be considered without the AME license.
- Minimum of 3 years of aircraft maintenance experience on an operating aircraft in a DGCA-approved organization.

2. Deputy Controller of Explosives – Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO)

Vacancies: 44 posts (UR-16, EWS-03, OBC-13, SC-07, ST-05).
Pay Scale: Level-10 in the Pay Matrix as per 7th CPC.
Upper Age Limit: 35 years for UR/EWS, 38 years for OBC, and 40 years for SC/ST.
Essential Qualifications:
- Degree in Chemical Engineering/Technology OR a Master’s Degree in Chemistry.
- 3 years’ experience in chemical works, or in the manufacturing and handling of explosives, compressed gases, or petroleum refining.

3. Manager – Mail Motor Service (Department of Posts)

Vacancies: 08 posts (UR-06, OBC-01, ST-01).
Pay Scale: Level-10 in the Pay Matrix as per 7th CPC.
Upper Age Limit: 35 years for UR, 38 years for OBC, and 40 years for ST.
Essential Qualifications:
- BE/B.Tech in Mechanical or Automobile Engineering.
- 3 years’ experience in the operation of Motor Transport Traffic within a Government, Semi-Government, PSU, or stock-exchange-listed commercial organization.

4. Junior Technical Officer (JTO) Positions

Directorate of Sugar & Vegetable Oils: 05 vacancies (UR-03, EWS-01, OBC-01). Pay Level-07. Requires a B.Tech/BE in Oil Technology or a B.Sc. with a Post-Graduate Diploma in Sugar Technology, plus 1 year of industrial experience.
National Sugar Institute, Kanpur (Chemical Engineering): 01 vacancy (UR-01). Pay Level-10. Requires a Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering alongside 3 years of relevant research, practical, or teaching experience.

5. Scientist-B Positions (Indian Meteorological Department)

UPSC is recruiting heavily for specialized technical tracks within the Ministry of Earth Sciences:

Atmospheric Sciences: 07 vacancies (Pay Level-10). Requires a Master’s Degree in Engineering/Technology in Atmospheric Sciences, Ocean Science, Hydrology, or Radar & Microwave Engineering.
General Meteorology: 30 vacancies (Pay Level-10). Requires a Master’s Degree in Mathematics, Physics, Meteorology, or Atmospheric Physics.
Instrumentation: 09 vacancies (Pay Level-10). Requires a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering/Technology in Electronics & Communication, Mechanical, IT, Instrumentation, Mechatronics, Electrical, or Computer Science.

6. Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Vacancies

Multiple positions are open within the Office of the Development Commissioner for Assistant Directors in the Indian Enterprise Development Service (IEDS) cadre:

Chemical Discipline: Grade-I (02 posts, Level-10) and Grade-II (03 posts, Level-07). Requires a Master’s in Chemistry/Industrial Chemistry or a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering/Technology.
Food Discipline: Grade-I (03 posts, Level-10) and Grade-II (04 posts, Level-07). Requires a B.Tech in Food Technology or a PG Diploma in Fruits Technology.
Hosiery Cadre: Grade-I (02 posts, Level-10) and Grade-II (04 posts, Level-07). Requires a Bachelor’s degree in Textile, Hosiery, or Knitting Technology.
Leather & Footwear / Metal Finishing: Multiple Grade-I and Grade-II operational vacancies are available under identical pay structures for respective technology graduates.

7. Exclusive Recruitment for the Union Territory of Ladakh

A subset of specialized administrative and technical posts is explicitly locked to individuals holding a valid Domicile Certificate from the UT of Ladakh:

Assistant Director / Registering Officer Antiquities: 01 vacancy (ST-01, Level-08). Master’s in History with a Degree/Diploma in Archaeology, Museology, or Archive Studies.
Driller (Geology and Mining Wing): 01 vacancy (ST-01, Level-10A). Requires a BE/B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering.
Tourist Officer: 01 vacancy (ST-01, Level-6F). Requires a Bachelor’s Degree in Hotel Management, Tourism Administration, or Travel & Hospitality Management.

General Eligibility, Concessions, and Relaxations

Citizenship Matrix

An applicant must be a citizen of India, a subject of Nepal or Bhutan, a Tibetan refugee who arrived prior to January 1, 1962, or a Person of Indian Origin (PIO) migrated from specified nations with permanent settlement intentions (contingent upon an official Government of India eligibility certificate).

Mandatory Age Concessions

The default age thresholds outlined per post are structural baselines for UR/EWS candidates, but they scale systematically based on reservations:

OBC Candidates: Upper age limits are extended by 3 years for posts reserved for them.
SC/ST Candidates: Upper age limits are extended by 5 years for posts reserved for them.
Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD): Eligible for an age relaxation of up to 10 years (accumulative up to 13 years for OBC and 15 years for SC/ST PwBD profiles), capped at an absolute ceiling of 56 years on the closing date.
Central Government Servants: Up to a 5-year relaxation for individuals with 3 years of continuous regular service in allied fields.

Nominal Application Fees

UPSC maintains highly subsidized fee layers for direct recruitment workflows:

General, OBC, and EWS Male Candidates: A nominal fee of Rs. 25/- (Rupees Twenty-Five only) is required.
Exempted Categories: All Female applicants, SC, ST, and PwBD candidates are completely exempted from payment.
Payment Methods: Major credit/debit networks (Visa, MasterCard, RuPay), UPI infrastructures, or net banking access portals are integrated directly at check-out.

Screening & Selection Methodology

Applicants should register knowing that basic qualification parameters are minimums; merely meeting them does not guarantee an interview spot.

Shortlisting Discretion: In the event of receiving large application volumes, the Commission explicitly reserves the right to restrict candidate pools via structural mechanisms. This includes choosing candidates based on higher educational benchmarks, counting extensive post-qualification experience metrics, prioritizing Desirable Qualifications (DQ), or executing a dedicated Recruitment Test (RT).

Interview Standards

Interviews are scored out of a maximum of 100 marks. To be deemed suitable for final selection panel recommendation, candidates must cross category cutoffs:

UR / EWS: 50 Marks minimum
OBC: 45 Marks minimum
SC / ST / PwBD: 40 Marks minimum

Where an automated Recruitment Test (RT) is authorized alongside interviews, matching suitability cuts across both separate filtering tiers is mandatory.

Step-by-Step Online Application Protocol

Eligible professionals must execute applications exclusively through the Online Recruitment Application (ORA) architecture:

Log on to the specialized sub-portal at https://upsconline.nic.in/ora/.
Create an account profile or utilize your existing Universal Registration Number (URN) framework. Note: Ensure your baseline URN credentials are accurately locked, as a one-time edit will not retroactively update forms already submitted.
Complete the Common Application Form (CAF) modules.
Live Image Capture Requirement: Aside from uploading standard digital image signatures and formal photos, candidates must undergo a live photo verification process through their system camera while executing the CAF submission.
Signature Matrix: Sign precisely three times (one beneath the other) using black ink on plain white paper, converting that field into a single legible PDF upload asset.
Upload supporting credentials (matriculation age proof, degrees, consolidated semester marks sheets, formal experience certificates signed by organizational heads detailing basic scale payouts) into their separate validation slots as PDF files.
Enter a standard government-issued Photo ID card profile (Aadhaar, PAN, Voter ID, Passport). UPSC highly encourages leveraging Aadhaar links to facilitate quick identity checks and on-site testing face authentication.
Submit the fee (if applicable) and print a copy of your completed application for your records. You do not need to mail physical copies to the commission.

Helpdesk & Direct Support channels

For queries, transaction rejections, or portal errors, candidates can contact the UPSC dedicated helpdesk framework via telephone at 011-24041001 or 011-40303444, or email technical details to upscsoap@nic.in between 10:00 AM and 5:30 PM on standard working days.

UPSC Recruitment 2026 – Important Links

Apply Online: Click here
Official Notification PDF: Click here