Examination Details
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) announced the Combined Section Officers' (Grade-‘B') Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE) for the year 2025.
Important Dates
- Notice Date: 17th September, 2025
- Last Date for Online Application Submission: 7th October, 2025 (till 06:00 PM)
- Online Application Period: 17th September, 2025 to 7th October, 2025 (till 6:00 p.m.)
- Last Date for Receipt of Printed Application Copy (through channel): 24th October, 2025
- Examination Dates: 13th & 14th December, 2025
Vacancies
The number of vacancies to be filled in various categories has not yet been finalized by the concerned cadre controlling authorities. No indication can be made at this stage.
Services Covered (Categories)
- Category I: Section Officers' Grade of the Central Secretariat Service
- Category II: Sections Officer Grade of the General Cadre of the Indian Foreign Service, Branch 'B'
- Category III: Section Officers' Grade of the Railway Board Secretariat Service
- Category VIII: Section Officers' Grade of the Intelligence Bureau
- Category X: Section Officers in Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service
- Category XI: Assistant Director/Section Officers/Manager Gr.I in Employees' State Insurance Corporation
Examination Centres
The examination will be held at CHENNAI, DELHI, KOLKATA, MUMBAI, NAGPUR, NOIDA (GAUTAM BUDHHA NAGAR), GHAZIABAD, FARIDABAD, and GURUGRAM. The centres and dates are subject to change at the discretion of the Commission.
Application Process
Candidates must apply online through the UPSC website: https://upsconline.nic.in.
Applicants are required to create an account, generate a Universal Registration Number (URN), and then complete all modules of the Common Application Form (CAF). The online application portal has four parts, with Account creation, Universal Registration, and Common Application Form common to all examinations. The fourth part is examination-specific.
Instructions for Online Application
- Photograph: The uploaded photograph should not be more than 10 days old from the start of the online application process. The candidate's face should occupy 3/4th of the space in the photograph.
- Photo ID: Candidates must have details of one Photo ID (Aadhar Card/Voter Card/PAN Card/Passport/Driving License/Any other photo ID Card issued by State/Central Government). This ID will be used for future references and must be carried during the examination.
- Email ID: Provide a valid and active E-Mail ID as the Commission may use electronic modes for communication.
- Printed Copy: Candidates must have a printed copy of the online application by the last date of submission (07.10.2025).
- Submission Channel: The complete printed copy of the application form must be submitted to the respective Ministry/Department, which will then send it to the concerned Cadre Controlling Authorities. These authorities will transmit the applications to the Commission after scrutiny of eligibility by 24.10.2025.
Admit Cards
e-Admit Cards for admitted candidates will be uploaded on the UPSC website (https://upsconline.nic.in) before the examination. No paper admit cards will be issued. Candidates must hold a downloaded e-admit card to be admitted.
Examination Day Guidelines
Candidates should reach the examination venue at least 30 minutes prior to the commencement of each session. No late entry will be allowed.
Online Question Paper Representation Portal (QPRep)
The Commission has introduced a 7-day window, starting from the day after the examination date until 6:00 p.m. on the 7th day, for candidates to submit representations regarding questions asked in the papers. Representations must be submitted through the "Online Question Paper Representation Portal (QPRep)" at https://upsconline.gov.in/miscellaneous/QPRep/. No representations via email/post/hand will be accepted, and no correspondence will be entertained after this window.
Helpline
A dedicated helpline (011-24041001) is available for candidates seeking clarification, guidance, or assistance during the application process. It will be operational from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM on all working days from 17.09.2025 to 07.10.2025.
General Information
- Admission to the examination is purely provisional, subject to satisfying eligibility conditions.
- Any judicial directive/judgement concerning recruitment/seniority may affect appointments for Category II (Section Officer Grade of the General Cadre of IFS 'B').
- The result for Category III (Section Officers' Grade of RBSS) for 2025 will be provisional, subject to the outcome of O.A. No.215/2022 and revision of the seniority list of Assistant Section Officers (ASOs) Grade of RBSS.
- No request for change of centre will be entertained.
- Candidates are not entitled to receive any Traveling Allowance from UPSC for attending the examination.
- All communications regarding applications should be addressed to the Under Secretary (E-VI), Union Public Service Commission, Dholpur House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi-110069, and must include specific particulars (Name of Examination, Month and Year of Examination, URN/Date of Birth/Roll No., Candidate's Name, Postal Address, Email ID). Communications lacking these details may not be attended to.
- Signatures across all application documents and correspondence must be identical.