UPSC EPFO Recruitment 2025: Comprehensive Guide to 230 APFC & EO/AO Vacancies
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has opened online applications for 230 permanent posts in the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) under Special Advertisement No. 52/2025. These include 156 Enforcement Officer/Accounts Officer (EO/AO) positions and 74 Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner (APFC) positions across India. The recruitment is among the most sought-after Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ opportunities for graduates aspiring to join the Ministry of Labour & Employment.
Recruitment Snapshot
Advertisement Number: 52/2025
Recruiting Body: Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Organization: Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO)
Total Vacancies: 230 posts
Application Window: 29 Jul – 18 Aug 2025
Application Fee: ₹25 (Gen/OBC/EWS men); Free for others
Exam Mode: Offline, OMR-based
Official Portals: upsc.gov.in & upsconline.nic.in
Detailed Vacancy Distribution
| Post | UR | SC | ST | OBC | EWS | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enforcement Officer/Accounts Officer (EO/AO) | 78 | 23 | 12 | 42 | 1 | 156 |
| Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner (APFC) | 32 | 7 | – | 28 | 7 | 74 |
| Grand Total | 110 | 30 | 12 | 70 | 8 | 230 |
Eligibility Criteria
Nationality
- Citizen of India OR
- Subject of Nepal/Bhutan OR
- Tibetan refugee settled in India before 1 Jan 1962 OR
- Person of Indian origin migrated from specified countries and permanently settled in India
Educational Qualification (As on 18 Aug 2025)
| Post | Essential Qualification | Desirable Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| EO/AO | Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from recognized university | Degree in Law/Management/Company Secretary/CA/CMA/MBA |
| APFC | Bachelor’s degree in any discipline | Diploma in Company Law/Labour Laws/Public Administration OR 2-year experience in administration/accounts/legal matters |
Age Limits & Relaxations
| Category | EO/AO Upper Age | APFC Upper Age |
|---|---|---|
| General/EWS | 30 years | 35 years |
| OBC | 33 years | 38 years |
| SC/ST | 35 years | 40 years |
| PwBD-UR | 40 years | 45 years |
| PwBD-OBC | 43 years | 48 years |
| PwBD-SC/ST | 45 years | 50 years |
| Central Govt/EPFO Employees & Ex-Servicemen | +5 years beyond respective category limit | +5 years |
No minimum age is specified, but candidates must be at least 18 years old by convention.
Salary & Service Conditions
| Post | Pay Matrix Level | Basic Pay | Gross Approx. (incl. DA, HRA, TA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| EO/AO | Level 8 | ₹47,600 | ₹85,000/month (approx.) |
| APFC | Level 10 | ₹56,100 | ₹95,000+/month (approx.) |
Perks include DA, HRA, TA, NPS pension, medical benefits, LTC, and advances. Probation is 2 years.
Selection Process Flow
120 MCQs, 300 marks, 2 hours, negative marking 1/3
100 marks, tests domain knowledge and personality
Weighted 75% RT + 25% Interview
Post-selection formalities
Exam Pattern
| Parameter | EO/AO & APFC RT |
|---|---|
| Mode | Offline, OMR sheet |
| Language | Bilingual (Hindi & English), except English section |
| Questions | 120 |
| Marks | 300 (2.5 marks each) |
| Duration | 2 hours |
| Negative Marking | 0.83 mark/question |
| Sectional Timing | None |
Syllabus Blueprint
EO/AO Common Domains
- General English (comprehension, grammar, vocabulary)
- Indian Freedom Struggle
- Current Events & Developmental Issues
- Indian Polity & Economy
- General Accounting Principles
APFC Extra Domains
- Indian Culture, Heritage & Freedom Struggle
- Population, Development & Globalisation
- Auditing & Insurance
- Statistics (descriptive & inferential)
Detailed topic lists are provided in the Appendix section below.
Important Dates Timeline
| Event | Date & Time | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Short Notification | 22 Jul 2025 | Employment News |
| Detailed PDF Release | 26 Jul 2025 | Up on UPSC portal |
| Online Registration Opens | 29 Jul 2025 12:00 PM | Via upsconline.nic.in |
| Registration Closes | 18 Aug 2025 11:59 PM | No extension likely |
| RT Admit Card | 3 weeks before exam (est.) | Download only |
| Expected RT Date | Nov 2025 (last week) | Pen-&-paper |
| Result (RT) | Jan 2026 (tent.) | Qualifiers ≈ 6–8 times vacancies |
| Interview Schedule | Feb–Apr 2026 (tent.) | UPSC, New Delhi |
| Final Result | Jun 2026 (tent.) | Merit list on upsc.gov.in |
Step-by-Step Online Application Guide
1. One-Time Registration (Mandatory)
- Visit upsconline.nic.in → “OTR for Examinations”
- Enter Aadhaar / photo-ID details, mobile & email
- Upload recent photo (20–300 KB, JPG/JPEG) & specimen signature
- Verify OTPs; note the 16-digit OTR ID
2. Filling Part I (Post Selection & Basic Info)
- Log in with OTR ID → “Apply” under Advt. 52/2025
- Choose EO/AO, APFC or both
- Select preferred exam centres (limited slots; first-apply-first-allot)
3. Filling Part II (Fee, Documents & Declaration)
- Pay ₹25 using SBI branch cash / net-banking / card / UPI
- Upload Photo-ID PDF (20–300 KB)
- Agree to declaration → Final Submit → Download application PDF & fee receipt
4. Post-Submission Checklist
RT Preparation Strategy
Target Score
Aim ≥55% (raw 165/300) to stay above expected RT cut-offs (UR ≈ 50–55% last cycle).
Subject-wise Weight Heuristics
| Domain | Approx. MCQs | Key Sources |
|---|---|---|
| General English | 15–20 | Previous UPSC & SSC CGL English sets |
| Freedom Struggle & Modern History | 10–15 | Spectrum, NCERT Class 12 |
| Current Affairs & Development | 10–15 | PIB, Yojana, Govt schemes |
| Polity & Economy | 15–20 | Laxmikanth, Economic Survey |
| Accounting Principles | 10–12 | Tally basics, NCERT XI Accounts |
| Labour Laws & IR | 8–10 | Bare Acts, Sharma IR text |
| Gen. Science & Computer | 8–12 | Lucent GK, Basic IT notes |
| Quant & Mental Ability | 15–18 | R.S. Aggarwal, SSC maths sets |
| Social Security | 5–8 | EPF Act 1952, Code on SS 2020 |
APFC aspirants must additionally prepare statistics, auditing, insurance, culture and globalisation topics.
Interview Preparation
- Weightage 25%; panel of 4–5 UPSC Members, 20–30 min
- Focus on EPFO functions, labour‐market reforms, PF digitalisation, socio-economic schemes
- Maintain balanced answers between enforcement, social security & stakeholder facilitation
- Practice mock interviews with emphasis on logical reasoning, situational judgment and ethical integrity
Service Profile & Career Path
| Grade | Title | Typical Years | Pay Level | Functions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | EO/AO | 0–5 | L-8 | Compliance inspections, levy & recovery, grievance redress |
| Mid-1 | APFC | 0–7 | L-10 | Policy enforcement, regional supervision, quasi-judicial orders |
| Mid-2 | Regional PF Commissioner-II | 7–12 | L-11 | Regional administration, arbitration, fund investment oversight |
| Senior | RPFC-I | 12–18 | L-12 | Zone-level operations, litigation management, large-scale audits |
| Top | Addl. CPFC / CPFC | 18 + | L-14/L-16 | Pan-India policy, strategic planning, international social-security pacts |
Mandatory training at National Academy for EPFO, Hyderabad during probation; periodic deputations with Ministry or ILO possible.
Important Documents Checklist
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes. A single application lets you select one or both posts; eligibility criteria must be met for each.
No attempt limit. You may apply as long as you meet age & other conditions.
No, selection is based on aggregate score; however, ensure balanced performance across domains.
Two years for both posts. Confirmation depends on satisfactory performance & training completion.
Yes. UPSC publishes RT scores and OMR sheets after final result for transparency, subject to RTI rules.
Appendix: Exhaustive Topic-Wise Syllabus
1. General English
- Synonyms/antonyms; error spotting; para-jumbles; cloze passages; idiom usage
2. Indian Freedom Struggle
- 1857 Revolt; INC phases; Gandhian mass movements; revolutionary activities; British reforms
3. Current Events & Developmental Issues
- Flagship schemes (PM-SHRI, PLI, NIP); G20-India outcomes; SDG targets; climate finance
4. Indian Polity & Economy
- Constitution salient features; federalism; FR & DPSP; budget process; monetary-fiscal interface
5. General Accounting Principles
- Double-entry; ledger & journal; cash vs accrual; trial balance; depreciation; basic ratios
6. Industrial Relations & Labour Laws
- Code on Wages 2020; ID Act 1947; EPF & MP Act 1952; ESI Act 1948; POSH Act 2013
7. General Science & Computer Applications
- Basic physics-chem-bio; digital literacy; MS Office; cybersecurity basics; emerging tech
8. Quantitative Aptitude & General Mental Ability
- Number systems; algebra; geometry; DI; syllogisms; coding-decoding; puzzles
9. Social Security in India
- Evolution of PF, pension & insurance schemes; Code on Social Security 2020; Atal Pension Yojana
Additional for APFC
- Indian culture & heritage arts; population studies; GNI vs GDP; auditing standards (SA 200-700); life & general insurance basics; descriptive & inferential statistics (mean, SD, correlation, regression, probability)
Final Checklist Before Submission
Stay updated via UPSC’s “What’s New” tab and EPFO’s recruitment page. Best wishes for your application and preparation journey toward a coveted career safeguarding the retirement security of India’s workforce.
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