Combined Section Officers (Grade-B) Limited Departmental Competitive Examination Recruitment 2026
Short Information: Combined Section Officers (Grade-B) LDCE 2026 is a limited departmental competitive examination released by the Union Public Service Commission. The exam will be held on 12th and 13th December 2026 for recruitment to multiple central government services. Candidates must submit their online application by 6 October 2026.
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Combined Section Officers (Grade-B) Limited Departmental Competitive Examination 2026 : Short Details
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- · Admin
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- Official Union Public Service Commission notification · tier 1
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- Verified
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Combined Section Officers (Grade-B) Limited Departmental Competitive Examination 2026 : Important Dates
| Notification Date | 16 September 2026 |
|---|---|
| Online Application Starts | 16 September 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 6 October 2026 (6:00 PM) |
| Last Date for Printed Copy Receipt | 23 October 2026 |
| Exam Date | 12 and 13 December 2026 |
| e-Admit Card Release | Last working day of the week before exam |
| Answer Key | Will Be Updated Here Soon |
| Result | Will Be Updated Here Soon |
Examination Centres
| Centre 1 | Chennai |
|---|---|
| Centre 2 | Delhi |
| Centre 3 | Kolkata |
| Centre 4 | Mumbai |
| Centre 5 | Nagpur |
About this recruitment
This examination is a limited departmental competitive examination, meaning it is open only to government employees already serving in specific cadres. The recruitment is for Section Officers' Grade positions across multiple central government services including the Central Secretariat Service, Indian Foreign Service (Branch B), Railway Board Secretariat Service, Intelligence Bureau, Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service, and the Employees' State Insurance Corporation. Successful candidates will be appointed to senior administrative positions in their respective departments or cadres.
Eligibility Criteria
This is a limited departmental competitive examination, which means only government employees already serving in the relevant cadres and grades are eligible to apply. Candidates must be employed in the feeder cadres or grades as specified by the Union Public Service Commission. Candidates must clearly indicate the category for which they are competing in their application. The exact educational qualifications and experience requirements are specified in the detailed rules published by the Department of Personnel and Training in the Gazette of India dated 16 September 2026.
What is the selection process?
- Objective type question papers with negative marking for wrong answers
- Representation window of 5 days available for candidates to challenge questions and provisional answer keys
- Final selection based on guidelines issued by Department of Personnel and Training
- Candidates must undergo face authentication at the examination venue
- Appointment subject to any judicial directives or judgements affecting the recruitment
How to apply online?
- Visit the official portal https://upsconline.nic.in
- Create an account and generate a Universal Registration Number (URN) if applying for the first time
- Fill the Common Application Form (CAF) with personal and educational details
- Complete the Examination Specific Module with category selection and centre preference
- Upload photograph (live capture required), signature (three times on white paper), and supporting documents
- Submit the online application form by 6 October 2026 at 6:00 PM
- Print the completed online application form
- Submit the printed copy through your Ministry or Department to the Cadre Controlling Authority by 23 October 2026
- The Cadre Controlling Authority will forward your application to the Commission
Documents required
- Aadhaar Card (recommended as ID document for verification)
- Photograph (clear, uploaded and live captured during form filling)
- Signature (three times on plain white paper with black ink)
- Date of birth proof
- Educational qualification certificates
- Service record and employment details
Combined Section Officers (Grade-B) Limited Departmental Competitive Examination 2026 : Vacancy Details
| Category | Service/Post |
|---|---|
| Category I | Section Officers' Grade of the Central Secretariat Service |
| Category II | Section Officers' 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 Grade-'I' in Employees' State Insurance Corporation |
| Note | Exact vacancy numbers to be finalized by Cadre Controlling Authorities |
Important instructions for candidates
Candidates must use a valid and active email ID during account creation as the Commission will use electronic mode for communication. No request for change of examination centre will be entertained after allocation. Candidates appearing at a venue other than the one indicated on their e-Admit Card will not be allowed to take the examination. Entry to the examination venue will be closed 30 minutes before the start of each session. Mobile phones, smartwatches, AI-enabled glasses, and any electronic communication devices are strictly prohibited, even if switched off. Face authentication is mandatory at the examination venue. Candidates should arrive well in advance for identity verification and frisking.
How to download the admit card?
- e-Admit Card will be issued on the last working day of the week preceding the examination
- Visit https://upsconline.nic.in to download your e-Admit Card
- No admit card will be sent by post
- Only candidates whose printed application was forwarded by the Cadre Controlling Authority will receive an e-Admit Card
- Keep your URN and Application Number ready for downloading the admit card
How to challenge the answer key?
After the examination, the Commission will provide an online representation portal for candidates to make representations on the questions asked and the provisional answer keys of the objective type question papers. The representation window is 5 days, starting from the 3rd day of the examination date until 6:00 PM of the 7th day. Candidates must login to https://upsconline.nic.in and submit their representations under the header 'Examinations > Representations on Question Paper & Provisional Answer Keys'. No representations will be accepted by email, post, hand delivery, or any other mode. No representation will be accepted after the 5-day window closes.
Some Useful Important Links
| Apply Online | Click Here |
|---|---|
| Official Website | Click Here |
| Helpline | Link Activate Soon |
| Download Official Notification | Click Here |
Helpdesk and support
The Commission has established a dedicated helpline to assist candidates during the application process. Candidates can contact the helpline at 011-24041001 or 011-40303444, or email [email protected]. The helpline will be operational from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM on all working days during the application window (16 September 2026 to 6 October 2026). The helpline can assist with application process issues, fee payment, document uploading, and examination details.
“The Online Application can be filled from 16.09.2026 to 06.10.2026 (till 06:00 P.M.).”
What is Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE)?
A limited departmental competitive examination is a recruitment process open only to government employees already serving in specific cadres or grades. It provides a pathway for departmental officers to be promoted or transferred to higher positions within the government service structure.
Combined Section Officers (Grade-B) Limited Departmental Competitive Examination 2026 : Important Question
Who can apply for this examination?
Only government employees already serving in the relevant cadres and grades specified by the Union Public Service Commission are eligible to apply for this limited departmental competitive examination.
What is the last date to submit the online application?
The last date to submit the online application is 6 October 2026 at 6:00 PM on the UPSC portal https://upsconline.nic.in.
When will the examination be held?
The examination will be held on 12 and 13 December 2026 at designated centres across India.
Can I change my examination centre after applying?
No, the Commission will not entertain any request for change of examination centre after the initial allocation.
What should I do if I find errors in the question paper or answer key?
You can submit representations on the questions and provisional answer keys through the online portal within 5 days from the 3rd day of the examination date until 6:00 PM of the 7th day by logging into https://upsconline.nic.in.
Can I bring my mobile phone to the examination venue?
No, mobile phones, smartwatches, AI-enabled glasses, and any electronic communication devices are strictly prohibited at the examination venue, even if switched off.
When will the e-Admit Card be issued?
The e-Admit Card will be issued on the last working day of the week preceding the examination and can be downloaded from https://upsconline.nic.in.
What is the Universal Registration Number (URN)?
The URN is a unique number generated when you register on the UPSC online application portal for the first time, and it remains constant for all future UPSC examinations.
How will the final selection be made?
Final selection will be based on the guidelines issued by the Department of Personnel and Training, subject to any judicial directives or judgements affecting the recruitment, and will consider performance in the objective type question papers with negative marking for wrong answers.
Every update verified against the official notification. Exam Notification writes every update from the issuing authority's own notification and links that document above; the official website remains the final authority.