UPSC Group A & B Recruitment 2026 – Eligibility, Salary & Selection Process

Application Status: CLOSED

UPSC Advertisement No. 08/2026 announced 48 vacancies across 13 different Group A and Group B post categories. The vacancies included medical teaching positions, scientific roles, legal posts and entomology-related jobs.

Applications opened on 11 July 2026 and closed at 6:00 PM on 31 July 2026. Although the application window has closed, this article provides a reference guide to the recruitment process, eligibility requirements, pay levels and other important conditions.

The recruitment covered more than medical posts. It also included opportunities for qualified soil scientists, lawyers, entomologists and professionals with experience in toxicology.

Last checked: 12 October 2026

UPSC Various Group A & B Recruitment 2026: Overview

This recruitment was different from an examination-based process such as the Civil Services Examination. It was advertised as recruitment by selection.

Under this process, UPSC can shortlist candidates using the details in their applications and invite eligible candidates for an interview. If the number of applications is large, the Commission may also conduct a Recruitment Test (RT) to help shortlist candidates.

The essential qualifications and experience requirements differed from one post to another. Meeting the minimum eligibility requirements did not automatically guarantee an interview call.

Detail	Information
Organisation	Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Advertisement No.	08/2026
Total post categories	13
Total vacancies	48
Recruitment method	Direct recruitment by selection
Application mode	Online
Application period	11 July 2026 to 31 July 2026, 6:00 PM
Eligibility date	Closing date: 31 July 2026
Application fee	₹25 for candidates who were not exempt
Current status	Closed

Important points to remember:

Eligibility was determined as of the closing date, not the date on which the application was submitted.
Candidature remained provisional at every stage.
Incorrect information or unsupported claims could lead to rejection and further action by UPSC.

About UPSC

The Union Public Service Commission is a constitutional body responsible for conducting examinations and recruitment for various central government services and posts.

Along with major competitive examinations, UPSC also recruits specialists directly for ministries and government departments through recruitment advertisements like No. 08/2026.

Recruitment may be conducted directly through selection rather than a common competitive examination.
The concerned ministry or department issues the appointment order after the selection process.
Canvassing in connection with recruitment is prohibited and may lead to disqualification.

Vacancy Details

Advertisement No. 08/2026 covered 48 vacancies across 13 post categories. The seven Specialist Grade III Assistant Professor categories accounted for 40 vacancies, making medical teaching positions the largest group in this recruitment.

The post-wise vacancy details are given below.

No.	Post	Ministry / Department	Vacancies	Reservation
1	Assistant Soil Chemist	Soil and Land Use Survey of India, Agriculture	2	UR-02 (one is PwBD)
2	Prosecutor	SFIO, Corporate Affairs	1	OBC-01
3	Specialist Gr. III Assistant Professor (Clinical Haematology)	Health & Family Welfare	9	UR-3, EWS-1, OBC-3, SC-1, ST-1
4	Specialist Gr. III Assistant Professor (Endocrinology)	Health & Family Welfare	10	UR-2, EWS-1, OBC-4, SC-2, ST-1
5	Specialist Gr. III Assistant Professor (Neonatology)	Health & Family Welfare	13	UR-4, EWS-2, OBC-4, SC-2, ST-1 (PwBD-2 inside)
6	Specialist Gr. III Assistant Professor (Nuclear Medicine)	Health & Family Welfare	3	UR-1, OBC-1, SC-1
7	Specialist Gr. III Assistant Professor (Pulmonary Medicine)	Health & Family Welfare	3	UR-1, EWS-1, OBC-1 (PwBD-1 inside)
8	Specialist Gr. III Assistant Professor (Paediatric Cardiology)	Health & Family Welfare	1	UR-1
9	Specialist Gr. III Assistant Professor (Surgical Gastroenterology)	Health & Family Welfare	1	OBC-1
10	Deputy Assistant Director (Entomology)	NCVBDC, Health & Family Welfare	2	UR-2
11	Entomologist (CCCO)	NCVBDC, Health & Family Welfare	1	UR-1
12	Junior Scientific Officer (Toxicology)	Central Forensic Science Laboratory, Home Affairs	1	UR-1, exclusively for PwBD
13	Superintendent (Legal)	Legislative Department, Law and Justice	1	UR-1

Important reservation notes:

The notification identifies the PwBD vacancies for Neonatology and Pulmonary Medicine as part of the respective totals and describes them as backlog vacancies.
The Junior Scientific Officer (Toxicology) vacancy is exclusively reserved for eligible Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD), subject to the notification’s conditions.
Other posts may also be identified as suitable for candidates with specified disabilities. Eligibility depends on the suitability details provided for each post.

Candidates should consult the original advertisement for the exact reservation and disability-suitability conditions applicable to an individual vacancy.

Important Dates

The application period has ended. The notification did not announce one common interview date for all the posts. Shortlisted candidates were to receive further information through the prescribed communication channels.

Event	Date
Applications opened	11 July 2026
Last date to apply	31 July 2026, 6:00 PM
Interview / Recruitment Test	To be communicated separately

Keep these points in mind:

The closing date was the relevant date for determining eligibility.
UPSC advised candidates to submit applications well before the deadline.
Shortlisted candidates were required to bring the application printout and relevant documents when called for an interview.

Pay Scale

The notification specifies the pay level under the 7th Central Pay Commission Pay Matrix. It does not provide one fixed take-home salary for every selected candidate.

The Specialist Grade III Assistant Professor posts carry Level 11 plus Non-Practising Allowance (NPA). Actual earnings depend on the applicable pay rules and allowances, so salary figures quoted elsewhere should be treated as estimates unless supported by the relevant official rules.

Post	Pay Level
Specialist Grade III Assistant Professor (all seven specialities)	Level 11 + NPA
Assistant Soil Chemist	Level 10
Deputy Assistant Director (Entomology)	Level 10
Entomologist (CCCO)	Level 10
Prosecutor	Level 8
Superintendent (Legal)	Level 8
Junior Scientific Officer (Toxicology)	Level 7

Additional points mentioned in the notification:

The Prosecutor post comes under the new pension scheme with effect from 1 January 2004, as stated in the notice.
UPSC may consider granting higher initial pay to candidates who perform exceptionally well in the interview, subject to the applicable conditions.

About the Posts

The duties vary considerably across these positions. Here is a brief overview of the work associated with each group of posts.

Assistant Soil Chemist

The work includes analysing soil and water samples, guiding laboratory staff, interpreting data to classify soil series and maintaining laboratory instruments.

The post is Group A Gazetted, with headquarters in New Delhi and centres at Noida, Kolkata, Nagpur, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Ranchi.

Prosecutor (SFIO)

The Prosecutor assists with filing prosecutions and complaints in cases investigated by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO). Duties also include coordinating with government counsels and maintaining records of court cases.

The post is Group B Gazetted, based in New Delhi, with all-India service liability.

Specialist Grade III Assistant Professor

These medical teaching positions involve teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students, guiding research and treating patients in the relevant speciality.

They are Group A posts in the Teaching Specialist Sub-cadre of the Central Health Service. The positions are based in Delhi, but officers may be posted anywhere in India.

Entomology posts

The duties include laboratory work relating to entomological and parasitological studies, mosquito larva identification, susceptibility studies and training technical staff.

Junior Scientific Officer (Toxicology)

The work includes examining crime-related cases, giving evidence in court, examining crime scenes, conducting research and providing training.

The headquarters is in New Delhi, with laboratories at Chandigarh, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Pune, Kamrup (Assam) and Bhopal.

Superintendent (Legal)

The role involves handling legislative proposals for drafting Bills and Ordinances, checking statutory rules and supervising a section.

Other service conditions:

The notification describes the advertised posts as permanent Group A or Group B Gazetted posts.
Probation is one year for the Specialist posts and Entomologist, and two years for most of the other posts.
Certain posts require two weeks of mandatory induction training to complete probation.

Eligibility Criteria

Each post has its own educational and experience requirements. UPSC treats the listed essential qualifications as minimum requirements, and candidates should not assume that a general degree or similar work experience will qualify them for every vacancy.

Post	Qualification	Experience
Assistant Soil Chemist	Master’s in Agriculture or Agricultural Chemistry with the specified specialisation in Soil Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry or Soil Science	3 years in soil and water analysis
Prosecutor	Graduation plus LLB, or a five-year integrated law degree	1 year for the LLB route or 2 years for the integrated degree route in the specified litigation, court-related or government law work
Specialist Grade III Assistant Professor	MBBS plus the accepted postgraduate or super-speciality qualification for the concerned speciality	Generally 3 years of teaching experience after the first postgraduate degree
Deputy Assistant Director (Entomology)	Master’s in Zoology with Entomology, or Master’s in Public Health Entomology	3 years in the specified teaching, research or control work relating to medical/public health entomology or vector-borne diseases
Entomologist (CCCO)	Master’s in Zoology with Entomology as one paper, or Master’s in Public Health Entomology	Experience requirements as specified in the notification
Junior Scientific Officer (Toxicology)	Master’s in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Pharmacy or Forensic Science, subject to the stated conditions	3 years in toxicology research and analytical work
Superintendent (Legal)	LLB	2 years in one of the specified legal roles or experience routes

Medical qualifications

For the Specialist Grade III Assistant Professor posts, the exact postgraduate qualification depends on the speciality. The notification lists the accepted qualification routes, which may include specified DM, DNB, MD and other postgraduate or super-speciality pathways.

Candidates should check the entry for their specific speciality rather than relying on the general description above. The notification also states that experience as a General Duty Medical Officer or Medical Officer is not counted for the teaching posts.

Other eligibility conditions

UPSC may relax qualifications for well-qualified candidates where the applicable rules permit it, with reasons recorded in writing.
For SC/ST candidates, experience requirements may be relaxed if sufficient eligible candidates are not available, subject to the specific post conditions. The Nuclear Medicine entry mentions SC candidates specifically.
Where suitable PwBD candidates are unavailable for designated vacancies, experience requirements may be relaxed by up to 50%, subject to the notification.

Citizenship

Candidates had to be Indian citizens or belong to one of the other eligible categories specified in the notification, including:

A subject of Nepal or Bhutan.
A Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1 January 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India.
A person of Indian origin who migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka or the specified East African countries, Zaire, Ethiopia or Vietnam.

The notification states that the relevant certificate of eligibility from the Government of India is required for the applicable categories.

Age Limit

The maximum age limit differs according to the post and reservation category. The following table summarises the limits stated in the notification.

Post	Maximum age stated
Assistant Soil Chemist	35 years (UR)
Prosecutor	33 years (OBC)
Specialist Grade III (Clinical Haematology, Endocrinology, Neonatology)	40 UR, 40 EWS, 43 OBC, 45 SC, 45 ST
Specialist Grade III (Nuclear Medicine)	40 UR, 43 OBC, 45 SC
Specialist Grade III (Pulmonary Medicine)	40 UR, 40 EWS, 43 OBC
Specialist Grade III (Paediatric Cardiology)	40 UR
Specialist Grade III (Surgical Gastroenterology)	43 OBC
Deputy Assistant Director / Entomologist	35 years (UR)
Junior Scientific Officer (Toxicology)	30 years (UR)
Superintendent (Legal)	30 years (UR)

Where a vacancy is reserved for a particular category, the age limit shown may apply specifically to that category. Candidates should confirm the relevant entry in the official advertisement.

Age relaxation rules

The notification includes the following relaxations, subject to its detailed conditions:

SC/ST candidates: Up to 5 years.
OBC candidates: Up to 3 years.
PwBD candidates with 40% or more disability: Up to 10 years. The stated combined relaxation may be up to 15 years for SC/ST PwBD candidates and 13 years for OBC PwBD candidates, subject to the applicable cap of 56 years.
Ex-servicemen: Up to 5 years, where the prescribed service conditions are met, including at least six months of continuous service after attestation.
Central/UT Government employees: Up to 5 years where the required three years of continuous service in a related post is met. The notification gives separate limits for SC/ST and OBC employees.

Where the notification provides a choice between certain PwBD and government-employee relaxations, the more beneficial applicable concession is used rather than automatically adding both. Candidates should verify the precise rules for their category and post.

Selection Process

The selection process depended on the number of applications and the Commission’s decision for the relevant post. UPSC could shortlist candidates directly for interviews or conduct a Recruitment Test where required.

The general process was:

Shortlisting based on the online application and the notified criteria.
A Recruitment Test, if UPSC decided to hold one.
An interview carrying 100 marks.
Final selection and appointment by the concerned ministry or department.

How shortlisting works

UPSC may consider factors such as desirable qualifications, higher educational qualifications, additional relevant experience or the timing and nature of experience when deciding whom to shortlist.

This is why candidates are advised to provide complete and accurate details of their qualifications and experience rather than mentioning only the minimum requirements.

The general instructions specify these minimum interview suitability marks:

Category	Minimum marks out of 100
UR	50
OBC	45
SC/ST/PwBD	40

These are minimum suitability marks, not guaranteed selection marks.

If a Recruitment Test is held, candidates must meet the applicable minimum standard at both the test and interview stages.
UPSC decides the minimum standard for a Recruitment Test as applicable to the particular recruitment.
Part-time, daily-wage and visiting/guest faculty experience is not counted for shortlisting under the stated conditions.

Application Fee

The application fee was ₹25. Some candidates were exempt under the notification.

Category	Fee
Women candidates of any community, SC, ST and PwBD candidates	Nil
Other candidates, including UR/OBC/EWS male candidates	₹25

The fee could be paid online using the payment methods listed in the advertisement, including Visa, MasterCard, RuPay, UPI or net banking.

Important conditions:

Applications requiring a fee but submitted without payment were liable to rejection.
The fee was non-refundable.
The fee could not be carried forward to another recruitment.

Documents Required

UPSC required supporting documents for claims made in the application. Candidates should keep the relevant documents organised and follow the prescribed formats.

The notification lists requirements including:

Document	Important detail
Date of birth proof	Class 10 certificate or mark sheet showing the date of birth
Degree or diploma	Certificate and relevant mark sheets; provisional documents where permitted
Experience certificate	Prescribed format showing duration, pay and nature of duties
Caste certificate	Prescribed format; applicable OBC non-creamy-layer documentation
Disability certificate	Issued by the appropriate Medical Board for PwBD claims
Photograph	Uploaded photograph and live photograph captured through the Common Application Form
Signature	Three signatures, one below the other, on plain white paper using black ink

Other instructions to remember:

Pay slips, resumes, appointment letters, relieving letters and unsigned experience certificates should not be submitted as substitutes for the prescribed experience certificate.
Documents in languages other than Hindi or English require the attested transcript specified in the instructions.
Candidates already in regular government service must submit the required declaration confirming that they informed their head of office in writing.
Candidates who changed their name after marriage or divorce may need supporting proof, such as a marriage certificate or affidavit.

Always follow the document instructions in the original advertisement for the relevant post.

Easily Missed Conditions

A few service conditions are particularly important for candidates considering these positions.

Defence service liability for Specialist posts

Selected doctors may be required to serve in a Defence Service post for at least four years, including training, under the conditions specified in the notification. The notification also sets limits relating to the time elapsed after appointment and the officer’s age.

Private practice restrictions

Private practice, including consultation and laboratory practice, is not permitted for the Specialist posts under the stated service conditions.

Appointment and probation

Although the Specialist vacancies are permanent posts, appointments are initially made on a temporary basis and confirmation follows the applicable probation conditions.

Other points to note:

Official correspondence is made through the specified email communication, so candidates should provide an accurate and regularly checked email address.
Withdrawal and correction after submission were not allowed under the stated application rules.
Requests to change category were not entertained.
Mobile phones and smartwatches are prohibited in examination and interview halls under the relevant instructions. Face authentication requirements may also apply.

Recruitment Test Centres

If UPSC conducted a Recruitment Test, the notification listed the following centres:

Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Chennai, Delhi, Dispur (Guwahati), Jaipur, Jammu, Kochi, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, Port Blair, Ranchi and Visakhapatnam.

Visakhapatnam is the listed centre in Andhra Pradesh or Telangana among these options; Hyderabad does not appear in this list.

Please note:

The centre list may be subject to changes announced by UPSC.
The list does not mean that a Recruitment Test was guaranteed for every post.
Interview candidates may receive a travel contribution equivalent to second-class mail railway fare, subject to the conditions in the notification. It does not necessarily cover the full travel cost.

How to Apply (When the Portal Was Open)

The application window for Advertisement No. 08/2026 is now closed. The following steps explain the process for reference and may help candidates prepare for future UPSC recruitment advertisements.

The portal process involved registration, a Common Application Form and a post-specific application module.

Create an account on the UPSC Online Recruitment Application portal and complete Universal Registration to obtain the URN.
Complete the Common Application Form with the required personal details, photograph, live photograph and signature.
Open the relevant post-specific application module, select the post and upload the required supporting documents.
Pay the fee if applicable, submit the application and keep a printout of the final form.

Each post receives a separate Application Number, while the URN remains the same. The application printout did not need to be sent to UPSC, but candidates called for an interview were required to bring it along with the original documents.

Preparation Tips

Since this was recruitment by selection rather than a guaranteed written examination, the application itself was an important part of the process.

Here are some useful lessons for candidates preparing for similar UPSC recruitment notices in the future:

Read the exact post requirements first. Do not assume that a qualification accepted for one post will be accepted for another.
Mention all relevant qualifications and experience. UPSC may consider higher qualifications or additional experience when shortlisting candidates.
Get experience certificates in the prescribed format. Make sure they clearly show the period of employment and the work performed.
Prepare for an interview in your own field. Review your work experience, technical knowledge and the duties of the post.
Be ready for a Recruitment Test if one is announced. Revise the core subjects relevant to your speciality or profession.
Organise documents early. Check certificates, mark sheets, category documents and experience records before the next application window opens.
Check your email regularly. Important communication about shortlisting or interviews may be sent electronically.
Use the official advertisement as your main reference. Recruitment details can differ significantly between posts and notifications.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Many application problems can be avoided by checking the form and documents carefully before submission.

Uploading a resume or pay slip instead of the required experience certificate.
Entering an incorrect date of birth, especially when the date cannot be changed after submission.
Providing an email address that is incorrect or rarely checked.
Applying for a post without the exact postgraduate or professional qualification required.
Claiming reservation or age relaxation without the correct supporting certificate.
Leaving out relevant qualifications or experience that may be considered during shortlisting.
Assuming that meeting the minimum eligibility criteria guarantees an interview call.

A careful application can help prevent avoidable errors, although it cannot guarantee shortlisting or selection.

Who Should Consider This Kind of Recruitment?

This type of recruitment is mainly relevant to experienced professionals who meet the exact educational and work-experience requirements in the advertisement.

Potentially suitable candidates include:

Specialist doctors with the required postgraduate or super-speciality qualifications and teaching experience.
Lawyers with the prescribed litigation, court-related or legal department experience.
Scientists with relevant laboratory, analytical or research experience.
Professionals qualified in soil science, entomology or vector-borne disease-related fields.
Candidates who meet the requirements and are willing to serve at the locations specified for the post.

Because each vacancy has its own conditions, candidates should review the relevant post entry before deciding whether to apply.

Important Links

Use the official UPSC websites to verify recruitment information.

UPSC Recruitment Advertisements: https://www.upsc.gov.in/recruitment/recruitment-advertisement
UPSC Online Recruitment Application portal: https://upsconline.nic.in/ora/
Certificate proformas: https://upsc.gov.in/recruitment/recruitment-performas

The notification listed the following helpline details for application-related assistance during the application window:

Phone: 011-24041001, 011-40303444
Email: upscsoap@nic.in
Working hours: 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM on working days during the application window

The application period has ended. For any subsequent updates, refer to the official UPSC website.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How many vacancies were announced?

UPSC Advertisement No. 08/2026 announced 48 vacancies across 13 post categories.

2. What was the last date to apply?

The last date was 31 July 2026 at 6:00 PM. Applications are now closed.

3. Was there a written examination for every post?

No. The notification allowed UPSC to shortlist candidates based on the stated criteria and conduct a Recruitment Test if required. A test was not guaranteed for every post.

4. What was the application fee?

The fee was ₹25 for candidates who were required to pay. Women, SC, ST and PwBD candidates were exempt under the notification.

5. Could candidates change their application after submission?

The notification stated that withdrawal and corrections were not allowed after submission. Candidates were therefore advised to check their information carefully before submitting the form.

6. Which Recruitment Test centre was listed in Andhra Pradesh or Telangana?

Visakhapatnam was listed among the possible centres. Hyderabad was not included in the listed centre options. A Recruitment Test was not guaranteed for every post.

7. Did meeting the minimum qualification guarantee an interview call?

No. UPSC could shortlist candidates using additional criteria or conduct a Recruitment Test where required. Meeting the essential qualification alone did not guarantee shortlisting.

8. Where can candidates check the original advertisement?

The original notification can be accessed through the official UPSC recruitment advertisement page. Candidates should check the advertisement for the exact qualifications, experience, reservation and service conditions for each post.

Conclusion

UPSC Advertisement No. 08/2026 covered a wide range of professional roles, from specialist medical teaching posts to scientific, legal and entomology positions. The application window closed on 31 July 2026, but the notification remains a useful reference for understanding this type of recruitment.

For future opportunities, start by checking the exact qualification and experience requirements, keep your supporting documents ready and follow the official notification rather than relying only on summaries.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. The application period has closed. Eligibility, reservation, age limits, experience requirements and service conditions differ by post. The official UPSC advertisement and any subsequent communication from the Commission take precedence over this summary. LCJP Job Hub is an independent website and is not affiliated with UPSC. This article does not guarantee shortlisting or selection.