UPSC Section Officers and Stenographers LDCE Last Date 2026

UPSC Section Officers and Stenographers LDCE last date to apply is October 6, 2026. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will close the online application window for the Combined Section Officers' (Grade-B) LDCE 2026 and Combined Stenographers' (Grade-B/Grade-I) LDCE for 2022, 2023 and 2024 at 6:00 PM today. The application process started on September 16, 2026.

The examinations are meant for eligible serving government employees who meet the conditions given under the respective departmental rules. These are not open to the general public. Applicants should complete the online form before the deadline to avoid last-minute issues.

What is the UPSC LDCE 2026 last date to apply?

The UPSC LDCE 2026 last date is October 6, 2026, up to 6:00 PM. The same deadline applies to both the Section Officers' and Stenographers' LDCE applications.

The Section Officers' LDCE also has a separate deadline for sending the printed application through the proper channel. That copy must reach UPSC by October 23, 2026.

Applicants who are yet to complete the online form should not wait until the final few minutes. UPSC has provided the application process through its online application portal.

Which UPSC LDCE exams are covered in 2026?

UPSC has issued two examination notices under this recruitment. The first is for the Combined Section Officers' (Grade-B) LDCE 2026. The second covers the Combined Stenographers' (Grade-B/Grade-I) LDCE for 2022, 2023 and 2024.

For the Section Officers' examination, the notified services include:

• Central Secretariat Service
• Indian Foreign Service, Branch 'B'
• Railway Board Secretariat Service
• Intelligence Bureau
• Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service
• Employees' State Insurance Corporation

The number of vacancies has not been finalised by the concerned Cadre Controlling Authorities, according to the available recruitment details.

Who can apply for UPSC Section Officers and Stenographers LDCE?

The UPSC Section Officers and Stenographers LDCE is a departmental competitive examination. It is meant for eligible serving government employees covered under the relevant service and departmental rules.

The eligibility conditions are different from regular UPSC recruitment exams. Applicants should therefore check the applicable DoPT rules and the detailed examination notification before submitting the form.

The Section Officers' LDCE 2026 will be conducted at five centres:

UPSC has stated that requests for a change of examination centre will not be entertained.

How to apply for UPSC Section Officers and Stenographers LDCE 2026?

The online application has to be completed through the UPSC online application portal. Applicants need to complete the required registration modules before filling the examination-specific form.

The basic process is:

1. Visit the UPSC online application portal.
2. Complete account creation and Universal Registration.
3. Fill the Common Application Form.
4. Select the relevant Section Officers or Stenographers LDCE.
5. Complete the examination-specific application.
6. Upload the required photograph and signature.
7. Check all details before final submission.
8. Submit the application before 6:00 PM on October 6, 2026.
9. Section Officers' LDCE applicants should follow the instructions for sending the printed application through the proper channel by October 23.

UPSC's official examination notification lists the online application portal along with the notices for both examinations.

What is the UPSC LDCE 2026 application fee in INR?

The available examination notice information does not state a specific application fee amount in INR for these LDCE examinations. Applicants should check the examination-specific module on the UPSC application portal for any applicable payment instructions before submitting the form.

When will the UPSC Section Officers and Stenographers LDCE exam be held?

The UPSC Section Officers and Stenographers LDCE 2026 exam date is December 12 and 13, 2026. The UPSC examination calendar also lists the S.O./Steno (Grade-B/Grade-I) LDCE for December 12, 2026, with a duration of two days.

Applicants who successfully complete the process should keep checking the UPSC website for further updates related to the e-Admit Card, examination centre and other instructions.

UPSC Section Officers and Stenographers LDCE 2026 FAQs