UPSC Section Officers Stenographers LDCE 2026 Apply Online

The UPSC Section Officers and Stenographers LDCE 2026 notification has been released for eligible serving government employees. The online application process started on September 16, 2026, and the last date to apply is October 6, 2026, up to 6:00 PM. The examinations are scheduled for December 12 and 13, 2026.

UPSC Section Officers and Stenographers LDCE 2026

UPSC has notified two Limited Departmental Competitive Examinations through notices dated September 16, 2026. One is for Section Officers' Grade-B, while the other covers Stenographers' Grade-B/Grade-I for the 2022, 2023 and 2024 examination years.

The application window and examination dates are common to both notifications. However, eligibility and service-related conditions are governed by the rules applicable to the respective departmental examination.

UPSC LDCE 2026 Vacancy Details

For the Section Officers' Grade-B LDCE 2026, UPSC has listed six service categories. The notification states that the number of vacancies has not yet been finalized by the concerned Cadre Controlling Authorities, so vacancy numbers are not available at this stage.

The Stenographers' LDCE notification covers Grade-B/Grade-I examinations for the years 2022, 2023 and 2024. The available notification details do not provide a consolidated vacancy figure for these examinations.

UPSC Section Officers and Stenographers LDCE Eligibility 2026

The recruitment is not an open examination for all graduates. Both are Limited Departmental Competitive Examinations intended for eligible serving government employees under the applicable departmental rules.

The Section Officers' LDCE will be conducted according to the rules published by the Department of Personnel and Training in the Gazette of India dated September 16, 2026.

Applicants should check the complete rules for their service or cadre before submitting the application. The prescribed eligibility conditions cannot be relaxed, according to the notification.

UPSC LDCE 2026 Application Fee

The notification information available for the two examinations does not specify a fixed application fee amount. Applicants should check the Examination Specific Module on the UPSC online application portal for the applicable payment details before submitting the form.

No fee amount should be assumed until it is displayed in the applicable examination module.

UPSC Section Officers LDCE 2026 Exam Centres

The Section Officers' Grade-B examination will be conducted at five centres. Applicants should select their preferred centre while completing the application because the notification states that requests for changing the centre will not be entertained.

If a person appears at a venue different from the centre mentioned on the e-Admit Card, admission to the examination will not be allowed.

UPSC Section Officers LDCE 2026 Exam Pattern

The Section Officers' Grade-B LDCE contains objective-type question papers as well as descriptive papers. The notification specifically identifies Paper-II and Paper-III in its examination provisions.

Negative marking applies to wrong answers in the objective-type papers. The exact penalty should be checked in the detailed examination rules.

UPSC Section Officers and Stenographers LDCE 2026 Selection Process

For the Section Officers' examination, admission to the written examination and evaluation of service records remain provisional until the eligibility requirements are verified.

The selection process involves:

• Written examination
• Evaluation of service record
• Verification of prescribed eligibility
• Application of applicable departmental selection rules
• Final result based on the prescribed process

UPSC has also specified tie-breaking rules. If aggregate marks are equal, higher written marks are considered first, followed by marks in Paper-II and Paper-III together, then Paper-III marks, age and other provisions specified by the Commission.

How to Apply for UPSC Section Officers and Stenographers LDCE 2026

The UPSC LDCE apply online application process is available through the Commission's online application portal.

1. Visit upsconline.nic.in.
2. Complete Account Creation and Universal Registration.
3. Fill the Common Application Form.
4. Open the examination-specific form for the relevant LDCE.
5. Enter the required personal, service, and examination details.
6. Upload the photograph and required signature.
7. Provide supporting documents wherever required.
8. Complete the applicable fee/payment process shown on the portal.
9. Submit the application before October 6, 2026, at 6:00 PM.
10. For the Section Officers' LDCE, take a printout and submit it through the prescribed departmental channel.

For the Section Officers' examination, the printed application must reach UPSC through the prescribed channel by October 23, 2026.

UPSC Section Officers and Stenographers LDCE 2026 FAQs