Quick Facts: 194 Posts | Fee: ₹25 Only (Free for Women and SC/ST) | Apply: May 23 – June 12, 2026 | Website: upsc.gov.in
Most people associate UPSC with one exam — the Civil Services Examination that produces IAS and IPS officers. That exam gets the headlines, the coaching industry, the midnight study sessions, and the social media celebration posts.
But UPSC conducts dozens of other recruitments every year. Quieter ones. Less crowded ones. Ones where the application fee is ₹25 — not ₹1,000, not ₹500 — just twenty-five rupees. Ones where engineers, scientists, archaeologists, meteorologists, and language specialists get a direct path into central government service without spending years preparing for the Civil Services.
This is one of those recruitments.
UPSC has released a notification for 194 Group A and Group B vacancies across ten central government ministries and departments. The posts range from Airworthiness Officers regulating aircraft safety to Scientists studying atmospheric conditions, from Archaeological Engineers preserving India’s ancient monuments to Mining Safety officers protecting workers underground.
Applications close on June 12, 2026 at 6:00 PM. That hard cutoff — with a specific time, not just a date — is worth noting. UPSC does not extend deadlines.
Why This Recruitment Is Different From What You Are Probably Thinking
If you came here expecting another SSC or state PSC recruitment guide, this one works differently in three important ways.
First, the fee structure is unusual. General, OBC, and EWS male candidates pay ₹25. That is it. All female candidates regardless of category pay nothing. SC, ST, and PwBD candidates pay nothing. In a recruitment landscape where fees routinely run from ₹500 to ₹2,000, UPSC’s approach here is notably accessible.
Second, the posts are highly specialized. This is not a generalist recruitment. Each of the 18 posts requires a specific technical or academic background — Mining Engineering for the Mines Safety role, PhD plus teaching experience for the Associate Professor post, Persian or Tibetan language mastery for the Lecturer roles. If your qualification matches a post, you are competing against a much smaller pool than a general recruitment.
Third, these are central government permanent positions. Not contractual, not state government, not PSU. Direct central government employment through UPSC — with 7th Pay Commission salaries, DA revisions twice a year, medical benefits, Leave Travel Concession, and a pension. The career security these posts offer is the gold standard of government employment in India.
The Ten Departments and What They Actually Do
Understanding the departments helps you understand what you would actually be working on if selected. This is not just background information — UPSC interview panels ask pointed questions about the department you are applying to, and candidates who have done their homework consistently outperform those who only studied their technical subject.
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) regulates civil aviation safety in India. Airworthiness Officers here literally determine whether aircraft are safe to fly. The work has direct public safety implications every time a plane takes off from an Indian airport.
Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) regulates the storage, transportation, and handling of explosives, petroleum products, and compressed gases across India. Deputy Controllers of Explosives here enforce the Explosives Act — work that prevents industrial accidents.
Department of Posts (India Post) is running one of the world’s largest postal networks while simultaneously transforming into a financial services organization through India Post Payments Bank. The Manager (Mail Motor Service) role handles the logistics backbone of this operation.
India Meteorological Department (IMD) does not just predict rain. It provides cyclone warnings that trigger evacuations, agricultural advisories that affect crop planning for millions of farmers, and aviation weather data for every flight in Indian airspace. Scientist B roles here are genuinely consequential.
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is responsible for preserving, maintaining, and studying over 3,600 centrally protected monuments including the Taj Mahal, Ajanta Caves, and Hampi. The Deputy Superintending Archaeological Engineer role involves structural conservation of these sites — work that literally keeps India’s heritage standing.
Ministry of Defence, MSME, Mines, Textiles, and Labour round out the participating departments with roles spanning industrial development, mine safety, and economic regulation.
All 18 Posts — Qualification Requirements at a Glance
This is the section that determines whether you are eligible. Read carefully against your own qualification.
Airworthiness Officer — Graduation in Physics, Mathematics, or Aircraft Maintenance, OR Engineering degree with AME (Aircraft Maintenance Engineer) license. Experience in aircraft maintenance preferred.
Deputy Controller of Explosives — Degree in Chemical Engineering, OR MSc in Chemistry. Knowledge of explosives or hazardous substances desirable.
Manager, Mail Motor Service — BE or BTech in Mechanical or Automobile Engineering. Transport or fleet management experience preferred.
Junior Technical Officer, Oil Technology — BTech or BE in Oil Technology, OR postgraduate diploma in Sugar Technology.
Junior Technical Officer, Chemical Engineering — Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering.
Scientific Officer — Postgraduate degree in Physics, OR Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Metallurgical Engineering.
Deputy Superintending Archaeological Engineer — Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. Work involves conservation of archaeological monuments.
Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering — BE or BTech followed by MTech and PhD as per UGC norms. Teaching or research experience required.
Lecturer, Persian Language — Postgraduate degree in Persian. B.Ed or teaching experience preferred.
Lecturer, Tibetan Language — Postgraduate degree in Tibetan. English or Hindi communication skills desirable.
Scientist B, Atmospheric Science — Postgraduate degree in Atmospheric Science, Meteorology, or Physics with atmospheric specialization.
Scientist B, General Meteorology — Postgraduate degree in Physics, Mathematics, Geophysics, or Meteorology.
Scientist B, Instrumentation — Degree in Electronics, Computer Science, or Mechanical Engineering.
Deputy Director, Civil Engineering — Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering plus postgraduate degree in relevant field. Minimum 3 to 5 years of public works or infrastructure experience.
Joint Assistant Director — BTech, BE, or BSc in relevant discipline. Related to industrial or economic development services.
Assistant Executive Engineer — Bachelor’s degree in Civil, Electrical, or Mechanical Engineering. Practical experience preferred.
Deputy Director of Mines Safety — Degree in Mining Engineering. Knowledge of mining safety regulations required.
Assistant Director Grade 1, IEDS Chemical — Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering or Chemistry.
For complete post-specific conditions including experience requirements and any special eligibility criteria, download the full notification from upsc.gov.in. The official document has details that secondary sources do not fully capture.
Salary — What Central Government Employment Actually Pays
These posts span Pay Levels 7 through 13 of the 7th Pay Commission. Here is the complete picture:
Pay Level 7 (Basic ₹44,900–₹1,42,400): Total monthly with DA, HRA, and TA approximately ₹55,000–₹70,000. Entry-level technical posts.
Pay Level 8 (Basic ₹47,600–₹1,51,100): Total monthly approximately ₹60,000–₹80,000.
Pay Level 10 (Basic ₹56,100–₹1,77,500): Total monthly approximately ₹70,000–₹95,000. Mid-level technical and scientific posts.
Pay Level 11 (Basic ₹67,700–₹2,08,700): Total monthly approximately ₹85,000–₹1,10,000.
Pay Level 12 (Basic ₹78,800–₹2,09,200): Total monthly approximately ₹1,00,000–₹1,30,000. Senior-level posts.
Pay Level 13 (Basic ₹1,23,100–₹2,15,900): Total monthly approximately ₹1,50,000–₹1,80,000. The Associate Professor and senior Deputy Director level posts.
Beyond the monthly salary, central government employment comes with medical benefits covering your entire family under CGHS (Central Government Health Scheme), Leave Travel Concession for travel with family twice in four years, government accommodation or HRA in lieu, and DA revisions every six months that consistently increase your take-home. At retirement, a pension under the National Pension System where the government contributes 14% of your basic pay.
For technical specialists — engineers, scientists, language experts — who might otherwise be working in the private sector or state government, the compensation gap with central government service has narrowed significantly since the 7th Pay Commission revisions.
Age Limits — Post Category Wise
UPSC has structured the age limits based on the level and experience requirements of each post rather than applying one uniform limit:
Junior level posts like Junior Technical Officer and Scientist B have a maximum age of 30 years. These are entry-level technical positions for recent graduates and postgraduates.
Middle level posts like Manager and Deputy Controller carry maximum ages of 35 to 40 years, reflecting the work experience requirements.
Senior posts like Associate Professor and Deputy Director have maximum ages of 40 to 48 years, acknowledging that these roles require candidates who have spent years building professional expertise.
Age relaxation follows standard central government rules: SC and ST get 5 years, OBC (NCL) gets 3 years, PwBD gets 10 years, and Central Government employees in service get up to 5 years. Check the specific age limit for your target post in the official notification — it varies by post and is not uniform across all 18 positions.
Selection Process — Written Exam Plus Interview
Selection for these posts follows a two or three stage process depending on the specific role.
Stage 1 — Written Examination: The format varies by post — some are objective MCQ-based, others are descriptive. The subjects covered generally include general knowledge, technical domain knowledge relevant to the post, and aptitude. Check your specific post’s exam pattern in the official notification since it is not uniform across all 18 vacancies.
Stage 2 — Interview or Personality Test: Conducted by the UPSC board. Unlike state PSC interviews that are sometimes perfunctory, UPSC interviews are substantive. The panel tests communication skills, technical depth, awareness of your department’s work and recent developments, ethical reasoning, and decision-making approach. Candidates who have genuinely engaged with their field — not just cleared exams — consistently perform better.
Stage 3 — Medical Examination: Required for safety-critical posts in DGCA and Mines Safety. Conducted by government-designated hospitals.
Final merit is based on combined written exam and interview marks. Negative marking, where applicable, is specified post-wise in the official notification.
One practical note on UPSC interviews: the panels often include domain experts for technical posts. An Airworthiness Officer interview may include a DGCA official who knows exactly how aircraft maintenance regulations work. A Scientist B interview at IMD may include a senior meteorologist. Prepare your technical subject as seriously as your general awareness.
How to Apply — The OTR System
UPSC applications go through the One Time Registration (OTR) system at upsc.gov.in.
If you have applied for any UPSC recruitment before — CAPF, CDS, NDA, or any departmental exam — you already have an OTR ID. Log in directly.
New applicants need to complete OTR first. Go to upsc.gov.in, click on the One Time Registration tab, and enter your mobile number, email ID, and basic personal details. OTR creates a permanent profile that you use for all future UPSC applications.
After OTR login, navigate to the active vacancies section, find the 194 Group A and Group B Vacancies 2026 link, and click Apply Online. Fill in educational details for your target post accurately — UPSC cross-checks these against certificates at every subsequent stage. Select your post. Upload documents within specified size limits. Pay the fee if applicable. Submit and download the confirmation page.
The June 12 deadline has a time component: 6:00 PM. Not end of day, not midnight — 6:00 PM. This is stricter than most recruitments. Do not plan to apply on June 12. Plan to apply by June 9 or 10.
Documents to Keep Ready
Aadhaar Card or Voter ID for identity. Educational certificates from 10th onwards through your highest qualification. Engineering degree or postgraduate certificate as applicable to your post. AME license for Airworthiness Officer applicants. Caste certificate if claiming relaxation. PwBD certificate if applicable. Recent passport-size photograph with white background. Clean signature scan on white paper. Active mobile number and email ID that you check regularly.
Scan everything before opening the application form. Scrambling for documents mid-application leads to rushed uploads and errors.
Eight Things Worth Knowing Before You Apply
This is not the IAS exam. Multiple candidates have asked this. UPSC conducts many recruitments beyond Civil Services. These 194 posts are technical and specialist Group A and B positions — entirely separate from IAS, IPS, or IFS.
₹25 is the actual fee. Not a typo. General, OBC, and EWS male candidates pay twenty-five rupees. Women and SC/ST/PwBD candidates pay nothing.
You can apply for multiple posts if your qualification meets the eligibility criteria for each post separately.
The application window is short. May 23 to June 12 is less than three weeks. Do not discover this recruitment on June 11.
The 6:00 PM deadline is real. The portal closes at exactly 6:00 PM on June 12. Applications submitted after that time are not accepted.
Interview preparation matters here. UPSC interviews carry real weightage and are conducted by panels with genuine domain knowledge. Start thinking about your department awareness from day one.
Check post-specific age limits. At 18 different posts across multiple pay levels, the age limits are not uniform. Verify your specific post before assuming you are eligible.
The official notification is essential reading. This article covers the broad picture. Post-specific eligibility conditions, experience requirements, exam patterns, and service conditions are in the notification PDF on upsc.gov.in. Download it.
Quick Reference Summary
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organization | Union Public Service Commission |
| Total Vacancies | 194 |
| Post Level | Group A and Group B |
| Application Opens | May 23, 2026 |
| Last Date | June 12, 2026 — 6:00 PM |
| Fee (General Male) | ₹25 only |
| Fee (Women / SC / ST / PwBD) | Free |
| Salary Range | ₹55,000–₹1,80,000/month |
| Selection | Written Exam + Interview |
| Employment Type | Permanent Central Government |
Official Website: upsc.gov.in
Disclaimer: Based on the official UPSC notification released May 23, 2026. Exam dates and post-specific details may be updated by UPSC. Always verify from upsc.gov.in before applying. This article is for informational purposes only with no affiliation to UPSC or the Government of India.
Ramavtar is a passionate career researcher dedicated to helping job seekers find the latest government job notifications across India. He covers SSC, Railway, Banking, Police, and State PSC recruitments to keep aspirants informed and ahead.