UPSC EPFO Exam Pattern 2025: EO/AO & APFC Paper Pattern, Marks Distribution & Negative Marking

UPSC EPFO Exam Pattern 2026 

UPSC EPFO Exam Pattern 2026 has been released in the official notification on its website. The UPSC EPFO Exam Pattern 2026 PDF helps candidates understand the examination scheme. Candidates can understand the total number of questions, negative marking, and weightage of each stage of the UPSC EPFO exam. Experts recommend going through the syllabus and exam pattern of the EPFO exam before starting the preparation.

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UPSC EPFO EO/AO Exam Pattern 2026

• There will be 120 questions, and the format will be objective, with four choices for each question.
• All questions in the UPSC EPFO exam will have equal weightage.
• Candidates will be allotted 2 hours to solve the UPSC EPFO question paper.
• Candidates will have the choice to attempt questions in either Hindi or English.
• Candidates should avoid marking any option incorrectly in the EO/AO exam as there will be a negative marking of 1/3rd marks deducted for each wrong answer.
• For shortlisted candidates, there will be an interview worth 100 Marks

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UPSC EPFO APFC Exam Pattern 2026

• APFC Written Exam will consist of Multiple Choice Objective Type Questions.
• The exam duration will be 120 minutes.
• The exam will be conducted for 300 marks.
•  For each incorrect answer,1/3rd of the marks assigned to the question will be deducted

UPSC EPFO Marks Distribution & Marking Scheme

UPSC EPFO written exam carries 300 marks, consisting of 120 objective-type questions. Each question holds equal weightage, and candidates should answer carefully due to the negative marking rule. The interview stage adds another 100 marks, bringing the total to 400 marks in the final merit calculation. Understanding the marking breakdown is crucial for planning attempts, accuracy, and time management.

Negative Marking in UPSC EPFO

The UPSC EPFO exam follows a 1/3rd negative marking system. For every incorrect answer, one-third of the marks assigned to that question are deducted. No marks are deducted for questions left unattempted. This rule makes accuracy extremely important, and candidates should avoid random guessing. Focus on high-confidence attempts to maintain a strong score and avoid unnecessary penalties.

UPSC EPFO Syllabus 2026

UPSC EPFO Selection Process 2026 

The UPSC EPFO Selection Process to select suitable Enforcement Officers (EO) and Accounts Officers (AO) consists of two stages. The first stage is the written exam, a one-question paper with multiple-choice questions. The second stage is the interview, which will be conducted at the commission's official address.

UPSC EPFO Selection Process is as follows:

• Stage 1: Recruitment Test (RT) with 75% weightage in the final merit list.  
• Stage 2:  Interview with 25% weightage in UPSC EPFO result.

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