UPSC EPFO Eligibility 2026: Check AO/EO & APFC Age Limit and Qualification

Q: Ques: Is there a minimum age criterion under UPSC EPFO 2026 Eligibility?

Ans: The notification does not explicitly mention a minimum age requirement. However, candidates are expected to be at least 18 years old. Most applicants typically apply after completing graduation, which usually aligns with the expected age norms for the post.

Q: Ques: Can a degree obtained through distance education be considered valid under UPSC EPFO 2026 Eligibility?

Ans: Yes, a distance or correspondence degree is acceptable if it has been granted by a university or institution recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) or Government of India. The degree must meet the general standards for recognition.

Q: Ques: Is there a limit on the number of attempts under UPSC EPFO 2026 Eligibility?

Ans: No, there is no fixed limit on the number of attempts for the UPSC EPFO exam. Candidates can apply as many times as they wish, provided they fall within the eligible age range according to their respective category.

Q: Ques: Can engineering or law graduates apply as per UPSC EPFO 2026 Eligibility?

Ans: Yes, graduates from any discipline, including engineering, law, commerce, or science, are eligible to apply. There is no restriction on the subject of graduation, making the eligibility criteria open to a wide range of academic backgrounds.

Q: Ques: Does UPSC EPFO 2026 Eligibility require state-wise domicile?

Ans: No, there is no domicile or regional requirement under this recruitment. UPSC EPFO is a central-level recruitment, so candidates from any part of India can apply, regardless of their state of residence or domicile status.

Q: Ques: Are there any physical fitness requirements under UPSC EPFO 2026 Eligibility?

Ans: There is no specific physical standard or test mentioned in the eligibility criteria. However, candidates should be generally fit to perform the duties associated with the post and may be assessed during medical examination at the time of final selection.

Q: Ques: Can candidates avail multiple age relaxations under UPSC EPFO 2026 Eligibility?

Ans: Yes, candidates who fall under more than one eligible category can avail cumulative age relaxation. For example, a PWD candidate from the SC category is eligible for both disability and SC relaxations, and the total permissible relaxation is added accordingly.

Shilpa S

Dec 11, 2025

UPSC EPFO Eligibility consists of strict norms regarding the selection for AO/EO and APFC posts by evaluating the candidates on various parameters like age, nationality, and qualifications. Only those candidates who fully satisfy the eligibility criteria are shortlisted for UPSC EPFO 2026 exam. Aspiring candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field to apply for UPSC EPFO 2026. Maximum age to apply for EO/AO posts is 30 years, and 35 years for APFC Posts. Aspiring candidates are required to meet all the specified eligibility criteria; failure to do so will result in disqualification.

Table of Contents

UPSC EPFO 2026 Nationality Eligibility
UPSC EPFO 2026 Age Eligibility
UPSC EPFO 2026 Education Qualification
UPSC EPFO 2026 Eligibility FAQs

UPSC EPFO 2026 Nationality Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for UPSC EPFO 2026, candidates must fulfil the following Nationality Criteria:

The candidate must be a citizen of India, or
Subjects of Nepal or Bhutan, or
Tibetan refugees who settled permanently in India before 1 January 1962, or
Persons of Indian origin (PIO) who migrated permanently to India from specified countries: Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar (Burma), and select East African nations, as well as Vietnam

Note: Applicants from Nepal/Bhutan, Tibetan refugees, and PIO migrants must provide a Certificate of Eligibility issued by the Government of India.

UPSC EPFO 2026 Age Limit

UPSC EPFO Age Limit has been mentioned post-wise. As per the short UPSC EPFO 2026 Notification, age eligibility for UPSC EPFO 2026 are:

For the posts of AO/EO:

Category	Age
General/EWS	30 Years
OBC	33 years
SC/ST	35 years
PwBD	40 years

For the posts of APFC:

Category	Age
General/EWS	35 years
OBC	38 years
SC	40 years
PwBD	45 years

UPSC EPFO 2026 Education Qualification

To be eligible for UPSC EPFO 2026 Recruitment, a candidate must possess the following qualifications:

To be eligible to apply for UPSC EPFO 2026, candidates must have:

A Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline from a recognized university or institution.

For APFC, the following additional academic qualifications are considered desirable:

A diploma in Company Law, Labour Laws, or Public Administration.
Note: These are not compulsory but may provide an advantage to the candidate during shortlisting or interview processes.

Candidates applying for the UPSC EPFO 2026 examination must ensure that all eligibility conditions are strictly met. Having a bachelor's degree from a recognized university is essential for both EO/AO and APFC posts, with upper age limits of 30 and 35 years respectively, subject to category-wise relaxation. Nationality requirements must also be fulfilled, and candidates falling under special categories such as Tibetan refugees or persons of Indian origin must have a valid Certificate of Eligibility issued by the Government of India. Any deviation from the prescribed eligibility norms may lead to disqualification at any stage of the recruitment process.

Relevant Links
UPSC EPFO 2026 Vacancy	UPSC EPFO 2026 Salary
UPSC EPFO Mock Tests	UPSC EPFO APFC Question Papers

UPSC EPFO 2026 Eligibility FAQs

Ques: Is there a minimum age criterion under UPSC EPFO 2026 Eligibility?

Ans: The notification does not explicitly mention a minimum age requirement. However, candidates are expected to be at least 18 years old. Most applicants typically apply after completing graduation, which usually aligns with the expected age norms for the post.

Ques: Can a degree obtained through distance education be considered valid under UPSC EPFO 2026 Eligibility?

Ans: Yes, a distance or correspondence degree is acceptable if it has been granted by a university or institution recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) or Government of India. The degree must meet the general standards for recognition.

Ques: Is there a limit on the number of attempts under UPSC EPFO 2026 Eligibility?

Ans: No, there is no fixed limit on the number of attempts for the UPSC EPFO exam. Candidates can apply as many times as they wish, provided they fall within the eligible age range according to their respective category.

Ques: Can engineering or law graduates apply as per UPSC EPFO 2026 Eligibility?

Ans: Yes, graduates from any discipline, including engineering, law, commerce, or science, are eligible to apply. There is no restriction on the subject of graduation, making the eligibility criteria open to a wide range of academic backgrounds.

Ques: Does UPSC EPFO 2026 Eligibility require state-wise domicile?

Ans: No, there is no domicile or regional requirement under this recruitment. UPSC EPFO is a central-level recruitment, so candidates from any part of India can apply, regardless of their state of residence or domicile status.

Ques: Are there any physical fitness requirements under UPSC EPFO 2026 Eligibility?

Ans: There is no specific physical standard or test mentioned in the eligibility criteria. However, candidates should be generally fit to perform the duties associated with the post and may be assessed during medical examination at the time of final selection.

Ques: Can candidates avail multiple age relaxations under UPSC EPFO 2026 Eligibility?

Ans: Yes, candidates who fall under more than one eligible category can avail cumulative age relaxation. For example, a PWD candidate from the SC category is eligible for both disability and SC relaxations, and the total permissible relaxation is added accordingly.