Examination Resource
Verified Preparation Material & Official Breakdown
100% Free Candidate Resource
UPSC EPFO APFC Syllabus 2026 — Official Appendix-I Subject-Wise Detailed Guide
Looking for Recruitment & Vacancy Details?
View APFC Recruitment Post
Check out 80 Vacancies, Apply Online, Salary & Age Limit details.
UPSC EPFO APFC Syllabus 2026 has been officially prescribed by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) under Special Advertisement No. 52/2026. The syllabus is crucial for candidates preparing for the Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner (APFC) Recruitment Test.
According to the official notification, the APFC Recruitment Test will be a 2-hour objective-type test, conducted in English and Hindi, with negative marking of one-third (1/3rd) mark for every wrong answer.
Important Note on Scope: The detailed subject list below follows the syllabus given in Appendix-I of the official UPSC notification. The notification provides broad subject areas rather than a chapter-by-chapter micro-syllabus. Therefore, the subtopics suggested under each subject are presented as a structured preparation framework.
🎙️ APFC Syllabus 2026 – Quick Audio Summary
Ready
Hindi Audio Guide • 9 Major Subject Areas Overview
UPSC EPFO APFC सिलेबस 2026 में कुल 9 मुख्य विषय शामिल हैं: जनरल इंग्लिश, भारतीय संस्कृति और स्वतंत्रता आंदोलन, भारतीय अर्थव्यवस्था, शासन और संविधान, सामान्य विज्ञान और कंप्यूटर, गणित और रीजनिंग, औद्योगिक संबंध और सामाजिक सुरक्षा, लेखांकन और बीमा, तथा समसामयिक विषय। परीक्षा 2 घंटे की वस्तुनिष्ठ प्रकार की होगी जिसमें एक-तिहाई ऋणात्मक अंकन लागू है।
📌 UPSC EPFO APFC Syllabus 2026 – Quick Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | UPSC EPFO APFC Recruitment Test (RT) |
| Post Name | Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner (APFC) |
| Recruitment Special Advt No. | Special Advertisement No. 52/2026 |
| Test Type | Objective Type (Multiple Choice Questions) |
| Duration | 2 Hours |
| Medium of Exam | English & Hindi (Bilingual) |
| Total RT Marks | 300 Marks |
| Interview Marks | 100 Marks |
| RT : Interview Weightage | 75 : 25 |
| Negative Marking | 1/3rd mark for each wrong answer |
| Official Source | Appendix-I of Advertisement No. 52/2026 |
📚 9 Major Subject Areas in Official APFC Syllabus
The official APFC syllabus contains 9 major areas explicitly listed in Appendix-I of the UPSC notification:
1. General English
2. Indian Culture & Freedom Movement
3. Indian Economy & Present Trends
4. Governance & Constitution
5. General Science & Computers
6. Maths, Statistics & Mental Ability
7. Industrial Relations & Social Security ⭐
8. Accountancy, Auditing & Insurance
9. Current Events (National & Intl)
9 Core Subject Modules — Detailed Breakdown for APFC Recruitment Test
1️⃣ General English
Official Scope:
“General English – To evaluate a candidate's understanding of English language & workman-like use of words.”
Key Preparation Topics
- Reading comprehension
- Vocabulary, Synonyms & Antonyms
- One-word substitution
- Idioms & Phrases
- Correct usage of words & Sentence improvement
- Error detection & Sentence completion
- Para-jumbles / Para-based questions
Grammar Essentials
- Parts of Speech
- Tenses & Articles
- Prepositions & Conjunctions
- Subject-Verb Agreement
- Active & Passive Voice
- Direct & Indirect Speech
🎯 Preparation Tip: Don't prepare English only through vocabulary lists. UPSC's wording indicates that the section tests practical understanding and usage, so contextual reading is key.
2️⃣ Indian Culture, Heritage & Freedom Movements
Indian Culture
- Classical & Folk Dances
- Indian Music & Literature
- Architecture & Sculpture
- Painting traditions
- Religious & cultural practices
- Cultural Institutions & Personalities
Indian Heritage
- Ancient, Medieval & Modern Heritage
- Historical Monuments
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India
- Important Archaeological Sites
Freedom Movement
- Revolt of 1857
- Formation of INC & Moderate/Extremist phases
- Swadeshi & Home Rule Movements
- Non-Cooperation, Civil Disobedience & Quit India
- Gandhian movements & Women's role
- Constitutional developments & British Acts
3️⃣ Developmental Issues & Present Trends in Indian Economy
Indian Economy Basics
- Economic Growth & Development
- National Income, GDP & GVA
- Inflation, Unemployment & Poverty
- Fiscal Deficit & Balance of Payments
Development Issues
- Poverty Alleviation & Inclusive Growth
- Employment Generation & Human Development
- Rural & Urban Development
- Infrastructure & MSME sector
Current Economic Trends
- Inflation & Fiscal Policy trends
- Monetary Policy & Banking Sector
- Digital Economy & Financial Inclusion
- Major Govt Economic Initiatives
4️⃣ Governance & Constitution of India
Indian Constitution
- Making of Constitution & Preamble
- Fundamental Rights, Duties & DPSP
- Union Executive (President, PM, Cabinet)
- Parliament (Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha)
- Judiciary (Supreme Court & High Courts)
- State Executive & Legislature
Governance & Bodies
- Election Commission, UPSC, CAG, Finance Commission
- NITI Aayog & Information Commission
- Transparency & Accountability
- E-Governance & Citizen-Centric Admin
- Public Service Delivery & Reforms
5️⃣ General Science & Basic Computer Applications
General Science
- Physics: Motion, Force, Energy, Light, Sound, Electricity
- Chemistry: Elements, Acids/Bases, Reactions, Everyday Chemistry
- Biology: Human Body, Diseases, Nutrition, Ecology & Biodiversity
Computer Applications
- Computer Fundamentals, Hardware & OS
- Internet, Email & Networking basics
- Cybersecurity & MS Office Applications
- Digital Payments & E-Governance Terminology
6️⃣ Elementary Mathematics, Statistics & Mental Ability
Mathematics
- Number System, HCF/LCM
- Percentage, Ratio & Proportion
- Average, Profit & Loss
- Simple & Compound Interest
- Time & Work, Speed & Distance
- Basic Algebra & Mensuration
Statistics
- Collection & Classification of Data
- Tables, Graphs & Charts
- Mean, Median & Mode
- Interpretation of Statistical Data
General Mental Ability
- Analogy, Series & Classification
- Coding-Decoding & Blood Relations
- Direction Sense & Ranking
- Syllogism & Logical Reasoning
8️⃣ Principles of Accountancy, Auditing & Insurance
Accountancy
- Accounting Principles & Concepts
- Journal, Ledger & Trial Balance
- Cash Book & Depreciation
- Final Accounts & Balance Sheet
Auditing
- Audit Objectives & Principles
- Internal Audit & Control
- Audit Evidence & Procedures
- Auditor's Responsibilities & Reports
Insurance
- Principles of Insurance
- Life & General Insurance
- Risk, Premium, Policy & Claims
- Insurance Regulations & Social Insurance
9️⃣ Current Events of National & International Importance
Give additional APFC-specific attention to: Labour + Employment + Social Security + Pension + EPFO + Government Schemes + Economy.
APFC Exam Pattern & Scheme — 300 Marks Objective Test, 1/3 Negative Marking
📊 UPSC EPFO APFC Exam Pattern 2026
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Duration | 2 Hours |
| Question Type | Objective MCQ |
| Medium | Hindi & English |
| Total Marks | 300 Marks |
| Negative Marking | 1/3 of marks assigned to the question |
| Unanswered Question | No Penalty |
| Interview Marks | 100 Marks |
| Weightage | 75% (RT) : 25% (Interview) |
Accuracy Note: The official notification specifies the 2-hour duration, 300 total marks, 1/3 negative marking, and bilingual medium. It does not state a fixed number of questions in Appendix-I.
🏆 Practical Subject Priority & Strategy
Priority 1 – APFC Core
Labour Laws + Industrial Relations + Social Security + EPFO Schemes
Priority 2 – Constitutional Foundation
Indian Polity + Constitution + Governance
Priority 3 – Economic Trends
Indian Economy + Current Affairs (Labour/Govt Schemes)
Priority 4 – General English
Comprehension, Grammar & Vocabulary
📋 APFC Syllabus Preparation Checklist
☐ General English
☐ Indian Culture
☐ Indian Heritage
☐ Freedom Movement
☐ Indian Economy
☐ Development Issues
☐ Economic Trends
☐ Constitution
☐ Governance
☐ General Science
☐ Computer Applications
☐ Elementary Maths
☐ Statistics
☐ General Mental Ability
☐ Industrial Relations
☐ Labour Codes
☐ Social Security
☐ Accountancy
☐ Auditing
☐ Insurance
☐ National Current Affairs
☐ International Affairs
🔗 Official UPSC Resources
| Resource Description | Action |
|---|---|
| 📄 Official UPSC Advt No. 52/2026 Notification PDF (with Appendix-I Syllabus) | Download Official PDF |
| 📝 UPSC Online Recruitment Application (ORA) Portal | Apply Online Portal |
| 🌐 Official UPSC Website | Visit upsc.gov.in |
❓ FAQs – UPSC EPFO APFC Syllabus 2026
The official syllabus covers 9 major areas: General English; Indian Culture, Heritage and Freedom Movements; Indian Economy; Governance and Constitution; General Science and Computer Applications; Mathematics, Statistics and Mental Ability; Industrial Relations, Labour Codes and Social Security; Accountancy, Auditing and Insurance; and Current Events.
The Recruitment Test is 2 hours long.
Yes. The official notification specifies that the test will be conducted in English and Hindi.
Yes. One-third (1/3rd) of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for every wrong answer. There is no penalty for unattempted questions.
The RT carries 300 marks, while the interview carries 100 marks. The stated weightage ratio is 75:25.
The syllabus is contained in Appendix-I of UPSC Special Advertisement No. 52/2026. Open the official UPSC notification PDF.