Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) — India’s premier central recruiting body responsible for Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ gazetted posts under the Government of India — has released Advertisement No. 07/2026 dated 25 June 2026 inviting online applications for 450 vacancies spread across 54 distinct posts through its Online Recruitment Application (ORA) portal. The single largest block is 186 Drug Inspector posts under the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare — among the largest dedicated Drug Inspector drives by UPSC in recent years. The remaining vacancies span Specialist Grade III Assistant Professor & Consultant posts across multiple medical specialities, Assistant Engineer (Civil), Aeronautical Officer, Legal Officer, Company Prosecutor, and several other technical, scientific, legal and administrative gazetted roles across central ministries. Online applications are open from 25 June 2026 to 17 July 2026 (18:00 hrs) at upsconline.nic.in. Selection for most posts is through shortlisting of applications, followed by a Recruitment Test (RT) where applicant volume is high, and a Personality Test (Interview). Pay ranges from Level-7 to Level-11 (7th CPC), with Non-Practising Allowance (NPA) applicable to medical posts.
Quick Facts
Total Vacancies
450
Distinct Posts
54
Last Date Apply
17 July 2026
Drug Inspector Posts
186
Pay Level
Lvl 7–11 (7th CPC)
Fee (Gen/OBC/EWS-M)
₹25
1. Recruitment Overview
Particulars
Details
Organisation
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) — Constitutional Body under Article 315–323, Government of India — Dholpur House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi – 110069
Advertisement No.
07/2026, dated 25 June 2026
Recruitment Type
Direct Recruitment — composite advertisement for multiple Gazetted Group ‘A’ & Group ‘B’ posts across central ministries/departments
Total Vacancies
450 posts across 54 distinct designations — subject to revision based on user department requirements
Largest Single Post
Drug Inspector — 186 posts (CDSCO, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare)
Shortlisting of Applications → Recruitment Test (RT), where applicable → Personality Test (Interview) → Document Verification → Medical Examination → Final Offer
Pay Scale
Level-7 to Level-11 (7th CPC Pay Matrix) depending on post — Medical/Specialist posts carry Non-Practising Allowance (NPA) in addition
Nature of Posts
Regular, pensionable (NPS) Government of India Gazetted posts — Group ‘A’ or Group ‘B’ as applicable per post
Probation Period
Standard 2-year probation as applicable to most UPSC direct recruitment posts, subject to satisfactory performance
Posting
As decided by the respective user Ministry/Department — All-India transfer liability applies for most posts
This advertisement is UPSC’s standard composite “Various Posts” advertisement, where dozens of unrelated Gazetted vacancies across different ministries are bundled into one notification and one application cycle. Candidates apply separately against the specific vacancy number of the post they are eligible for.
The 186 Drug Inspector vacancies stand out as this cycle’s headline opportunity — pharmacy graduates with the requisite State Pharmacy Council registration now have access to one of the largest single-year intakes into India’s central drug regulatory machinery in recent memory, materially improving competition ratios compared to typical state-level Drug Inspector drives.
3. Important Dates
Event
Date
Notification Released
25 June 2026
Online Application Start Date
25 June 2026
Last Date to Apply Online
17 July 2026, 18:00 Hrs
Last Date for Fee Payment
17 July 2026, 18:00 Hrs
⚠️ No extension of the application deadline has been announced. The ORA portal closes automatically at 18:00 Hrs on 17 July 2026 — do not wait for the last day.
4. Post-Wise Vacancy & Eligibility Summary
Indicative breakdown — verify exact vacancy number, qualification & age limit against the official PDF for your specific post
A. Pharmacy & Drug Regulation
Post
Vacancies
Qualification (Indicative)
Pay Level
Drug Inspector (CDSCO, Min. of Health & Family Welfare)
186
B.Pharm + registration with State Pharmacy Council
Level-7/8
B. Medical — Specialist Grade III/Assistant Professor/Consultant
Post/Speciality
Vacancies
Qualification (Indicative)
Pay Level
Specialist Gr. III Asst. Professor — Neurology
21
MBBS + MD/DNB (Neurology) + NMC registration
Level-11 + NPA
Specialist Gr. III Asst. Professor — Paediatrics
14
MBBS + MD/DNB (Paediatrics) + NMC registration
Level-11 + NPA
Specialist Gr. III Asst. Professor — Cardiology
9
MBBS + DM/DNB (Cardiology) + NMC registration
Level-11 + NPA
Specialist Gr. III Asst. Professor — Paediatric Surgery
Data Verification Notice: The post-wise figures above are compiled from publicly available recruitment-tracking summaries of Advt. No. 07/2026 and are presented as an indicative guide. Posts with very small vacancy counts (1–4) and certain consolidated categories have been grouped for readability. Candidates are strongly advised to download the official PDF from upsc.gov.in and confirm the precise vacancy number, exact qualification nomenclature, registration requirement, age limit, and pay level applicable to their specific target post — UPSC rejects applications for even minor qualification or vacancy-number mismatches.
5. Age Limit, Application Fee & Pay Structure
Reckoned as on 17 July 2026 — verify post-specific age limit in the official PDF
Category
Age Relaxation/Fee Concession
General/EWS (Male)
No age relaxation | Fee: ₹25
OBC
+3 years over upper age limit | Fee: ₹25 (Male)/Nil (Female)
SC/ST
+5 years over upper age limit | Fee: Nil
PwBD
+10 years over upper age limit | Fee: Nil
Women (All Categories)
Fee: Nil (Exempted) | Age relaxation as per category applicable
Ex-Servicemen
Age relaxation as per standard Central Government norms (service period + 3 years, subject to applicable rules)
Government Servants
Age relaxation as per standard departmental norms for the relevant post, where applicable
Pay Structure — 7th CPC Pay Matrix (Level-7 to Level-11)
Pay varies by post: most engineering, scientific and entry administrative posts fall in Level-7 to Level-8; mid-level administrative, legal and certain Specialist posts in Level-10; and senior Specialist Grade III Assistant Professor/Consultant medical posts in Level-11, with Non-Practising Allowance (NPA) added on top. Total emoluments also include DA, HRA, and Transport Allowance as per Central Government norms, with pension coverage under the National Pension System (NPS).
Note: Exact age limits differ meaningfully between post categories — engineering and administrative posts typically carry a narrower band (often 30–35 years for direct entry), while several Specialist Grade III medical posts allow a wider upper limit (commonly up to 40–45 years) to accommodate the longer PG/super-speciality training pipeline. Treat the age limit as post-specific, not advertisement-wide.
6. Eligibility — Key Qualification Notes
Post-specific — read carefully before choosing your vacancy number
Category
Requirement
Drug Inspector
B.Pharm (or equivalent as defined in the Drugs & Cosmetics Rules) along with valid registration with a State Pharmacy Council. Relevant experience in drug testing, manufacturing, or quality control is an added advantage for several categories.
Specialist Grade III/Assistant Professor (Medical)
MBBS plus a postgraduate degree (MD/MS/DM/MCh or NMC-recognised DNB equivalent) in the concerned speciality, with current registration with NMC or a State Medical Council.
Engineering Posts
Recognised B.E./B.Tech degree in the specified discipline (Civil, Mechanical, Aeronautical, or Marine as applicable); several technical and shipping-related posts additionally require a minimum period of relevant post-qualification experience.
Legal Posts
Bachelor’s Degree in Law (LL.B.) from a recognised university, with Company Prosecutor and Legal Officer roles additionally requiring a specified minimum period of relevant legal practice or prosecution experience.
Administrative & Allied Posts
Varies by post — ranging from a Bachelor’s degree with relevant administrative experience to a Master’s degree with specialised domain experience (e.g., Census operations, Disaster Management, Archaeology, Library Science).
General Eligibility Conditions (Apply Across All Posts)
Candidate must be a citizen of India as defined under the eligibility conditions of the respective post
All educational qualifications must be obtained from a recognised University/Institution/Board
The prescribed qualification and any required professional registration must be held as on the closing date of application (17 July 2026)
Candidates should refer to the exact qualification wording against each vacancy number in the official PDF, since similarly-titled posts in different departments can carry different registration or experience requirements
7. Selection Process
Online Application & Scrutiny — candidates apply online via the ORA portal against the specific vacancy number for their target post. UPSC scrutinises applications for basic eligibility — qualification, age, and category documents — before shortlisting.
Shortlisting of Eligible Candidates — from the eligible applicant pool, candidates are shortlisted for the next stage based on criteria fixed by UPSC in consultation with the user Ministry/Department for each post.
Recruitment Test (RT), Where Applicable — for posts attracting a very high volume of eligible applications, UPSC may conduct a qualifying Recruitment Test (RT) or Combined Recruitment Test (CRT) to narrow the field before the interview stage.
Personality Test (Interview) — shortlisted candidates (directly, or post-RT depending on the post) appear before a UPSC Interview Board for the Personality Test, which carries significant weight in final selection.
Document Verification & Medical Examination — candidates recommended after the interview undergo document verification against original certificates, followed by a medical fitness examination as prescribed for the post.
Final Offer & Allocation — final selection and offer of appointment is issued by the concerned user Ministry/Department, which also decides the specific posting location subject to the post’s transfer liability rules.
Key distinction: Unlike UPSC’s large-scale objective examinations such as Civil Services or Engineering Services, this composite “Various Posts” advertisement relies primarily on qualification-based shortlisting and interview rather than a common written test for every post — an RT is triggered only for individual posts where the eligible applicant count is disproportionately high relative to vacancies.
8. How to Apply Online
Visit the ORA Portal — go to upsconline.nic.in and navigate to the Online Recruitment Application section for Advt. No. 07/2026.
Complete One Time Registration (OTR) — first-time applicants must complete OTR with mobile number and e-mail verification before proceeding to the application form.
Select the Correct Vacancy Number — choose Advertisement No. 07/2026 and carefully select the exact vacancy number corresponding to your eligible post — this is the single most common source of rejection if entered incorrectly.
Fill Personal, Educational & Experience Details — enter all details accurately, ensuring qualification and registration numbers exactly match your certificates.
Upload Photo, Signature & Documents — upload scanned photograph and signature as per the specified size and format, along with any documents requested at the application stage.
Pay Application Fee & Submit — pay ₹25 (if applicable to your category) via net banking, debit/credit card, or UPI, then submit the form and download the confirmation receipt for your records.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Selecting the wrong vacancy number or post name while applying
Applying for a post without verifying the exact qualification nomenclature required
Uploading photo/signature in incorrect size or format
Missing professional registration certificate details (Pharmacy Council, NMC, Bar Council, etc.) where required
Waiting until the last day to apply — portal traffic typically surges close to the deadline
9. FAQs
#
Question
Answer
1
What is the last date to apply?
The online application window closes on 17 July 2026 at 18:00 Hrs. No extension has been announced; don’t wait until the last day given typical portal traffic surges.
2
Is there a common written exam for all 450 posts?
No. Selection is primarily through shortlisting of applications based on eligibility, followed by a Personality Test (Interview). A Recruitment Test (RT) is conducted only for specific posts with unusually high eligible applicant numbers relative to vacancies, and is typically qualifying in nature.
3
Can I apply for multiple posts if eligible for more than one?
Yes, but each post requires a separate online application against its own distinct vacancy number, along with separate fee payment where applicable. Eligibility for one post does not carry over to another.
4
What is the application fee, and who is exempted?
₹25, payable only by General, OBC, and EWS male candidates. All women candidates (across all categories) and SC, ST, and PwBD candidates are fully exempted.
5
Is the age limit the same for all 54 posts?
No. Age limit is fixed separately for each post — engineering and administrative posts typically carry a narrower upper limit than several Specialist Grade III medical posts, which allow for a longer postgraduate training timeline. Standard relaxations apply: OBC +3 years, SC/ST +5 years, PwBD +10 years, over the post-specific upper limit.
6
Can final-year students or those awaiting results apply?
Generally no. Candidates must possess the prescribed qualification and, where applicable, required professional registration as on the closing date of application (17 July 2026). Verify the exact cut-off condition for the specific post in the official notification.
7
What documents will I need at interview/document verification?
Printout of the submitted online application; original and self-attested copies of educational certificates and mark sheets; relevant professional registration certificates (State Pharmacy Council, NMC, Bar Council, DCI, CCIM/NCISM, or RCI as applicable); experience certificates where required; category certificate (SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwBD) if claiming reservation; valid photo ID proof.
8
Is this a permanent, pensionable government job?
Yes. These are regular Group ‘A’ or Group ‘B’ Gazetted posts under the Government of India, subject to a standard probation period (typically 2 years). Pension coverage is under the National Pension System (NPS).
9
Where will I be posted after selection?
Posting is decided by the concerned user Ministry/Department, not by UPSC. Drug Inspector postings fall under CDSCO’s regional/zonal offices, while Specialist medical posts are typically posted to central government hospitals/institutes. Most posts carry All-India transfer liability.
10
How is this different from a State PSC Drug Inspector recruitment?
Many State PSC Drug Inspector drives involve a written exam followed by an interview against a small number of vacancies (typically 20–50), drawing very high applicant-to-post ratios. This UPSC drive, with 186 Drug Inspector vacancies filled primarily through qualification-based shortlisting and interview, offers a meaningfully more favourable competition structure for many eligible pharmacy graduates.
All updates — Recruitment Test schedule, Admit Card, Interview call letters, and results — will be published exclusively on UPSC’s official website and the ORA candidate dashboard. UPSC does not communicate selection-related information through any other channel.
Important Warnings & Reminders
This is a 54-post composite advertisement — eligibility, age limit, and pay level differ post-to-post; always verify against the official PDF for your target vacancy number
Selecting the wrong vacancy number is a leading cause of rejection — double-check before final submission
Qualification and registration certificate nomenclature must exactly match what is specified in the notification for your chosen post
No documents are to be sent by post at the application stage — uploads are done entirely online
Beware of fraudulent agencies or individuals claiming to guarantee selection or assist for a fee — UPSC recruitment is conducted entirely through its own official channels
The Commission reserves the right to increase, decrease, or cancel vacancies for any post at its discretion
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