UPSC SO / Steno LDCE
Union Public Service Commission
🏛️ UPSC
🇮🇳 National level
● Active
UPSC SO / Steno LDCE (Combined Section Officers' (Grade B) and Stenographers' (Grade B / Grade I) Limited Departmental Competitive Examination) is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission to recruit for: Section Officer (Grade B) in the Central Secretariat Service and allied cadres, and Stenographer (Grade B / Grade I) in the Central Secretariat Stenographers' Service. Selection is through Written Examination — Paper-I, Paper-II and Paper-III.
UPSC SO / Steno LDCE 2026 — Key Facts at a Glance
| Exam name | UPSC SO / Steno LDCE — Combined Section Officers' (Grade B) and Stenographers' (Grade B / Grade I) Limited Departmental Competitive Examination |
|---|---|
| Conducting body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Government of India |
| Latest cycle | SO LDCE 2025 with Stenographers LDCE 2019, 2020 and 2021 |
| Vacancies | Not fixed in advance — UPSC states in the notice that the number of vacancies to be filled in the various cadres is not determined at the notification stage |
| Posts | Section Officer (Grade B) in the Central Secretariat Service and allied cadres, and Stenographer (Grade B / Grade I) in the Central Secretariat Stenographers' Service |
| Qualification | Restricted to departmental candidates already serving in the relevant cadres. This is a limited departmental examination — it is not open to the general public. |
| Age limit | As prescribed in the Recruitment Rules for the cadre, applied on the crucial date in the notice |
| Number of attempts | As prescribed in the Recruitment Rules for the cadre. |
| Application fee | ₹200. SC, ST and PwBD candidates are exempted. |
| Selection stages | Written Examination — Paper-I, Paper-II and Paper-III |
| Total marks | As notified in the scheme of examination |
| Negative marking | As prescribed in the scheme of examination for the cycle. |
| Official website | upsc.gov.in |
UPSC SO / Steno LDCE (Combined Section Officers' (Grade B) and Stenographers' (Grade B / Grade I) Limited Departmental Competitive Examination) is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission to recruit for Section Officer (Grade B) in the Central Secretariat Service and allied cadres, and Stenographer (Grade B / Grade I) in the Central Secretariat Stenographers' Service. The SO LDCE 2025 with Stenographers LDCE 2019, 2020 and 2021 notification declares Not fixed in advance — UPSC states in the notice that the number of vacancies to be filled in the various cadres is not determined at the notification stage.
UPSC SO / Steno LDCE selection process
- Written Examination — Paper-I, Paper-II and Paper-III
UPSC SO / Steno LDCE exam pattern
| Paper | Subjects | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper-I | General Studies and Language | Mixed | As notified | As notified |
| Paper-II | Procedure and Practice — set separately for each cadre category | Descriptive | As notified | As notified |
| Paper-III | Noting, Drafting and Precis Writing | Descriptive | As notified | As notified |
Total marks
As notified in the scheme of examination.
Negative marking
As prescribed in the scheme of examination for the cycle.
UPSC does not normalise marks
This is the single most common misconception carried over from SSC. UPSC conducts each paper in one sitting with one question paper, so there are no shifts to equate and no normalisation formula. A published UPSC cut off is a raw mark you could actually have scored on the paper — which is why the figures are clean numbers rather than five-decimal scores.
What is next for UPSC SO / Steno LDCE
The examination is scheduled for 12 December 2026 in the UPSC Annual Programme.
💬 Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UPSC SO / Steno LDCE vacancy for SO LDCE 2025 with Stenographers LDCE 2019, 2020 and 2021?
Not fixed in advance — UPSC states in the notice that the number of vacancies to be filled in the various cadres is not determined at the notification stage. UPSC states in the notice that the number is liable to alteration.
What is the age limit for UPSC SO / Steno LDCE?
As prescribed in the Recruitment Rules for the cadre, applied on the crucial date in the notice. The upper limit is relaxed by 5 years for SC and ST, 3 years for OBC, and up to 10 years for PwBD candidates.
What qualification is required for UPSC SO / Steno LDCE?
Restricted to departmental candidates already serving in the relevant cadres. This is a limited departmental examination — it is not open to the general public.
How many attempts are allowed for UPSC SO / Steno LDCE?
As prescribed in the Recruitment Rules for the cadre.
What is the UPSC SO / Steno LDCE application fee?
₹200. SC, ST and PwBD candidates are exempted.
Is there negative marking in UPSC SO / Steno LDCE?
As prescribed in the scheme of examination for the cycle.
What is the UPSC SO / Steno LDCE selection process?
Selection is through Written Examination — Paper-I, Paper-II and Paper-III.
What are the total marks in UPSC SO / Steno LDCE?
As notified in the scheme of examination.
What is the UPSC SO / Steno LDCE salary?
Pay Level 8 of the 7th CPC Pay Matrix (₹47,600 basic) for Section Officer, plus Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance and Transport Allowance.
Does UPSC normalise marks in UPSC SO / Steno LDCE?
No. UPSC conducts each paper in a single sitting with one question paper, so there are no shifts to equate and no normalisation. Published cut offs are raw marks.
When does UPSC release the UPSC SO / Steno LDCE answer key?
Only after the final result for that cycle is declared, under the Commission's disclosure policy. There is no post-exam challenge window of the kind SSC runs.
Where do I download the UPSC SO / Steno LDCE admit card?
From upsc.gov.in. The e-Admit Card appears about two to three weeks before the examination and is not posted to candidates.
Do I need to register separately for UPSC SO / Steno LDCE?
No. UPSC issues a Universal Registration Number (URN) that is registered once in a lifetime and used for every UPSC examination. Only the examination-specific module is filled per exam.
What is next for UPSC SO / Steno LDCE?
The examination is scheduled for 12 December 2026 in the UPSC Annual Programme.