The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released Advertisement No. 12/2026 inviting online applications for 13 posts by Selection across four Central Government and GNCTD organisations. The four posts are: Junior Technical Officer (Sugar Technology), National Sugar Institute, Kanpur; Assistant Legislative Counsel (Grade IV of Indian Legal Service), Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice, New Delhi; Law Officer, Land and Building Department, Government of NCT of Delhi; and Specialist Grade II (Junior Scale) – Cardiology, New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC). Online applications open on 26 September 2026 and close on 16 October 2026 at 6:00 PM (1800 hrs) at upsconline.nic.in. The application fee is Rs. 25. Women, SC, ST and PwBD candidates are exempt from the fee.
Important Note: Four things every applicant must know before applying. First, applications open on 26 September 2026 – that is today. Candidates can start applying from today itself. Second, no correction, alteration or withdrawal of any kind is allowed after final submission of the application. Review every field with absolute care before clicking Submit. Third, UPSC’s online application system has two compulsory registration steps before the post-specific form: Universal Registration (which generates a URN) and the Common Application Form (CAF). Candidates who have not registered earlier on the UPSC portal must complete both steps before filling the post-specific module. Fourth, the closing date of 16 October 2026 is the eligibility cut-off date for all conditions including age, qualification, experience and category.
UPSC Recruitment 2026 (Advt. 12/2026): Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Advertisement No. | 12/2026 |
| Total Vacancies | 13 |
| Recruitment Mode | By Selection (Interview, or RT/CRT + Interview) |
| Application Mode | Online only at upsconline.nic.in |
| Application Opens | 26 September 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 16 October 2026 at 6:00 PM (1800 hrs) |
| Eligibility Cut-off | 16 October 2026 (closing date) |
| Application Fee | Rs. 25 |
| Fee Exemption | Women / SC / ST / PwBD (all exempt) |
| Official Website | upsc.gov.in |
UPSC Recruitment 2026: Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Advertisement Date | 25 September 2026 |
| Online Application Opens | 26 September 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 16 October 2026 at 6:00 PM |
| Eligibility Cut-off Date | 16 October 2026 |
| Interview Date | To be intimated separately to shortlisted candidates |
UPSC Advt. 12/2026: Post-wise Vacancy Details
| Post | Organisation | Vacancies | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junior Technical Officer (Sugar Technology) | National Sugar Institute, Dept. of Food and Public Distribution, Kanpur | 01 | OBC-01 |
| Assistant Legislative Counsel (Grade IV, ILS) | Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice, New Delhi | 08 | UR-04, EWS-01, OBC-02, SC-01 |
| Law Officer | Land and Building Department, GNCTD, Delhi | 03 | UR-02, OBC-01 |
| Specialist Grade II (Junior Scale) – Cardiology | New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) | 01 | OBC-01 |
| Total | 13 |
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Male (UR/OBC/EWS) | Rs. 25 |
| Women (all categories) | Nil (exempt) |
| SC / ST | Nil (exempt) |
| PwBD | Nil (exempt) |
Fee once paid is non-refundable and cannot be adjusted for any other exam or selection. Applications without the prescribed fee (where applicable) will be summarily rejected.
UPSC Advt. 12/2026: Pay Scale
| Post | Pay Level (7th CPC) | Service/Group |
|---|---|---|
| JTO (Sugar Technology) | Level-10 | GCS Group A, Gazetted, Non-Ministerial |
| Assistant Legislative Counsel (Grade IV, ILS) | Level-11 | Group A Gazetted, Indian Legal Service |
| Law Officer | Level-07 | GCS Group B Gazetted, Non-Ministerial |
| Specialist Grade II (Cardiology) | Level-11 + NPA | Group A Gazetted, Non-Ministerial |
All posts are permanent. Probation: 1 year for JTO and Specialist Cardiology; 2 years for Assistant Legislative Counsel and Law Officer. For Specialist Cardiology, private practice is prohibited and Non-Practicing Allowance (NPA) is given instead.
UPSC Advt. 12/2026: Post-wise Age Limit (as on 16 October 2026)
| Post | Category | Maximum Age |
|---|---|---|
| JTO (Sugar Technology) | OBC | 38 years |
| Assistant Legislative Counsel | UR/EWS | 40 years |
| Assistant Legislative Counsel | OBC | 43 years |
| Assistant Legislative Counsel | SC | 45 years |
| Law Officer | UR | 30 years |
| Law Officer | OBC | 33 years |
| Specialist Grade II (Cardiology) | OBC | 48 years |
Age Relaxation (all posts)
- SC/ST: 5 years above UR limit for posts reserved for them
- OBC (NCL): 3 years above UR limit for posts reserved for them
- PwBD: 10 years above the applicable category limit (so SC/ST-PwBD: up to 15 years total; OBC-PwBD: up to 13 years total); maximum age on closing date must not exceed 56 years; disability must be 40% or more
- Ex-Servicemen: 5 years relaxation (subject to at least 6 months of continuous commissioned service)
- Central/UT Government servants: up to 5 years (10 years for SC/ST, 8 years for OBC for reserved posts), subject to 3 continuous years in an allied cadre
UPSC Advt. 12/2026: Post-wise Eligibility
1. Junior Technical Officer (Sugar Technology) – 01 Post (OBC)
Organisation: National Sugar Institute, Kanpur (Dept. of Food and Public Distribution)
Headquarters: Kanpur, UP (transferable anywhere in India)
Essential Qualification: Degree in Science or Engineering from a recognised University/Institute with Associateship in Sugar Technology, OR Post-graduate Diploma in Sugar Technology.
Essential Experience: 3 years’ teaching/research/advisory experience in Sugar Technology, OR 3 years’ practical experience in a sugar factory in a managerial capacity.
Desirable: M.Sc. (Chemistry) or M.Tech (Sugar Technology); experience in drafting/editing scientific and technological reports.
2. Assistant Legislative Counsel (Grade IV, ILS) – 08 Posts
Organisation: Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice, New Delhi
Service: Grade IV of Indian Legal Service
Essential Qualification: A Degree in Law from a recognised University or equivalent, plus one of the following:
- 7 or more years as a member of a State Judicial Service, OR
- 7 or more years in a superior post in a State’s legal department, OR
- 7 or more years as a Central Government servant with legal-affairs experience, OR
- A Master’s Degree in Law with 5 or more years of teaching/research experience in Law, OR
- A qualified legal practitioner of at least 30 years of age (7 or more years as advocate/pleader, or 5 or more years as a High Court attorney in Bombay/Calcutta, or a combined 5 or more years as attorney and advocate)
Desirable: Experience in legislative drafting.
3. Law Officer – 03 Posts
Organisation: Land and Building Department, Government of NCT of Delhi
Essential Qualification: Degree in Law from a recognised Institute/University.
Essential Experience: 2 years’ experience in legal work as a Legal Practitioner, OR 2 years’ legal-work experience in a Government office.
Note: For GNCTD posts, GNCTD’s own OBC reservation rules apply. OBC candidates must hold a valid GNCTD-recognised OBC certificate or one traceable to a GNCTD-issued family certificate for those settled in Delhi before 8 September 1993.
4. Specialist Grade II (Junior Scale) – Cardiology – 01 Post (OBC)
Organisation: New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC)
Essential Qualification: A recognised medical qualification under the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 (First/Second Schedule or Part-II of Third Schedule, other than a licentiate qualification).
Essential Post-graduate Degree: D.M. Cardiology or equivalent post-graduate degree in Cardiology.
Essential Experience: 3 years’ experience in Cardiology after obtaining the post-graduate degree.
Note: Private practice is prohibited. NPA (Non-Practicing Allowance) is provided in lieu.
UPSC Advt. 12/2026: Selection Process
Selection is by interview for posts with a small number of applications, or by a Recruitment Test (RT)/Combined Recruitment Test (CRT) followed by interview where a large number of applications is received.
| Stage | Details |
|---|---|
| Screening/Shortlisting | UPSC may shortlist based on higher desirable qualifications, higher relevant experience, or a Recruitment Test if needed |
| Recruitment Test (where held) | Objective/descriptive test at designated centres across India |
| Interview | By a duly constituted UPSC Selection Committee |
| Minimum suitability marks (Interview) | UR: 50/100 |
Where an RT precedes the interview, candidates must clear the minimum suitability level at both the RT and interview stages. RT centres include Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Chennai, Delhi, Guwahati, Jaipur, Jammu, Kochi, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, Port Blair, Ranchi and Visakhapatnam among others.
How to Apply for UPSC Recruitment 2026 (Advt. 12/2026)
- Visit the official UPSC online portal at upsconline.nic.in.
- Complete Universal Registration to get your URN (Universal Registration Number) – this is a one-time step for first-time users. Existing registered candidates can skip this.
- Fill in the Common Application Form (CAF) with personal details, photograph and signature (sign three times on white paper in black ink).
- Open the post-specific vacancy module for the post you are applying to.
- Fill all required details including educational qualification, experience, category and other eligibility information.
- Upload supporting documents separately against each claim (date of birth proof, category certificate, qualification, experience etc.) as individual PDFs. Do not upload pay slips, resumes, appointment/relieving letters or unsigned certificates.
- Pay the fee of Rs. 25 online via Visa/MasterCard/RuPay, UPI or net banking (Women/SC/ST/PwBD candidates are exempt).
- Review all entries carefully. No correction, alteration or withdrawal is allowed after final submission.
- Submit before 16 October 2026 at 6:00 PM.
- Take a printout of the submitted application. You need not send it by post but must bring it with originals if called for interview.
Documents Required
- Matriculation/10th certificate or mark sheet (for date of birth proof)
- Degree/Diploma/PG Degree certificate or provisional certificate with all mark sheets
- Equivalence order/letter if claiming a qualification as equivalent to the prescribed one
- Experience certificates in prescribed proforma from Head of Organisation, clearly stating dates, pay and nature of duties (part-time/daily-wage/guest-faculty experience is not counted)
- SC/ST/OBC caste certificate in the prescribed Central Government format; OBC candidates must also submit a non-creamy-layer declaration as on the closing date
- EWS certificate in prescribed format (for EWS posts)
- PwBD disability certificate from a duly constituted Medical Board (minimum 40% disability)
- Age relaxation documents as applicable (Ex-servicemen certificate, Government service certificate, etc.)
- Name-change documents (marriage/divorce/remarriage), if applicable
- Certified Hindi/English translation of any document in another language
Important Conditions
- Candidates already in regular Government service must inform their Head of Office/Department of this application. The application itself does not substitute for this requirement.
- Candidature is provisional at every stage. Mere fulfilment of minimum qualification/experience does not guarantee a call for interview.
- No correction or withdrawal is allowed after final submission.
- Mobile phones, smartwatches, Bluetooth devices, cameras, pen drives etc. are strictly banned in the interview hall.
- Face authentication and identity verification are mandatory at the interview venue.
- Canvassing in any form will result in disqualification.
- Outstation candidates called for UPSC interview are reimbursed travel expenses restricted to Second/Sleeper Class train fare, paid via bank transfer.
- For the Law Officer (GNCTD) post, GNCTD’s own OBC rules apply — a GNCTD-recognised OBC certificate or one traceable to a GNCTD-issued family certificate for those settled in Delhi before 8 September 1993 is required.
UPSC Recruitment 2026: Important Links
| Description | Link |
|---|---|
| Apply Online | Click Here |
| Official Notification PDF (Advt. No. 12/2026) | Click Here |
| UPSC Prescribed Certificate Formats | Click Here |
| UPSC Official Website | Click Here |
UPSC Recruitment 2026: FAQs
Q1. How many vacancies are there in UPSC Advertisement No. 12/2026?
A total of 13 vacancies across four posts: JTO Sugar Technology (1), Assistant Legislative Counsel Grade IV ILS (8), Law Officer GNCTD (3) and Specialist Grade II Cardiology NDMC (1).
Q2. When does the UPSC Advt. 12/2026 application window open and close?
Applications open on 26 September 2026 and close on 16 October 2026 at 6:00 PM (1800 hrs) at upsconline.nic.in.
Q3. What is the application fee for UPSC Advt. 12/2026?
Rs. 25 for male UR/OBC/EWS candidates. Women, SC, ST and PwBD candidates are completely exempt.
Q4. Can I correct my application after submitting it?
No. No correction, alteration or withdrawal is allowed after the final submission of the UPSC online application.
Q5. What is the pay scale for Assistant Legislative Counsel (Grade IV, ILS)?
Pay Level-11 (7th CPC) as a Group A Gazetted officer in the Indian Legal Service. Initial appointment is on probation for 2 years.
Q6. What experience is required for the Law Officer post?
Degree in Law plus 2 years’ experience in legal work as a Legal Practitioner, OR 2 years’ legal-work experience in a Government office.
Q7. Is private practice allowed for Specialist Grade II (Cardiology) at NDMC?
No. Private practice is prohibited. Non-Practicing Allowance (NPA) is provided instead.
Q8. What is the minimum qualification for the JTO (Sugar Technology) post?
A Degree in Science or Engineering with Associateship in Sugar Technology or a Post-graduate Diploma in Sugar Technology, plus 3 years of relevant teaching/research or practical managerial experience.
Q9. What is the selection process for UPSC Advt. 12/2026?
Selection is by interview, or by a Recruitment Test (RT)/Combined Recruitment Test (CRT) followed by interview, depending on the number of applications received.
Q10. Can candidates change their category after submission?
No. Category selection is final at the time of application. Requests to switch between reserved categories are not entertained.
Disclaimer
The information in this article is based on the official Advertisement No. 12/2026 published by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on upsc.gov.in on 25 September 2026. Candidates must read the complete official notification and prescribed certificate formats carefully before applying at upsconline.nic.in. UPSC reserves the right to change any aspect of the recruitment process as per its norms. JobShouter is not associated with UPSC. This article is for informational purposes only.
