The Union Public Service Commission has invited online applications for direct recruitment to 16 posts under Advertisement No. 02/2026. The vacancies are spread across three different posts: Assistant Keeper in the Anthropological Survey of India under the Ministry of Culture, Senior Store Officer Grade-II in DRDO under the Ministry of Defence, and Livestock Officer in the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying. The online application window is open from 11 April 2026 to 1 May 2026.
This is not a single-post recruitment. Each post has its own pay level, reservation pattern, age limit, and qualification requirements. Assistant Keeper is a Level 7 post, while Senior Store Officer Grade-II and Livestock Officer are Level 10 posts, with Livestock Officer carrying Non-Practising Allowance as indicated in the published vacancy summary.
Candidates should read this recruitment carefully post by post before applying. The broad vacancy and date details are confirmed, but the exact wording of post-specific eligibility and experience conditions should always be cross-checked on the UPSC ORA portal before final submission, especially for experience certificates, category claims, and professional registration requirements.
UPSC Recruitment 2026 overview
UPSC has released a direct recruitment notice for 16 posts under Advertisement No. 02/2026. Applications are to be submitted online through the Online Recruitment Application portal from 11 April 2026 to 1 May 2026.
The recruitment includes three posts across three departments:
- Assistant Keeper in Anthropological Survey of India, Ministry of Culture
- Senior Store Officer Grade-II in DRDO, Ministry of Defence
- Livestock Officer in the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying
This is a specialist recruitment, so candidates should not assume one common eligibility rule for all posts. Qualification, experience, age limit, and reservation differ by post.
Vacancy breakup
The total number of vacancies notified in the published recruitment summary is 16.
| Post | Vacancies | Reservation breakup |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant Keeper | 1 | UR-01 |
| Senior Store Officer Grade-II | 7 | UR-05, OBC-01, SC-01, with 01 PwBD reservation within the post set |
| Livestock Officer | 8 | EWS-04, OBC-01, SC-02, ST-01 |
| Total | 16 | UR-06, EWS-04, OBC-02, SC-03, ST-01, PwBD-01 |
The PwBD reservation specifically shown in the vacancy summary is attached to Senior Store Officer Grade-II and is indicated for Blindness and Low Vision.
Important dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Recruitment summary published | 10 April 2026 |
| Online application start | 11 April 2026 |
| Last date to apply online | 1 May 2026 |
| Interview or recruitment test schedule | Not announced yet |
The closing date is also the crucial date for determining age and eligibility in UPSC direct recruitment cases unless the detailed advertisement states otherwise.
Post-wise eligibility
| Post | Educational requirement | Experience requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant Keeper | Master's degree in Anthropology and Diploma in Museology from a recognized university or institute | At least 1 year experience; museum specimen handling and preservation experience is treated as relevant and useful |
| Senior Store Officer Grade-II | Either a Master's degree in Economics, Commerce, Statistics, Business Studies, or Public Administration; or a Bachelor's degree in one of these subjects plus a diploma in Materials Management, Warehousing Management, Purchasing, Logistics, or Public Procurement | Either 2 years or 4 years relevant store keeping and stores accounts experience, depending on the qualification route used |
| Livestock Officer | Bachelor's degree in Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry and registration in the Veterinary Council of India or a State Veterinary Council | 3 years experience in cattle and livestock development, animal health, poultry, or meat and meat products in government, statutory, autonomous, or government-recognized institutions |
For Livestock Officer, a Master's degree in Veterinary Science or additional experience in the same field is treated as an added advantage in shortlisting. For Senior Store Officer Grade-II, candidates should match both the academic route and the linked experience route carefully before applying.
Age limit and pay level
| Post | Age limit shown in vacancy summary | Pay level |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant Keeper | 30 years for UR | Level 7 |
| Senior Store Officer Grade-II | 35 years for UR, 38 years for OBC, 40 years for SC, 45 years for PwBD | Level 10 |
| Livestock Officer | 35 years for EWS, 38 years for OBC, 40 years for SC and ST | Level 10 plus NPA |
Normal age relaxation in UPSC recruitment applies according to the category of the vacancy. Candidates should claim reservation or relaxation only if they can produce valid supporting certificates in the prescribed format for the relevant recruitment year.
Application fee
UPSC direct recruitment advertisements use a standard fee structure unless a specific advertisement says otherwise.
- Application fee: Rs. 25
- No fee for SC candidates
- No fee for ST candidates
- No fee for PwBD candidates
- No fee for women candidates of any category
Applicable candidates can usually pay the fee through SBI or online payment methods supported on the ORA portal. A separate application and fee are required for each post if a candidate applies for more than one post.
How to apply online
- Go to the UPSC Online Recruitment Application portal.
- Create your account if you are a new user.
- Complete universal registration and the common application details.
- Select the post you want to apply for under Advertisement No. 02/2026.
- Fill in qualification, category, and experience details exactly as supported by your documents.
- Upload photograph, signature, and required supporting certificates.
- Pay the fee if applicable.
- Review the form carefully and submit it.
- Download and save the final submitted application for future reference.
UPSC shortlisting is based heavily on what candidates declare in the online form and what documents they upload. Wrong claims on degree, experience, category, or registration can lead to rejection at scrutiny stage.
Selection process
UPSC direct recruitment posts are usually filled either by interview only or by recruitment test followed by interview, depending on the number of applications and the shortlisting method adopted for the post.
In direct recruitment cases, UPSC may shortlist candidates by applying one or more of the following filters:
- Higher educational qualifications than the minimum required
- Higher relevant experience than the minimum prescribed
- Desirable qualifications or added experience where stated
- A recruitment test when the application volume is high
Where a recruitment test is held, UPSC advertisements generally state that the test and interview carry a 75:25 weightage for final merit. UPSC also fixes minimum interview suitability marks category-wise, so merely being called for interview does not guarantee selection.
Documents to keep ready
- Class 10 certificate or marksheet for date of birth proof
- Degree and diploma certificates for the post applied for
- All relevant marksheets
- Experience certificates clearly showing role, period, and nature of work
- Category certificate for SC, ST, OBC, or EWS if applicable
- PwBD certificate if applicable
- Professional registration proof for Livestock Officer
- Photo identity document
- No Objection declaration if already in regular government service
Experience certificates are especially important in UPSC direct recruitment. The certificate should clearly establish that the experience is in the exact field required for the post. Vague employment letters often lead to rejection during scrutiny.
What is confirmed and what to recheck before submission
Confirmed from the published recruitment summary: total vacancies, post names, broad reservation breakup, application dates, and pay level references for the three posts.
Recheck on the ORA post page before final submission: exact wording of essential qualifications, the accepted format of experience certificates, PwBD suitability for the specific post, category certificate requirements, and any post-specific instructions added in the detailed advertisement.
This step matters because UPSC scrutiny is document-based. A candidate who appears broadly eligible can still be rejected if the uploaded documents do not support the precise qualification or experience wording for the post.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last date to apply for UPSC Recruitment 2026 for these 16 posts?
The last date to apply online is 1 May 2026.
How many vacancies are available in this UPSC recruitment?
There are 16 vacancies in total.
Which posts are included in UPSC Advertisement No. 02/2026?
The posts are Assistant Keeper, Senior Store Officer Grade-II, and Livestock Officer.
Is there an application fee for UPSC direct recruitment posts?
Yes. The standard UPSC direct recruitment fee is Rs. 25 for applicable candidates, while SC, ST, PwBD, and women candidates are exempt.
What is the basic qualification for the Livestock Officer post?
Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree in Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry and registration in the Veterinary Council of India or a State Veterinary Council, along with relevant experience.
How will candidates be selected for these UPSC posts?
Selection is usually through interview only or through a recruitment test followed by interview, depending on UPSC shortlisting and the number of applications received.
Can a candidate apply for more than one post in this recruitment?
Yes, but a separate application has to be submitted for each post, and the fee is payable separately where applicable.