UPSC Recruitment 2026 Notification Out - Apply Online for 450 Drug Inspector, Assistant Engineer and More Posts

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the recruitment notification for 2026 inviting applications for approximately 450 vacancies across various technical and scientific positions including Drug Inspector, Assistant Engineer, and other specialist roles. UPSC is India's premier central recruiting agency conducting examinations for All India Services and Central Civil Services. This recruitment is conducted through the Combined Engineering Services Examination and other specialized competitive examinations. Selected candidates will be appointed to various central government departments, ministries, and organisations under the Government of India. The posts offer Grade A and Grade B level positions with attractive pay scales under the 7th Central Pay Commission along with comprehensive allowances and benefits.

Important Dates

Note: Exact dates will be updated once officially announced by UPSC

Vacancy Distribution (Typical / Indicative)

Vacancy distribution is indicative and subject to change as per government reservation policy. Post-wise breakdown will include Drug Inspector (150), Assistant Engineer (Civil - 100, Mechanical - 80, Electrical - 70), and other technical positions (50).

Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification

For Drug Inspector:

• Bachelor's degree in Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Sciences/Medicine with relevant subjects OR
• Bachelor's degree in Science with Chemistry as one subject along with two years' experience in drug control/testing laboratory

For Assistant Engineer (Civil):

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering OR equivalent from recognized university/institution

For Assistant Engineer (Mechanical/Electrical):

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Electrical Engineering respectively OR equivalent from recognized university/institution

General Requirements:

• Degree must be from AICTE/UGC recognized university
• Final year appearing candidates may apply subject to obtaining degree before document verification

Age Limit

Age will be calculated as on the last date of application submission

Nationality

Candidates must be either:

• A citizen of India, OR
• A subject of Nepal, OR
• A subject of Bhutan, OR
• A Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India, OR
• A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia and Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India

Categories other than Indian citizens require Certificate of Eligibility from Government of India

How to Apply Online

1. Visit the official UPSC website at www.upsc.gov.in or www.upsconline.nic.in
2. Click on the "Online Application" link under the recruitment notification for the respective posts
3. For new users, click on "Part I Registration" and complete the one-time registration by providing basic details (name, date of birth, email, mobile number)
4. Note down the Registration ID and Password received via email/SMS for future reference
5. Login using Registration ID and Password, then click on "Part II Registration"
6. Fill in all mandatory fields including personal details, educational qualifications, address, category, post preference, exam centre choice
7. Upload scanned copies of recent photograph (3.5 cm × 4.5 cm, 10-40 KB), signature (4 cm × 3 cm, 10-40 KB), and valid photo ID proof in JPG format
8. Preview the complete application form and verify all details carefully
9. Proceed to payment gateway and pay the application fee using Debit Card/Credit Card/Net Banking/UPI
10. After successful payment, submit the application form and take a printout for future reference
11. No need to send hard copy to UPSC unless specifically mentioned in the notification

Application Fees

Fee payment can be made online through SBI payment gateway. Fee once paid will not be refunded under any circumstances.

Selection Procedure

The selection process consists of the following stages:

1. Preliminary Examination: Computer-based objective type test consisting of two papers - General Studies & Engineering Aptitude (Paper I) and Engineering discipline-specific paper (Paper II). This is a screening test and marks are not counted for final merit. Candidates securing minimum qualifying marks are shortlisted for Mains examination.

1. Main Examination: Conventional (descriptive) type written examination comprising multiple papers covering core engineering subjects, general English, and technical knowledge specific to the post applied. Marks obtained in Mains are counted for final merit ranking.

1. Personality Test/Interview: Shortlisted candidates from Mains examination are called for interview/personality test conducted by UPSC Board. The interview tests the candidate's suitability for the post, general awareness, communication skills, and personality traits. Interview carries specific weightage in final merit.

1. Document Verification: Candidates provisionally selected after interview must appear for document verification where all original certificates related to age, educational qualifications, caste/category, disability certificate (if applicable), and experience certificates are verified.

1. Medical Examination: Finally selected candidates undergo comprehensive medical examination as per Government of India standards to ensure physical and mental fitness for the post. Medical unfitness may lead to cancellation of selection.

1. Final Merit List: Final selection is based on combined performance in Mains examination and Personality Test. Merit list is prepared category-wise and candidates are allocated posts based on rank and preference.

Examination Pattern

Preliminary Examination (Screening)

Negative Marking: 1/3rd mark (0.83 marks) deducted for each wrong answer in objective type questions.

Main Examination (Merit)

Total Marks for Merit: 1100 (900 Written + 200 Interview)

Note: All papers are compulsory. Candidates must secure minimum qualifying marks in each paper separately as well as in aggregate. No negative marking in descriptive papers.

Detailed Syllabus

General Studies & Engineering Aptitude

• Current events of national and international importance
• History of India and Indian National Movement
• Indian and World Geography - Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World
• Indian Polity and Governance - Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues
• Economic and Social Development - Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector initiatives
• General Science and Technology developments
• Engineering Aptitude: Numerical ability, Logical reasoning, Analytical ability
• Engineering Mathematics: Linear Algebra, Calculus, Differential Equations, Probability and Statistics

General English

• Comprehension of given passages
• Précis Writing
• Usage and Vocabulary
• Short Essays
• Grammar and Sentence Structure

Civil Engineering

• Structural Engineering: Theory of Structures, Concrete Technology, RCC Design, Steel Design
• Geotechnical Engineering: Soil Mechanics, Foundation Engineering
• Water Resources Engineering: Fluid Mechanics, Hydraulics, Hydrology, Irrigation Engineering
• Environmental Engineering: Water Supply, Wastewater Treatment, Solid Waste Management, Air Pollution
• Transportation Engineering: Highway Engineering, Traffic Engineering, Railway and Airport Engineering
• Surveying and Geomatics
• Construction Planning and Management

Mechanical Engineering

• Applied Mechanics and Design: Engineering Mechanics, Strength of Materials, Theory of Machines, Design of Machine Elements
• Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Sciences: Fluid Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer, IC Engines, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
• Materials, Manufacturing and Industrial Engineering: Engineering Materials, Casting, Forming, Joining, Machining, Metrology, CNC, Production Planning, Inventory Control

Electrical Engineering

• Electric Circuits and Fields: Circuit Theory, Electromagnetic Fields
• Electrical Machines: DC Machines, Transformers, AC Machines, Special Machines
• Power Systems: Power Generation, Transmission, Distribution, Protection, Switchgear
• Control Systems: Classical Control Theory, Modern Control Theory
• Electrical and Electronic Measurements: Measuring Instruments, Transducers
• Analog and Digital Electronics: Semiconductor Devices, Amplifiers, Operational Amplifiers, Digital Logic Circuits
• Power Electronics: Rectifiers, Inverters, Choppers, AC-AC Converters

Pharmaceutical Sciences (For Drug Inspector)

• Pharmaceutics: Physical Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Engineering, Dosage Forms
• Pharmaceutical Chemistry: Organic Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Analysis
• Pharmacology: General Pharmacology, Systemic Pharmacology, Toxicology
• Pharmacognosy: Plant Taxonomy, Phytochemistry, Herbal Drug Technology
• Drug Regulatory Affairs: Drugs and Cosmetics Act, Pharmaceutical Legislation
• Quality Assurance: GMP, Quality Control, Validation

Salary Structure (Typical / Indicative)

Additional Benefits:

• Medical facilities for self and dependents
• Leave Travel Concession (LTC)
• Children Education Allowance
• Pension benefits under National Pension Scheme (NPS)
• Group Insurance Scheme coverage
• Annual increment based on performance
• Performance Related Pay (PRP) for outstanding performers

Salary components vary based on posting location (X, Y, Z class cities) and actual DA rates as revised by Government of India from time to time.

Selected candidates start at Level 10 of the Pay Matrix and have excellent prospects for career advancement. Promotion to Senior positions (Level 11-12) typically occurs after 4-6 years based on performance appraisal and departmental examination. Further progression to Superintending Engineer/Deputy Drug Controller level (Level 13-14) is possible after 12-15 years of service through internal promotions and competitive departmental exams. Officers can reach apex positions like Chief Engineer/Drug Controller at Level 15-16 after 20-25 years with outstanding service records.

UPSC will release the admit cards for Preliminary Examination approximately 3-4 weeks before the exam date on its official website. Candidates must download the e-admit card by logging into their account using Registration ID and Password. No physical admit card will be sent by post. The admit card contains important details including candidate's name, photograph, exam centre address, reporting time, and examination instructions. Candidates must carry a printout of the admit card along with original valid photo ID proof (Aadhaar/Voter ID/Driving License/Passport) to the examination centre for verification.

UPSC declares results in multiple stages. Preliminary examination results are published within 6-8 weeks after the exam date, containing roll numbers of qualified candidates. Mains examination results are declared approximately 8-10 weeks after the Mains exam, listing candidates shortlisted for Personality Test. Final result with merit-wise roll numbers and cut-off marks is published 4-6 weeks after completion of all interviews. All results are published on UPSC's official website and candidates are individually informed via email/SMS. Detailed marks sheets are made available on the website after final result declaration.

Cut-off marks vary significantly based on post, category, and number of vacancies. For Preliminary examination, typical qualifying cut-offs range from 30-35% for SC/ST, 35-40% for OBC, and 40-45% for UR/EWS categories. For final merit in Mains + Interview combined, cut-offs are generally higher: SC/ST candidates typically need 45-50%, OBC candidates need 50-55%, and UR/EWS candidates require 55-60% aggregate marks. Cut-offs for technical posts like Assistant Engineer tend to be slightly lower than Drug Inspector posts due to difficulty level and competition. Previous year cut-offs serve only as reference as actual cut-offs depend on paper difficulty and candidate performance in that particular year.

Examination Centres

UPSC conducts examinations across major cities throughout India:

North: Delhi, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Lucknow, Dehradun, Jammu, Shimla, Aligarh, Allahabad

South: Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Visakhapatnam, Mysuru, Tirupati, Madurai

East: Kolkata, Patna, Ranchi, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, Agartala, Gangtok, Siliguri

West: Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Pune, Nagpur, Surat, Indore, Bhopal, Raipur, Vadodara

Northeast: Guwahati, Imphal, Shillong, Aizawl, Kohima, Itanagar, Dibrugarh

Central: Delhi, Lucknow, Bhopal, Indore, Raipur, Jabalpur

Candidates can choose up to three centre preferences. UPSC allots centres subject to availability and administrative feasibility. Remote location candidates may be accommodated at nearest available centre.