If you are checking the UPSC Assistant Director Grade-II IEDS age limit 2026, the key upper-age rule in Advertisement No. 05/2026 is generally 30 years for the Assistant Director Grade-II posts in Chemical, Food, Hosiery, and Leather & Footwear under the Office of the Development Commissioner, Ministry of MSME. Category-specific relaxation can extend the permissible age, and the exact rule depends on the vacancy and category.
This guide explains the 2026 age limit, category-wise relaxation, vacancy numbers, qualifications, pay level, application dates, and the later combined recruitment-test update. The 2026 application window has already closed, but the information remains useful for candidates tracking the recruitment process and future IEDS notifications.
UPSC Assistant Director Grade-II IEDS Age Limit 2026: Quick Answer
| Post | Vacancies | Base upper age | Pay level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assistant Director Grade-II (Chemical) | 3 | 30 years for UR/EWS; 35 for ST | Level 7 |
| Assistant Director Grade-II (Food) | 4 | 30 years for UR; 33 OBC; 35 ST | Level 7 |
| Assistant Director Grade-II (Hosiery) | 4 | 30 years for UR; 33 OBC; 35 SC | Level 7 |
| Assistant Director Grade-II (Leather & Footwear) | 4 | 30 years for UR/EWS; 33 OBC; 35 ST | Level 7 |
The figures above come from UPSC Advertisement No. 05/2026 and its recruitment material. The post-wise age rule is more precise than simply saying “30 years maximum,” because reserved-category relaxations differ by vacancy. UPSC recruitment-test notices
What Is the Minimum Age?
The 2026 IEDS Grade-II recruitment does not use a separate lower-age threshold such as 18 or 21 years in the vacancy summary. The practical eligibility question is whether the applicant satisfies the prescribed qualification and does not exceed the applicable upper-age limit on the crucial date.
Age Limit for Chemical IEDS Grade-II
For Vacancy No. 26050520623, UPSC advertised 3 Assistant Director Grade-II (IEDS) posts in Chemical. The reservation position was UR-01, EWS-01 and ST-01. The stated upper age was 30 years for UR/EWS candidates and 35 years for the ST vacancy.
Age Limit for Food IEDS Grade-II
For Vacancy No. 26050522623, 4 Grade-II Food posts were advertised: UR-02, OBC-01 and ST-01. The upper age was 30 years for UR, 33 years for OBC and 35 years for ST candidates under the 2026 advertisement.
Age Limit for Hosiery IEDS Grade-II
For Vacancy No. 26050524623, UPSC listed 4 Grade-II Hosiery vacancies: UR-02, OBC-01 and SC-01, with one vacancy identified as suitable and reserved for a PwBD category. The upper-age figures were 30 years for UR, 33 years for OBC and 35 years for SC. PwBD relaxation was also provided as applicable.
Age Limit for Leather & Footwear IEDS Grade-II
For Vacancy No. 26050526623, 4 Grade-II Leather & Footwear posts were advertised: UR-01, EWS-01, OBC-01 and ST-01. The upper age was 30 years for UR/EWS, 33 years for OBC and 35 years for ST candidates. The advertisement also identified PwBD suitability and the applicable additional relaxation.
UPSC IEDS Grade-II Age Relaxation
- Reserved-category relaxation is vacancy-specific and follows the age figures stated in the recruitment advertisement.
- PwBD candidates can receive additional relaxation where the vacancy and applicable Government of India rules permit it.
- Government servants and other special categories may receive relaxation where the relevant rules provide for it.
Do not add relaxation automatically to the base age. First identify the exact vacancy, category and applicable concession, then compare the candidate’s age with the resulting limit.
What Is the Age Cutoff Date?
For Advertisement No. 05/2026, the online application period ran from 23 May 2026 to 12 June 2026. The recruitment material uses the closing date as the crucial reference for the age condition. In practical terms, candidates had to satisfy the applicable age rule as of the prescribed closing date rather than the later test date.
DOB Examples for 30-Year Upper Age
| Candidate age on cutoff | 30-year rule | General result |
|---|---|---|
| 29 years 11 months | Within limit | Age condition satisfied |
| Exactly 30 years | At the limit | Check the notification’s precise DOB wording |
| 30 years 1 day | Above limit | Not eligible under the base 30-year rule |
| 34 years, ST vacancy | 35-year limit | Age condition satisfied if other rules are met |
Vacancy Details for Grade-II IEDS 2026
| Discipline | Vacancy No. | Posts | Pay level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical | 26050520623 | 3 | Level 7 |
| Food | 26050522623 | 4 | Level 7 |
| Hosiery | 26050524623 | 4 | Level 7 |
| Leather & Footwear | 26050526623 | 4 | Level 7 |
That makes 15 Grade-II vacancies across the four disciplines in the 2026 advertisement. The same advertisement also included Grade-I IEDS posts in several disciplines, but those are separate posts with separate age and qualification rules.
Educational Qualification
The required qualification depends on the discipline. The 2026 recruitment material specified technical or specialised qualifications rather than a single generic graduation requirement. For example, the Food Grade-II post required B.Tech Food Technology or a PG Diploma in Fruits Technology from a recognised university or institute, while the Hosiery and Leather & Footwear posts required the corresponding engineering/technology qualification.
| Discipline | Qualification theme |
|---|---|
| Chemical | Relevant chemical engineering/technology qualification as prescribed by the notification |
| Food | B.Tech Food Technology or PG Diploma in Fruits Technology |
| Hosiery | B.E./B.Tech in Textile Technology, Hosiery Technology or Knitting Technology |
| Leather & Footwear | B.E./B.Tech in Leather Technology |
Always match the exact qualification wording to the vacancy number. A degree that is broadly related to the subject is not automatically equivalent to the qualification named in the notification.
Application Dates for UPSC IEDS 2026
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Advertisement No. 05/2026 | 23 May 2026 |
| Online application starts | 23 May 2026 |
| Online application closes | 12 June 2026 |
| Combined Recruitment Test | 11 October 2026, 2:00 PM–4:00 PM |
The application window is closed. UPSC later issued a revised combined recruitment-test notice dated 15 September 2026 covering the Grade-I/Grade-II IEDS posts and Scientist-B posts in the same recruitment-test group. The revised notice states that the offline pen-and-paper combined recruitment test is scheduled for 11 October 2026.
Combined Recruitment Test 2026
The later UPSC notice groups Assistant Director Grade-I and Grade-II IEDS posts with Scientist-B Atmospheric Sciences, General Meteorology and Instrumentation for a combined recruitment test. The revised notice states that the test will be conducted offline on 11 October 2026 in the afternoon session.
- Mode: Offline pen-and-paper test.
- Date: 11 October 2026.
- Session: 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
- Medium update: the revised September notice states that the medium of the test will be English only.
Is the 2026 IEDS Grade-II Application Still Open?
No. The online application closing date was 12 June 2026. The recruitment is now at the later examination stage for candidates who successfully applied. Candidates should rely on UPSC’s current notices for admit-card and test instructions.
Documents to Check
- Date-of-birth proof consistent with the application.
- Educational qualification certificate and marks records.
- Category certificate where relaxation or reservation is claimed.
- PwBD certificate where applicable.
- Any experience or other documents specifically required for the chosen IEDS discipline.
Common Age-Limit Mistakes
- Using the examination date instead of the recruitment cutoff date.
- Applying the 30-year rule without checking the candidate’s category.
- Assuming every IEDS discipline has identical qualification wording.
- Ignoring a corrigendum or revised recruitment-test notice.
Related UPSC Age Guides
For another UPSC recruitment-specific age guide, see our UPSC Scientist-B Instrumentation Age Limit 2026. For broader EPFO-related eligibility, see UPSC EPFO Age Limit 2026. You can also review our UPSC Recruitment 2026 guide for another recruitment-by-selection example.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UPSC Assistant Director Grade-II IEDS age limit in 2026?
The base upper age is 30 years for the Grade-II IEDS vacancies, with higher limits for specified reserved categories in particular vacancies.
Can an OBC candidate be eligible above 30 years?
For the Food, Hosiery and Leather & Footwear Grade-II vacancies listed in the 2026 advertisement, the OBC upper-age figure was 33 years where an OBC vacancy was provided. Always check the exact vacancy and certificate requirements.
Can an ST candidate be eligible up to 35 years?
Yes, the 2026 advertisement specified a 35-year upper age for the ST vacancy in Chemical, Food and Leather & Footwear Grade-II recruitment.
What is the age limit for Grade-II Hosiery?
It was 30 years for UR, 33 years for OBC and 35 years for SC in the 2026 advertisement.
When did the UPSC IEDS Grade-II application close?
The online application window closed on 12 June 2026.
When is the combined recruitment test?
The revised UPSC notice schedules the combined offline recruitment test for 11 October 2026 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
Official Sources
- UPSC recruitment-test notices — current notices and addenda for Advertisement No. 05/2026.
- UPSC What’s New — lists the September 2026 addendum notices.
- MSME IEDS recruitment rules — background rule framework for Grade-II recruitment.
Final Takeaway
The UPSC Assistant Director Grade-II IEDS age limit 2026 is generally 30 years, but the actual permissible upper age can be 33 or 35 years for specified reserved categories depending on the discipline and vacancy. The 2026 recruitment covered Chemical, Food, Hosiery and Leather & Footwear Grade-II posts, with 15 vacancies in total. The application window closed on 12 June 2026, and UPSC’s revised September notice schedules the combined recruitment test for 11 October 2026.
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes. Recruitment conditions, age relaxation and test instructions are governed by the applicable UPSC notification and subsequent official notices.
