UPSC Manager Grade-I Section Officer Age Limit 2026: 35 Years, DOB Cutoff & Relaxation

The UPSC Manager Grade-I Section Officer age limit 2026 is 35 years for UR/EWS candidates, 38 years for OBC candidates and 40 years for SC/ST candidates under Advertisement No. 08/2025. The post is in the Canteen Stores Department (CSD), Ministry of Defence, with 19 vacancies. UPSC has since scheduled a combined Recruitment Test for this recruitment case on 27 September 2026.

The original application window has closed, so this article is intended for checking the published eligibility rules and following the current selection stage. It covers the category-wise age limit, DOB cutoff, vacancy breakup, qualification, experience, duties, pay, application dates and the latest Recruitment Test scheme.

UPSC Manager Grade-I Section Officer Age Limit 2026 at a Glance

The vacancy number is 25060805428. The recruitment-test notice lists this case under Advertisement No. 08/2025 and confirms that the combined test is for the Manager Grade-I / Section Officer, Administrative Officer Grade-I and Accounts Officer recruitments.

What Is the UPSC Manager Grade-I Section Officer Age Limit?

The maximum age is 35 years for UR and EWS, 38 years for OBC and 40 years for SC/ST. These are the category-wise upper limits published for the recruitment.

Any additional age concession claimed under another Central Government provision must be supported by the applicable rule and documentary evidence. Candidates should not assume that separate concessions can automatically be combined.

Manager Grade-I Section Officer DOB Cutoff 2026

The original online application closed on 17 July 2025 at 11:59 PM. For this recruitment-by-selection process, that closing date is the relevant date for checking age eligibility. The following are practical whole-year DOB boundaries:

These boundary dates are a simple way to understand the whole-year limits. A candidate near the cutoff should use the exact date of birth recorded on the matriculation or equivalent certificate and apply the notification’s precise crucial-date rule rather than relying only on the birth year.

Because the application period ended in 2025, the DOB figures above describe the eligibility test applied at the application stage. They do not indicate that UPSC has reopened applications in September 2026.

UPSC Manager Grade-I Section Officer Vacancy Details

UPSC advertised 19 vacancies in the Canteen Stores Department. The category distribution is UR-07, EWS-03, OBC-04, SC-03 and ST-02.

The post is identified as suitable for specified PwBD categories, including Blindness and Low Vision, Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and specified locomotor disabilities. Candidates claiming disability-related benefits should verify the exact suitability category and certificate requirements in the recruitment instructions.

Educational Qualification

The essential qualification includes a Degree from a recognised University or equivalent and a Diploma or Degree in Business Management or Material Management from a recognised institution.

Experience Required

The essential experience is three years in Administration, Accounts and Establishment work in a Government office, public body or commercial organisation of repute.

• The experience certificate should establish the employer and period of service.
• The work should correspond to the areas specified in the recruitment notice.
• Experience involving storage, distribution and accounting of stores was listed as desirable.
• Knowledge of Government rules and regulations was also listed as desirable.

Duties of Manager Grade-I / Section Officer

The post deals with planning, provisioning, accounting and distribution of Canteen Stores and includes administrative and personnel responsibilities.

• Plan and provision Canteen Stores according to policy.
• Handle accounting and distribution of stores.
• Manage general administration of the depot.
• Maintain personnel records and provide HR-related advice.
• Maintain stores records and report stock levels.
• Perform other duties assigned by the competent authority.

Pay, Group and Service Conditions

The post is permanent and Group A Gazetted. Mumbai is the headquarters, but the All India Service Liability means service is not restricted to Mumbai.

UPSC Manager Grade-I Recruitment Test 2026

UPSC’s revised addendum dated 30 July 2026 states that the combined Recruitment Test will be held on 27 September 2026, Sunday, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The revised notice superseded the earlier 30 April 2026 addendum.

Only candidates shortlisted in the Recruitment Test who also fulfil all eligibility conditions are to be called for interview. UPSC states that e-Admit Cards will be released one week before the test and that requests for a change of test centre will not be entertained.

Recruitment Test Syllabus

• English Language Test
• General Mental Ability
• Current events of national and international importance
• Developmental issues and current trends in the Indian economy
• Fundamentals of Computer Applications
• Basics of Financial Aptitude
• Human Resource Management
• Basics of Material Management

The syllabus combines general aptitude and current affairs with computer applications, finance, human resources and material-management topics. The same common syllabus applies to the combined test cases listed in the revised addendum.

Application Dates and Fee

The application window has already closed. The published dates should therefore be treated as historical application information, while the September 2026 Recruitment Test information is the current stage update for candidates who applied.

Age Relaxation and Category Documents

The 35-year, 38-year and 40-year limits correspond to the category-wise age rules published for the recruitment. If a candidate claims another permissible concession under a separate Central Government rule, that claim must satisfy the relevant conditions and be supported by the prescribed document.

OBC candidates should use the certificate format and conditions applicable to Central Government recruitment. SC/ST candidates should provide the prescribed caste certificate. PwBD candidates claiming disability-related benefits should provide the required disability certificate and confirm that the post is suitable for the relevant disability category.

Documents for Age and Eligibility Verification

• Matriculation or equivalent certificate showing date of birth.
• Degree certificate from a recognised university or equivalent document.
• Business Management or Material Management diploma/degree certificate.
• Experience certificate establishing the required three years.
• Category certificate where reservation or relaxation is claimed.
• PwBD certificate where disability-related benefits are claimed.
• Other documents required to support a special concession or qualification claim.

How to Check Your Manager Grade-I Age Eligibility

1. Take the exact DOB from your matriculation or equivalent certificate.
2. Use 17 July 2025 as the original application closing date.
3. Check the 35-year ceiling for UR/EWS, 38-year ceiling for OBC or 40-year ceiling for SC/ST.
4. Check whether another specific age concession legally applies to your circumstances.
5. Verify the required Degree and Business Management or Material Management qualification.
6. Confirm three years of relevant Administration, Accounts and Establishment experience.
7. Keep all reservation and qualification certificates ready for verification.

If your DOB is close to the age boundary, use the complete date rather than the birth year alone. For any relaxation, establish the base category limit first and then apply only a concession that is supported by the applicable UPSC rule.

Current Status of the Recruitment

This is not a fresh September 2026 application announcement. UPSC lists the original vacancy under Advertisement No. 08/2025, and the application period ended in July 2025. The current stage is the Recruitment Test and subsequent interview process for candidates who submitted applications during the original window.

The revised addendum confirms that the Recruitment Test is common to the Manager Grade-I / Section Officer, Administrative Officer Grade-I and Accounts Officer cases. Candidates should therefore read the common test scheme together with the post-specific eligibility requirements. The RT carries 300 marks, has one-third negative marking and is followed by interview for candidates shortlisted and found eligible.

Selection Process After the Recruitment Test

The Recruitment Test is a shortlisting stage rather than a substitute for post eligibility. UPSC’s revised notice states that candidates shortlisted in the RT and fulfilling all eligibility conditions will be called for interview. This means that qualifying at the test stage does not remove the requirement to establish age, qualification, experience and any reservation or concession claim.

The common test carries 300 marks. Each question has equal marks, the paper is objective and every incorrect answer attracts a deduction of one-third of the marks assigned to that question. No penalty is applied when a question is left unanswered. The test is conducted in both Hindi and English.

UPSC has fixed a 75:25 weightage between the Recruitment Test and interview for candidates shortlisted through the RT and who qualify for interview. The revised notice also specifies interview suitability thresholds: 50 and above for General/EWS, 45 and above for OBC, and 40 and above for SC/ST and PwBD on the relaxed standards stated by the Commission.

For candidates already in the recruitment process, the practical priority is therefore to keep the original eligibility documents consistent with the application record and to follow the latest e-Admit Card and UPSC notices. The e-Admit Card is scheduled for release one week before the Recruitment Test, and the Commission has stated that requests to change the test centre will not be entertained.

Applicants should also remember that the recruitment is for a Ministry of Defence organisation with All India Service Liability. The Mumbai headquarters does not create a Mumbai-only posting condition. Service records, stores administration and depot-related responsibilities can therefore be relevant across the department’s operational requirements.

Important Points About UPSC Manager Grade-I Section Officer Age Limit 2026

• UR/EWS maximum age: 35 years.
• OBC maximum age: 38 years.
• SC/ST maximum age: 40 years.
• Original application closing date: 17 July 2025.
• Total vacancies: 19.
• Vacancy breakup: UR-07, EWS-03, OBC-04, SC-03 and ST-02.
• Basic qualification: recognised Degree or equivalent.
• Additional qualification: Diploma/Degree in Business Management or Material Management.
• Experience: three years in Administration, Accounts and Establishment work.
• Pay: Level 10.
• Headquarters: Mumbai; All India Service Liability.
• Latest RT: 27 September 2026, 11:00 AM–1:00 PM.

Frequently Asked Questions

Official Source and Related Age Guide

The latest official recruitment-test information is available on the UPSC Recruitment Test Notices page. The UPSC Recruitment Advertisements section provides access to recruitment advertisements and related notices.

For a broader explanation of government-job age limits, DOB cutoffs and category relaxations, see our Government Job Age Eligibility Guide.

Last checked: 22 September 2026. Candidates should follow any later UPSC corrigendum, Recruitment Test notice, e-Admit Card instruction or other official update.