The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has issued admit cards for the Combined Section Officers’ Grade ‘B’ Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE) and Combined Stenos’ Grade B exam 2025. The commission also announced the official exam pattern for the Section Officers’ Grade ‘B’ LDCE 2025.
Candidates registered for these examinations can download their admit cards directly from the official UPSC website: upsconline.gov.in . The admit card is crucial for exam participation, detailing venue, date, and important instructions.
Examination Centers
The LDCE 2025 competitive examination will be held at nine designated locations across the country. These centers include Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, Nagpur, Noida (Gautam Buddha Nagar), Ghaziabad, Faridabad, and Gurugram. Candidates must verify their assigned center on their admit card.
Recruitment Categories and Vacancies
The LDCE aims to fill various Section Officer and related administrative posts within the Indian government. While final vacancy numbers are pending, the examination targets several key administrative categories. These roles are essential for government administration. The categories include:
- Category I: Section Officers’ Grade of the Central Secretariat Service (CSS)
- Category II: Section Officer Grade of the General Cadre of the Indian Foreign Service, Branch ‘B’ (IFS)
- Category III: Section Officers’ Grade of the Railway Board Secretariat Service (RBSS)
- Category VIII: Section Officers’ Grade of the Intelligence Bureau (IB)
- Category X: Section Officers in Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service (AFHQCS)
- Category XI: Assistant Director/Section Officers/Manager Gr.I in Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC)
Candidates should monitor the UPSC website for updates on vacancy finalization.
UPSC LDCE 2025 Exam Pattern Overview
The UPSC LDCE 2025 examination features both objective-type and subjective-type papers. The objective paper carries 150 marks, while the subjective paper is allocated 200 marks. The commission has released a detailed breakdown of the exam structure, including subjects, marks distribution, and scheduled dates for specific papers.
Detailed Exam Schedule and Subjects
| Paper Name | Marks Allotted | Exam Date and Time |
|---|---|---|
| Paper I: General Studies and General Knowledge of the Constitution of India, Machinery of Government Practice and Procedures in Parliament, and Knowledge of RTI Act, 2005 | 150 | December 13, 2025 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
| Paper II: Procedure and Practice in the Government of India Secretariat and Attached Offices, and General Financial and Service Rules, considering requirements of relevant categories | 150 | December 13, 2025 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM |
| Paper III: Noting and Drafting, Precis Writing | 200 | Date to be announced 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM |
Paper I assesses foundational knowledge of governance and constitutional aspects. Paper II focuses on administrative procedures and financial regulations. Paper III evaluates written communication and summarization abilities, crucial for official correspondence.
Qualifying Shorthand Test
A mandatory qualifying shorthand test is part of the selection process for candidates targeting specific categories (IV, V, VI, VII, and IX). This test evaluates a candidate’s shorthand proficiency, requiring a minimum speed of 100 words per minute (WPM) in either Hindi or English. The shorthand test will be conducted on December 20, 27, and 28, 2025 , with batches starting from 10:00 AM onwards. This test is qualifying; failure to meet the required speed will result in disqualification for these categories, irrespective of written exam performance.