The UPSC EPFO APFC Exam is conducted to recruit Assistant Provident Fund Commissioners (APFC) for the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India. It is a prestigious Group-A Gazetted Officer post, offering an excellent career in public policy, finance, and social security governance. To qualify, aspirants must prepare a wide range of subjects with conceptual clarity and consistent practice.

Exam Overview

Component	Details
Exam Name	UPSC EPFO APFC
Conducting Body	Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Post	Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner (APFC)
Category	Group A Gazetted Officer
Exam Mode	Offline (Objective MCQs)
Total Questions	120
Total Marks (Written)	300
Negative Marking	Yes (⅓ for each wrong answer)
Exam Duration	2 Hours (120 Minutes)
Interview	100 Marks
Final Merit Calculation	Written Test (75%) + Interview (25%)

Subject-Wise Syllabus Tables

1. General English

Topics	Topic Details
Grammar	Covers tenses, parts of speech, articles, prepositions, conjunctions, etc.
Vocabulary	Includes synonyms, antonyms, idioms, one-word substitutions.
Comprehension	Reading passages with inference-based questions.
Sentence Improvement	Error spotting, phrase replacements, sentence correction.
Para Jumbles	Rearranging sentences in logical and grammatical order.
Cloze Test	Fill-in-the-blanks passages testing vocabulary and grammar in context.

2. Indian Culture and Freedom Movement

Topics	Topic Details
Ancient to Modern Culture	Focus on Indian art, architecture, literature from Harappa to present.
Indian Philosophy	Vedic philosophy, Buddhism, Jainism, Vedanta schools, Bhakti and Sufi.
Cultural Institutions	Details of IGNCA, ICCR, Sangeet Natak Akademi, etc.
Freedom Struggle	Events from 1857 revolt to 1947 independence movement.
Post-Independence Developments	Integration of princely states, constitution framing, cultural unification.

3. Indian Polity and Governance

Topics	Topic Details
Constitution	Preamble, fundamental rights, directive principles, schedules, amendments.
Governance Structures	Functions of Parliament, President, PM, judiciary, Panchayati Raj system.
Important Institutions	Role of EC, UPSC, CAG, NHRC, SHRC, Lokpal, etc.
Social Justice	SC/ST/OBC rights, disability, gender equality schemes, and constitutional support.

4. Indian Economy and Economic Development

Topics	Topic Details
Economic Planning	Five-year plans, NITI Aayog, indicators of growth.
Union Budget & Taxation	Direct and indirect taxes, FRBM, fiscal deficit, revenue sources.
Monetary Policy & Inflation	RBI tools (repo rate, CRR), types and causes of inflation, control measures.
Banking & Financial Sector	Public/private banks, NPAs, digital economy, UPI, financial inclusion.
International Trade	WTO, balance of payments, trade agreements, globalization impact on Indian economy.

5. Labour Laws and Industrial Relations

Topics	Topic Details
Key Labour Laws	Provisions of EPF Act 1952, ESI Act 1948, Payment of Wages Act, ID Act 1947.
Trade Unions	Role, recognition, collective bargaining mechanisms, union structure.
Industrial Disputes	Strikes, lockouts, tribunals, conciliation officers, and dispute redressal.
Workplace Safety	Safety standards under Factories Act, working conditions, grievance redressal.

6. Social Security in India

Topics	Topic Details
Provident Fund & Pension Schemes	Structure and benefits under EPF, EPS, and EDLI schemes.
ESI Scheme	Eligibility, medical benefits, maternity, and coverage details.
Social Security for Unorganised Sector	PM-SYM, e-SHRAM portal, gig worker initiatives.
Reforms and Digital Inclusion	Labour Codes 2020, Aadhaar-linked schemes, JAM trinity applications.

7. Accounting and Auditing

Topics	Topic Details
Financial Accounting	Journal, ledger, trial balance, balance sheets, income statement.
Accounting Principles	Matching, conservatism, accrual and cash basis, going concern, etc.
Auditing Process	Internal and statutory audit, evidence collection, vouching, verification.
Financial Reporting	Audit reports, accounting standards, disclosure norms, compliance reporting.

8. Insurance

Topics	Topic Details
Principles of Insurance	Principle of indemnity, utmost good faith, contribution, insurable interest.
Life & General Insurance	LIC, motor, health, fire insurance policies and procedures.
Government Insurance Schemes	PMSBY, PMJJBY, Ayushman Bharat, crop insurance schemes.
Regulatory Framework	Role of IRDAI, insurance ombudsman, policyholder rights.

9. Population, Development, and Globalization

Topics	Topic Details
Demographic Indicators	Literacy, fertility, sex ratio, population pyramid, ageing trends.
Human Development	HDI, quality of life indices, healthcare, education systems.
Globalization	Impact on employment, economy, culture, FDI, outsourcing.
Sustainable Development Goals	SDGs, Agenda 2030, climate change challenges, inclusive development.

10. General Science and Computer Awareness

Topics	Topic Details
Physics, Chemistry, Biology	Everyday applications, inventions, diseases, scientific phenomena.
Environmental Science	Pollution, climate change, ecology, renewable energy sources.
Computer Basics	Hardware, software, input/output devices, file types, OS.
Internet & Digital Security	Email, browsing, malware, cyber laws, secure transactions.

11. Quantitative Aptitude and Statistics

Topics	Topic Details
Arithmetic	Percentages, averages, time & work, profit & loss, simple & compound interest.
Algebra & Geometry	Linear equations, quadratic equations, triangles, circles.
Statistics	Mean, median, mode, variance, standard deviation, correlation, regression basics.
Probability	Basic rules of probability, permutations, combinations, expected value.

12. General Mental Ability (Reasoning)

Topics	Topic Details
Logical Reasoning	Statement-conclusion, assumptions, syllogisms, logical sequence.
Analytical Reasoning	Blood relations, direction test, input-output reasoning, arrangements.
Series & Puzzles	Alphabet and number series, odd one out, ranking test, seating arrangements.

Syllabus PDF Download

To help you prepare offline, here’s the download link:

Click here to download the full UPSC EPFO APFC Syllabus PDF

Recommended Books

Subject	Recommended Book
General English	Objective English by S.P. Bakshi
Indian Polity	Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth
Indian Economy	Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh
Labour Laws	Industrial and Labour Laws by S.N. Mishra
Accounting	Fundamentals of Accounting by T.S. Grewal
Quant & Reasoning	RS Aggarwal’s Quantitative Aptitude
General Science	NCERT Class 6–10 Science
Insurance	Principles of Insurance by M.N. Mishra

Preparation Tips

• Plan: Allocate 2 months for concepts, 1 month for revision, 15 days for mocks.
• Conceptual Reading: Use NCERTs and standard books for fundamentals.
• Practice: Daily 1–2 mock tests with sectional quizzes.
• Track Progress: Maintain a topic-wise error sheet.
• Interview Prep: Follow current affairs, labor news, and mock interviews.

Specialization for APFC Role

• Social Security Administration (EPF, pension schemes)
• Labour Law Enforcement
• Audit and Financial Oversight
• Digital Governance (e-governance, IT in social security)
• Policy Research and Compliance

Conclusion

The UPSC EPFO APFC exam syllabus is designed to assess your aptitude, knowledge of governance, finance, law, and public administration. With deep understanding, daily practice, and strategic preparation, aspirants can successfully navigate the selection process. Focused effort in each subject, backed by reliable resources and time management, is the key to cracking the APFC exam in 2025.