Most Uttarakhand state government recruitment goes through two commissions. The Uttarakhand Public Service Commission (UKPSC), based in Haridwar, runs the combined state civil services examinations and recruitment for many officer-level posts. The Uttarakhand Subordinate Service Selection Commission (UKSSSC), based in Dehradun, recruits for Group 'C' posts such as assistants and clerks.
This guide summarises the official 2026 position for both, explains the Upper PCS 2026 rules and domicile conditions, and gives you a short plan for the weeks before the next examinations. It does not estimate vacancy totals beyond what the commissions have published.
Checked against psc.uk.gov.in and sssc.uk.gov.in on 9 October 2026. Many documents are in Hindi; the summaries are our translations.
Key 2026 dates at a glance
| Recruitment | Official position |
|---|---|
| UKPSC Combined State Civil / Upper Subordinate Services Examination-2026 (Advt. No. A-1/E-1/2026-27, dated 9 September 2026) | 67 vacancies. Applications closed 29 September 2026; correction window 7–16 October 2026. Preliminary examination listed for 29 November 2026 in UKPSC's updated exam calendar |
| UKPSC Combined State Civil / Lower Subordinate Services Examination-2026 | Preliminary examination listed for 27 December 2026 in the same calendar |
| UKSSSC Advt. No. 80/UKSSSC/2026 (dated 31 August 2026) | 553 Group 'C' posts, including Computer Assistant, Senior Assistant, Registration Clerk and Junior Assistant posts. Online applications 8 September to 7 October 2026; corrections 12–14 October 2026; tentative written examination 15 November 2026 |
UKPSC's updated calendar (letter dated 1 September 2026) states that its dates are probable and can change. The same calendar lists later examinations into 2027, such as the Review Officer / Assistant Review Officer preliminary examination on 23 May 2027.
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Continue with Document Verification Checklist – Central and Defence Recruitment₹299 — coaching के एक महीने से काफ़ी सस्ता / far cheaper than a month of coachingUpper PCS 2026: what the advertisement says
Vacancies
The 67 posts include Deputy Collector (10), Deputy Superintendent of Police (14), Block Development Officer (5), Assistant Regional Transport Officer (5) and State Tax Officer (5), among others. By category, the advertisement's total row shows 37 General, 13 SC, 0 ST, 11 OBC and 6 EWS posts. The number of vacancies can be increased or reduced.
Age
The minimum age is 21 and the maximum 42, calculated on 1 July 2026. In the advertisement's words, a candidate should be born not after 1 July 2005 and not before 2 July 1984. Category relaxations are listed in the advertisement.
Worked example (illustrative): a candidate born on 20 March 1986 is 40 on 1 July 2026 and within the limit. A candidate born on 15 May 1984 was born before 2 July 1984 and is outside it, unless a relaxation applies.
Domicile and reservation
The advertisement states that vertical and horizontal reservation is available only to candidates domiciled in Uttarakhand. Candidates from reserved categories who are not Uttarakhand domiciles can apply only in the unreserved (general) category. Keep your domicile and category certificates ready in the formats the advertisement prescribes.
The examination scheme
Preliminary examination (objective):
| Paper | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| I: General Studies | 150 (1 mark each) | 150 | 2 hours |
| II: General Intelligence Test | 100 (1.5 marks each) | 150 | 2 hours |
The merit list for the preliminary stage is based on Paper I. Paper II is qualifying, with a minimum of 33% for all categories. One quarter of a question's marks is deducted for each wrong answer, and also when more than one answer is marked.
Main examination (written, 1,500 marks):
| Paper | Marks |
|---|---|
| General Hindi (minimum 35% required) | 150 |
| Essay | 150 |
| General Studies I: Indian heritage and culture, world history, geography and society | 200 |
| General Studies II: governance, constitution, polity, social justice and international relations | 200 |
| General Studies III: technology, economic development, biodiversity, environment, security and disaster management | 200 |
| General Studies IV: ethics, integrity and aptitude | 200 |
| General Studies V: knowledge of Uttarakhand | 200 |
| General Studies VI: knowledge of Uttarakhand | 200 |
The interview carries 150 marks, for a total of 1,650.
Two features stand out. First, two full papers (400 marks) are about Uttarakhand, so state-specific preparation is not optional. Second, General Hindi has a 35% minimum, so candidates who usually write in English should practise it early.
Worked example: what negative marking does in Paper I
Illustrative only. In Paper I (150 questions, 1 mark each), suppose you attempt 120 and get 96 right and 24 wrong.
- Marks for correct answers: 96
- Deduction: 24 × 0.25 = 6
- Score: 96 − 6 = 90 out of 150
In Paper II, where each question carries 1.5 marks, a wrong answer costs 0.375 marks. The 33% qualifying line is 0.33 × 150 = 49.5 marks.
UKSSSC: Group 'C' recruitment
UKSSSC's Advt. No. 80/2026 shows how its recruitments are structured: one advertisement covering many posts across departments, each with its own pay level. For example, the advertisement lists Computer Assistant posts at Level 4 (₹25,500–81,100) and Registration Clerk posts at Level 3 (₹21,700–69,100). It also asks applicants to upload their high school certificate and both sides of their Aadhaar card to verify name and date of birth, plus category certificates and, for some posts, experience certificates.
UKSSSC has also published a revised examination programme for its other 2026 recruitments, with written examinations scheduled between September 2026 and January 2027. Check the programme for your advertisement number rather than relying on a general list.
A plan for the next few weeks
Commission, advertisement number and post(s):
Correction window dates (if I need to fix my form):
Exam date from the latest official calendar or notice:
Domicile and category certificates in the prescribed format (Y/N):
Weekly practice: Paper I (timed, net score after penalties):
Paper II practice to stay safely above 33%:
Uttarakhand-specific notes (history, geography, economy, culture):
Date I last checked the commission's website:
If you are preparing for Upper PCS, the preliminary examination is about six weeks after the correction window closes, so use that time for timed Paper I practice and Uttarakhand-specific revision. For general state PSC preparation, see our state PSC preparation guide, and keep dated notes with the current affairs hub.
Frequently asked questions
Can candidates from other states apply for UKPSC Upper PCS?
The advertisement allows applications from eligible candidates, but reservation benefits are limited to Uttarakhand domiciles. Reserved-category candidates from outside the state can apply only in the unreserved category.
Is there negative marking in the UKPSC preliminary examination?
Yes. The 2026 advertisement deducts one quarter of the question's marks for each wrong answer.
When is the UKSSSC Group 'C' examination under Advt. No. 80/2026?
The advertisement gives a tentative date of 15 November 2026. Watch the UKSSSC website for admit cards and any change.