PFRDA Grade A Recruitment 2026: 30 Officer Posts, Eligibility, Exam Date, Salary & Apply Online

PFRDA Grade A Recruitment 2026: 30 Officer Posts, Eligibility, Exam Date, Salary & Apply Online

The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has released the PFRDA Grade A Recruitment 2026 notification for recruitment to the post of Officer Grade A (Assistant Manager). According to Advertisement No. 03/2026 dated September 3, 2026, PFRDA will recruit candidates for 30 Officer Grade A posts across four streams: General, Research, Actuary and Official Language (Rajbhasha).

The online application process has started on September 3, 2026, and eligible candidates can submit their applications and pay the prescribed fee up to September 24, 2026. The Phase I examination is scheduled for October 15, 2026, while Phase II is scheduled for November 20, 2026.

This article covers all the important details of PFRDA Officer Grade A Recruitment 2026, including vacancies, educational qualification, age limit, application fee, selection process, exam pattern, syllabus, salary, important dates and the online application procedure.

PFRDA Grade A Recruitment 2026: Overview

Particular	Details
Organization	Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority
Post	Officer Grade A (Assistant Manager)
Advertisement No.	03/2026
Recruitment Year	2026
Total Vacancies	30
Streams	General, Research, Actuary, Official Language (Rajbhasha)
Application Mode	Online
Application Start Date	September 3, 2026
Last Date to Apply	September 24, 2026
Phase I Exam	October 15, 2026
Phase II Exam	November 20, 2026
Phase III	Interview
Official Website	pfrda.org.in

PFRDA describes itself as a financial-sector regulator established under the PFRDA Act, 2013, with the mandate to promote, develop and regulate the pension sector in India.

PFRDA Grade A Vacancy 2026

A total of 30 Officer Grade A vacancies have been announced.

Stream	Total Posts
General	25
Research	2
Actuary	2
Official Language (Rajbhasha)	1
Total	30

The category-wise total across the recruitment is 5 SC, 2 ST, 8 OBC, 3 EWS and 12 UR/GEN posts. The notification also provides horizontal PwBD reservation within the advertised vacancies.

General Stream – 25 Posts

Candidates applying for the General Stream can have a Master’s Degree/Post Graduate Diploma of at least two years’ duration in any discipline, or a Bachelor’s Degree in Law, or Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering from a recognized university/institution. The notification also accepts specified professional qualifications such as ACA/FCA, ACS/FCS, ACMA/FCMA and CFA, subject to the conditions mentioned in the advertisement.

Research Stream – 2 Posts

The Research Stream accepts specified Master’s Degree/Post Graduate Diploma qualifications in areas including Economics, Commerce, Business Administration, Econometrics, Quantitative Economics, Finance, Quantitative Finance, Statistics, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Big Data Analytics, among others. A Master’s Degree in Mathematics with a one-year postgraduate diploma in Statistics or a related subject is also specified.

Actuary Stream – 2 Posts

For the Actuary Stream, candidates need a graduation degree from a recognized university/institute and must have passed or obtained exemption in all seven Core Principles subjects of the Institute of Actuaries of India examination.

Official Language (Rajbhasha) – 1 Post

For the Official Language Stream, the notification specifies Master’s Degree qualifications in Hindi/Hindi Translation with English at Bachelor’s level, or Master’s Degree in Sanskrit, English, Economics or Commerce with Hindi at Bachelor’s level, or Master’s Degrees in both English and Hindi/Hindi Translation, from a recognized university/institute.

PFRDA Grade A Eligibility Criteria 2026

Age Limit

The maximum age is 30 years as on July 31, 2026.

Candidates must have been born on or after August 1, 1996 to satisfy the general upper-age condition.

Age Relaxation

The notification provides the following major relaxations:

• SC/ST: Up to 5 years
• OBC candidates eligible for reservation: Up to 3 years
• PwBD: 10 years
• PwBD OBC: 13 years where OBC vacancies are reserved
• PwBD SC/ST: 15 years where SC/ST vacancies are reserved
• Ex-servicemen: 5 years

Certain candidates may be eligible for cumulative age relaxation as specified in the notification.

Candidates claiming OBC reservation must belong to the Non-Creamy Layer. The notification also specifies certificate-date requirements for OBC (NCL) candidates appearing for the interview.

Important: You Can Apply for Maximum Two Streams

One important point that candidates should not miss is that a candidate can apply for a maximum of two streams, provided the candidate is eligible for those streams.

A separate online application must be submitted for each stream, and the applicable fee has to be paid separately. If a candidate applies more than once for the same stream or applies for more than two streams, the notification states that only the last valid application will be considered and other applications will be rejected.

Therefore, candidates should decide their eligible streams carefully before completing the application.

PFRDA Grade A Application Fee 2026

Category	Application Fee
General/UR, EWS & OBC	₹1,000
SC/ST/PwBD & Ex-servicemen	Nil

The fee is non-refundable. Candidates applying for multiple eligible streams have to submit separate applications and pay the prescribed fee for each application, except where fee exemption applies.

PFRDA Grade A Selection Process 2026

The selection process consists of three stages:

1. Phase I – Online Screening Examination
2. Phase II – Online Examination
3. Phase III – Interview

The final selection is based on the marks obtained in Phase II and Phase III. Phase II carries 85% weightage, while the interview carries 15% weightage.

PFRDA Grade A Phase I Exam Pattern 2026

Phase I is an online screening examination consisting of two papers.

Paper 1 – Common for All Streams

Subject	Marks	Questions
English Language	25	20
Quantitative Aptitude	25	20
Test of Reasoning	25	30
General Awareness, including Financial Sector	25	20
Total	100	90

Duration: 60 minutes

Paper 2

For the General Stream, Paper 2 covers Commerce, Accountancy, Management, Finance, Costing, Companies Act, Economics, Pension Sector, Artificial Intelligence, Media, Marketing & Communication.

For Research, Actuary and Official Language streams, Paper 2 consists of questions related to the respective specialized subject.

Maximum Marks: 100
Questions: 50
Duration: 40 minutes

There is 1/4th negative marking for both Paper 1 and Paper 2 in Phase I. Candidates must clear the separate paper-wise cut-offs as well as the aggregate cut-off prescribed for shortlisting to Phase II.

PFRDA Grade A Phase II Exam Pattern 2026

Phase II also consists of two papers.

Paper 1 – English Descriptive Test

Paper 1 is an English descriptive test designed to assess drafting skills.

• Maximum Marks: 100
• Questions: 3
• Duration: 60 minutes
• Weightage: 1/3rd

Paper 2

For the General Stream, Paper 2 contains objective questions from the specified General Stream subjects.

For Research, Actuary and Official Language streams, Paper 2 tests the specialized subject related to the respective stream.

• Maximum Marks: 100
• Questions: 50
• Duration: 40 minutes
• Weightage: 2/3rd

There is 1/4th negative marking for Paper 2 in Phase II. Candidates have to meet the required paper-wise and aggregate cut-offs. Candidates equivalent to five times the number of vacancies are shortlisted for the interview in order of merit.

PFRDA Grade A Syllabus 2026

General Stream Syllabus

The General Stream syllabus covers a broad range of financial and management subjects, including:

• PFRDA Act, 2013 and amendments
• Union Budget and Economic Survey
• Commerce and Accountancy
• Management
• Finance
• Costing
• Companies Act, 2013
• Economics
• Pension Sector
• Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning
• Media
• Marketing & Communication

The General Stream syllabus includes topics such as financial markets, derivatives, financial inclusion, taxation, inflation, pension schemes and developments in the financial sector.

Interestingly, the notification also includes AI/ML topics such as supervised and unsupervised learning, data preprocessing, model evaluation, NLP, sentiment analysis, overfitting and underfitting, LLMs, Agentic AI, Responsible AI, cross-validation and reinforcement learning.

Research Stream Syllabus

The Research Stream Paper 2 syllabus includes:

• Probability Theory
• Descriptive Statistics
• Probability Distributions
• Statistical Inference
• Sampling Techniques
• Testing of Hypothesis
• Economic Statistics
• Time Series Analysis
• Operations Research
• Statistical Quality Control
• Statistical Computing

These topics apply to Paper 2 for the Research Stream.

Official Language Stream Syllabus

The Official Language syllabus includes:

• Government of India’s Official Language Policy
• Hindi to English translation
• English to Hindi translation
• Legal terminology
• Pension terminology
• Administrative terminology
• Banking terminology
• Capital market terminology
• Economics terminology
• Social security terminology

The detailed syllabus is specified in the notification for both phases.

Actuarial Stream Syllabus

The Actuarial Stream syllabus covers Insurance and Management.

The Insurance portion includes areas such as the history and principles of Indian insurance, risk and uncertainty, indemnity, insurable interest, legal foundations of insurance, group/health insurance, pensions, insurance intermediation, product design, pricing, underwriting, claims, investment, reinsurance, life insurance, annuities, health insurance, valuation and solvency requirements.

PFRDA Grade A Salary 2026

The Officer Grade A pay scale is:

₹62,500 – 3,600 (4) – ₹76,900 – 4,050 (7) – ₹1,05,250 – EB – ₹4,050 (4) – ₹1,21,450 – ₹4,650 (1) – ₹1,26,100

The scale extends over 17 years as specified in the notification.

More importantly for candidates, the notification states that the gross emoluments at the minimum of the scale are approximately ₹2,05,000 per month, including PFRDA’s contribution towards NPS and various allowances.

Other Benefits

Officer Grade A employees are also eligible for benefits such as:

• Leave Fare Concession
• Medical expenses
• Personal Accident Insurance
• Eye refraction/spectacle expenses
• Children’s Education Allowance
• Knowledge Updation Allowance
• Briefcase
• Conveyance expenses
• House Cleaning Allowance
• Staff Furnishing Scheme
• Computer purchase scheme
• Pluxee Meal Card
• Other admissible benefits

The notification also states that selected candidates will undergo two years of probation.

PFRDA Grade A Posting

PFRDA currently has offices in New Delhi and Mumbai. Selected candidates may be posted at either office and are also liable to serve anywhere in India according to the Authority’s requirements.

PFRDA Grade A Exam Centres 2026

The notification provides multiple examination centres across India.

For Phase I and Phase II, centres include cities such as:

• Kolkata
• Siliguri
• Patna
• Ranchi
• Guwahati
• Bhubaneswar
• Mumbai
• Ahmedabad
• Jaipur
• Delhi/NCR
• Chandigarh/Mohali
• Chennai
• Hyderabad
• Bengaluru
• Bhopal
• Nagpur
• Raipur
• Lucknow
• and several other cities.

Candidates can provide preferences for up to three centres for Phase I and one centre for Phase II. However, PFRDA reserves the right to allot a different centre depending on administrative requirements.

How to Apply for PFRDA Grade A Recruitment 2026

Candidates have to apply online through the PFRDA website. No other mode of application is accepted.

Step-by-step application process

Step 1: Visit the PFRDA website and open the Careers section.

Step 2: Open the recruitment notification titled “PFRDA RECRUITMENT EXERCISE – RECRUITMENT OF OFFICER GRADE A (ASSISTANT MANAGER) – 2026.”

Step 3: Click Apply Online.

Step 4: Select Click Here for New Registration.

Step 5: Enter your name, contact details and email ID.

Step 6: Note the Provisional Registration Number and Password generated by the system.

Step 7: Fill in the application form carefully and use Save & Next to check your details.

Step 8: Upload the photograph, signature, left thumb impression and handwritten declaration according to the prescribed specifications.

Step 9: Preview the complete application before final submission.

Step 10: Pay the applicable application fee online.

Step 11: Submit the application and save/print the system-generated application form and e-receipt for future reference.

PFRDA specifically advises candidates to complete the application well before the closing date rather than waiting until the last day.

Documents Required for Online Application

Candidates should keep the following ready before beginning the application:

• Recent passport-size photograph
• Signature
• Left thumb impression
• Handwritten declaration
• Valid personal email ID
• Active mobile number
• Educational qualification details
• Category certificates, wherever applicable

The photograph should preferably be 200 × 230 pixels and the file size should be between 20 KB and 50 KB. The signature and thumb impression have separate size specifications, while the handwritten declaration must be written by the candidate in English.

Important Documents for Reserved Category Candidates

Candidates claiming reservation or age relaxation should ensure that their certificates meet the requirements specified in the notification.

For example, OBC candidates seeking reservation must satisfy the Non-Creamy Layer requirements and possess the prescribed certificate within the specified period. EWS candidates must possess the required Income and Asset Certificate for Financial Year 2026–27, based on the income of Financial Year 2025–26, according to the notification.

Pre-Examination Training

PFRDA will arrange free online pre-examination training for eligible SC, ST, PwBD and OBC (NCL) candidates who wish to avail themselves of the facility.

Candidates interested in the training have to apply separately by email within the application period along with the required certificate and information specified in the notification.

PFRDA Grade A Recruitment 2026: Important Dates

Event	Date
Notification Date	September 3, 2026
Online Application Starts	September 3, 2026
Last Date to Apply	September 24, 2026
Phase I Examination	October 15, 2026
Phase II Examination	November 20, 2026
Phase III Interview	To be announced

The interview schedule will be communicated to candidates who qualify Phase II through email/SMS and the PFRDA website.

PFRDA Grade A Recruitment 2026: Key Points Candidates Should Remember

Before submitting the application, candidates should remember these important points:

1. Only eligible Indian citizens should apply.
2. The maximum age is 30 years as on July 31, 2026, subject to applicable relaxations.
3. Candidates can apply for a maximum of two eligible streams.
4. Separate applications and fees are required for separate streams.
5. Application details cannot be changed after final submission.
6. Phase I has negative marking in both papers.
7. Phase II Paper 2 has negative marking.
8. Phase I marks are used for shortlisting and are not counted for final selection.
9. Phase II carries 85% weightage in the final selection and the interview carries 15%.
10. Candidates should preserve their registration number, password, application form and fee receipt.

The notification makes it clear that corrections to important application particulars will not be entertained after final submission, so candidates should carefully verify every detail before clicking the final submission button.

PFRDA Grade A Recruitment 2026 – Frequently Asked Questions

How many vacancies are available in PFRDA Grade A Recruitment 2026?

There are 30 Officer Grade A (Assistant Manager) vacancies across General, Research, Actuary and Official Language streams.

What is the last date to apply for PFRDA Grade A 2026?

The last date for online application and fee payment is September 24, 2026.

When will the PFRDA Grade A Phase I exam be conducted?

The Phase I online examination is scheduled for October 15, 2026.

When is the PFRDA Grade A Phase II exam?

The Phase II online examination is scheduled for November 20, 2026.

What is the PFRDA Grade A age limit?

The candidate must not have exceeded 30 years as on July 31, 2026, subject to the relaxations specified in the notification.

What is the PFRDA Grade A application fee?

The fee is ₹1,000 for UR/GEN, EWS and OBC candidates, while SC, ST, PwBD and Ex-servicemen candidates are exempt from the application fee.

Can I apply for more than one PFRDA Grade A stream?

Yes. A candidate can apply for a maximum of two streams for which they are eligible. Separate applications are required for each stream.

What is the PFRDA Grade A salary?

The Officer Grade A pay scale starts at ₹62,500, and the notification states that gross emoluments at the minimum of the scale are approximately ₹2.05 lakh per month, including specified allowances and PFRDA’s NPS contribution.

What is the PFRDA Grade A selection process?

The selection process has three stages: Phase I, Phase II and Interview.

Is Phase I counted in the final merit?

No. Phase I is used for shortlisting candidates for Phase II and its marks are not counted towards final selection.

What is the weightage of Phase II and Interview?

Phase II carries 85% weightage, while the Phase III interview carries 15% weightage.

How many candidates are shortlisted for the PFRDA Grade A interview?

Candidates equivalent to five times the number of vacancies are shortlisted for Phase III in order of merit, subject to the prescribed qualifying requirements.

Final Takeaway

The PFRDA Grade A Recruitment 2026 is an important opportunity for candidates looking for an Officer-level career in India’s pension-sector regulator. With 30 vacancies, four specialized streams, a three-stage selection process and gross emoluments of approximately ₹2.05 lakh per month at the minimum of the scale, the recruitment deserves serious attention from eligible aspirants.

Candidates should first check their stream-specific educational qualification and age eligibility, then complete the application before September 24, 2026. Because candidates can apply for a maximum of two streams and cannot modify important details after final submission, the application should be completed carefully.

For exam preparation, candidates should not focus only on Phase I. Phase II carries the major weight in final selection, so preparation should cover both the common subjects and the relevant stream-specific syllabus from the beginning.

Important: Candidates should always verify any subsequent corrigendum, addendum, examination update or change in schedule on the official PFRDA website. The notification states that such updates will be published on the PFRDA website.