UPSC Recruitment 2026: Vacancy across DRDO, mines and culture ministry; check vacancy details - Application window closes May 29

The Union Public Service Commission has thrown open applications for 45 permanent central government positions spanning technical, administrative, academic and language roles, giving eligible candidates a narrow three-week window to apply before the deadline shuts on May 29, 2026.

The Commission published the recruitment under Advertisement No. 04/2026 on May 9, with the online application portal live at upsconline.nic.in/ora from May 9 to May 29, 2026. The PIB confirmed the notification on May 11, urging candidates to follow detailed instructions on the official UPSC website at upsc.gov.in.

The 45 vacancies span prestigious central government organisations including the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) under the Ministry of Defence, the Indian Bureau of Mines under the Ministry of Mines, the Ministry of Culture, and the Union Territory Administration of Ladakh.

The single largest opening in this drive is 29 posts of Senior Administrative Officer Grade-II in DRDO. Candidates applying for this role must hold a Bachelor's degree from a recognised university or institution and possess at least three years of experience in administration, establishment or accounts work. The upper age limit for this post is 35 years, with relaxations applicable as per government norms.

Beyond the DRDO positions, the advertisement covers Associate Professors and Assistant Professors across engineering disciplines including Electrical, Mechanical and Structural Engineering, along with Assistant Mining Engineers and Translator posts. The recruitment also includes roles such as Assistant Library and Information Officer, making this one of the more diverse single-advertisement drives the Commission has issued this year.

All posts are Group A and Group B Gazetted permanent positions carrying pay scales under the 7th Pay Commission, with the Senior Administrative Officer Grade-II posts placed at Pay Level 10. In addition to basic pay, selected candidates will receive Dearness Allowance, HRA, Transport Allowance, National Pension System benefits, and medical facilities as per central government rules.

The application fee is Rs 25 for General, OBC and EWS male candidates. Women, SC, ST and PwBD applicants are fully exempted from payment. Fee can be submitted online through Net Banking, Visa, MasterCard, RuPay Debit or Credit Cards, or UPI. No offline applications will be accepted under any circumstances.

The selection process will involve shortlisting based on qualifications and experience, and in cases of large applicant pools, the Commission may conduct a Recruitment Test before the final Personality Test. UPSC has clearly stated that meeting minimum eligibility does not guarantee an interview call.

With the window open for just 21 days and no indication of any extension, candidates are advised to complete their One-Time Registration on the ORA portal, verify eligibility carefully against each post's specific criteria, and submit their applications well before the May 29 deadline of 6 PM IST.