The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the EPFO exam to recruit candidates for the post of Enforcement Officer/Accounts Officer and Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner (APFC) in the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation. Aspirants preparing for the upcoming exam must thoroughly understand the UPSC EPFO Syllabus 2025 and the latest exam pattern to structure their preparation effectively. This article provides detailed information on the UPSC EPFO 2025 syllabus, exam pattern, and steps to download the official syllabus PDF.
UPSC EPFO Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2025
In the UPSC EPFO 2025, exam, the selection process has two stages – first is a written test called the Recruitment Test (RT), and the second is an Interview. The written test is objective (multiple-choice questions) and includes topics like Indian Polity, Economy, Labour Laws, and General Accounting. Candidates who pass this test are called for an Interview based on their personality. Read this article to get full details about the syllabus, exam pattern, and how to prepare for the exam.
UPSC EPFO Syllabus 2025 (Subject wise)
Before starting their preparation, candidates must know that it is important to understand the subjects covered in the UPSC EPFO exam. This exam checks conceptual understanding, awareness about governance and economy, and general intelligence. Here is the detailed subject-wise syllabus:
1. General English
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- Vocabulary (Synonyms, Antonyms)
- Grammar (Tenses, Prepositions, Active-Passive, Direct-Indirect speech)
- Comprehension Passages
- Spotting Errors
- Fill in the blanks
- Sentence Improvement and Rearrangement
2. Indian Freedom Struggle
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- Early resistance movements (1857 Revolt)
- Role of INC and moderates-extremists
- Gandhian movements (Non-Cooperation, Civil Disobedience, Quit India)
- Important leaders: Gandhi, Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose, Bhagat Singh, etc.
- British policies and their impact on Indian society
3. Current Events and Developmental Issues
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- Government schemes and programs
- National and global summits
- Reports by international organizations (UN, IMF, World Bank)
- India’s international relations
- Major socio-economic initiatives
- Climate change, health, education, and development issues
4. Indian Polity and Economy
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- Constitution of India: Preamble, Fundamental Rights, DPSPs, Amendments
- Parliament, President, Prime Minister, Judiciary
- Federalism, Panchayati Raj, Election Commission
- Economic Planning, Budget, Banking System
- Inflation, GDP, Fiscal Deficit
- Policies related to trade, industry, and labor
5. General Accounting Principles
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- Double-entry system
- Journal entries, Ledger, Trial Balance
- Depreciation, Cash Book, Bank Reconciliation
- Basic financial statements: Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet
- Principles of Accounting Standards (briefly)
6. Industrial Relations and Labour Laws
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- History and evolution of labor laws in India
- Trade Unions Act, Industrial Disputes Act, Factories Act
- Wage Code, Social Security Code, Occupational Safety Code
- Recent labour reforms and their implications
- EPFO-related Acts and compliance norms
7. General Mental Ability and Quantitative Aptitude
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- Number Series, Coding-Decoding, Blood Relations
- Puzzles, Seating Arrangement, Directions
- Arithmetic: Percentages, Profit & Loss, Time & Work, SI & CI
- Data Interpretation: Tables, Bar Graphs, Pie Charts
8. Social Security in India
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- EPF, EPS, and ESI Schemes
- Pensions and Provident Funds
- Social Welfare Schemes like PM-SYM, Atal Pension Yojana
- Role of EPFO and other regulatory bodies
- International best practices in social security
9. General Science and Computer Applications
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- Physics, Chemistry, and Biology basics (Class 8–10 level)
- Diseases, Vaccines, Scientific Innovations
- Computers: MS Office, Internet, Email, Cyber Security
- Digital India and related government initiatives
UPSC EPFO APFC Syllabus 2025
As discussed earlier, the UPSC EPFO APFC syllabus builds upon the UPSC EPFO EO/AO syllabus with the addition of a few more subjects. These additional subjects include:
Note: The UPSC EPFO APFC syllabus is largely the same as the UPSC EPFO EO/AO syllabus. However, APFC aspirants must additionally study the following four subjects:
- Indian Culture, Heritage, and Freedom Struggle
- Population, Development, and Globalisation
- Auditing and Insurance
- Statistics
1. Indian Culture, Heritage & Freedom Movements
- Decline of the Mughal Empire and Rise of Regional Powers
- Advent of Europeans
- Rise of the British in India
- Early Reforms During British Rule
- Revolt of 1857
- Rise of Nationalism & Formation of the INC
- Swadeshi Movement and Rise of Extremism
- Important Events from 1908 – 1918
- Important Events from 1919 – 1929
- Important Events from 1929 – 1939
- Important Events from 1940 – 1947
- Socio–Religious Reform Movements
- Miscellaneous Topics of Modern History
- Miscellaneous Topics of Ancient and Medieval History
- Religion & Philosophy in India
- Sculptures & Architecture in India
- Temple Architecture in India
- Indian Music
- Indian Dance Forms
- Indian Paintings
- Indian Languages & Literature
2. Population, Development and Globalization
- Population
- Development
- Globalisation
3. Auditing and Insurance
- Concepts of Auditing
- Introduction to Insurance
- Principles of Insurance
- Types of Insurance
- Insurance as a Part of Social Security
4. Statistics
- Statistical Concepts
UPSC EPFO 2025 Syllabus PDF
The UPSC EPFO 2025 syllabus PDF is available on the official UPSC website. It outlines all the major topics from General English to Labour Laws and Social Security. Candidates must refer to this official document to avoid studying out-of-syllabus topics. The syllabus helps aspirants prioritise subjects, select proper resources, and prepare in a structured manner. Downloading and printing the syllabus ensures that you have a handy guide for daily tracking. This syllabus has been provided in this article for candidates.
Download UPSC EPFO Syllabus 2025 PDF
UPSC EPFO Syllabus Comparison with Other Exams
The UPSC EPFO (EO/AO & APFC) exam includes a mix of general and specialized subjects. While it overlaps with major exams like UPSC CSE and SSC CGL in areas like General Studies and English, it also contains exclusive topics such as Labour Laws, Auditing, and Social Security. The following comparison highlights key similarities and differences.
UPSC EPFO vs. UPSC CSE (IAS)
Feature | UPSC EPFO | UPSC CSE (IAS) |
---|---|---|
Exam Type | Single MCQ-based paper | Prelims (MCQ), Mains (Descriptive), Interview |
Common Subjects | Polity, History, Current Affairs, English, Maths | Same subjects but more in-depth |
Unique Subjects | Labour Laws, Accounting, Auditing, Social Security | Essay, Ethics, Optional Subjects, IR |
Difficulty Level | Moderate | High |
Nature of Questions | Objective and factual | Analytical and conceptual |
UPSC EPFO vs. SSC CGL
Feature | UPSC EPFO | SSC CGL |
---|---|---|
Common Sections | English, Maths, Reasoning, Current Affairs | English, Quant, Reasoning, General Awareness |
Unique Subjects | Labour Laws, Social Security, Accounting | Static GK, Science, Geography |
Exam Structure | Single stage (written) + interview | Tier 1, Tier 2, and sometimes Tier 3 |
Difficulty Level | Moderate | Tier 2 sections are comparatively tougher |
Subject Focus | Laws, Government Schemes, Auditing | Aptitude, Static GK, Current Affairs |
UPSC EPFO Exam Pattern 2025
Understanding the UPSC EPFO 2025 exam pattern is important for time management and strategic preparation. The EPFO exam follows a two-stage selection process, starting with a written test followed by a personal interview. The written test is conducted in offline mode and includes objective-type questions with negative marking. Check the table for full information:
Stages | Mode | Type | Duration | Marks | Negative Marking |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Recruitment Test | Offline (OMR) | Objective (MCQ) | 2 Hours | 300 | 1/3rd per wrong answer |
Interview | Offline | Personality Test | – | 100 | No |
How to Cover UPSC EPFO Syllabus 2025?
The UPSC EPFO 2025 syllabus is vast but manageable with the right plan. Since the paper includes both static and dynamic sections, aspirants must prepare strategically to score well.
Here are some effective tips to cover the syllabus:
- Start with the UPSC EPFO 2025 official syllabus PDF: Read it carefully and mark all topics to be covered.
- Create a weekly/monthly study schedule: Allocate time to each subject and revise regularly.
- Refer to standard books: Like Laxmikanth for Polity, NCERTs for basics, and Ramesh Singh for Economy.
- Stay updated with current affairs: Use sources like PIB, newspapers, and monthly magazines like Yojana.
- Solve previous year papers and mock tests: To understand the trend and improve speed and accuracy.
- Make short notes for revision: Especially for factual subjects like labour laws and accounting principles.
Check Related Links | |
UPSC EPFO Previous Year Papers | UPSC EPFO Notification 2025 |