PFRDA is the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority. It is a regulatory body organization that conducts recruitment of Grade A officers. Many people ask whether the PFRDA exam is conducted every year? After research we found the PFRDA Grade A exam is not conducted every year on a fixed schedule. The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority releases recruitment notifications based on available vacancies and organisational requirements, so candidates should not expect a notification annually. In recent years, recruitment was conducted in 2021, 2022, and 2025, with gaps in between.
The PFRDA Grade A (Assistant Manager) exam is a national-level regulatory recruitment process conducted for various streams. For 2026 aspirants, the PFRDA Grade A Notification 2026 was released on September 3, 2026, announcing 30 vacancies. The Phase 1 exam is scheduled for October 15, 2026, followed by Phase 2 on November 20, 2026. This article covers the exam frequency, notification details, eligibility, exam pattern, and preparation strategy to help aspirants plan their preparation effectively.
Checkout the basic details about the PFRDA Grade A exam below:
| Detail | Information |
| Notification Released | September 3, 2026 |
| Total Vacancies | 30 (General, Research, Actuary, Official Language) |
| Application Window | September 3 to September 24, 2026 |
| Phase 1 Exam Date | October 15, 2026 |
| Phase 2 Exam Date | November 20, 2026 |
| Age Limit | Maximum 30 years (as on July 31, 2026) |
| Starting Basic Pay | Rs. 62,500 per month |
| Official Website | www.pfrda.org.in |
| Selection Stages | Phase 1, Phase 2, Interview |
| Exam Conducted Through | IBPS |
There are 30 vacancies in total for Officer Grade A (Assistant Manager), spread across General (25), Research (2), Actuary (2), and Official Language/Rajbhasha (1) streams.
The stream-wise and category-wise vacancy distribution is as follows:
| Stream | Total Vacancies |
| General | 25 |
| Research | 2 |
| Actuary | 2 |
| Official Language (Rajbhasha) | 1 |
| Total | 30 |
Category-wise distribution for the overall recruitment:
| Category | Vacancies |
| UR/General | 12 |
| OBC | 8 |
| EWS | 3 |
| SC | 5 |
| ST | 2 |
| PwBD | 2 (included above) |
Candidates can apply for a maximum of 2 streams, with a separate online application and fee required for each stream.
PFRDA exam date 2026 has been officially confirmed in the notification. The selection process is a three-stage structure designed to test both general aptitude and domain knowledge.
The three stages are:
The final selection is based on Phase 2 scores and interview performance, making it crucial for candidates to perform well in both the written exams and the interview round.
The PFRDA Grade A Exam Pattern and Syllabus 2026 have seen some important changes, especially in the General Stream Paper 2 syllabus. The number of questions in Phase 1 Paper 1 has increased from 80 to 90, with Reasoning now having 30 questions instead of 20, while the total marks and duration remain unchanged.
| Paper | Subjects | Questions | Marks | Duration |
| Paper 1 | English, Reasoning, Quant, GK | 90 | 100 | 60 mins |
| Paper 2 | Professional Knowledge (Stream-Specific) | 50 | 100 | 40 mins |
| Paper | Subjects | Marks | Duration |
| Paper 1 | Descriptive English | 100 | 60 mins |
| Paper 2 | Professional Knowledge (Stream-Specific) | 100 | 60 mins |
Note: Only those who clear Phase 2 of the exam will move on to the interview stage. Marks from Phase 2 will count for 85%, and the interview will make up the remaining 15%. Candidates can choose to give the interview in either Hindi or English.
PFRDA has added 3 new subjects to Paper 2 of both Phase 1 and Phase 2: Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning (ML), Media, and Marketing and Communication.
These additions make 2026 a pivotal year for aspirants. Candidates who have been preparing for SEBI Grade A or RBI Grade B already have a head start given the syllabus overlaps with Economics, Finance, and Commerce.
Before filling out the application, every candidate must confirm their eligibility. Missing even a single criterion can lead to rejection at a later stage.
The educational qualifications vary depending on the stream. Candidates must possess the prescribed degree or postgraduate qualification from a recognized university or institution in the relevant field. For the General Stream, candidates with a Master’s degree or a minimum two-year postgraduate diploma in any discipline, or a Bachelor’s degree in Law or Engineering, or professional qualifications such as CA, CS, CMA, or CFA are eligible.
You must not have crossed 30 years of age as on July 31, 2026, meaning you should be born on or after 1st August 1996. Category-wise age relaxation applies as per government norms.
| Category | Age Relaxation |
| OBC | 3 years |
| SC/ST | 5 years |
| PwBD | 10 years |
| Ex-Servicemen | As per government rules |
| Category | Fee |
| GEN / EWS / OBC | Rs. 1,000 |
| SC / ST / PwBD / Ex-Servicemen | Nil |
The pay scale for the Assistant Manager (Grade A) post has been significantly revised. The starting basic pay has increased from Rs. 44,500 to Rs. 62,500, while the maximum basic pay has increased from Rs. 89,150 to Rs. 1,26,100 over 17 years.
The in-hand salary is now approximately Rs. 1,51,000 to Rs. 1,60,000 per month. This revised pay scale makes the PFRDA Grade A post one of the most attractive regulatory sector jobs available to graduates under 30.
The application process is fully online. Here are the steps to complete your registration without error:
The online application process is active from September 3 to September 24, 2026. Eligible candidates can submit their applications through the official PFRDA website.
Since PFRDA does not follow a fixed annual schedule, the smartest approach is to build a preparation foundation strong enough to serve multiple regulatory exams simultaneously.
Phase 1 Focus (October Exam):
Phase 2 Focus (November Exam):
Key Preparation Tips:
For structured mock tests and topic-wise practice, PracticeMock offers free and paid resources specifically designed for regulatory body exams like PFRDA Grade A.
To summarize, PFRDA Grade A is not conducted every year. The recruitment follows a need-based and irregular cycle, with recent notifications released in 2021, 2022, 2025, and 2026, while no Grade A exam was conducted in 2023 or 2024.
For 2026, the PFRDA Grade A Notification is officially out for 30 vacancies, and candidates can apply until September 24, 2026. Phase 1 is scheduled for October 15, 2026, followed by Phase 2 on November 20, 2026. The 2026 recruitment also introduces AI/ML, Media, and Marketing and Communication as new subjects/streams, while the starting basic pay has been revised to ₹62,500 per month.
Therefore, aspirants should not wait for PFRDA Grade A recruitment to be announced annually. Since vacancies are released according to organizational requirements, eligible candidates should make the most of the PFRDA Grade A 2026 recruitment opportunity and prepare according to the latest exam pattern and syllabus
The gap years in the PFRDA recruitment cycle are not a reason to stop preparing. They are a window to build a stronger foundation so that when the next notification drops, you are ready from day one. Candidates who stay exam-ready across regulatory body exams are the ones who ultimately crack PFRDA Grade A. Practising with PracticeMock’s PFRDA Grade A mock tests can help you assess your preparation, improve time management, and build confidence before the actual exam.
| Related Article | Answer Text |
| PFRDA Grade A Notification 2026 | Candidates preparing for PFRDA Grade A should first check the latest notification for important dates, vacancies, eligibility, exam pattern, and the selection process. |
| PFRDA Grade A Eligibility Criteria | Before applying, candidates must verify their age, educational qualification, nationality, and other eligibility conditions. |
| PFRDA Grade A Study Plan | A structured PFRDA Grade A study plan helps candidates cover the syllabus, manage their preparation time, and practice effectively for both Phase 1 and Phase 2. |
No, PFRDA does not conduct the Grade A exam every year. In the last few years, the exam was conducted in 2025, 2022, and 2021.
The PFRDA Grade A Notification 2026 was officially released on September 3, 2026. The application window is open from September 3 to September 24, 2026. Candidates can apply at www.pfrda.org.in for 30 Assistant Manager vacancies across four streams.
The PFRDA Exam Date 2026 for Phase 1 is October 15, 2026, and Phase 2 is scheduled for November 20, 2026. The interview date has not yet been announced. Candidates should regularly check the official PFRDA website for admit card updates.
A total of 30 vacancies have been announced for PFRDA Grade A 2026 across General (25), Research (2), Actuary (2), and Official Language (1) streams. This is a slight reduction from the 40 vacancies released in the 2025 cycle. Apply before September 24, 2026.
No, PFRDA does not recruit every year on a fixed pattern. When recruitment does happen, the three-stage process of Phase 1, Phase 2, and Interview remains consistent. The 2026 cycle added new subjects like AI/ML, Media, and Marketing and Communication to the syllabus.
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