PFRDA has officially released the Grade A 2026 notification on 3 September 2026. The PFRDA Grade A Notification 2026 has been released by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) for the recruitment of 30 Officer Grade A (Assistant Manager) vacancies. The vacancies have been announced for General, Research, Actuary, and Official Language (Rajbhasha) streams. The online application process started on September 3, 2026, and candidates can apply until September 24, 2026.
As per the official notification, the PFRDA Grade A Phase 1 Exam 2026 will be conducted on October 15, 2026, while the Phase 2 examination will be held on November 20, 2026. Candidates interested in the recruitment should check the PFRDA Grade A Apply Online 2026 link, vacancies, eligibility criteria, important dates, selection process, exam pattern, salary, and application procedure before submitting the form.
Highlights of PFRDA Grade A Notification 2026 (OUT)
The PFRDA Grade A Notification 2026 was officially released on September 3, 2026. Check the major highlights below:
- Organizing Authority: Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA)
- Post Offered: Officer Grade A (Assistant Manager)
- Total Vacancies: 30
- Streams: General, Research, Actuary and Official Language (Rajbhasha)
- Application Dates: September 3 to September 24, 2026
- Phase 1 Exam: October 15, 2026
- Phase 2 Exam: November 20, 2026
- Gross Emoluments: Approximately ₹2.05 lakh per month
- Selection Stages: Phase I, Phase II and Interview
- Age Limit: Maximum 30 years as of July 31, 2026
- Official Website: www.pfrda.org.in
The recruitment advertisement is Advt. No. 03/2026, dated September 3, 2026.
PFRDA Grade A Notification 2026 Overview
PFRDA has invited online applications from eligible Indian citizens for the post of Officer Grade A (Assistant Manager). Unlike the earlier expected stream list, the official 2026 recruitment is for General, Research, Actuary, and Official Language (Rajbhasha) streams.
| Event / Parameter | Official Recruitment Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | PFRDA Grade A Recruitment 2026 |
| Recruiting Body | Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority |
| Post Title | Officer Grade A (Assistant Manager) |
| Advertisement No. | 03/2026 |
| Total Vacancies | 30 |
| Streams Offered | General, Research, Actuary, Official Language (Rajbhasha) |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Application Dates | September 3 to September 24, 2026 |
| Online Apply Link | ACTIVE |
| Phase 1 Exam | October 15, 2026 |
| Phase 2 Exam | November 20, 2026 |
| Selection Process | Phase I, Phase II and Personal Interview |
| Official Website | www.pfrda.org.in |
PFRDA Grade A Apply Online 2026: Direct Application Link
The PFRDA Grade A Apply Online 2026 link is active from September 3, 2026. Candidates must complete their registration and application fee payment by September 24, 2026.
Applicants are advised not to wait until the last date, as heavy traffic on the application portal may cause difficulties while completing registration or fee payment.
PFRDA Grade A Exam Dates 2026 & Important Schedule
The PFRDA Grade A notification has confirmed the complete schedule for the application process, Phase I examination and Phase II examination. The PFRDA phase 1 exam is scheduled to be conducted on 3rd September, while the phase 2 exam will be conducted on 20th November. Check the important exam dates and timeline to know complete details.
| Recruitment Event | Dates & Timeline |
|---|---|
| PFRDA Grade A 2026 Notification PDF | September 3, 2026 |
| Online Application Start Date | September 3, 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply & Pay Fee | September 24, 2026 |
| Phase 1 Call Letter Release | To be intimated through Email/SMS |
| Phase 1 Exam Date 2026 | October 15, 2026 (Thursday) |
| Phase 2 Call Letter Release | To be intimated through Email/SMS |
| Phase 2 Exam Date 2026 | November 20, 2026 (Friday) |
| Interview Dates | To be intimated to candidates shortlisted after Phase II |
Candidates should regularly check the PFRDA website because the authority reserves the right to modify the recruitment schedule.
PFRDA Grade A Notification 2026 vs 2025: What Has Changed?
The PFRDA Grade A Notification 2026 has introduced several major changes compared with the 2025 recruitment cycle, especially in the number of vacancies, streams, salary, probation period, Phase 1 exam pattern, syllabus, and fee exemption rules. In 2026, PFRDA has announced 30 Officer Grade A (Assistant Manager) vacancies, compared with 40 vacancies in 2025. The 2026 recruitment is being conducted only for the General, Research, Actuary and Official Language (Rajbhasha) streams, whereas the 2025 notification included eight streams.
Candidates should particularly note the revised salary and General Stream syllabus before starting their PFRDA Grade A 2026 preparation.
| Particulars | PFRDA Grade A 2026 | PFRDA Grade A 2025 | Major Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Vacancies | 30 posts | 40 posts | Vacancies decreased by 10 posts |
| Streams | General, Research, Actuary, Official Language (Rajbhasha) | General, Finance & Accounts, IT, Research (Economics), Research (Statistics), Actuary, Legal, Official Language | Finance & Accounts, IT and Legal are not separately recruited in 2026; Research is consolidated |
| General Stream Vacancies | 25 | 28 | Reduced by 3 |
| Research Vacancies | 2 | 3 combined in 2025 — Research Economics 1 + Research Statistics 2 | Research categories consolidated into one stream |
| Actuary Vacancies | 2 | 2 | No change |
| Rajbhasha Vacancies | 1 | 1 | No change |
| Application Dates | 3 September to 24 September 2026 | 2 July to 6 August 2025 | New registration window announced |
| Phase 1 Exam Date | 15 October 2026 | 6 September 2025 | Official 2026 date announced |
| Phase 2 Exam Date | 20 November 2026 | 6 October 2025 | Official 2026 date announced |
| Phase 1 Paper 1 Questions | 90 questions for 100 marks | 80 questions for 100 marks | Number of questions increased by 10 |
| Reasoning Questions in Phase 1 | 30 questions | 20 questions | Reasoning increased by 10 questions |
| General Stream Paper 2 Syllabus | Commerce, Accountancy, Management, Finance, Costing, Companies Act, Economics, Pension Sector plus Artificial Intelligence, Media, Marketing & Communication | Commerce, Accountancy, Management, Finance, Costing, Companies Act, Economics and Pension Sector | AI, Media, Marketing & Communication newly added |
| Phase 2 → Interview Shortlisting | Candidates equal to 5 times the vacancies shortlisted in merit order | No fixed 5-times rule stated in the 2025 notification | Clear shortlisting ratio introduced |
| Phase 2 / Interview Weightage | 85% / 15% | 85% / 15% | No change |
| Basic Pay | ₹62,500 | ₹44,500 | Major increase in starting basic pay |
| Approx. Gross Emoluments | ₹2.05 lakh per month | ₹1.57 lakh per month | Approx. ₹48,000 higher per month |
| Probation Period | 2 years | 1 year | Probation increased to two years |
| Application Fee – GEN/OBC/EWS | ₹1,000 including GST | ₹1,000 including GST | No change |
| Fee Exemption | SC/ST/PwBD/Ex-servicemen | SC/ST/PwBD/Ex-servicemen/Women | Women are not listed as a fee-exempt category in the 2026 notification |
PFRDA Assistant Manager Vacancy 2026 Distribution
A total of 30 PFRDA Grade A vacancies have been announced for 2026. The General Stream has the highest number of vacancies with 25 posts, followed by Research and Actuary with 2 posts each and Official Language with 1 post.
| Stream | SC | ST | OBC | EWS | UR/GEN | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | 4 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 9 | 25 |
| Research | 1 | – | – | – | 1 | 2 |
| Actuary | – | – | – | – | 2 | 2 |
| Official Language (Rajbhasha) | – | – | 1 | – | – | 1 |
| Total | 5 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 12 | 30 |
There are also 2 PwBD reservations within the total vacancies in the General Stream—one for Blindness and Low Vision and one for Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
PFRDA Grade A Eligibility Criteria (Age & Qualification)
Candidates must satisfy the educational qualification and age criteria prescribed in the official PFRDA Grade A Notification 2026.
Age Limit and Relaxations
The PFRDA Grade A age limit is calculated as of July 31, 2026.
A candidate must not have exceeded 30 years of age as of July 31, 2026, which means the candidate must have been born on or after August 1, 1996.
Applicable upper-age relaxations include:
- SC/ST: Up to 5 years
- OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): Up to 3 years
- PwBD: 10 years
- PwBD (OBC): 13 years where applicable
- PwBD (SC/ST): 15 years where applicable
- Ex-Servicemen: 5 years, subject to conditions specified in the notification
Educational Qualification for PFRDA Grade A
The educational qualification varies according to the stream. Qualifications are considered as of July 31, 2026.
- General Stream: Master’s Degree/Post Graduate Diploma of minimum two years in any discipline, Bachelor’s Degree in Law, Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, or professional qualifications such as ACA/FCA, ACS/FCS, ACMA/FCMA or CFA.
- Research Stream: Master’s Degree/Post Graduate Diploma of minimum two years in specified areas such as Economics, Commerce, Business Administration, Finance, Statistics, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Big Data Analytics and related disciplines. Certain Mathematics qualifications with a postgraduate diploma in Statistics or related subjects are also accepted.
- Actuary Stream: Graduation from a recognized university/institute along with passing or exemption in all seven Core Principles subjects of the Institute of Actuaries of India examination.
- Official Language (Rajbhasha): Master’s Degree in Hindi/Hindi Translation with English at Bachelor’s level, or specified Master’s qualifications involving Hindi and English as prescribed in the official notification.
Candidates are permitted to apply for a maximum of two streams for which they fulfil the educational eligibility requirements. Separate applications and applicable fees are required for each stream.
How to Apply Online for the PFRDA Grade A 2026 Exam ??
Candidates can apply online for PFRDA Grade A Recruitment 2026 from September 3 to September 24, 2026. Applications submitted through any other mode will not be accepted.
- Visit the official PFRDA website at www.pfrda.org.in.
- Open the Careers section.
- Find “PFRDA Recruitment Exercise – Recruitment of Officer Grade A (Assistant Manager) – 2026.”
- Click on “Apply Online.”
- Select “Click Here for New Registration.”
- Enter your name, contact details and email ID to generate the provisional registration number and password.
- Complete the application form and verify all details carefully.
- Upload your photograph, signature, left thumb impression and handwritten declaration.
- Preview the completed application.
- Complete registration after verifying the information.
- Pay the applicable application fee.
- Submit the application and retain a printout for future reference.
Application Fee
The application fee prescribed under the PFRDA Grade A Notification 2026 is:
| Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| Unreserved/GEN, EWS & OBC | ₹1,000 inclusive of GST |
| SC/ST/PwBD & Ex-Servicemen | Nil |
Candidates applying for more than one eligible stream need to submit separate online applications, and the applicable fee must be paid separately for each application.
PFRDA Officer Grade A Selection Process 2026
The PFRDA Officer Grade A selection process consists of three stages:
- Phase I – Online Screening Examination: Two papers carrying 100 marks each. Phase I marks are used only for shortlisting candidates for Phase II.
- Phase II – Online Examination: Two papers carrying 100 marks each. Phase II performance contributes to final selection.
- Phase III – Interview: Candidates shortlisted after Phase II are called for the interview.
For final selection, Phase II carries 85% weightage and the Interview carries 15% weightage.
PFRDA Grade A Phase 1 & Phase 2 Exam Pattern
The official notification confirms that both Phase I and Phase II consist of two papers of 100 marks each.
This year 3 new components are added: AI, Media, Marketing & Communications in Phase 1 Paper 2 & Phase 2 Paper 2.
Phase 1 Exam Pattern (Screening)
The PFRDA Grade A Phase I Exam will be held on October 15, 2026.
Paper 1 – All Streams
| Subject | Maximum Marks | No. of 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
| Stream/Subject | Maximum Marks | Questions | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Stream – Commerce, Accountancy, Management, Finance, Costing, Companies Act, Economics, Pension Sector, AI, Media, Marketing & Communication | 100 | 50 | 40 Minutes |
| Research, Actuary and Rajbhasha – Specialised Subject | 100 | 50 | 40 Minutes |
There is a negative marking of one-fourth of the marks assigned to a question in both Paper 1 and Paper 2 of Phase I.
Candidates need to clear separate paper-wise cutoffs as well as the aggregate cutoff. Phase I marks will not be included in the final selection.
Phase 2 Exam Pattern (Mains)
The PFRDA Grade A Phase II Exam will be conducted on November 20, 2026.
| Paper | Type of Test | Questions | Max Marks | Duration | Weightage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | English Descriptive Test | 3 | 100 | 60 Minutes | 1/3 |
| Paper 2 | General/Specialised Stream Knowledge | 50 | 100 | 40 Minutes | 2/3 |
There is 1/4th negative marking in Paper 2 of Phase II. Paper 1 will be evaluated only for candidates securing the minimum qualifying marks in Paper 2.
Candidates equal to approximately five times the number of vacancies will be shortlisted in merit order for Phase III, the Interview.
PFRDA Grade A Salary Structure & Allowances
The PFRDA Grade A salary has also been revised in the official 2026 recruitment notification.
The pay scale for Officer Grade A is:
₹62,500 – 3600(4) – 76,900 – 4050(7) – 1,05,250 – EB – 4050(4) – 1,21,450 – 4650(1) – ₹1,26,100 (17 years).
- Initial Basic Pay: ₹62,500 per month
- Gross Emoluments: Approximately ₹2,05,000 per month at the minimum of the scale
- Probation Period: 2 years
The gross emoluments include PFRDA’s NPS contribution along with Grade Allowance, Special Allowance, Special Grade Allowance, Dearness Allowance, Local Allowance, Family Allowance, Special Compensatory Allowance, Learning Allowance and Housing Allowance.
Other benefits include Leave Fare Concession, medical benefits, Personal Accident Insurance, Children Education Allowance, Knowledge Updation Allowance, conveyance expenses, furnishing benefits, computer purchase scheme and meal-card benefits.
Is a Final Year Student Eligible for PFRDA Grade A Exam?
Yes. According to the official PFRDA Grade A Notification 2026, candidates who have appeared for their final qualifying examination and are awaiting results can participate in Phase I, Phase II and Phase III of the selection process.
However, any offer of appointment will be subject to the candidate producing the required documents proving that they have successfully obtained the prescribed qualification within the period allowed by PFRDA.
Conclusion
The PFRDA Grade A Notification 2026 is now officially out for 30 Officer Grade A vacancies, and candidates can apply from September 3 to September 24, 2026. With the Phase 1 exam scheduled for October 15 and Phase 2 for November 20, 2026, aspirants now have a clearly defined preparation timeline.
Candidates should carefully check their stream-wise eligibility and complete their application well before the closing date. To strengthen your preparation for Phase 1 and Phase 2, practice previous-year questions and take regular mock tests on PracticeMock to improve speed, accuracy, and exam readiness.
FAQs on PFRDA Grade A Notification 2026
Is PFRDA Grade A Notification 2026 released?
Yes. The PFRDA Grade A Notification 2026 was released on September 3, 2026, under Advertisement No. 03/2026.
How many vacancies are announced under PFRDA Grade A Recruitment 2026?
PFRDA has announced 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 to submit the PFRDA Grade A online application and pay the applicable fee is September 24, 2026.
When is the PFRDA Grade A Phase 1 Exam 2026?
The PFRDA Grade A Phase 1 Exam 2026 will be conducted on October 15, 2026 (Thursday).
When will PFRDA Grade A Phase 2 be conducted?
The PFRDA Grade A Phase 2 examination is scheduled for November 20, 2026 (Friday).
What is the age limit for PFRDA Grade A Recruitment 2026?
Candidates must not have exceeded 30 years of age as of July 31, 2026. Therefore, an applicant must have been born on or after August 1, 1996, subject to applicable category-wise relaxations.
What is the basic pay of a PFRDA Grade A Officer in 2026?
The initial basic pay for a PFRDA Grade A Officer is ₹62,500 per month, while the present gross monthly emoluments at the minimum of the scale are approximately ₹2.05 lakh.
What is the PFRDA Grade A selection process?
The PFRDA Grade A selection process includes Phase I Online Screening Examination, Phase II Online Examination, and Phase III Interview. The final merit calculation gives 85% weightage to Phase II and 15% to the Interview.
Where can I find the PFRDA Grade A application form link?
Candidates can access the PFRDA Grade A application through the official PFRDA Careers portal. Online registration is open from September 3 to September 24, 2026.
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