FCI Exam Pattern, Eligibility, Important Dates, Cut Off

The last Category III advertisement, Advt. No. 01/2022-FCI, Category III zone-wise recruitment of non-executives, is what most people mean by "the FCI exam". It covered Assistant Grade III.

It was an online exam in two phases: Phase I common to all profiles, Phase II depending on the profile, with a second paper for the technical and accounts profiles.

FCI hasn't published a pattern since 2022, so no mark table is given. Take the section weights, negative marking and timing from the next advertisement.

FCI sets eligibility for each advertisement and post. There's no standing rule.

The posts open now are for retired or serving professionals: retired IT staff (Consultant IT), retired doctors (GDMO), retired civil engineers (Consultant), government or PSU officers on deputation (AGM CE and EM), and a Company Secretary on contract. None is open to fresh graduates.

Category III is where graduate entry sits, in Assistant Grade III profiles (general, depot, accounts and technical), each with its own qualification. Accounts has usually needed a commerce or accountancy background, technical a science or agriculture one. Qualification, age limit and relaxations come with each advertisement.

The 2022 Category III recruitment ran zone-wise:

• Phase I, common to all Assistant Grade III profiles.
• Phase II, by profile, with a second paper for technical and accounts.
• Document verification.

Merit is drawn within the zone you apply to. The contract and deputation posts open now have no exam; they're filled by application and interview.

Apply online through the portal named in the advertisement. FCI used the IBPS online platform for its 2022 Category III recruitment. Fee, exemptions and dates come with each advertisement.

FCI posts three fraud warnings on its recruitment page. If you can't find an advertisement on the FCI Recruitments page, treat it as fake.

The Food Corporation of India is a statutory corporation under the Department of Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. It buys grain at minimum support price, keeps buffer stocks, and supplies the public distribution system.

It has five zones (North, South, East, West and North East), each with regional and district offices and depots, plus Headquarters in New Delhi and the Institute of Food Security. Category III recruitment is zone-wise, and you're posted within the zone you apply to.

No regular FCI recruitment is open as of 7 September 2026, and FCI publishes no recruitment calendar. The last regular advertisements were Category III and II in 2022 and Categories I and IV in 2021.

Any new advertisement will appear on the FCI Recruitments page under Current Recruitments, with its PDF. FCI hasn't followed a set month in past cycles.

No cut-off figures apply now; there's no live recruitment. Category III cut-offs are set by zone, post and category, and the last cycle was 2022.

Results and any cut-offs for a future recruitment will appear on the FCI Recruitments page.

1. Check fci.gov.in before believing any FCI notification, and don't plan your year around the 33,566 figure.
2. Know which category fits you. Graduate entry is Category III; the posts open now are for retired professionals.
3. Prepare the general aptitude core. FCI's Phase I has been English, reasoning, quantitative aptitude and general awareness, much like bank and PSU clerical papers.
4. Sit the exams that are open. SSC, IBPS and the Railway Recruitment Boards are recruiting, and their papers overlap heavily with FCI's Phase I.
5. Pick your zone carefully when FCI next recruits; vacancies and cut-offs differ by zone.

Food Corporation of India: fci.gov.in

Recruitments: fci.gov.in/recruitment, with Current and Previous Recruitments, and FCI's fraud notices (Beware of Fraudsters and two public notices) at the top

Last Category III recruitment portal: Advt. No. 01/2022-FCI, Category III zone-wise recruitment of non-executives

Is there an FCI recruitment open right now?

Not for regular posts. As of 7 September 2026 only contract, deputation and re-employment posts are listed, mostly for retired professionals.

What about the 33,566 vacancies?

That figure isn't from FCI. No such advertisement is on its recruitment page.

When was the last Assistant Grade III recruitment?

2022, Advt. No. 01/2022-FCI.

Is FCI recruitment national or zone-wise?

Category III is zone-wise, across North, South, East, West and North East.

What was the exam pattern?

Two online phases: Phase I common to all, Phase II by profile.

Where will the next notification appear?

On the Recruitments page of fci.gov.in.