What Do You Need for the SO / Steno LDCE?
SO / Steno LDCE at a Glance
Limited Departmental Competitive Examinations for promotion within the central secretariat services, conducted by UPSC under DoPT rules.
As reported from the 2026 notices. Always confirm details in the official notice on upsc.gov.in.
Section Officers’ Grade B LDCE 2026
For promotion to Section Officer in six participating services.
Category I
Central Secretariat Service (CSS).
Category II
Indian Foreign Service Branch ‘B’.
Category III
Railway Board Secretariat Service.
Category VIII
Intelligence Bureau.
Category X
Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service.
Category XI
Employees’ State Insurance Corporation.
Objective and descriptive papers: Paper II covers procedure and financial/service rules; Paper III covers noting, drafting and précis. Objective papers have negative marking. The printed application had to reach UPSC by 23 October 2026. Centres: Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Nagpur — as reported.
Stenographers’ Grade B / Grade I LDCE
For promotion of eligible stenographers in the participating secretariat services.
Select lists
The December 2026 exam covers the 2022, 2023 and 2024 select lists, as reported.
Written papers
As set out in the scheme of the notice.
Skill
Stenography requirements as per the rules for the grade.
Vacancies, papers, marks and skill-test details: see the official notice.
Who Is Eligible?
1. Serving employee
Must belong to a participating service and grade named in the rules.
2. Service and age
Minimum approved service and any age condition, as laid down in the DoPT rules.
3. No relaxation
Eligibility conditions cannot be relaxed, as reported.
4. Application
Apply online on upsconline.nic.in, and for SO, send the printed application through proper channel.
What to Study
A general guide. Always follow the syllabus in the official notice.
Office ProcedureSection Officers — Paper II
- Central Secretariat Manual of Office Procedure
- Receipt, movement and disposal of files
- Record management and e-office
- Parliamentary procedure — questions, assurances, committees
- RTI Act and grievance handling
Financial & Service RulesSection Officers — Paper II
- General Financial Rules and delegation of financial powers
- Budget, sanctions and audit basics
- Fundamental and Supplementary Rules
- Leave, pension and conduct rules (CCS rules)
- Discipline and appeal procedures
Noting, Drafting & PrécisSection Officers — Paper III
- Writing notes on files
- Drafting letters, office memoranda and orders
- Précis writing
- Clear, concise official English
Stenographers’ ExamGrade B / Grade I
- Written papers on general knowledge, language and office procedure, as notified
- Stenography skill relevant to the grade
- Follow the official scheme in the notification for marks and speeds
How to Prepare
About seven weeks to the exam on 12–13 December 2026.
Read the manuals
Manual of Office Procedure, GFR and CCS rules are the core texts.
Use latest editions
Rules are amended often — study the current versions and recent DoPT orders.
Practise drafting
Write notes, office memoranda and letters every week.
Solve past papers
Practise previous LDCE papers under time.
Mind negative marking
Answer objective questions only when reasonably sure.
Stenographers: keep up speed
Practise dictation and transcription regularly.
SO / Steno LDCE 2026 Dates
Notices: 16 September 2026. Online applications: 16 September – 6 October 2026. SO printed application: by 23 October 2026. Exam: 12–13 December 2026, as reported. Always check the official notice.
FAQs
What is the SO / Steno (Grade B / Grade I) LDCE?
Two Limited Departmental Competitive Examinations held by UPSC: one for promotion to Section Officer (Grade B) and one for promotion to Stenographer Grade B / Grade I, in central secretariat and related services. Official notices are on upsc.gov.in.
Who can apply?
Only serving government employees who meet the eligibility conditions in the DoPT rules notified for the exam. It is not open to outside candidates, and the conditions cannot be relaxed.
Which services take part in the SO exam?
For 2026, as reported: Central Secretariat Service, IFS Branch ‘B’, Railway Board Secretariat Service, Intelligence Bureau, AFHQ Civil Service and ESIC.
Is there negative marking?
Yes, in the objective papers of the Section Officers’ exam, as reported. Check the notice for the exact deduction.
How are ties broken?
For the SO exam, ties go to higher total written marks, then Papers II and III together, then Paper III, then age — as reported.
Where is the exam held?
The 2026 Section Officers’ exam centres are Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Nagpur, as reported. Centre changes are not allowed.