ALC recruitment: latest notification
The latest UPSC recruitment was Advertisement No. 21/2022 for 29 Junior Time Scale posts of the Central Labour Service. As of October 2026 UPSC has not advertised a newer ALC recruitment.
| Advertisement | UPSC Advt No. 21/2022 (Vacancy No. 22112106412) |
|---|---|
| Posts | 29 — ALC (Central), Assistant Welfare Commissioner, Assistant Labour Welfare Commissioner, Assistant Director |
| Category split | UR 17, OBC 4, SC 5, ST 1, EWS 2 (2 PwBD within) |
| Pay | Level 10 (7th CPC), Group 'A' |
| Recruitment Test | 20 August 2023 (combined with Labour Enforcement Officer) |
| Interviews & result | Interviews 5–8 Mar 2024 · 29 recommended (21 Mar 2024) |
| Next recruitment | Not yet notified (as of Oct 2026) |
Eligibility
- Degree of a recognised university
- Diploma in Social Work, Labour Welfare, Industrial Relations, Personnel Management or Labour Law
- Desirable: degree in Law
- Upper age 35 years
Usual UPSC relaxations apply: SC/ST 5 years, OBC 3, PwBD 10, ex-servicemen 5, Central Government servants up to 5. Fee ₹25; no fee for SC, ST, PwBD and women.
ALC exam pattern
The scheme of the Recruitment Test held on 20 August 2023.
| Maximum marks | 300 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 2 hours |
| Questions | Objective MCQs — 120 questions as reported |
| Negative marking | ⅓ of the marks for each wrong answer |
| Language | English and Hindi |
| Interview | 100 marks |
|---|---|
| Weightage | RT : Interview = 75 : 25 |
| Min. interview marks | 50 (UR/EWS), 45 (OBC), 40 (SC/ST/PwBD) |
ALC syllabus
The topics in UPSC's notice for the 20 August 2023 Recruitment Test. Unlike the DRDO SAO or ESIC tests, this paper is mostly labour law.
Constitutional provisions relating to labour
Labour in the Concurrent List; Fundamental Rights for workers, employers and industry; Directive Principles on worker welfare, social security, women and children.
Industrial relations
Trade Unions Act, 1926; Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946; Industrial Disputes Act, 1947.
Social security
Employees' Compensation Act, 1923; ESI Act, 1948; Unorganised Workers' Social Security Act, 2008; Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972; Maternity Benefit Act, 1961.
Labour welfare
Factories Act, 1948; Contract Labour (Regulation & Abolition) Act, 1970; Inter-State Migrant Workmen Act, 1979.
Building and other construction workers
BOCW (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996; BOCW Welfare Cess Act, 1996.
Wages and bonus
Payment of Wages Act, 1936; Minimum Wages Act, 1948; Payment of Bonus Act, 1965.
The four Labour Codes
Code on Wages, 2019; Industrial Relations Code, 2020; Code on Social Security, 2020; Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020.
Trade union movement
General mental ability
Current events of national and international importance
ALC cut-off
UPSC has not published the cut-off marks for the 2023 test in the notices we could check. The last widely reported figures are from the 2017 Recruitment Test (25 November 2017, about 3,444 candidates appeared).
| Category | 2017 RT cut-off (/300) |
|---|---|
| General | 191.50 |
| OBC | 174.50 |
| SC | 166.00 |
| ST | 144.50 |
| PwBD (OH) | 161.50 |
Reported figures for the 2017 cycle (35 posts); check with UPSC's cut-off notice. We'll add the 2023 cut-off when UPSC publishes it.
Assistant Labour Commissioner — common questions
Is the UPSC Assistant Labour Commissioner 2026 notification out?
No. As of October 2026 UPSC has not advertised a new ALC recruitment. The latest was Advertisement No. 21/2022 for 29 Central Labour Service posts, with the Recruitment Test on 20 August 2023 and the final result on 21 March 2024.
What is the ALC exam pattern?
A 2-hour objective Recruitment Test for 300 marks in English and Hindi, with one-third negative marking (reported as 120 questions). Shortlisted candidates face a 100-mark interview, and the test and interview are weighted 75:25.
What is the UPSC ALC syllabus?
Constitutional provisions on labour, industrial relations laws, social security laws, labour welfare laws, building and construction workers laws, wages and bonus laws, the four Labour Codes, the trade union movement, general mental ability and current events.
What was the ALC cut-off?
UPSC hasn't published the 2023 cut-off in the notices we checked. In the 2017 Recruitment Test the reported cut-offs out of 300 were General 191.50, OBC 174.50, SC 166.00 and ST 144.50.
Who is eligible for the Assistant Labour Commissioner post?
Graduates who also hold a diploma in Social Work, Labour Welfare, Industrial Relations, Personnel Management or Labour Law, up to 35 years of age with category relaxations. A law degree is desirable.
Which posts are filled through the ALC recruitment?
Junior Time Scale posts of the Central Labour Service: Assistant Labour Commissioner (Central), Assistant Welfare Commissioner, Assistant Labour Welfare Commissioner and Assistant Director.
Sources: UPSC written result 2023 · UPSC interview shortlist notice · UPSC final result 2024. Last checked 27 October 2026.