UPSC Advt 04/2026 has 29 SAO posts in DRDO at Pay Level 10. Here is everything about the recruitment test — pattern, full syllabus, how the 2024 paper was split, and the cut-offs — plus a complete course of study PDFs, subject-wise tests and full mocks built for it.
Pre-register now and the ₹999 price is held for you. Early-bird ends 31 Dec 2026; ₹1499 after that. No payment today.
UPSC shortlists for interview through a computer-based Recruitment Test (RT). This is the scheme used in the last test (9 March 2024).
| Questions | 120 objective MCQs (2.5 marks each) |
|---|---|
| Total marks | 300 |
| Duration | 2 hours |
| Negative marking | ⅓ of the marks for a wrong answer (−0.83) |
| Part A | General English — English only |
| Part B | General Ability — English & Hindi |
| Interview | 100 marks · RT : Interview = 75 : 25 |
Minimum interview marks to be considered: 50 (UR/EWS), 45 (OBC), 40 (SC/ST/PwBD) out of 100.
UPSC used the same topic list in both recent tests. It is a general-ability paper with a management layer — not a rules/CCS paper.
Understanding of the language and workmanlike use of words — vocabulary, grammar, usage, comprehension.
HR planning, recruitment, training, performance, compensation, industrial relations, OB.
Marketing concept & mix, consumer behaviour, STP, product, pricing, distribution, promotion.
Accounting basics, final accounts, ratios, costing, budgeting, capital budgeting, working capital.
Provisions, procedure, exemptions, Information Commissions, penalties, amendments.
Arithmetic, data interpretation and verbal/non-verbal reasoning.
Hardware/software, MS Office, internet, networking, cyber security.
Everyday physics, chemistry and biology; science & technology.
Principles of administration, Indian administration, governance, schemes, economy.
Freedom struggle, Constitution, Union government and polity.
Last 12–18 months: national, international, economy, defence & DRDO.
Advt 04/2026 does not print a separate syllabus. We will update this page the moment UPSC issues the RT notice.
Approximate number of questions by area in the 9 March 2024 test (120 questions). English, polity/RTI, current affairs, science and computers carried more than half the paper.
| Area | Qs |
|---|
| Category | 2024 RT cut-off (out of 300) |
|---|---|
| UR | 167.50 |
| OBC | 160.83 |
| EWS | 130.83 |
| SC | 147.50 |
| ST | 130.00 |
20-post cycle (Advt 14/2023), test held 9 March 2024.
Complete study PDFs for the subjects that decide this paper, 10 online tests of 50 questions in every subject, and 10 full mocks in the real exam pattern. Opens in December 2026.
HRM, Marketing, Financial Management, Accounting, RTI, Polity, Public Administration, Freedom Movement, Science, Computer and Current Affairs.
10 tests × 50 questions in each of 14 subjects — 7,000 questions with solutions and scores.
120 questions · 300 marks · 2 hours · −⅓ marking, Part A English + Part B General Ability — exactly like the real RT.
Test 1 of every subject (14 tests) and Full Mock 1 are free, plus a free sample chapter from the PDFs.
| Subject | Study PDF | Tests | Free |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human Resource Management | 10 | Test 1 | |
| Marketing Management | 10 | Test 1 | |
| Financial Management | 10 | Test 1 | |
| Accounting | 10 | Test 1 | |
| Right to Information Act | 10 | Test 1 | |
| Polity | 10 | Test 1 | |
| Public Administration & Development Issues | 10 | Test 1 | |
| Indian Freedom Movement | 10 | Test 1 | |
| General Science | 10 | Test 1 | |
| Computer | 10 | Test 1 | |
| Current Affairs | 10 | Test 1 | |
| General English | Practice tests | 10 | Test 1 |
| Numerical Ability | Practice tests | 10 | Test 1 |
| Logical Reasoning (selected chapters) | Practice tests | 10 | Test 1 |
| Full mocks (120 Q · 300 marks · 2 h) | All subjects | 10 | Mock 1 |
| Total | 11 PDFs | 150 tests · 8,200 Q | 15 tests |
Every subject test has 50 questions and every full mock 120, all with solutions. One sample chapter from the study PDFs is free to download.
UPSC hasn't announced it yet. In the last cycle the advertisement came in July 2023 and the test was on 9 March 2024, so a test in early 2027 is likely for Advt 04/2026. We'll update this page as soon as the RT notice is out.
No. The 2022 and 2024 tests followed the general-ability syllabus above — English, HRM, marketing, accounting, RTI, reasoning, computers, science, public administration, freedom movement and current events. Service rules matter more at the interview stage.
Test 1 of every subject (14 tests of 50 questions), Full Mock 1 (120 questions) and one sample chapter from the study PDFs. You can try them before paying.
No payment now. You reserve the ₹999 early-bird price. When the course opens in December 2026 you'll get a message with the link to create your account and pay. After 31 December 2026 the price is ₹1499.
No — TrickySSC Exams has its own accounts, separate from the SSC site. You'll create one when the course opens.
Yes, a large part of it. HRM, accounting, computers, English and current events also come up in other UPSC administrative and EPFO-type recruitment tests.
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