The Government of India’s Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation is among the most prominent social security organisations globally. The EPFO, under the Ministry of Labour & Employment, maintains almost 25 crore accounts of its members.
The organisation is rapidly expanding, aided by the growth in the organised business sector. In addition, new entrants from the MSME sector, crossing over the mandatory limit for PF membership, also contribute to the fast growth of EPFO. As a result, the organisation has to regularly fill up the additional human resource requirements.
UPSC EPFO recruitment exam is a national-level exam conducted annually to recruit for positions like compliance and accounts officers. The EPFO offers an attractive career option to aspirants looking for a job in the government.
UPSC EPFO Exam Pattern
UPSC EPFO syllabus has two steps – i) Written test and ii) Interview. The shortlisted candidates from the written exam appear for the interview round.
The written exam is 100 marks and carries a weightage of 75% in the final score. The interview round is also 100 marks, with a weightage of 25% in the final score.
Preparing for the UPSC EPFO
The objective of any competitive selection process is to induct candidates who can quickly fit into the professional requirements of the position. Therefore, the first round of the test is primarily to shortlist the vast number of applicants. The preparations, therefore, must start with an explicit understanding of the UPSC EPFO syllabus and the pattern of the test.
The first exam, also known as the general ability test, is usually conducted in offline mode. As per the earlier formats, there are 120 objective-type questions to be answered in two hours. The test is for 300 marks with a penalty for every wrong answer.
Questions are framed from the following nine sections unless mentioned otherwise in the applicable prospectus.
- General English
- Current Events and Development Issues
- Indian Polity and Economy
- Industrial Relations and Labour Laws
- General Accounting Principles
- General Mental Ability and Quantitative Aptitude
- General Science and Computer
- History: Indian Freedom Struggle
- Social Security in India
Exam Preparation: Role of books
Books are essential for your preparation for the EPFO recruitment test. There are several preparatory books available in the market. The choice of books, however, must be based on: a) complete coverage of the exam syllabus, b) easy explanatory style of writing, c) sample questions for practice d) inclusion of earlier exam papers.
Are reading books enough to crack UPSC EPFO?
Reading books should be a crucial part of your preparation for the exam. But like all competitive selection tests, a clear strategy is necessary for success.
Study Plan
You may start with a topic-wise study plan. Identifying the critical chapters, concepts and issues and following them up with revisions should be an ideal study programme. Preparing notes for important topics also help many aspirants.
Source of Information
Once you have selected the study books carefully, it is advisable to stick to one source for each subject. Reading different books on the same topic may lead to confusion.
Priority of topics
Any competitive exam will focus more on reasoning ability (or mental ability), quantitative aptitude, and basic English at the first level. EPFO, a social sector organisation, will also test a candidate’s basic understanding of industrial relations and labour laws, social security measures, etc. It is best to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in India on social security. Therefore, you may set your priorities.
Practice tests
Mock tests are a significant way to prepare for a competitive exam. It facilitates quick thinking within a given time frame.
A well-planned strategy comprising the right guidance books, a proper study plan, and taking mock tests can help you crack the UPSC EPFO exam. But beyond books, study notes and a few critical tips can make the task smoother. BYJU’s Exam Prep., an online examination guide, provides comprehensive preparation materials from subject experts for the EPFO recruitment exam.
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