The PFRDA Grade A Officer (Assistant Manager) recruitment is a popular opportunity for candidates looking to build a career in India’s pension sector. The PFRDA Grade A 2026 selection process has three stages Phase 1 (Online Screening Examination), Phase 2 (Online Examination), and Phase 3 (Interview). Phase 1 is used to shortlist candidates for Phase 2, while Phase 2 and the Interview are considered for the final selection.
What is the selection process for PFRDA Grade A officers?
The PFRDA Grade A selection process consists of three stages Phase 1 (Online Screening Examination), Phase 2 (Online Examination), and Phase 3 (Interview). Phase 1 and Phase 2 are conducted online, while Phase 3 is the interview stage.
| Phase | Purpose | Key Points |
| Phase 1 | Screening Examination | Two objective papers of 100 marks each; used only for shortlisting; 1/4th negative marking in both papers |
| Phase 2 | Online Examination | Two papers of 100 marks each; Paper 1 is descriptive English and Paper 2 is stream-specific; carries 85% weightage |
| Phase 3 | Interview | Interview for candidates shortlisted after Phase II; carries 15% weightage in final selection |
What is the PFRDA Grade A exam pattern?
PFRDA Grade A Exam Pattern 2026 comprises of 3 stages Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 3 (Interview). Phase 1 is a screening test with two objective papers of 100 marks each. Phase 2 also has two 100-mark papers, including Descriptive English and a stream-specific objective paper. The final stage is the Interview.
PFRDA Grade A Phase 1 exam pattern
Phase 1 is an online screening examination consisting of two papers. Paper 1 is common to all streams, while Paper 2 covers General Stream subjects or the specialised subject for other streams. Phase 1 is scheduled to be held on 15th October 2026.
| Phase & Paper | Details |
|---|---|
| Phase 1 – Paper 1 | Subjects: English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, Test of Reasoning, General Awareness including Financial Sector Marks: 100 Questions: 90 Duration: 60 minutes Type: MCQs Negative Marking: 1/4th of the marks assigned to the question |
| Phase 1 – Paper 2 | General Stream: Commerce, Accountancy, Management, Finance, Costing, Companies Act, Economics, Pension Sector, AI, Media, Marketing & Communication Other Streams: Specialised subject related to the stream Marks: 100 Questions: 50 Duration: 40 minutes Type: MCQs Negative Marking: 1/4th of the marks assigned to the question |
Has the PFRDA Grade A Phase 1 Paper 1 pattern changed?
Yes. Phase 1 Paper 1 now has 90 questions instead of 80, while the exam duration remains 60 minutes. The increase is due to the Reasoning section, which now has 30 questions instead of 20. The paper still carries 100 marks, making effective time management and question selection important.
| Section | 2025 Questions | 2026 Questions | Marks |
| English Language | 20 | 20 | 25 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 20 | 20 | 25 |
| Test of Reasoning | 20 | 30 | 25 |
| General Awareness | 20 | 20 | 25 |
| Total | 80 | 90 | 100 |
PFRDA Grade A Phase 2 exam pattern
Phase 2 is an online exam consisting of two papers of 100 marks each. Paper 1 is a descriptive English test, while Paper 2 consists of objective questions based on the General Stream or the relevant specialised stream. Phase 2 is scheduled for 20th November 2026.
| Phase & Paper | Details |
|---|---|
| Phase II – Paper 1 | Subject: English (Descriptive Test) to test drafting skills Marks: 100 Questions: 3 Duration: 60 minutes Type: Descriptive Weightage: 1/3rd of Phase II |
| Phase II – Paper 2 | General Stream: Commerce, Accountancy, Management, Finance, Costing, Companies Act, Economics, Pension Sector, AI, Media, Marketing & Communication Other Streams: Specialised subject related to the stream Marks: 100 Questions: 50 Duration: 40 minutes Type: MCQs Weightage: 2/3rd of Phase II Negative Marking: 1/4th of the marks assigned to the question |
Paper 1 will be evaluated only for candidates who obtain the minimum qualifying marks in Paper 2. Candidates up to five times the number of vacancies will be shortlisted for Phase III, in order of merit.
PFRDA Grade A Phase 3 Interview
Candidates who qualify in Phase 2 are called for the Interview, which is the final stage of the PFRDA Grade A selection process. The Interview can be conducted in Hindi or English. For final selection, Phase 2 carries 85% weightage, while the Interview carries 15%. The final merit is based on the combined performance in both stages.
Has the PFRDA Grade A syllabus changed in 2026?
The General Stream Paper 2 syllabus has been significantly expanded in 2026, with the existing seven subjects continuing as the core areas and five new topics added. Candidates can continue their preparation for subjects like Finance, Economics, Management, and Pension Sector while adding the new areas, as detailed in the official notification Annexure.
| Existing Areas | New Areas Added in 2026 |
| Commerce & Accountancy, Management, Finance, Costing, Companies Act, Economics, Pension Sector | PFRDA Act, 2013 & Amendments, Union Budget & Economic Survey, AI/ML, Media, Marketing & Communication |
What is the PFRDA Grade A Phase 1 selection criteria?
PFRDA Grade A Phase 1 exam is the 1st stage and is conducted to shortlist candidates for Phase 2. It has two 100-mark papers covering English, Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning, General Awareness, financial sector topics, and stream-specific subjects. Phase 1 marks are used only for shortlisting and are not counted in the final selection.
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Shortlisting candidates for Phase 2 |
| Papers | Paper 1: English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, Test of Reasoning, General Awareness including Financial Sector Paper 2: General Stream subjects or specialised subject related to the respective stream |
| Marks | 100 marks each |
| Questions | Paper 1 – 90 questions; Paper 2 – 50 questions |
| Duration | Paper 1 – 60 minutes; Paper 2 – 40 minutes |
| Cut-offs | Separate cut-off for each paper + aggregate cut-off |
| Negative Marking | 1/4th of the marks assigned to the question for each wrong answer |
| Weightage for Final Selection | None; Phase 1 marks are used only for shortlisting and are not counted in the final merit |
What is the PFRDA Grade A Phase 2 selection criteria?
PFRDA Grade A Phase 2 exam is the 2nd stage and plays a key role in final selection. It has two 100-mark papers Descriptive English Paper 1 and stream-specific objective Paper 2. Paper 1 is evaluated only after candidates qualify in Paper 2. Phase 2 carries 85% weightage in the final selection.
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Shortlisting candidates for Phase 3 and contributing to final merit |
| Papers | Paper 1: English Descriptive Test Paper 2: General Stream subjects or specialised subject related to the respective stream |
| Marks | 100 marks each |
| Questions | Paper 1 – 3 questions; Paper 2 – 50 questions |
| Duration | Paper 1 – 60 minutes; Paper 2 – 40 minutes |
| Cut-offs | Separate cut-off in each paper + aggregate cut-off |
| Negative Marking | 1/4th of the marks assigned to the question for each wrong answer in Paper 2 only |
| Weightage for Final Selection | Phase 2 – 85%; Phase 3 Interview – 15% |
| Evaluation Rule | Paper 1 will be evaluated only for candidates who obtain the minimum qualifying marks in Paper 2 |
| Shortlisting for Interview | Candidates up to 5 times the number of vacancies are shortlisted for the interview, in order of merit |
How many candidates are shortlisted at each stage of the exam?
For PFRDA Grade A 2026, 30 vacancies have been announced, and up to 150 candidates (5 times the vacancies) may be shortlisted for the Interview based on merit and cut-offs. There is no fixed Phase 1 to Phase 2 shortlisting ratio, as PFRDA decides the cut-offs based on vacancies and candidate performance.
| Stage | Shortlisting/Selection Criteria | Weightage in Final Selection |
| Phase 1 | Candidates qualifying the paper-wise and aggregate cut-offs are shortlisted for Phase 2 | 0% |
| Phase 2 | Candidates meeting the required cut-offs are shortlisted for the Interview; candidates up to 5 times the number of vacancies are shortlisted in order of merit | 85% |
| Phase 3 – Interview | Candidates shortlisted after Phase 2 appear for the Interview | 15% |
What is the weightage of each phase in PFRDA Grade A final selection?
The weightage of the three stages is different. Phase 1 is qualifying in nature and does not carry any weightage in the final merit. Phase 2 carries 85% weightage, while the Phase 3 Interview carries 15% weightage.
| Stage | Weightage | Role in Selection |
| Phase 1 | 0% | Screening and shortlisting for Phase 2 |
| Phase 2 | 85% | Major component of final merit |
| Phase 3 – Interview | 15% | Contributes to final merit |
What is the negative marking scheme in PFRDA Grade A 2026?
The PFRDA Grade A exam has negative marking in the objective papers. One-fourth of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for every incorrect answer. There is no negative marking in the descriptive English paper of Phase 2.
| Exam Component | Negative Marking |
| Phase 1 – Paper 1 | 1/4th of the marks assigned to the question |
| Phase 1 – Paper 2 | 1/4th of the marks assigned to the question |
| Phase 2 – Paper 1 (English Descriptive) | No negative marking |
| Phase 2 – Paper 2 | 1/4th of the marks assigned to the question |
| Phase 3 – Interview | Not applicable |
What are the cut-off and qualifying criteria in PFRDA Grade A?
Candidates must meet the paper-wise and aggregate cut-offs to qualify for the next stage. In Phase 2, Paper 1 is evaluated only for candidates who meet the minimum qualifying marks in Paper 2, while PFRDA decides the required cut-offs based on candidates’ performance and the number of vacancies.
How is the PFRDA Grade A Phase 2 score calculated?
Phase 2 consists of two papers, each carrying 100 marks. However, the two papers do not have equal weightage within Phase 2.
| Phase 2 Paper | Marks | Weightage within Phase 2 |
| Paper 1 – English Descriptive | 100 | 1/3rd |
| Paper 2 – Stream-Specific | 100 | 2/3rd |
The overall Phase 2 score carries 85% weightage in the final selection, while the Interview carries the remaining 15%.
What is the selection criterion for the PFRDA Grade A Phase 3 exam?
PFRDA Grade A Phase 3 is the final Interview stage for candidates who qualify in Phase 2. It assesses their personality, communication skills, and suitability for the role. Candidates can choose Hindi or English for the Interview. Phase 2 carries 85% and the Interview 15% weightage in the final selection, which is based on their combined marks.
| Component | Details |
| Purpose | Assess personality, communication skills, and suitability for the role |
| Eligibility | Only candidates shortlisted after Phase II |
| Type | Personal Interview |
| Language | Hindi or English |
| Marks | NA |
| Weightage for Final Selection | 15% of total score |
| Final Merit | Combined with Phase II marks (85%) to determine final selection |
Also Check:
| Particulars | Link |
| PFRDA Grade A Practice Quiz | Download PDF |
| PFRDA Grade A Previous Year Papers | Download Now |
| PFRDA Grade A Prep Kit | Download Now |
FAQs
Yes, the last stage of the selection process consists of an Interview round. The marks of the interview will be counted for final selection.
Well, there is no limit on the number of attempts. You can appear till you meet the eligibility criteria.
Yes, 1/4th of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted as negative markings in both papers of Phase I & in Paper 2 of Phase II.
The weightage of Phase II in the final selection is 85%.
Yes, the prelims will be qualifying in nature.
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