FCI
Food Corporation of India Recruitment
Food Corporation of India (FCI) Recruitment 2026 – Manager, Category II, III & IV
The Food Corporation of India (FCI) recruitment exam is conducted by FCI, a central public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Government of India. FCI is the nodal agency for procurement, storage, distribution and sale of food grains across the country. It recruits through a multi-stage process covering Phase-I (online CBT), Phase-II (descriptive or skill test) and Phase-III (interview), depending on the category of posts.
The most recent major cycle was announced in 2019-20 for thousands of vacancies across Assistant General Manager (Category I), Manager and Assistant Grade-III (Category II), Assistant, Stenographer and Typist (Category III), and Category IV posts such as Watchman and Helper. A new cycle is expected as and when sanctioned by the Government. This guide covers eligibility, exam pattern, syllabus, fees, salary and preparation strategy for all FCI posts.
FCI Recruitment 2026 Overview / Key Highlights
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Food Corporation of India (FCI), Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution |
| Exam Level | All India level (Group B and Group C posts) |
| Mode of Exam | Phase-I: Online Computer Based Test (CBT); Phase-II: Descriptive/written or Skill Test; Phase-III: Interview |
| Posts Covered | Assistant General Manager (AGM), Manager (General/Depot/Accounts/Movement/Marketing/Technical), Assistant Grade-III, Assistant, Stenographer, Typist, Watchman, Helper and more |
| Categories | Category I (AGM), Category II (Manager, Assistant Grade-III, Typist, Steno), Category III (Assistant, Stenographer, Typist), Category IV (Watchman, Helper) |
| Selection Stages | Phase-I CBT → Phase-II (Descriptive / Skill Test) → Phase-III Interview (for AGM and Manager posts) |
| Negative Marking | 1/3 (0.33) mark deducted for each wrong answer in Phase-I (as per previous cycle; subject to change) |
| Medium of Exam | English and Hindi (language sections and descriptive test per option) |
| Official Website | https://fci.gov.in (Careers section) |
FCI Selection Process
The FCI selection process is category-wise and typically has the following stages. The interview (Phase-III) is conducted only for Category I (AGM) and Category II (Manager) posts; clerical and typing posts are selected through CBT and skill tests.
- Phase-I – Online CBT: Objective test covering English Language, Reasoning Ability, Quantitative Aptitude and General Awareness (plus Professional Knowledge for technical/manager posts).
- Phase-II – Descriptive / Skill Test: For AGM and Manager posts, a descriptive paper (essay, précis, comprehension); for Typist and Steno, a typing skill test.
- Phase-III – Interview: Personal interview for Category I and Category II (Manager) posts; marks are normalised and combined with earlier phases for the final merit list.
- Document Verification & Medical Examination: Shortlisted candidates must produce original certificates and clear prescribed medical standards.
FCI Exam Pattern
Phase-I Online CBT Pattern (All Categories)
| Section | No. of Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 90 minutes (120 minutes for visually impaired candidates) |
| Reasoning Ability | 30 | 30 | |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | 30 | |
| General Awareness | 30 | 30 | |
| Professional Knowledge (only for AGM/Manager Technical posts) | 50 | 50 | Extra 30 minutes |
| Total | 120/170 | 120/170 | 90/120 minutes |
As per the previous cycle, Phase-I carries 1/3rd (0.33) negative marking per wrong answer. The CBT is bilingual (English/Hindi) except the English section. Duration and question count may vary for Category IV posts, whose test is simpler and basic.
Phase-II Descriptive / Skill Test Pattern
| Post | Type of Test | Details |
|---|---|---|
| AGM (Category I) & Manager (Category II) | Descriptive Paper | Essay, Précis and Comprehension in English; questions based on the professional area for technical posts |
| Typist (Category II & III) | Typing Test | 30 wpm in English or 25 wpm in Hindi on computer, as per the post opted; qualifying in nature |
| Stenographer (Category II & III) | Shorthand Test | Shorthand dictation and transcription; speed as notified per post |
| Category IV (Watchman/Helper) | Document Verification | No Phase-II for most Category IV posts; selection on Phase-I CBT merit |
FCI Detailed Syllabus
English Language
- Reading comprehension (passages with questions)
- Cloze test (fill in the blanks in a passage)
- Spotting grammatical errors
- Sentence improvement and rearrangement
- Para jumbles (rearrangement of sentences)
- Fill in the blanks (single and double blanks)
- Synonyms and antonyms
- One-word substitution
- Idioms and phrases
- Active-passive voice and direct-indirect speech
Reasoning Ability
- Seating arrangement (linear, circular, square)
- Puzzle-based reasoning (scheduling, comparison, floors)
- Syllogism (statements and conclusions)
- Blood relations and coded relations
- Coding-decoding (letter, number and symbolic)
- Inequalities (coded and direct)
- Direction sense and distance
- Order and ranking
- Analogy and classification
- Data sufficiency and input-output
Quantitative Aptitude
- Simplification and approximation
- Number series (missing and wrong number)
- Percentages, profit and loss, discount
- Ratio and proportion, partnership
- Time and work, pipes and cisterns
- Time, speed and distance (trains, boats)
- Simple and compound interest
- Average, ages and mixtures
- Mensuration (2D and 3D figures)
- Data interpretation and quadratic equations
General Awareness
- Current affairs of national and international importance (last 6–12 months)
- Food security, public distribution system and FCI procurement schemes
- Agriculture: crops, MSP (Minimum Support Price) and procurement norms
- Indian economy, banking awareness, Budget and Economic Survey
- Indian polity, Constitution and government schemes
- Science and technology developments
- Sports, awards and honours
- Important days and international organisations
- Geography, history and culture of India
- Static GK: books, authors, capitals, currencies
Professional Knowledge (AGM/Manager Technical & Specialist Posts)
- Civil Engineering: structural analysis, RCC, soil mechanics, surveying, construction materials
- Electrical Engineering: circuits, machines, power systems, electrical measurements, substation basics
- Mechanical Engineering: thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, IC engines, machine design
- Accountancy: financial and cost accounting, budgeting, GST and direct taxes, audit
- Marketing: marketing management, consumer behaviour, market research, supply chain
- Food/Storage Technology: grain storage, fumigation, pest control, silo design, food safety
- Computer/IT: data structures, DBMS, networking, software engineering, operating systems
- Legal and Hindi disciplines for respective specialist posts
Typing / Skill Test Details
- Typist: 30 words per minute in English or 25 wpm in Hindi, tested on a computer; speed is qualifying only
- Stenographer: shorthand dictation followed by transcription at the notified speed per cycle
- Skill tests are qualifying in nature — speed is not counted in merit, but failing the minimum leads to disqualification
FCI Marking Scheme
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Marks per question (Phase-I) | 1 mark per question (all sections equal weight) |
| Negative marking | 0.33 (1/3rd) mark deducted per wrong answer; no marks for unattempted questions |
| Qualifying nature | Sectional and overall minimum cut-off as fixed by FCI per category/caste |
| Phase-II marks | Descriptive paper carries marks for AGM/Manager; skill test is qualifying |
| Final merit weightage | Combined normalised scores of Phase-I, Phase-II and Interview for Category I & II (tentative, as per previous cycle) |
| Cut-off factors | Vacancies, number of applicants, difficulty level and category reservation |
FCI Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification (as per previous cycle)
- Assistant General Manager (Category I): Bachelor’s degree in any discipline; technical/specialist posts need BE/B.Tech in the relevant branch (Civil/Electrical/Mechanical) or equivalent
- Manager (Category II): Bachelor’s degree in any discipline; technical Manager posts need BE/B.Tech in the relevant branch; Manager (Accounts) needs B.Com plus relevant experience; Manager (Marketing) needs degree with relevant specialisation
- Assistant Grade-III (Category II): Bachelor’s degree in any discipline
- Typist (Hindi), Category II: Bachelor’s degree plus typing speed of 25 wpm in Hindi
- Assistant (Category III): Bachelor’s degree in any discipline; Assistant (Technical) needs B.Sc in relevant science subject
- Typist (Category III): 12th (Senior Secondary) pass plus prescribed typing speed
- Category IV (Watchman/Helper): Minimum 10th pass (varies by post and notification)
Age Limit (with relaxations)
| Post | Maximum Age |
|---|---|
| Assistant General Manager (Category I) | 28 years |
| Manager (Category II) | 28 years |
| Assistant Grade-III / Typist / Steno (Category II) | 25 years |
| Assistant / Typist (Category III) | 25 years |
| Category IV posts | 25 years |
Age relaxations (tentative, as per previous cycles): OBC – up to 3 years; SC/ST – up to 5 years; PwBD – up to 10 years; ex-servicemen and departmental candidates as per FCI rules. Age is calculated as on the cut-off date in the official advertisement.
FCI Application Process & Fees
- Visit the official FCI website https://fci.gov.in and open the Careers/Recruitment section.
- Read the official notification PDF carefully and confirm your eligibility.
- Click on “Apply Online” for the relevant post; register with a valid email ID and mobile number.
- Fill the form with personal, educational and post-wise details; upload scanned photograph, signature and required certificates.
- Pay the application fee (if applicable) online via net banking / card / UPI and confirm submission.
- Take a printout of the completed application form and keep the registration details safe.
| Fee Particulars | Amount (as per previous cycle, tentative) |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS | No application fee was charged in the 2019 cycle; fee, if any, is as per the fresh notification |
| SC / ST / PwBD / Ex-Servicemen / Female | Fee exempted in earlier cycles; confirm from the current notification |
Important: FCI has historically kept the application fee either nil or nominal. Always verify the fee structure and payment mode from the latest official notification, since it can change from cycle to cycle.
FCI Salary / Pay Scale
| Post | Pay Scale / Pay Level | Approx. Gross Monthly (with allowances) |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant General Manager (Category I) | Level 8 (approx. Rs. 47,600 – 1,51,100) | Rs. 90,000 – 1,10,000 |
| Manager (Category II) | Level 7 (approx. Rs. 44,900 – 1,42,400) | Rs. 75,000 – 90,000 |
| Assistant Grade-III (Category II) | Level 3 / 4 (approx. Rs. 21,700 – 69,100) | Rs. 45,000 – 55,000 |
| Assistant (Category III) | Level 3 / 4 | Rs. 40,000 – 50,000 |
| Typist / Stenographer (Category III) | Level 2 / 3 | Rs. 35,000 – 45,000 |
| Category IV (Watchman/Helper) | Level 1 (approx. Rs. 18,000 – 56,900) | Rs. 25,000 – 32,000 |
The figures above are indicative, based on the previous cycle and the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) pay levels; in-hand salary includes basic pay, dearness allowance, HRA (or leased accommodation), and other allowances. Exact pay scales are confirmed in each official notification.
Official Links & Notifications
- Official FCI website: https://fci.gov.in
- FCI Careers / Recruitment page (for the latest notification, apply link, admit card and results): https://fci.gov.in/careers.php
- Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution: https://www.consumeraffairs.nic.in
Note: The official FCI website publishes the detailed notification, syllabus and exam pattern PDF for every cycle under the Careers section. Always download the notification directly from fci.gov.in and do not rely on third-party mirrors for official figures.
FCI Preparation Tips & Strategy
- Phase-I focused preparation: Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning carry a large weight, so practise 30–40 questions daily in each section with timed mock tests.
- English daily: Read newspapers and editorials to build vocabulary; solve at least 10 reading comprehension and cloze-test questions each day.
- General Awareness is decisive: Track monthly current affairs, especially food security, procurement, MSP, PDS and government schemes, which FCI repeatedly asks.
- Professional posts: Revise core engineering/accountancy fundamentals from standard texts; FCI questions are concept-based, not routine.
- Mock tests and previous papers: Take full-length online mocks in the exact CBT format to manage time and handle the 0.33 negative marking.
- Typing practice: For Typist/Steno, practise daily on a computer to comfortably exceed 30 wpm English / 25 wpm Hindi.
- Descriptive paper (AGM/Manager): Practise essay and précis writing within time limits on economy, food security and public policy themes.
- Revision plan: Reserve the last month for formulas, static GK and previous-year questions; keep checking fci.gov.in for admit card and result dates.
FCI Recruitment FAQ
Q: Is the FCI recruitment exam conducted every year?
No. FCI recruitment is conducted as and when vacancies are sanctioned by the Government. The last major cycle was in 2019-20; follow fci.gov.in for the next notification.
Q: Is there negative marking in FCI Phase-I?
Yes. In the previous cycle, 0.33 (1/3rd) mark was deducted per wrong answer and no marks were deducted for unattempted questions. The same is expected unless revised.
Q: Which posts require an interview?
Only Category I (Assistant General Manager) and Category II (Manager) posts include a Phase-III interview. Clerical, typist, stenographer and Category IV posts are selected on CBT and skill-test performance.
Q: What is the typing speed required for FCI Typist posts?
Typist candidates need about 30 words per minute in English or 25 words per minute in Hindi, tested on a computer. The exact speed is given in each notification.
Q: Can final-year students apply for FCI recruitment?
Usually not for most posts, since the essential qualification must be held as on the closing date of the application window. Check the cut-off date clause in the notification.
Q: How are final merit ranks decided for AGM and Manager?
For Category I and II, normalised marks of Phase-I, Phase-II (descriptive) and Phase-III (interview) are combined in the weightage fixed by FCI, and the final merit list is drawn category-wise and post-wise.
Keep following the official website https://fci.gov.in (Careers section) for the latest FCI notification, exam dates, admit cards, results and official syllabus. Start your preparation now so you are ready the moment the notification is released.