UPSC Law Officer, Legislative Counsel Recruitment 2026 – 13 Posts

Last updated: October 2, 2026 at 3:48 PM

Eleven of the 13 jobs in UPSC Advertisement No. 12/2026 are for law graduates. There are 8 Assistant Legislative Counsel posts in the Law Ministry, where the work is drafting central laws, and 3 Law Officer posts in the Delhi government’s Land and Building Department. The other two are a Junior Technical Officer post at the National Sugar Institute, Kanpur, and a Cardiology specialist post with the New Delhi Municipal Council. You can apply online from 26.09.2026 to 16.10.2026 (6 PM).

UPSC Advt No. 12/2026: Overview

Important Dates

Application Fee

The fee is not refunded in any case, and an application without the fee is rejected.

Vacancy Details

PwBD means Persons with Benchmark Disabilities – 40% or more disability, certified by a Medical Board. “Reserved” means one seat is kept for PwBD candidates; “suitable” means they can apply but compete on general merit. The PwBD seat is counted within the post total, not added to it.

Post-wise Pay, Age and Posting

*The JTO post is based at Kanpur but you can be posted anywhere in India. Probation is 2 years for Assistant Legislative Counsel and Law Officer, and 1 year for the JTO and Cardiology posts.

Eligibility Criteria

Age Limit and Relaxation

So the OBC and SC ages in the first table already include the caste relaxation – do not add 3 or 5 more years on top. Only PwBD candidates, ex-servicemen and central government employees get extra years beyond those figures.

Selection Process

In short, a written test happens only if a lot of people apply. Shortlisting is based on what you enter in the form, so list every qualification and every year of relevant experience, even beyond the minimum.

Salary and Benefits

The Pay Level is the government pay grade, and the basic pay shown is where that grade starts. DA and HRA are added on top, so the real monthly salary is higher than the basic figure. The Cardiology post also pays NPA – an extra allowance given because private practice is not allowed.

How to Apply

1. Go to upsconline.nic.in and create your account (you only do this once).
2. Complete the Universal Registration. You get a URN (Universal Registration Number) – one number you use for every UPSC recruitment.
3. Fill the Common Application Form (CAF). Upload your photo, take a live photo on the spot, and upload your signature – signed three times, one below the other, in black ink on white paper.
4. Open the post-specific form for Advertisement No. 12/2026, choose the vacancy number, and upload a separate PDF for each claim (date of birth, category, degree, experience and so on).
5. Pay Rs. 25 if you have to, submit before 6:00 PM on 16.10.2026, and print the final form. Keep both your URN and the Application Number safe.

Note: You cannot withdraw or correct the form after you submit it. Do not send printouts to UPSC by post or by hand.

Documents Required

Upload everything as PDF files. Do not upload pay slips, resumes, appointment letters, relieving letters or unsigned experience certificates.

Important Links

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Type your date of birth exactly as it appears on your 10th certificate – UPSC will not change it after you apply.
• Choose your category carefully – you cannot move from UR to a reserved category, or from one reserved category to another, later.
• Do not upload pay slips or appointment letters as proof of experience; UPSC wants a signed experience certificate from your office.
• Part-time, daily-wage and guest-lecturer work does not count, so do not add those years to your experience total.
• The Junior Technical Officer and Cardiology vacancies are reserved for OBC, so check your category before you pay and apply.
• For the Delhi Law Officer post, an OBC certificate from outside Delhi works only if your caste is on Delhi’s OBC list and the certificate follows the Delhi rules in the notification.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is the last date to apply for UPSC Advt No. 12/2026?

You can apply online at upsconline.nic.in until 6:00 PM on 16.10.2026.

Q. How many vacancies are there in UPSC Advertisement No. 12/2026?

There are 13 posts in total: 8 Assistant Legislative Counsel, 3 Law Officer, 1 Junior Technical Officer (Sugar Technology) and 1 Cardiology specialist.

Q. What qualification do I need for the UPSC Law Officer post?

You need a law degree and 2 years of legal work, either as a practising lawyer or in a government office.

Q. What is the age limit for Assistant Legislative Counsel?

The upper limit is 40 years for UR/EWS, 43 for OBC and 45 for SC as on 16.10.2026, with up to 10 more years for PwBD candidates.

Q. How much is the application fee?

General, OBC and EWS men pay just Rs. 25, while women, SC, ST and PwBD candidates pay nothing.

Q. Is there a written exam for these UPSC posts?

Not always – UPSC shortlists from your online form and holds a Recruitment Test only if many people apply, and every selected candidate then faces an interview out of 100 marks.

Q. What is the salary for these posts?

Pay ranges from Level 7 (starting basic Rs. 44,900) for Law Officer to Level 11 (starting basic Rs. 67,700) for Assistant Legislative Counsel and the Cardiology post, with DA and HRA on top.

Q. What does Assistant Legislative Counsel actually do?

It is the entry grade (Grade IV) of the Indian Legal Service in the Law Ministry’s Legislative Department, and the main work is drafting laws and checking statutory rules and orders.

Disclaimer: The information above has been compiled from the official notification for the convenience of job seekers. Candidates are advised to verify all details from the official website before applying.