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FCI Assistant Grade 3 2026: Food Corporation of India Recruitment Guide
The Food Corporation of India (FCI) Assistant Grade 3 (AG-3) Recruitment 2026 is one of the most sought-after central government job notifications with thousands of vacancies across India. Managed by the National Recruitment Agency (NRA) in collaboration with FCI, this recruitment drives selection for AG-3 posts in Depot, Accounts, Technical, and Typing Test categories. If you are searching for "FCI AG 3 notification 2026", "FCI Assistant Grade 3 exam date 2026", or "FCI recruitment 2026", this guide has everything you need.
About FCI and the AG-3 Post
The Food Corporation of India (FCI) is a Navratna Central Public Sector Undertaking operating under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. FCI is responsible for:
- Procurement of food grains from farmers at Minimum Support Price (MSP)
- Storage of food grains in its depots across India
- Distribution through the Public Distribution System (PDS)
- Price Stabilisation of essential commodities
FCI Assistant Grade III (AG-3) is a Group C post and the biggest entry-level recruitment in FCI. Posts are in four categories:
| Post Category | Code |
|---|---|
| AG III (General / Depot) | AG-III (Depot) |
| AG III (Accounts) | AG-III (Accounts) |
| AG III (Technical) | AG-III (Technical) |
| AG III (Typing Test) | AG-III (Typing) |
| Watchman / MTS | Separate notification |
FCI AG-3 2026 Important Dates
| Event | Expected Date |
|---|---|
| FCI AG-3 2026 Notification | Mid to Late 2026 |
| Online Application Start | After notification release |
| Application Last Date | 30–45 days after notification |
| FCI AG-3 Exam Date 2026 | 3–4 months after application closes |
| FCI AG-3 Result | 2–3 months after exam |
| Document Verification | After result declaration |
FCI notifications are published on the official website fci.gov.in and often on sarkariresult.com simultaneously. Monitor both for instant alerts.
FCI AG-3 2026 Vacancy Details
FCI AG-3 typically has one of the largest vacancy counts in central government recruitment:
| Year | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| FCI AG-3 2022 | 5043 |
| FCI AG-3 2023 | 3990 |
| FCI AG-3 2026 (Expected) | 4000–6000+ |
Vacancies are zone-wise (North, South, East, West, North-East zones) and category-wise (UR/OBC/SC/ST/EWS).
FCI AG-3 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Age Limit
| Category | Maximum Age |
|---|---|
| General / UR | 25 years |
| OBC | 28 years |
| SC / ST | 30 years |
| PwD | Additional 10 years |
- Minimum Age: 18 years
Educational Qualification (Post-Wise)
| Post | Qualification |
|---|---|
| AG-III (General / Depot) | Any Bachelor's Degree + Computer Proficiency |
| AG-III (Accounts) | Bachelor's Degree with Accounts as subject / B.Com / CA (Inter) |
| AG-III (Technical) | B.Sc. (Agriculture) / B.Tech (Food Tech, Bio-tech, Agriculture Engg) |
| AG-III (Typing Test) | 12th Pass + Typing Speed: Hindi 30 WPM / English 40 WPM |
Additional Requirements
- Computer Proficiency: 6-month computer course certificate (for AG-III General)
- Typing: Specific WPM requirements for Typist post
FCI AG-3 2026 Exam Pattern
FCI AG-3 Phase I is conducted in Computer Based Mode (CBT):
Phase I — Online Examination (CBT)
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 25 | 25 | Composite time |
| Reasoning Ability | 25 | 25 | of 70 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 25 | |
| General / Technical Awareness | 25 | 25 | |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 70 min |
- Negative Marking: 0.25 marks per wrong answer
- Paper Medium: English and Hindi (except English Language section)
Phase II — Category-Specific Tests
For AGM-III (Accounts):
- Advanced Accounting Paper (100 marks, 60 minutes)
For AGM-III (Technical):
- Technical Awareness in Food Grain Storage, Agriculture (100 marks, 60 minutes)
For AGM-III (Typing):
- Typing Test: Hindi 30 WPM (10 minutes) / English 40 WPM (10 minutes)
FCI AG-3 2026 Syllabus — Section-Wise
English Language (25 Questions)
- Reading Comprehension (2–3 passages)
- Cloze Test
- Para Jumbles
- Fill in the Blanks (Articles, Prepositions, Conjunctions)
- Error Detection / Sentence Correction
- Vocabulary: Synonyms, Antonyms, Idioms & Phrases
Reasoning Ability (25 Questions)
- Analogy, Classification, Coding-Decoding
- Blood Relations, Direction & Distance
- Syllogisms, Statement & Conclusions
- Puzzles and Seating Arrangement
- Alphanumeric Series
- Input-Output, Machine Input
Quantitative Aptitude (25 Questions)
- Number System, Simplification, Approximation
- Percentage, Profit & Loss, Simple & Compound Interest
- Ratio, Proportion, Mixture & Alligation
- Time & Work, Time, Speed & Distance
- Data Interpretation: Bar Graphs, Line Graphs, Pie Charts, Tables
- Mensuration, Geometry basics
General Awareness (25 Questions)
For AG-III (Depot/General):
- Current Affairs (last 6 months)
- National & International Events
- Geography, Economy, Polity
- FCI, Food Security, PDS, Government Schemes
- Computer Awareness (MS Office, Internet basics)
For AG-III (Technical) — Technical Awareness:
- Food Grain Storage (Hermetic storage, Fumigation, Pest control)
- Moisture content, Grain quality parameters
- Warehousing and Supply Chain Management
- Agriculture: Crop production, Post-harvest technology
- Food Technology basics
- FSSAI regulations
How to Apply — FCI AG-3 2026
- Visit fci.gov.in or the official recruitment portal
- Click on "FCI AG-3 2026 Recruitment Notification"
- Read the official notification carefully (zone preferences, eligibility)
- Register online with Email ID and Mobile Number
- Fill application form: Personal details, Education, Zone preference, Post category
- Upload Photo (JPG, 20–50 KB) and Signature (JPG, 10–20 KB)
- Pay Application Fee:
- General / OBC / EWS: ₹500 (approximately)
- SC / ST / PwD / Ex-Servicemen / Women: Nil
- Submit and download confirmation page
Zone-Wise FCI AG-3 Recruitment
FCI operates through 5 Zones, and candidates apply zone-wise:
| Zone | States Covered |
|---|---|
| North Zone | Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal, J&K, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, UP (part) |
| South Zone | AP, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Puducherry |
| East Zone | West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam, North-East |
| West Zone | Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa |
| North-East Zone | Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura, Arunachal, Mizoram, Sikkim |
Candidates are recruited for posting within their preferred zone.
FCI AG-3 Salary & Benefits
| Post | Pay Scale (CTC approx.) |
|---|---|
| AG-III (All categories) | ₹19,900 – ₹63,200 (Pay Band) |
| Gross In-Hand (approx.) | ₹27,000 – ₹35,000/month |
Additional Benefits:
- Annual Increments, Dearness Allowance
- House Rent Allowance (HRA) — 8%/16%/24% depending on city
- Medical facilities for employee and family
- Provident Fund, Gratuity
- Subsidized canteen, Staff Quarters (at select locations)
Common Mistakes to Avoid in FCI AG-3 2026
- Zone preference errors: FCI recruits zone-wise. Many candidates fill in the wrong zone or skip zone preference entirely — resulting in disqualification or non-preferred posting.
- Ignoring FCI-specific General Awareness: Questions on PDS (Public Distribution System), NFSA, MSP, food grain storage, and Food Security Act appear heavily. Generic GK is not enough.
- Skipping Reasoning — especially Puzzles: FCI AG-3 heavily tests Puzzles and Seating Arrangement in Reasoning. Candidates who don't practice these lose 6–8 marks easily.
- Underestimating negative marking (0.25): Unlike BRO, FCI has negative marking. Don't attempt questions you are unsure about.
- Not registering on the correct official portal: FCI AG-3 notifications sometimes go through third-party managed portals. Always follow the link from fci.gov.in to avoid phishing fake sites.
- Technical candidates ignoring Technical Awareness: AG-III (Technical) candidates often over-focus on general subjects and underperform in the domain-specific Phase II paper (food storage, agriculture).
- Starting Phase II preparation too late: Phase II papers (Accounts, Technical, Typing) need separate focused preparation — treat them as separate exams from the beginning.
FCI AG-3 — Previous Year Paper Analysis
FCI AG-3 Exam History
| Year | Notification | Vacancies | Exam Mode | Phase I Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FCI AG-3 2022 | Dec 2022 | 5,043 | CBT Phase I + Phase II | Feb–Mar 2023 |
| FCI AG-3 2023 | Late 2023 | 3,990 | CBT Phase I + Phase II | 2024 |
| FCI AG-3 2019 | Jan 2019 | 4,103 | CBT + CBST | Mar 2019 |
Phase I Section-Wise Weightage (Previous Years)
| Subject | Questions | Difficulty | High-Yield Topics |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 25 | Easy–Moderate | RC passage, cloze test, vocabulary |
| Reasoning Ability | 25 | Moderate–High | Puzzles, seating arrangement, input-output |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | Moderate | DI, simplification, profit/loss, time-work |
| General Awareness | 25 | Moderate | Current affairs, food security, FCI schemes |
Previous Year Cut-Offs (Phase I) — Approximate
| Year | General | OBC | SC | ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FCI AG-3 2022 | 62–70 / 100 | 58–65 / 100 | 50–58 / 100 | 45–52 / 100 |
| FCI AG-3 2019 | 60–68 / 100 | 55–62 / 100 | 48–55 / 100 | 42–50 / 100 |
Key Observations:
- Reasoning (Puzzles + Seating Arrangement) consistently the most time-consuming section
- FCI-specific GA on food security and PDS makes this section different from other SSC exams
- English difficulty is moderate — vocabulary and cloze test are most frequent question types
- Cut-offs can vary significantly zone-wise (North Zone often has higher competition)
- Typing Test (AG-III Typing) eliminates candidates who haven't consistently practiced: 30 WPM Hindi / 40 WPM English is non-negotiable
FCI AG-3 2026 Preparation Strategy
For Phase I (CBT)
English (Focus: Vocabulary & RC)
- Spend 30 minutes daily on reading comprehension passages
- Build vocabulary: 15 new words per day via apps or word lists
- Practice cloze tests and para-jumbles from banking exam materials
Reasoning (Focus: Puzzles & Seating)
- Spend 45 minutes daily — puzzles and seating arrangement are high-scorers
- Practice input-output (machine input) and blood relation questions
- Speed matters: target 25 questions in 18–20 minutes
Quantitative Aptitude (Focus: DI & Arithmetic)
- Practice Data Interpretation sets daily — pie charts, bar graphs
- Brush up on percentage, ratio, profit/loss, and time-work
- Speed calculation techniques: Vedic math or approximation methods
General Awareness (Focus: Current Affairs + FCI-Specific)
- Study FCI's role in food security: PDS, NFSA, MSP
- Follow government schemes related to food and agriculture
- Last 6 months current affairs from reliable monthly magazines
Recommended Study Material
| Subject | Resource |
|---|---|
| English | Arihant Objective English |
| Reasoning | R.S. Aggarwal Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning |
| Quantitative | R.S. Aggarwal Quantitative Aptitude |
| GK | Lucent GK + Monthly GK Capsule |
| FCI Previous Papers | Arihant FCI AG-3 Solved Papers |
| Technical (AG-III Tech) | ICAR Agricultural Textbooks |
3-Month Preparation Plan for FCI AG-3 2026
Month 1 — Concept Building:
- English: Cover grammar basics, vocabulary building (15 words/day), RC passages
- Reasoning: Complete analogy, coding, blood relations, syllogisms
- Quant: Arithmetic topics — percentage, ratio, profit/loss, time-work (20 questions/day)
- GA: FCI, PDS, NFSA, MSP basics + last 3 months current affairs
Month 2 — Intensive Focus:
- Reasoning: Daily 2 complex puzzles + seating arrangement sets
- Quant: DI (data interpretation) — 1 full set (5 Qs) per day
- English: Para jumbles (10/day) + cloze tests (1 per day) + RC passages
- GA: Current affairs (last 6 months) + FCI zone-wise structure study
Month 3 — Mock Tests + Phase II Prep:
- 3 full-length Phase I mock tests per week
- Begin Phase II prep: Typing: 15–30 min daily typing; Accounts/Technical: subject-specific study
- Current affairs revision: last 6 months GK capsule
- Solve previous year FCI papers (AG-3 2019 and 2022)
Daily Study Routine for FCI AG-3 2026
| Time Slot | Activity |
|---|---|
| 6:30 – 7:30 AM | English — RC passage + vocabulary (15 words) |
| 8:00 – 9:15 AM | Reasoning — 2 puzzles + 20 miscellaneous questions |
| 9:15 – 10:15 AM | Quantitative Aptitude — 1 DI set + 15 arithmetic questions |
| 5:00 – 6:00 PM | General Awareness — current affairs + FCI-specific reading |
| 7:00 – 8:00 PM | Mock test section or previous year paper practice |
| 8:00 – 8:30 PM | Phase II preparation (Typing / Accounts / Technical) |
Frequently Asked Questions — FCI AG-3 2026
Q1. When will FCI Assistant Grade 3 2026 notification be released? The FCI AG-3 2026 notification is expected in mid-to-late 2026. Monitor fci.gov.in and our FCI AG-3 2026 page.
Q2. What is the FCI AG-3 exam date 2026? The exam date will be specified in the notification, typically 3–4 months after the application window closes.
Q3. How many vacancies will FCI AG-3 2026 have? Expected 4,000–6,000+ vacancies across all zones and post categories.
Q4. What is the age limit for FCI AG-3 2026? 25 years for General/UR, 28 years for OBC, 30 years for SC/ST.
Q5. What qualification is needed for FCI AG-3 Technical post? B.Sc. Agriculture or B.Tech in Food Technology / Biotechnology / Agriculture Engineering.
Q6. Is FCI AG-3 exam conducted online? Phase I (Screening) is CBT (Computer Based Test). Phase II (for specific categories) includes typing test or advanced paper.
Q7. What is the salary of FCI AG-3? Gross salary is approximately ₹27,000–₹35,000 per month, with pay scale ₹19,900–₹63,200.
Q8. Can I apply for multiple zones in FCI AG-3? Generally, FCI recruitment allows preference for one zone. Check the official notification for multi-zone application rules.
Official Links — FCI AG-3 2026
- FCI Official Website: https://fci.gov.in
- ExamDetail FCI AG-3 Page: /exams/fci-assistant-grade-3-2026
Track the FCI AG-3 notification live on our FCI 2026 page.
Last Updated: May 2026 | Source: Food Corporation of India (FCI)
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