FCI Assistant Grade III 2026: Complete Recruitment Guide — Notification, Exam Date & Syllabus

Sarkari Result: FCI AG-3 2026 Latest Updates

Important Update (April 2026): The Food Corporation of India is expected to release the FCI Assistant Grade III 2026 notification in August 2026 at recruitmentfci.in. This is one of the most anticipated central government recruitment drives with 4,000+ vacancies expected across five zones. Candidates searching for the fci ag 3 notification 2026, exam date, subject-wise syllabus, and zone-wise vacancy details will find the complete, verified information on this page.

The Food Corporation of India (FCI) is a statutory body under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution. Established in 1965 under the Food Corporations Act, FCI is responsible for implementing the Government of India's food policy — managing the procurement, storage, and distribution of foodgrains across the country. FCI is one of India's largest PSUs by workforce, operating across 170+ depots and hundreds of regional offices.

Every few years, FCI conducts a large-scale recruitment drive for Assistant Grade III (Category III) posts, which is arguably the most popular FCI exam. The FCI AG-3 examination covers five different streams tailored to various educational backgrounds — making it accessible to a wide range of degree holders, from general graduates to B.Com, B.Sc. Agriculture, and Hindi literature graduates.

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1. FCI AG III 2026 Recruitment Overview

Parameter	Details
Exam Name	FCI Assistant Grade III (Category III) Examination 2026
Conducting Authority	Food Corporation of India (FCI)
Parent Ministry	Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
Post Category	Category III (Non-Gazetted, Non-Ministerial)
Post Streams	General, Accounts, Technical, Depot, Hindi
Selection Process	Phase-I (Qualifying CBT) → Phase-II (Merit CBT + Domain Paper)
Application Portal	recruitmentfci.in
Official Website	fci.gov.in

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2. FCI AG III 2026 Important Dates

Event	Expected Date
FCI AG 3 Notification 2026 Release	August 10–15, 2026
Online Application Start Date	August 15, 2026
Last Date to Apply Online	September 10, 2026
Application Fee Payment Deadline	September 10, 2026
Admit Card Download	November 2026
FCI Phase-I Exam Date 2026	December 2026 (Tentative)
Phase-I Result	January/February 2027
FCI Phase-II Exam Date 2026	February / March 2027 (Tentative)
Final Result / Joining	Mid-2027 (Expected)

Tip: The fci recruitment 2026 exam date is subject to the official announcement. Candidates are advised to bookmark recruitmentfci.in and fci.gov.in for live updates.

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3. FCI AG III 2026 Zone-wise Vacancy Details

FCI recruits zone-wise and candidates can apply to only one zone. Historical vacancy data from past recruitment cycles:

Zone	Headquarters	Approx. Previous Vacancies
North Zone	New Delhi	1,200–1,500
South Zone	Chennai	700–900
East Zone	Kolkata	600–800
West Zone	Mumbai	500–700
North-East Zone	Guwahati	150–250
Total (approx.)		3,200 – 4,150+

Within each zone, vacancies are further distributed across post streams (General, Depot, Accounts, Technical, Hindi) and categories (UR, EWS, OBC, SC, ST, PwBD, Ex-Servicemen).

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4. FCI AG III 2026 Eligibility Criteria

4.1 Educational Qualification (Stream-wise)

Post Stream	Required Qualification
AG-III (General)	Graduation (any discipline) from a recognized University + Computer proficiency
AG-III (Depot)	Graduation (any discipline) from a recognized University + Computer proficiency
AG-III (Accounts)	B.Com (Bachelor of Commerce) from a recognized University + Computer proficiency
AG-III (Technical)	B.Sc. in Agriculture / Botany / Zoology / Bio-Technology / Bio-Chemistry / Microbiology / Food Science OR B.Tech/B.E. in Food Science, Agricultural Engineering, or Bio-Technology from AICTE-approved institution + Computer proficiency
AG-III (Hindi)	Degree with Hindi as main subject + English proficiency + 1 year translation experience

Computer Proficiency Note: FCI requires demonstrated proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and basic internet skills. A formal computer certificate (like CCC from NIELIT) is preferred.

4.2 Age Limit (As on Crucial Date defined in Notification)

Post / Category	Maximum Age
AG-III General / Depot / Accounts / Technical (UR)	27 years
AG-III Hindi (UR)	28 years
OBC (Non-Creamy Layer)	+3 years
SC / ST	+5 years
PwBD (UR/OBC/SC/ST)	+10 years (over category limit)
Ex-Servicemen	As per DoPT norms
Candidates from J&K (1980–89 residents)	+5 years
Minimum Age	21 years for all

4.3 Nationality

Must be a citizen of India, or a subject of Nepal / Bhutan / Person of Indian Origin (PIO) as per Government of India norms, with a competency certificate from the Government of India.

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5. FCI AG III 2026 Salary & Pay Scale

5.1 Pay Scale (IDA Pattern)

FCI follows the Industrial Dearness Allowance (IDA) pay scale as it is a PSU (not a regular civil service pay matrix):

Post	IDA Pay Scale	Basic Pay (Starting)
AG-III (General / Depot / Accounts / Hindi)	₹28,200 – ₹74,500	₹28,200
AG-III (Technical)	₹28,200 – ₹74,500	₹28,200

5.2 Total CTC Components

Allowance	Details
Dearness Allowance (DA)	Approximately 50%+ of basic, revised quarterly based on CPI
House Rent Allowance (HRA)	10–20% of basic (City classification A, B, C)
Transport Allowance	₹1,500–₹3,000 per month
Medical Allowance / CGHS	FCI has its own medical scheme covering self and dependents
Canteen Subsidy	Available at depots and regional offices
PF + Gratuity	EPF contribution by employer; gratuity after 5 years
Approx. Gross CTC	₹45,000 – ₹65,000 per month

5.3 Career Growth

Stage	Post
Entry	Assistant Grade III (Category III)
Promotion	Assistant Grade II (Category II) — after 5–8 years + DPC
Further	Assistant Grade I → Junior Manager → Manager (Category I)

FCI follows a structured internal promotion system. Many AG-III employees appear for JMGS / Manager-level FCI examinations that recruit directly from the open market or through internal promotion.

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6. FCI AG III 2026 Exam Pattern & Selection Process

Phase-I: Online Computer Based Test (Qualifying)

Phase-I is qualifying only — marks are NOT counted for final merit ranking. Separate cutoffs are declared for each zone and category.

Subject	Questions	Marks	Time
English Language	25	25	15 min
Reasoning Ability	25	25	15 min
Numerical Aptitude	25	25	15 min
General Studies	25	25	15 min
Total	100	100	60 min

• Negative Marking: 1/4th mark (0.25) per wrong answer
• Language: English and Hindi (bilingual)
• Mode: Online CBT (Computer Based Test)

Phase-II: Online Computer Based Test (Merit Stage)

Phase-II determines the final merit ranking. It includes two papers for Technical/Accounts/Hindi posts:

Paper-I: Common for ALL streams

Subject	Questions	Marks	Time
English Language	30	30	20 min
Reasoning Ability	30	30	20 min
Numerical Aptitude	30	30	20 min
General Awareness	30	30	20 min
Total	120	120	80 min

Paper-II: Post-Specific (Only for Technical, Accounts & Hindi posts)

Stream	Questions	Marks	Time	Topics
Technical	60	60	40 min	Agriculture, Food Science, Botany, Zoology
Accounts	60	60	40 min	Commerce, Accountancy, Financial Management
Hindi	40	40	30 min	Hindi language, grammar, translation

For General and Depot posts: Only Paper-I is required in Phase-II. Final merit is based on Paper-I marks only.

For Technical, Accounts, Hindi posts: Final merit = Paper-I + Paper-II combined marks.

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7. FCI AG III 2026 Detailed Syllabus

7.1 English Language (Phase-I and Phase-II)

• Reading Comprehension (short passages with questions)
• Spotting Errors in Grammar
• Sentence Completion and Fillers (prepositions, articles, conjunctions)
• Synonyms and Antonyms
• Idioms and Phrases
• One-Word Substitution
• Sentence Improvement / Correction
• Cloze Test (fill in the blanks from options)
• Para Jumbles (sentence rearrangement)
• Active Voice and Passive Voice conversion
• Direct and Indirect Speech

7.2 Reasoning Ability

• Series Completion (Number Series, Letter Series, Mixed Series)
• Analogies (Verbal and Non-Verbal)
• Coding and Decoding
• Blood Relations
• Directions and Distance
• Seating Arrangement (Linear and Circular)
• Syllogism (2-statement and 3-statement)
• Inequalities (Mathematical and Coded)
• Puzzles
• Statement and Conclusion / Argument
• Non-Verbal Reasoning (Mirror Images, Embedded Figures, Pattern Completion)

7.3 Numerical Aptitude

• Number Systems — LCM, HCF, Divisibility Rules
• Simplification — BODMAS, Fractions, Decimals
• Percentage — Basic and Applications
• Profit, Loss and Discount
• Simple Interest and Compound Interest
• Ratio & Proportion and Partnership
• Averages
• Time, Speed & Distance (Trains, Boats, Streams)
• Time & Work and Pipes & Cisterns
• Data Interpretation (Tables, Bar Charts, Pie Charts, Line Graphs)
• Mensuration (Area and Volume — 2D and 3D)

7.4 General Studies / General Awareness

• Indian History: Ancient, Medieval, Modern India; Freedom Struggle highlights
• Geography: Physical features of India, Indian rivers, climate, Agriculture
• Indian Polity: Constitution, Parliament, Judiciary basics, Fundamental Rights
• Economy: GDP, inflation, Five-Year Plans (legacy), budget basics, Make in India
• Current Affairs: Last 12 months — government schemes, awards, sports, science, defense
• Science basics: Physics (Force, Motion, Energy, Light), Chemistry (Acids, Bases, Elements), Biology (Cell, Human Body, Diseases) — Class VIII level
• Food Corporation of India — history, mission, operations, zones, depots (FCI-specific questions have appeared in past exams)

7.5 Technical Stream (Paper-II)

Topics from: Agriculture Botany, Zoology, Food Science, Bio-Technology, Microbiology, Biochemistry:

• Crop production and protection; soil science; plant physiology
• Post-harvest technology; storage pests and management
• Food processing and preservation techniques
• Nutrition science, food adulteration, FSSAI standards
• Biotechnology — fermentation, enzymes, GMOs basics
• Environmental science — pollution, conservation

7.6 Accounts Stream (Paper-II)

• Financial Accounting — Bookkeeping, Journal, Ledger, Trial Balance
• Final Accounts — Trading, P&L, Balance Sheet
• Partnership Accounts
• Company Accounts — Share capital, Debentures
• Cost Accounting — Basic Concepts, Cost of Production
• Management Accounting — Ratio Analysis, Fund Flow, Cash Flow
• Income Tax — Basic Concepts, Heads of Income
• GST — Framework and Key Provisions

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8. FCI AG III 2026 Preparation Strategy

8.1 Which Stream Should You Choose?

Your Background	Best Fit Stream
Any Graduation	General or Depot
B.Com graduate	Accounts (highest scoring due to domain advantage)
B.Sc. Agriculture / Food Tech	Technical (excellent domain command possible)
Hindi Literature graduate	Hindi (less competition, specialized knowledge helps)

8.2 Month-wise Preparation Timeline

Assuming the exam is in December 2026:

August–September 2026 (Apply + Foundation)

• Apply during the application window (August 15 – September 10)
• Start English grammar basics (Wren & Martin or S.P. Bakshi)
• Begin GK + Current Affairs (read newspaper daily)

October 2026 (Subject Building)

• Complete Reasoning (R.S. Aggarwal — Verbal & Non-Verbal)
• Complete Quantitative Aptitude (R.S. Aggarwal — select chapters)
• Stream-specific study: domain paper (Technical/Accounts)

November 2026 (Mock Tests + Revision)

• 2 Phase-I mock tests per week
• 1 Phase-II full-length mock test per week
• Focus on accuracy — each wrong answer costs 0.25 marks

December 2026 (Final Preparation + Exam)

• Last week: Current Affairs flash revision (last 6 months)
• Revise all Muhavare, idioms, one-word substitutions
• Maintain exam-day calm — Paper is manageable with 3 months of focused preparation

8.3 Best Books for FCI AG III 2026

Subject	Recommended Book
English	Objective General English — S.P. Bakshi; Wren & Martin Grammar
Reasoning	A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning — R.S. Aggarwal
Quantitative Aptitude	Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations — R.S. Aggarwal
General Awareness	Lucent's General Knowledge + Monthly Current Affairs Magazine
Technical (Agriculture)	Fundamentals of Agriculture — Vol. 1 & 2 (Arun Katyayan)
Accounts	Accountancy Class 11–12 NCERT + T.S. Grewal Advanced Accounts
Previous Year Papers	Kiran / Arihant FCI AG-III Solved Papers (Zone-wise)

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9. How to Apply for FCI AG III 2026

When the fci assistant grade 3 notification 2026 is released, follow this process at recruitmentfci.in:

1. Go to the official portal: Visit recruitmentfci.in and click on "Current Vacancies" for Category III – AG-III 2026.
2. Choose your Zone: Carefully select ONE zone only (North/South/East/West/NE). Zone cannot be changed after submission.
3. Select Stream: Choose the post category (General / Depot / Accounts / Technical / Hindi).
4. Registration: Generate a temporary Registration ID and password using your email ID and mobile number.
5. Fill Application Form: Enter personal details, educational qualifications, category, and exam center preferences.
6. Upload Documents:
   • Passport-size photograph (JPEG, max 50 KB)
   • Signature (JPEG, max 30 KB)
   • Left Thumb Impression (JPEG, max 50 KB)
   • Hand-written declaration (scanned, JPEG)
7. Pay Fee:
   • UR / OBC / EWS: ₹500 (non-refundable)
   • SC / ST / PwBD / Women: ₹0 (fully exempted)
8. Final Submit and Print: Download the PDF confirmation page.

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10. Frequently Asked Questions — FCI AG III 2026

Q: What is fci ag 3 notification 2026 expected date? The fci ag 3 notification 2026 is expected to be published in August 2026 (tentatively August 10–15) at recruitmentfci.in. The application window typically remains open for 4 weeks.

Q: Can I apply for FCI AG-III in two zones? No. Candidates are strictly allowed to apply in only one zone out of the five available (North, South, East, West, Northeast). Applying in multiple zones using different details will lead to disqualification.

Q: Is there any interview for FCI Assistant Grade III? No. FCI AG-III is a purely examination-based recruitment. There is no interview or Group Discussion. Selection is based entirely on Phase-I and Phase-II CBT scores.

Q: What is the fci recruitment 2026 syllabus for Technical posts? The Technical stream Paper-II covers B.Sc. Agriculture/Food Science subjects — crop production, soil science, post-harvest technology, food processing, storage pest management, nutritional science, food safety (FSSAI), and basic biotechnology.

Q: Is the fci exam date 2026 confirmed? As of now, the FCI has not officially released the exam date. The fci exam date 2026 for Phase-I is tentatively expected in December 2026. Official dates will be confirmed with the August 2026 notification.

Q: How competitive is FCI AG-III for the Technical stream? The Technical stream is moderately competitive compared to General and Depot streams, as it requires a specific B.Sc./B.Tech qualification. However, the domain paper (Paper-II) rewards candidates with a strong agriculture/food science background. Cut-offs for Technical have historically been lower than General in the same zone.

Q: What is the job profile of FCI Assistant Grade III (General)? FCI AG-III (General) employees work in FCI's zonal/regional/district offices. Duties include:

• File management and correspondence
• Data entry, documentation
• Coordinating with depot staff for foodgrain procurement/distribution records
• Maintaining records of PDS (Public Distribution System) operations
• Assisting senior officers in administrative tasks

Q: How is the FCI AG-III (Depot) stream different from General? The Depot stream is functionally the same as the General stream in terms of exam pattern and qualification. However, Depot employees are primarily posted at FCI's grain storage depots (godowns) across the country, rather than in office settings. This involves hands-on supervision of foodgrain stocking, pest management, and quality checking operations at the depot level.

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Source: Food Corporation of India | Official Website: https://fci.gov.in | Recruitment Portal: https://recruitmentfci.in