UPSC Assistant Director (Corporate Law) Recruitment 2025–26: Eligibility, Syllabus, Salary, Exam Pattern and Previous-Year Papers
The UPSC Assistant Director (Corporate Law) Recruitment Examination selects qualified professionals for the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India.
The Union Public Service Commission advertised three vacancies under Advertisement No. 07/2025, Vacancy No. 25060702214.
The Combined Recruitment Test was conducted on 11 January 2026. Interviews followed on 31 July 2026.
UPSC declared the final result on 11 August 2026, recommending three candidates for appointment.
The position carries Pay Level 7 under the Seventh Central Pay Commission, with starting basic pay of ₹44,900.
This guide explains the recruitment process, eligibility requirements, examination pattern, syllabus, previous-year papers and preparation strategies.
UPSC Assistant Director (Corporate Law): Recruitment Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting authority | Union Public Service Commission |
| Post | Assistant Director (Corporate Law) |
| Organisation | Serious Fraud Investigation Office |
| Ministry | Ministry of Corporate Affairs |
| Advertisement | 07/2025 |
| Vacancy number | 25060702214 |
| Vacancies | 3 |
| Category | Unreserved |
| PwBD reservation | 1 horizontal backlog vacancy |
| Pay level | Level 7 |
| Starting basic pay | ₹44,900 |
| Upper age limit | 30 years for UR |
| Educational qualification | Law degree or prescribed CS qualification |
| Recruitment Test | 11 January 2026 |
| Interview | 31 July 2026 |
| Final result | 11 August 2026 |
| Current status | Recruitment concluded |
| Official website | upsc.gov.in |
These particulars follow the official UPSC Advertisement No. 07/2025.
What Is the Serious Fraud Investigation Office?
The Serious Fraud Investigation Office is a specialised corporate fraud investigation agency under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
The Companies Act, 2013, recognises SFIO under Section 211.
Section 212 governs investigation into company affairs by SFIO, subject to statutory conditions.
The organisation investigates complex corporate fraud cases involving financial transactions, company records and suspected statutory violations.
Its work may require cooperation between legal professionals, forensic experts, accountants and investigative officers.
What does an Assistant Director (Corporate Law) do?
The official recruitment advertisement specifies the following responsibilities:
- Assisting investigation teams examining corporate fraud cases.
- Supporting the collection and collation of evidence.
- Assisting in recording statements during investigations.
- Providing expertise in matters involving Corporate Law.
- Presenting evidence for preparation of investigation and prosecution reports.
The position therefore combines legal knowledge with investigative and analytical responsibilities.
It should not be confused with Company Prosecutor, Assistant Legal Adviser or Assistant Director (Banking).
Each position has a separate recruitment framework.
UPSC Assistant Director Corporate Law: Important Dates
The 2025 recruitment proceeded through applications, a combined written examination and interviews.
| Recruitment event | Official date |
|---|---|
| Advertisement issued | 13 June 2025 |
| Online applications opened | 14 June 2025 |
| Application deadline | 3 July 2025 |
| Last date for printing application | 4 July 2025 |
| Combined Recruitment Test | 11 January 2026 |
| Written shortlisting notice | 4 February 2026 |
| Interviews | 31 July 2026 |
| Final result | 11 August 2026 |
The application window has closed.
The latest recruitment was completed when UPSC recommended three candidates in August 2026.
Candidates preparing for future vacancies should monitor the official UPSC recruitment advertisements.
No separate subsequent recruitment notification for this exact post was independently verified as of 10 November 2026.
UPSC Assistant Director Corporate Law Eligibility Criteria
The advertisement provides three alternative educational qualification pathways.
Route 1: Three-year LL.B.
Candidates possessing a recognised Bachelor’s Degree in Law may apply.
This includes graduates who completed their LL.B. after an earlier undergraduate degree.
Route 2: Five-year integrated Law degree
Candidates possessing a recognised five-year integrated Bachelor’s Degree in Law may apply.
Relevant programmes include B.A. LL.B., B.B.A. LL.B. and other recognised integrated law qualifications.
Route 3: Graduation with Company Secretary qualification
Candidates may also qualify through a Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline combined with the prescribed Company Secretary qualification from the Institute of Company Secretaries of India.
An ordinary B.Com. or B.B.A. degree alone does not satisfy this alternative.
Is professional experience compulsory?
The advertisement identifies the following as desirable qualifications, rather than essential experience requirements:
- One year’s experience in Corporate Law.
- Familiarity with evidence collection, recording statements and presenting evidence during proceedings.
Accordingly, a candidate satisfying the essential educational qualification need not necessarily possess one year of corporate law experience.
However, relevant experience may strengthen the applicant’s professional profile.
Can fresh law graduates apply?
Yes. The notified educational qualifications do not independently require a minimum period of professional experience.
Fresh graduates who satisfy the age and other eligibility conditions may apply.
This distinguishes the position from several senior UPSC legal recruitment posts requiring lengthy professional practice.
UPSC Assistant Director Corporate Law Age Limit
The 2025 advertisement prescribed:
| Category | Maximum age |
|---|---|
| Unreserved | 30 years |
| Eligible PwBD | 40 years |
Additional concessions may apply under relevant recruitment instructions.
The crucial eligibility date was 3 July 2025, the application closing date.
Candidates should not calculate eligibility using the January 2026 examination date.
PwBD reservation
All three advertised vacancies were categorised as unreserved.
However, one vacancy carried a horizontal backlog reservation for eligible Persons with Benchmark Disabilities.
The notified reservation concerned specified multiple disabilities.
The advertisement also identified additional disability categories for which the post was suitable.
Candidates should distinguish post suitability from entitlement to the particular reserved vacancy.
The official advertisement contains the applicable categories.
UPSC Assistant Director Corporate Law Salary
The position carries Pay Level 7 under the Seventh Central Pay Commission.
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Pay level | Level 7 |
| Basic pay range | ₹44,900–₹1,42,400 |
| Starting basic pay | ₹44,900 |
| Classification | Group B Gazetted |
| Nature | Non-Ministerial |
| Appointment | Permanent |
| Headquarters | New Delhi |
The post carries all-India service liability.
Additional allowances depend upon the applicable Central Government service rules.
Starting basic pay should not be confused with gross or take-home salary.
Actual net remuneration depends upon deductions, posting conditions and applicable benefits.
UPSC Assistant Director Corporate Law Application Process
Applications were submitted through the UPSC Online Recruitment Application portal.
The 2025 application procedure involved:
- Visiting the authorised UPSC online recruitment portal.
- Selecting Vacancy No. 25060702214.
- Completing personal and educational information.
- Providing the applicable Law or Company Secretary qualification.
- Uploading supporting documents and certificates.
- Paying the prescribed application fee, where applicable.
- Submitting the application and retaining its acknowledgement.
The online application period ended on 3 July 2025.
Candidates should not treat the historical registration link as an active application invitation.
Application fees
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS male candidates | ₹25 |
| Women candidates | Exempt |
| SC / ST candidates | Exempt |
| PwBD candidates | Exempt |
The application fee was non-refundable.
UPSC Assistant Director Corporate Law Examination Pattern
UPSC conducted a Combined Recruitment Test on 11 January 2026.
The examination was common to five legal recruitment cases.
| Component | Official scheme |
|---|---|
| Examination date | 11 January 2026 |
| Time | 10:00 AM–12:00 PM |
| Duration | 2 hours |
| Mode | Offline |
| Question type | Multiple-choice |
| Medium | English only |
| Maximum marks | 300 |
| Negative marking | One-third deduction |
| Unanswered questions | No penalty |
The official examination booklet contained 120 objective questions.
All questions carried equal marks.
Negative marking
One-third of the marks assigned to an incorrectly answered question was deducted.
Candidates received no penalty for leaving a question unanswered.
The marking system required accurate knowledge and careful option selection.
Examination shortlisting
UPSC shortlisted candidates through their Recruitment Test performance.
The Commission published its written shortlisting notice on 4 February 2026.
Eligibility documents were scrutinised before candidates could proceed to interviews.
The written test alone did not guarantee final selection.
UPSC Assistant Director Corporate Law Selection Process
The 2025 recruitment involved two principal selection stages.
Stage 1: Combined Recruitment Test
Candidates appeared in the objective Law examination.
UPSC applied the prescribed standards to shortlist candidates for subsequent consideration.
Stage 2: Interview
Eligible shortlisted candidates participated in interviews.
The official recruitment scheme provided a 75:25 weightage between the Recruitment Test and interview.
| Selection component | Weightage |
|---|---|
| Recruitment Test | 75% |
| Interview | 25% |
Candidates also needed to satisfy the applicable interview suitability requirements.
The general-category minimum suitability standard was 50 marks out of 100.
Final selection
UPSC conducted interviews on 31 July 2026.
The final notice dated 11 August 2026 recommended three candidates.
One recommendation included six months of training.
Candidates can access the official UPSC final result notification.
The recruitment should therefore be treated as completed.
UPSC Assistant Director Corporate Law Syllabus
The January 2026 Combined Recruitment Test prescribed 12 legal subjects.
| No. | Official subject |
|---|---|
| 1 | Constitution of India |
| 2 | Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 |
| 3 | Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 |
| 4 | Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 |
| 5 | Information Technology Act, 2000 |
| 6 | Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 |
| 7 | Companies Act, 2013 |
| 8 | Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003 |
| 9 | Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 |
| 10 | Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946 |
| 11 | Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 |
| 12 | Competition Act, 2002 |
These subjects are confirmed in the official Combined Recruitment Test notice.
The syllabus does not prescribe individual question weightages for all twelve subjects.
Candidates should therefore avoid treating unofficial weightage estimates as binding examination requirements.
Constitutional Law
Preparation should cover Fundamental Rights, judicial review, federalism and constitutional remedies.
Candidates should understand legislative competence, constitutional institutions and separation of powers.
Companies Act, 2013
Company Law is especially relevant to the SFIO’s institutional responsibilities.
Important preparation areas include corporate personality, directors, company management and statutory compliance.
Candidates should study corporate fraud, investigation provisions and relevant enforcement mechanisms.
Sections 211 and 212 deserve particular attention because they concern SFIO.
Section 447, concerning punishment for fraud, is another relevant statutory provision.
These are preparation priorities, not officially assigned question counts.
BNS, BNSS and BSA
The three new criminal enactments appear expressly in the official syllabus.
Candidates should study substantive offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita requires attention to investigation, arrest, prosecution and trials.
The Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam requires understanding documentary evidence, electronic records and admissibility.
Historical judgments under earlier criminal laws remain useful where their principles continue to apply.
Prevention of Money Laundering Act
The PMLA requires attention to money-laundering offences, attachment, investigative powers and adjudication.
Candidates should also understand the procedural safeguards governing enforcement.
Prevention of Corruption Act and CVC Act
Preparation should cover public-servant liability, bribery offences and institutional investigation mechanisms.
The Central Vigilance Commission Act should be studied through its statutory framework and functions.
Other regulatory legislation
The Information Technology Act covers electronic records and relevant cyber offences.
The Competition Act addresses anti-competitive agreements, dominance and merger regulation.
The Environment (Protection) Act and Delhi Special Police Establishment Act complete the prescribed syllabus.
UPSC Assistant Director Corporate Law Previous-Year Question Papers and Answer Keys
Authentic previous-year papers are available for this exact post.
The UPSC archive identifies a 2023 examination involving thirteen Assistant Director (Corporate Law) vacancies.
It also publishes the January 2026 combined examination paper.
| Examination | Official question paper | Answer key |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 Combined Law Recruitment Test | Download 2026 paper | Check UPSC’s answer-key archive |
| December 2023 Combined Law Recruitment Test | Download 2023 paper | Official 2023 final answer key |
Both question papers are hosted on UPSC’s official website.
The January 2026 paper relates directly to the 2025 Assistant Director (Corporate Law) recruitment.
The December 2023 paper relates to an earlier combined examination that included the same designation.
Important distinction concerning the 2023 answer key
The 2023 examination initially contained 120 questions.
UPSC’s final answer key confirms that one question was dropped.
The remaining 119 questions were considered for scoring.
Candidates must therefore use the final answer key rather than assume every question was evaluated.
How to analyse these papers
Attempt the questions under the prescribed two-hour limit.
Apply negative marking when calculating practice scores.
Identify the legal provision involved in each incorrect response.
Compare the older examination’s statutory framework with the 2026 syllabus.
Finally, revise difficult concepts through bare Acts and judicial authorities.
The UPSC question-paper archive provides additional historical materials.
Preparation Strategy for Future SFIO Corporate Law Recruitment
Candidates preparing for a future cycle should first understand the previous examination structure.
Phase 1: Company Law foundations
Revise company formation, corporate governance, directors’ duties and fraud provisions.
Study the investigative framework under the Companies Act, 2013.
Phase 2: Criminal laws and evidence
Prepare BNS, BNSS and BSA through statutory provisions and application-based questions.
Give particular attention to documentary and electronic evidence.
Phase 3: Regulatory and financial offences
Study PMLA, the Prevention of Corruption Act and Competition Law.
Understand investigative powers and statutory procedures.
Phase 4: Full-length mock examinations
Attempt objective papers within two hours.
Use the official negative-marking scheme during evaluation.
Maintain a subject-wise register of errors.
Phase 5: Interview preparation
Develop practical understanding of corporate fraud investigations.
Practise explaining company records, documentary evidence and relevant legal procedures.
Candidates should also review their academic qualifications and any professional experience claimed.
Future applicants must follow the syllabus and eligibility conditions prescribed in the next notification.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When was the UPSC Assistant Director Corporate Law examination conducted?
The latest verified Combined Recruitment Test was held on 11 January 2026.
2. How many vacancies were advertised?
UPSC advertised three vacancies under Advertisement No. 07/2025.
3. What is the salary?
The post carries Pay Level 7, with initial basic pay of ₹44,900.
4. Can fresh LL.B. graduates apply?
Yes. The advertised essential qualifications did not prescribe mandatory professional experience.
5. Can Company Secretary professionals apply?
Yes. A Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline combined with the prescribed ICSI Company Secretary qualification constitutes an alternative pathway.
6. What is the age limit?
The advertisement prescribed 30 years for UR candidates and 40 years for eligible PwBD candidates.
7. Is there negative marking?
Yes. One-third of the marks assigned to an incorrect answer was deducted.
8. Are authentic previous-year papers available?
Yes. UPSC publishes official papers connected with this post from the 2023 and 2026 examination cycles.
Official UPSC Resources
- Union Public Service Commission
- UPSC Advertisement No. 07/2025
- Official Combined Recruitment Test notice
- UPSC Recruitment Test question papers
- UPSC previous-year paper archive
- UPSC answer-key archive
- UPSC final result dated 11 August 2026
- Ministry of Corporate Affairs
Conclusion
UPSC Assistant Director (Corporate Law) recruitment provides a specialised opportunity involving corporate fraud investigation.
The latest verified recruitment was completed in August 2026.
The position requires recognised legal or Company Secretary qualifications, subject to the prescribed conditions.
The examination assesses corporate, constitutional, criminal and regulatory laws.
Candidates preparing for future vacancies should use authentic UPSC papers and current statutory materials.
The next recruitment notification, when issued, will determine the applicable dates, vacancies and selection requirements.
Last updated: 10 November 2026. This guide uses UPSC Advertisement No. 07/2025, the January 2026 Recruitment Test scheme and the final result declared on 11 August 2026.
