UP State Agriculture Service Exam 2026 is conducted by UPPSC as the Combined State Agriculture Services Examination, recruiting for 268 posts including District Horticulture Officer, Food Processing Officer, and Senior Technical Assistant across Group A and Group B. This guide is for B.Sc. Agriculture/Horticulture graduates and postgraduates in allied agricultural sciences who want a complete, official-source-verified breakdown before committing to months of preparation. It covers the official prelims and mains syllabus, exam pattern with exact marks distribution, eligibility, pay scale, application fee, step-by-step process, and a preparation strategy.
The UPPSC Combined State Agriculture Services Examination 2026 notified 268 posts with pay scales from Rs.44,900 to Rs.1,77,500 per month. The notification was released on 25 June 2026; applications were open from 25 June to 27 July 2026 via uppsc.up.nic.in. Selection is through Prelims (300 marks) → Mains (350 marks) → Interview (Group A posts only, 100 marks).
- Conducting Body: Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC)
- Exam Name: Combined State Agriculture Services Examination-2026
- Total Posts (notified): 268 (Group A & Group B combined)
- Notification Released: 25 June 2026
- Application Window: 25 June – 27 July 2026
- Correction Window Closes: 3 August 2026
- Pay Scale: Rs.44,900–Rs.1,42,400 (Level-7) to Rs.56,100–Rs.1,77,500 (Level-10)
- Age Limit: 21–40 years (category relaxation applicable)
- Application Fee: Rs.125 (UR/EWS/OBC) | Rs.65 (SC/ST/Ex-Servicemen) | Rs.25 (PwBD)
- Selection Stages: Prelims → Mains → Interview (Group A only)
- Official Website: uppsc.up.nic.in
- What Is the UP State Agriculture Service Exam 2026 and Why It Matters
- Posts Covered Under UPPSC Agriculture Service 2026
- Official Exam Pattern: Prelims, Mains & Interview Marks Breakdown
- Detailed Syllabus Analysis — Topic-Wise for Prelims and Mains
- Salary, Pay Scale & 7th Pay Commission Allowances
- Eligibility, Age Limit & Application Fee by Category
- Step-by-Step Application Process for UPPSC Agriculture Service 2026
- Selection Process: From Prelims to Final Merit List
- Topic-Wise Preparation Strategy
- Important Links
- Frequently Asked Questions About UP State Agriculture Service Exam 2026
What Is the UP State Agriculture Service Exam 2026 and Why It Matters
The UP State Agriculture Service Exam 2026 — officially the Combined State Agriculture Services Examination — is conducted by UPPSC to fill technical and administrative posts across Uttar Pradesh’s agriculture and horticulture departments. It is one of the few state-level exams that directly places agriculture graduates into gazetted government posts with 7th Pay Commission salaries reaching Rs.1,77,500 per month at the senior level.
The exam covers both Group A posts (Senior Technical Assistants in specialised agricultural sciences, which also carry an interview round) and Group B posts (District Horticulture Officer, Food Processing Officer), making it suitable for both B.Sc. Agriculture graduates and postgraduates in Agronomy, Entomology, Plant Pathology, Botany, and Chemistry disciplines.
Posts Covered Under UPPSC Agriculture Service 2026
The UPPSC Combined State Agriculture Services Examination 2026 covers six post types across Group A and Group B, each with a distinct minimum qualification requirement as specified in the official notification.
| Post Name | Group | Minimum Qualification (Official) |
|---|---|---|
| District Horticulture Officer | Group B | B.Sc. (Agriculture) / B.Sc. (Horticulture) from a recognised university |
| Food Processing Officer / Principal, Govt. Food Science Training Centre | Group B | B.Sc. (Chemistry / Agriculture as a subject) from a recognised university |
| Senior Technical Assistant – Agronomy Branch | Group A | PG degree in Agronomy from a recognised university; must also be a graduate in Agriculture |
| Senior Technical Assistant – Plant Science (Entomology/Plant Pathology) | Group A | PG in Plant Science with specialisation in Entomology or Plant Pathology; must be a graduate in Agriculture |
| Senior Technical Assistant – Botany Branch | Group A | PG in Agro Botany / Plant Breeding or Botany with Genetics specialisation; must be a graduate in Agriculture |
| Senior Technical Assistant – Chemistry Branch | Group A | PG in Agriculture Chemistry, Soil Science, or Soil Conservation from a recognised university; must be a graduate in Agriculture |
The official notification for this cycle confirmed 268 combined posts across these categories. The notification was released on 25 June 2026 on uppsc.up.nic.in. Always verify the exact post-wise vacancy breakdown in the official advertisement before applying.
Official Exam Pattern: Prelims, Mains & Interview Marks Breakdown
The UPPSC Agriculture Service Exam 2026 follows a three-stage pattern. Prelims is purely qualifying — those marks do not carry forward. Final merit is based only on mains marks (Group B) or mains plus interview (Group A).
| Stage | Subject / Paper | Questions | Marks | Duration | Nature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prelims | General Studies (40 Q) + Agriculture (80 Q) | 120 MCQ | 300 | 2 hours | Qualifying only |
| Mains – Paper 1 | General Studies | Descriptive | 50 | 2 hours | Merit-counted |
| Mains – Paper 2 | General Hindi & Essay | Descriptive | 50 | 2 hours | Merit-counted |
| Mains – Paper 3 & 4 | Optional Subject (Paper I & II) | Descriptive | 250 | 3 hrs each | Merit-counted |
| Interview | Personality Test — Group A posts only | — | 100 | — | Group A only |
Negative marking of 0.33 marks applies for every wrong answer in the prelims. The prelims question split is officially 40 questions for General Studies (100 marks) and 80 questions for Agriculture Subject (200 marks), totalling 120 questions for 300 marks. The optional subject in the mains carries 250 of the 350 mains marks, making it the single highest-weightage component of the entire selection process.
Detailed Syllabus Analysis — Topic-Wise for Prelims and Mains
A careful reading of the official UPPSC Agriculture Service syllabus shows two distinct pillars in prelims — General Studies (UP-focused) and core Agriculture science — followed by deep discipline-specific specialisation in the mains optional papers.
Prelims — General Studies Topics (40 Questions / 100 Marks)
- Current national and international affairs
- History of India and the Indian National Movement
- Indian polity and governance
- Indian economy and social development
- General science and science in everyday life
- Ecology and environment
- Indian agriculture, commerce, and trade
- Education, culture, agriculture, industry, trade, and social traditions of Uttar Pradesh
- Geography of India and Uttar Pradesh including natural resources
Prelims — Agriculture Subject Topics (80 Questions / 200 Marks)
- Principles of crop production and major cropping systems of Uttar Pradesh
- Constituents of soil, soil conservation, and essential plant nutrients
- Organic farming and sustainable agriculture practices
- Hybridisation and basic plant breeding concepts
- Agroforestry and integrated farming systems
- Livestock management basics relevant to mixed farming
- Post-harvest management and food processing fundamentals
- Major government agricultural schemes operating in Uttar Pradesh
- Horticulture, vegetable crops, and floriculture basics
Mains — Optional Subject Papers (250 Marks Across Paper I & II)
Each candidate chooses one optional subject aligned with the post applied for. The optional covers postgraduate-level depth across two papers of 125 marks each. Available optional subjects include Agronomy, Botany (with Genetics specialisation), Entomology, Plant Pathology, Agricultural Chemistry/Soil Science, and Agricultural Extension/Development. The official notification PDF contains the complete topic-wise syllabus for each optional — download it directly from uppsc.up.nic.in before finalising your subject choice.
Mains — General Studies Paper and Hindi & Essay Paper (50 Marks Each)
The General Studies mains paper tests analytical writing on current affairs, governance, and developmental issues in Uttar Pradesh. The General Hindi & Essay paper tests language proficiency and the ability to write structured essays on social, agricultural, or economic topics at a graduate level.
Salary, Pay Scale & 7th Pay Commission Allowances
Selected candidates receive structured 7th Pay Commission salaries that vary by post group, as specified in the official UPPSC Agriculture Service notification.
| Post Level | Pay Matrix Level | Pay Scale (Official) | Applicable Posts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group B Entry Posts | Level-7 | Rs.44,900 – Rs.1,42,400 | District Horticulture Officer, Food Processing Officer |
| Group A Senior Posts | Level-10 | Rs.56,100 – Rs.1,77,500 | Senior Technical Assistant (all branches) |
In addition to basic pay, selected candidates receive Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), Travel Allowance (TA), medical benefits, and other standard government allowances applicable to UP state government gazetted employees. No in-hand or approximate take-home figures are provided here — actual take-home depends on the DA rate, HRA city classification, and deductions at the time of joining.
Eligibility, Age Limit & Application Fee by Category
Eligibility for the UP State Agriculture Service Exam 2026 is set per post (see the Posts table above for qualifications). The age limit and application fee follow a common category-wise structure across all posts in this exam.
| Category | Age Range | Relaxation |
|---|---|---|
| General / EWS | 21–40 years | Nil |
| OBC (UP Domicile) | 21–43 years | 3 years |
| SC / ST (UP Domicile) | 21–45 years | 5 years |
| PwBD Candidates | 21–55 years | 15 years |
UP domicile is required only to avail the extended age relaxation for reserved categories. Any Indian citizen meeting the educational qualification can apply regardless of domicile. There is no restriction on the number of attempts as long as the candidate is within the upper age limit.
| Category | Application Fee (Official) |
|---|---|
| General / EWS / OBC | Rs.125 |
| SC / ST | Rs.65 |
| Ex-Servicemen | Rs.65 |
| PwBD (Handicapped) | Rs.25 |
Step-by-Step Application Process for UPPSC Agriculture Service 2026
Applications for the UPPSC Agriculture Service Exam 2026 are submitted online via the official UPPSC portal. One-Time Registration (OTR) is mandatory before filling the application form.
- Visit otr.pariksha.nic.in and complete One-Time Registration (OTR) if not already done — this is mandatory for all UPPSC exams.
- Go to the official UPPSC website at uppsc.up.nic.in and locate the Combined State Agriculture Services Examination-2026 application link.
- Log in using your OTR credentials and open the online application form.
- Fill in personal details, educational qualifications, choose the post you are applying for, and select your optional subject for the mains.
- Upload scanned photograph, signature, and any required category certificate in the specified format and file size.
- Pay the application fee online as per your category — Rs.125 (General/EWS/OBC), Rs.65 (SC/ST/Ex-Servicemen), or Rs.25 (PwBD).
- Review all entries carefully — post selection and optional subject cannot typically be changed after final submission.
- Submit the form and download the confirmation page with your application number for future reference.
Selection Process: From Prelims to Final Merit List
The UPPSC Agriculture Service 2026 selection moves through three clearly defined stages. Understanding what counts toward final merit helps you allocate preparation time correctly.
- Preliminary Examination (Qualifying): 120 MCQs, 300 marks, 0.33 negative marking. Marks from prelims do not count toward final merit — only category-wise cut-offs determine mains eligibility.
- Mains Examination (Merit-Counted): Four descriptive papers totalling 350 marks — General Studies (50), General Hindi & Essay (50), Optional Subject Paper I (125), Optional Subject Paper II (125).
- Interview / Personality Test (Group A posts only): 100 marks. Not applicable to Group B posts.
- Document Verification: Shortlisted candidates present original certificates for verification before final appointment.
- Final Merit List: Computed from mains marks alone for Group B posts; from mains plus interview marks for Group A posts.
Topic-Wise Preparation Strategy for UPPSC Agriculture Service 2026
Because optional subject carries 250 of 350 mains marks, preparation should be weighted heavily toward your discipline — not split evenly across all stages.
- Months 1–2 (Foundation): Build General Studies fundamentals with a UP-specific lens — state agricultural schemes, UP geography, and cultural history score disproportionately well in the prelims GS section.
- Months 1–3 (Agriculture Prelims): Strengthen core agriculture prelims topics using standard B.Sc. Agriculture textbooks (ICAR-approved) and previous UPPSC Agriculture Service question papers.
- Months 2–5 (Optional Subject — Priority): Begin optional subject preparation early. With 250 marks on the line, this cannot be crammed in final weeks — work through the official syllabus topic by topic and practice 500–800 word descriptive answers.
- Throughout (Current Affairs): Maintain a running notes file on UP-specific agricultural policy, new government schemes, and ICAR research announcements.
- Final 6 weeks before Prelims: Take timed full-length mock tests, track your accuracy and score with negative-marking discipline, and refine weak topics.
- After Prelims, Before Mains: Shift entirely to descriptive answer writing practice for all four mains papers — structure, time management, and keyword use matter significantly in UPPSC mains evaluation.
Important Links — UPPSC Agriculture Service Exam 2026
Frequently Asked Questions About UP State Agriculture Service Exam 2026
What is the UP State Agriculture Service Exam 2026 and how many posts are notified for this recruitment cycle?
What is the official exam pattern and negative marking rule for UP State Agriculture Service Exam 2026 prelims?
What is the salary for UP State Agriculture Service 2026 posts and which Pay Matrix Level applies to each group?
What is the application fee for UP State Agriculture Service Exam 2026 and what is the last date to apply online?
Does the UP State Agriculture Service Exam 2026 have an interview stage, and which posts require it for final selection?
Published: 7 August 2026 | Last updated: 2 November 2026
This page is reviewed and updated when official data changes. Bookmark it and always cross-verify current dates, vacancies, and exam schedules on the official UPPSC portal at uppsc.up.nic.in before taking any action.
Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only. All figures are sourced from the official UPPSC notification (Combined State Agriculture Services Examination-2026, released 25 June 2026). Always verify data on the official portal before taking action.
