UKPSC RO/ARO Exam 2026 — Notification, Stages, Eligibility & Key Updates [2023 Cycle Complete]

Last Updated: 5 June, 2026 | Source: Official UKPSC Notification | psc.uk.gov.in

The UKPSC RO/ARO exam fills Review Officer and Assistant Review Officer posts across the Uttarakhand Secretariat, UKPSC office and Revenue Board under a single notification. The 2023 cycle is complete — final selection result declared 11 April 2025. The 2026 notification is awaited; this page will be updated the moment UKPSC releases it.

At a Glance — UKPSC RO/ARO Exam

Latest Updates — UKPSC RO/ARO

• 2026 notification awaited — UKPSC expected to release next RO/ARO recruitment; no official date confirmed as of May 2026
• 11 April 2025 — Revised final selection result declared after original 28 March result was cancelled due to technical error
• 30 January 2025 — Mains written result declared; 735 candidates qualified for practical test
• 29 February 2024 — Prelims result declared; 2,285 candidates qualified for mains

2023 Cycle — Complete Key Dates

Full details of each event are covered in the sections below.

How the UKPSC RO/ARO Exam Works — 3 Stages

Selection moves through three fixed stages. Clearing each stage is mandatory to proceed.

Stage 1 — Preliminary Examination Objective paper of 150 marks with negative marking. Qualifying in nature — marks do not count in final merit. Shortlists candidates for mains. The complete paper structure, marking scheme and topic areas are covered in the full exam pattern and subject breakdown.

Stage 2 — Main Examination Three papers totalling 400 marks: General Studies objective (200 marks), Hindi Composition descriptive (100 marks) and Essay Writing descriptive (100 marks). This stage determines final rank.

Stage 3 — Practical Test Two qualifying tests: Hindi Typing and Computer Basic Knowledge. Mandatory clearance for appointment — a candidate who fails the practical test cannot be appointed regardless of mains marks.

Vacancies — 137 Posts Across 3 Offices (2023 Cycle)

Pay Scale — RO and ARO

Eligibility — Age, Qualification and Domicile

Educational Qualification Graduation from any recognised university. No specific stream required.

Age Limit Minimum 21 years, maximum 42 years. Calculated as of 01 July 2023 for the 2023 cycle. Candidates must have been born between 02 July 1981 and 01 July 2002.

Age Relaxation

EWS candidates receive no age relaxation in this exam. Reservation in seats applies but the upper age limit remains 42 years.

Domicile Reservation benefits apply only to candidates with valid Uttarakhand domicile. Candidates from other states may apply under General category only.

Certificate Validity

• OBC certificate: must be issued within 3 years of the application deadline
• EWS certificate: must be of the preceding financial year only
• If claiming multiple category benefits, only the most beneficial one applies

Application Fee — 2023 Cycle

Fee is non-refundable. Fee amounts may be revised in the 2026 notification.

Key Exam Rules

• Negative marking: ¼ mark deducted per wrong answer
• Calculator: not allowed in exam hall
• Thumb impression: mandatory at exam centre
• Admit card: downloaded from psc.uk.gov.in only — not dispatched by post
• Answer key objection window: 7 days, fee ₹50 per objection

Disqualification — Who Cannot Apply

• Candidate with more than one living wife
• Convicted of moral turpitude
• Submitted false documents — debarred from all Uttarakhand examinations for 5 years

Syllabus — 3 Papers Across 2 Stages

Prelims is one General Studies objective paper. Mains adds Hindi Composition and Essay Writing on top of the GS objective paper. The unit-wise topic list and marking details for all three papers are on the subject breakdown page.

Exam Date — 2026 Cycle Not Yet Announced

No date has been announced for the 2026 cycle. UKPSC publishes exam schedules on psc.uk.gov.in. This section will be updated as soon as a date is confirmed.

Admit Card — Released Separately for Each Stage

UKPSC releases a separate admit card for Prelims, Mains and the Practical test. All are available on psc.uk.gov.in only — not sent by post. The stage-wise download process, required documents and correction procedure are covered on the admit card page.

Answer Key — Released After Prelims and Mains GS Both

UKPSC releases a provisional answer key after both the Prelims and Mains GS objective papers, with a 7-day window to raise objections at ₹50 per question. Keys for all cycles are available on the answer key page.

Result — 2,285 Qualified for Mains, 735 for Practical

In the 2023 cycle, 2,285 candidates cleared Prelims and 735 cleared Mains for the Practical test. UKPSC publishes individual marks of all candidates alongside the merit list — not just qualifying candidates. Stage-wise results and marks for all cycles are on the result page.

Cutoff — 107.93 for General Category, 2023 Prelims

The General category Prelims cutoff in the 2023 cycle was 107.93 out of 150. Cutoffs varied significantly across all 16 categories. Category-wise cutoff data across all stages and cycles is on the cutoff marks page.

What Happens After Clearing All 3 Stages

Candidates who clear all three stages are appointed as RO or ARO in the specific office they applied for. RO is a Level-8 gazetted post primarily in the Uttarakhand Secretariat involving file supervision and office administration. ARO is a Level-7 post with similar responsibilities at assistant level.

The full salary structure, allowances, posting locations and promotion path are covered on the job profile page.

Frequently Asked Questions — UKPSC RO/ARO

Q1: Is there an attempt limit for UKPSC RO/ARO?

No fixed attempt limit. The effective limit is the upper age ceiling of 42 years with applicable relaxation. Candidates may appear in every cycle as long as they meet age criteria.

Q2: Can I apply for both RO and ARO in the same notification?

RO and ARO are separate posts with different pay levels and typing requirements. Whether one application covers both depends on the 2026 notification. Read the official advertisement carefully before applying.

Q3: EWS gets reservation but no age relaxation — is that confirmed?

Yes. EWS candidates receive horizontal seat reservation but no age relaxation. The upper limit stays at 42 years for EWS, same as General category.

Q4: English typing says “preference not mandatory” — what does that mean practically?

Hindi typing at 4,000 CKDPH is mandatory for both posts. English typing — 8,000 CKDPH for RO and 9,000 CKDPH for ARO — is tested for departmental preference in office allocation. Not achieving the English speed does not disqualify you from appointment.

Q5: Does the computer test score affect my rank?

No. Computer test is qualifying only — minimum 40% required. It does not contribute marks to final merit. Only Mains marks determine rank.