The FCI Eligibility Criteria 2026 is prescribed by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) for candidates applying for Manager (Category II) and Assistant Grade (Category III) posts. It covers key requirements such as educational qualification, age limit, nationality, and category-wise relaxation rules. These details ensure only suitable candidates proceed in the recruitment process for stable central government PSU jobs.
FCI Recruitment 2026 Eligibility Overview
| Particulars | Details (evergreen structure) |
|---|---|
| Organization | Food Corporation of India (FCI) |
| Exam Name | FCI Recruitment 2026 |
| Posts | Manager, Assistant Grade, Category II & III posts |
| Job Type | Central Government Job (Public Sector Undertaking) |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Official Website | fci.gov.in |
About Food Corporation of India (FCI)
FCI is a central public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, responsible for food grain procurement, storage, movement, and distribution across India. It recruits for multiple categories, such as Manager (Category II), Assistant Grade (Category III), Stenographer, Typist, and technical/engineering posts in various zones.
Candidates prefer FCI jobs for stable central PSU service, all-India postings, and structured pay scales under government guidelines.
FCI Educational Qualification 2026
Candidates must ensure their degrees are from recognized universities (UGC/AICTE approved, where applicable) and match the exact combinations given in the official FCI 2026 notification PDF.
FCI Manager (Category II) – Post-wise Eligibility
| Post | Essential Qualification |
|---|---|
| Manager (General) | Graduate degree or equivalent from a recognized university with minimum 60% marks (or CA/ICWA/CS). |
| Manager (Depot) | Graduate degree or equivalent from a recognized university with minimum 60% marks. |
| Manager (Movement) | Graduate degree or equivalent from a recognized university with minimum 60% marks (or CA/ICWA/CS in some cases). |
| Manager (Accounts) | Degree in Commerce / CA / ICWA / CS or other finance-related qualification as prescribed. |
| Manager (Technical) | B.Sc. in Agriculture or B.Tech/B.E. in Food Science, Food Technology, Agriculture Engineering or allied disciplines. |
| Manager (Civil Engineering) | B.E/B.Tech in Civil Engineering from a recognized university. |
| Manager (Electrical Mechanical) | B.E/B.Tech in Electrical / Mechanical / Electrical & Mechanical Engineering. |
| Manager (Hindi) | Master’s degree in Hindi with English as a subject at the degree level (or vice versa) plus translation/teaching experience as per the notification. |
FCI Assistant Grade (Category III) – Post-wise Eligibility
| Post | Essential Qualification |
|---|---|
| Assistant Grade III (General) | Graduate in any discipline from a recognized university; computer proficiency is usually required. |
| Assistant Grade III (Depot) | Graduate in any discipline from a recognized university. |
| Assistant Grade III (Accounts) | Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from a recognized university. |
| Assistant Grade III (Technical) | B.Sc. in Agriculture or relevant Science degree (e.g., Botany/Zoology/Biotech/Food Science) as per official rules. |
| Typist (Hindi) | Graduation plus Hindi typing speed requirement (e.g., 30 WPM) and computer knowledge, as specified. |
| Stenographer Grade II | Graduation with stenography speed and typing speed as per official norms, plus computer skills. |
FCI Age Limit 2026
Age is calculated as on the cut-off date mentioned in the FCI Recruitment 2026 notification. FCI 2026 Age Limit allows candidates in a specific age group, post-wise, as of January 1, 2026, to apply for FCI 2026 Exam. Eligible candidates can apply online and check below for FCI 2026 Exam-
| Post | Minimum Age | Maximum Age (General) |
|---|---|---|
| Manager (General/Depot/Movement/Accounts/Technical) | 18 Years | 28 Years |
| Manager (Hindi) | 18 Years | 35 Years |
| Junior Engineer (JE) | 18 Years | 28 Years |
| Assistant Grade III (General/Accounts/Technical/Depot) | 18 Years | 27–28 Years (varies by specific AG III post) |
| Stenographer Grade II | 18 Years | 25 Years |
| Typist (Hindi) | 18 Years | 25 Years |
| Watchman / Security Guard | 18 Years | 25 Years |
Age Relaxation (Category-Wise)
| Category | Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC / ST | Up to 5 years in the upper age limit. |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | Up to 3 years. |
| PwBD (Persons with Benchmark Disabilities) | Up to 10 years (may be 13/15 years when combined with OBC/SC/ST as per rules). |
| Ex-Servicemen | Relaxation as per Govt of India rules, linked to length of service and age on release. |
| Departmental (FCI) Employees | Additional relaxation in uthe pper age limit as per FCI internal rules (up to 50 years in some cases). |
| Widows / Divorced / Women Judicially Separated | Extra relaxation for some posts is mentioned in the notification. |
FCI Nationality Criteria
- Candidate must be a citizen of India, or
- Subject of Nepal or Bhutan, or
- Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1 January 1962 with the intention of permanent settlement, or
- Person of Indian Origin who has migrated from specified countries with the intention of permanently settling in India, subject to an eligibility certificate from the Government of India.
These follow standard central government recruitment rules; always mirror the exact wording from the notification.
Post-Wise Eligibility Comparison (Quick Checker)
| Criteria | Manager (Category II) | Assistant Grade (Category III) |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Qualification | Mostly specialized degrees (Commerce, Engineering, Science, Hindi, etc.) | Graduation in any discipline or specific streams (Commerce/Science), depending onthe post |
| Typical Max Age | Higher (around 28–35 years) | Slightly lower (around 27–28 years) |
| Experience | Required for some posts (e.g., Hindi/technical) if mentioned | Usually not required; freshers are widely eligible |
| Level | Officer/Management level | Clerical/Assistant level |
Experience Requirement (If Applicable)
Some technical or Hindi posts at the Manager level may require prior experience in translation, engineering, quality control, or related fields. Most Assistant Grade III posts do not require prior experience; they are suitable for fresh graduates who meet age and qualification norms. Check the ‘Experience’ column/post-wise details in the official FCI 2026 notification, especially for Manager (Technical), Manager (Hindi), and engineering posts.
Documents Required for Eligibility Verification
- Graduation degree and mark sheets (and post-graduation, if counted for a post).
- Professional or technical degree certificates (Engineering, CA/ICWA, etc.).
- Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS) in the prescribed central government format.
- PwBD certificate, if applicable.
- Date of Birth proof (10th certificate, birth certificate, or equivalent).
- Photo identity proof (Aadhaar, PAN, Passport, Voter ID, etc.).
- Experience certificates from employers for posts where experience is required.
