Is UPSC EPFO a Gazetted Officer?

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts recruitment for two key posts under the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), Enforcement Officer/Accounts Officer (EO/AO) and Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner (APFC). While both are prestigious central government roles, their gazetted status differs significantly.

Is UPSC EPFO a Gazetted Officer?

The UPSC EPFO 2025 Exam recruits candidates for two important posts: EO/AO (Enforcement Officer/Accounts Officer) APFC (Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner) Both are central government jobs under the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO). These roles are popular because they offer a good salary, job security, and career growth. And strong potential for career advancement within the Ministry of Labour and Employment, making them ideal for candidates seeking impactful and prestigious roles in public service. Know whether EO/AO and APFC posts in EPFO are gazetted status, along with their group category, pay level, and authority status in government services.

EO/AO: Group B Non-Gazetted Officer

The Enforcement Officer/Accounts Officer (EO/AO) post is officially classified as a Group B Non-Gazetted Officer role. Despite being recruited through UPSC and enjoying a respectable pay scale, EO/AO officers do not have their appointments published in the Gazette of India, which is the defining criterion for gazetted status.

Key Highlights:

• Group Classification: Group B
• Gazetted Status: Non-Gazetted Officer
• Pay Level: Level 8 (₹47,600 – ₹1,51,100)
• Recruitment Body: UPSC
• Authority: No attestation powers
• Job Nature: Enforcement, compliance, inspections, and account management

*EO/AO officersplay a vital role in ensuring EPFO regulations are followed by employers, conducting audits, and managing fund recovery. However, they operate under the supervision of APFCs and do not possess gazetted privileges such as document attestation or issuing official certifications.

APFC: Group A Gazetted Officer

The Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner (APFC) post is a Group A Gazetted Officer role, offering higher administrative authority and leadership responsibilities. APFC appointments are published in the Gazette of India, granting them full gazetted privileges and recognition as senior government officers.

Key Highlights:

• Group Classification: Group A
• Gazetted Status: Gazetted Officer
• Pay Level: Level 10 (₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500)
• Recruitment Body: UPSC
• Authority: Can attest documents, issue official stamps, and exercise quasi-judicial powers
• Job Nature: Policy enforcement, legal proceedings, regional administration, and supervisory control.

* APFC appointments are published in the Gazette of India, granting them full gazetted privileges and recognition as senior government officers.

EO/AO vs APFC Gazetted Status: Comparison Table

The differences between EO AO and APFC posts in UPSC EPFO, including group classification, gazetted status, administrative powers, and pay scale in this detailed comparison table.

What Is a Gazetted Officer?

The gazetted officer is a government official who is working as a public servant in a higher rank. Every government employee is not a gazetted officer. A gazetted officer is a government servant who derives their service and recruitment conditions from the Gazette of India as per Article 309 of the Constitution of India, 1950. This recruitment, when made to the government, clearly mentions if a person is a gazetted officer or not. These officers have a name stamp of their own to sign the papers. Gazetted officers are assigned the task of attesting a document, i.e. verifying the credibility of the same. The attestation of the gazetted officer amounts to a credible person witnessing the verification of documents. A Gazetted Officer is a government official whose appointment is published in the Gazette of India, granting them:

• Authority to attest documents
• Power to issue official certifications
• Recognition as a public servant with administrative powers

Gazetted Officers are typically classified under:

• Group A: Senior-level officers (i.e. IAS, IPS, APFC)
• Group B Gazetted: Mid-level officers with limited attestation powers
• Group B Non-Gazetted: Supervisory roles without gazetted privileges (i.e. EO/AO)