GPSC Recruitment 2026 for 277+ Posts: Online Application Starts 31 January

The Gujarat Public Service Commission has released a comprehensive recruitment notification covering 23 different posts across four major government bodies: Sports Authority of Gujarat, Newly Constituted Municipal Corporations, Gujarat Water Supply and Sewerage Board, and Gujarat Housing Board. This consolidated advertisement, numbered 111/2025-26 to 133/2025-26, represents a significant opportunity for candidates seeking Class-I and Class-II officer positions in the state government. The recruitment drive encompasses diverse fields including engineering, medical services, administration, town planning, and veterinary services, making it one of the most varied GPSC notifications in recent times. With over 277 confirmed vacancies and the possibility of more being added, this recruitment cycle is expected to attract thousands of applicants from across Gujarat and neighboring states.

What makes this recruitment particularly important is its timing and scope. The notification comes when several municipal corporations have been newly constituted, creating immediate demand for technical and administrative staff. Additionally, the Sports Authority of Gujarat is expanding its operations, requiring dedicated professionals. For engineering graduates, this notification offers multiple entry points as Assistant Engineers and Deputy Executive Engineers across different departments. Medical professionals find opportunities as Medical Officers and Medical Officers of Health. The recruitment follows GPSC's standard three-stage selection process but candidates must pay close attention to department-specific requirements, especially regarding experience and educational qualifications. The application process is exclusively online through the OJAS portal, and the One Time Registration system is mandatory for all new applicants.

Understanding the timeline for GPSC recruitment is crucial because missing any deadline, even by minutes, can result in application rejection. The notification follows a structured timeline with specific cut-off points for different activities. The online application window opens on 31st January 2026 at 13:00 hours (1:00 PM) and closes precisely on 16th February 2026 at 23:59 hours (11:59 PM). This gives candidates approximately 17 days to complete their applications. However, there's a critical distinction between the online form submission deadline and the fee payment deadline. While online fee payment must be completed by 16th February, candidates opting for offline payment through post office challan have until 17th February during post office working hours. This staggered deadline often creates confusion, so candidates must plan their payment method accordingly.

The age calculation cut-off date is fixed as 16th February 2026, which means your age as on this date determines your eligibility for age relaxation benefits. The preliminary examination date is tentative and will be announced separately on the GPSC website, but candidates should expect it within 2-3 months after the application window closes. Historical patterns suggest that GPSC usually conducts preliminary exams 60-90 days after the application deadline. It's important to note that these dates are fixed and GPSC rarely extends deadlines, so candidates should complete all formalities well before the last date to avoid last-minute technical issues or server overload problems that commonly occur on the final day.

The application process for GPSC recruitment begins precisely at 1:00 PM on 31st January 2026. This midday start is intentional - it allows technical teams to perform final checks in the morning and ensures that the portal opens during working hours when support staff is available. Candidates often make the mistake of trying to access the portal immediately at midnight or early morning, only to find it unavailable. The 1:00 PM start gives candidates the entire afternoon and evening to begin their applications. However, experienced candidates know that the first few hours often see heavy traffic, leading to slower response times. Smart applicants wait for 2-3 hours after opening or use the late evening hours of 31st January when traffic reduces. The portal remains accessible 24/7 once opened, so there's no advantage to being among the very first applicants.

What candidates should do immediately after the portal opens is complete their One Time Registration if they haven't done so already. OTR is mandatory and creates your permanent GPSC candidate ID. Without this, you cannot proceed with the actual application. The information required for OTR includes basic details exactly as they appear in your SSC (10th) certificate - name spelling, date of birth, and parent names must match perfectly. Many candidates face rejection later because of minor discrepancies between their OTR data and educational certificates. After OTR, candidates should log in and select the specific advertisement number they wish to apply for. Since there are 23 different advertisement numbers (111-133), you must choose correctly based on the post you're targeting. You can apply for multiple posts if you're eligible, but each requires a separate application under its specific advertisement number.

The absolute deadline for online application submission is 11:59 PM on 16th February 2026. This means the application form submission button will become inactive at precisely this moment. GPSC's system is automated and strict about deadlines - applications submitted even one minute past the deadline are automatically rejected. The 11:59 PM deadline applies to both form submission and online fee payment. Candidates using offline payment methods through post office challan have a slight extension until 17th February, but only for the payment part - their application form must still be submitted online by 16th February 11:59 PM. This distinction is crucial because some candidates mistakenly believe they can submit the form on 17th if they're paying offline, which leads to automatic rejection.

A critical aspect of this deadline is what constitutes "submission." Merely saving a draft application doesn't count as submission. The candidate must complete all steps including photo/signature upload, preview, final submission, and fee payment (if applicable) to generate a confirmation number. Only applications with a confirmation number are considered submitted. Many candidates each year complete everything except the final submission click, thinking the system will auto-submit, only to discover their application was never received. Another common issue is last-minute technical problems - internet connectivity issues, power failures, or portal slowdowns due to high traffic. GPSC doesn't accept these as excuses for missing the deadline. The commission explicitly advises candidates to complete their applications at least 24 hours before the deadline to avoid such problems. The edit window also closes with this deadline - no changes can be made to submitted applications after 16th February 11:59 PM.

The age limit for GPSC recruitment varies by post and is calculated as on 16th February 2026, the last date of online application. While the notification doesn't specify exact age limits for each post in this consolidated advertisement, they are detailed in individual advertisements available on the GPSC website. Generally, for Class-I posts, the maximum age limit is typically 40-45 years for General candidates, with relaxations for reserved categories. For Class-II posts, the maximum age is usually 35-40 years for General candidates. The minimum age is consistently 21 years for most posts, though some technical posts may have a minimum of 18 years. Candidates must check the specific advertisement for the post they're applying to for exact age limits.

Age calculation follows a specific method: your age is calculated from your date of birth as recorded in your SSC (10th standard) certificate to 16th February 2026. Only completed years are considered. For example, if you were born on 17th February 1991, you would be considered 34 years 11 months 30 days old on 16th February 2026, and thus 34 years old for eligibility purposes. If you were born on 16th February 1991, you would be exactly 35 years old. This one-day difference can determine eligibility. Candidates often make mistakes by calculating age based on other certificates or by counting years inclusively. GPSC only accepts the SSC certificate as valid age proof - no other document including birth certificate, PAN card, or Aadhaar card is accepted for age verification. If there's any discrepancy between your SSC certificate and other documents, the SSC certificate prevails.

The educational qualifications for GPSC recruitment vary significantly across the 23 different posts advertised. For engineering positions like Assistant Engineer and Deputy Executive Engineer, a B.E./B.Tech degree in the relevant discipline (Civil, Electrical, Mechanical) from a recognized university is mandatory. The degree must be recognized by AICTE and the university must be approved by UGC. For medical positions like Medical Officer and Medical Officer of Health, an MBBS degree from an MCI-recognized institution is required, with additional postgraduate diplomas needed for some senior positions. Administrative positions typically require a bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognized university, though some may prefer specific streams like commerce or arts.

An important aspect is the "recognized university" criteria. Many candidates from private universities or distance education programs face issues if their institution isn't properly recognized. Candidates should verify their university's recognition status through UGC's website before applying. Another critical requirement is the medium of instruction - while not explicitly stated, candidates should be proficient in Gujarati as most positions require working in the state administration. Some posts have additional requirements like specific diplomas or certificates - for example, Town Planner positions require a postgraduate diploma in town planning alongside the engineering degree. Experience requirements also vary: some posts require 3-6 years of relevant experience, while others are open to freshers. Experience must be post-qualification and from a recognized organization, with proper documentation including appointment letters, experience certificates, and salary slips.

The GPSC recruitment notification 2026 covers vacancies across four major organizations with 23 different posts. The Sports Authority of Gujarat (SAG) has 6 posts ranging from Assistant Director to Administrative Officer. The Newly Constituted Municipal Corporations have 13 posts including Medical Officer of Health, Town Planner, and various engineering positions. Gujarat Water Supply and Sewerage Board (GWSSB) has 2 posts specifically reserved for PwD candidates. Gujarat Housing Board (GHB) has 1 post for Assistant Engineer (Civil). Additionally, there's 1 post for Librarian. The total number of vacancies is approximately 277+, but this number may increase as the commission reserves the right to increase or decrease vacancies based on requirements.

Each post has a specific advertisement number, and candidates must apply under the correct number. For example, Advertisement No. 111 is for Assistant Director (SAG), No. 121 is for Assistant Engineer (Civil) in Municipal Corporations, and No. 132 is for Assistant Engineer (Civil) in Gujarat Housing Board. While some posts seem similar (like Assistant Engineer across different organizations), they have different advertisement numbers, eligibility criteria, and selection processes. Candidates can apply for multiple posts if they meet the eligibility criteria for each, but they must submit separate applications for each advertisement number. The vacancies are distributed across different categories as per Gujarat Government reservation policy, which includes vertical reservations for SC, ST, SEBC, EWS and horizontal reservations for Women, PwD, and Ex-Servicemen within each vertical category.

The category-wise vacancy distribution follows the Gujarat Government reservation policy which includes both vertical and horizontal reservations. Vertical reservations apply to SC (7%), ST (15%), SEBC (27%), and EWS (10%) categories. Within each of these vertical categories, horizontal reservations apply for Women (33%), PwD (4%), and Ex-Servicemen (as per rules). This creates a complex matrix where a single vacancy might be counted in multiple categories. For example, one post of Assistant Engineer might be reserved for SC-Women-PwD, meaning it's filled by a woman candidate from SC category who also has a disability. The exact distribution varies by post and is detailed in individual advertisements.

To understand how this works in practice, consider the example given in the notification for Advertisement No. 132 (Assistant Engineer - GHB). Out of 51 total vacancies, 23 are for Unreserved (UR), 5 for EWS, 14 for SEBC, 3 for SC, 6 for ST, with 7 reserved for Women horizontally across all categories, 4 for PwD horizontally, and 1 for Ex-Servicemen horizontally. This doesn't mean 51+7+4+1=63 vacancies - rather, the horizontal reservations are within the vertical categories. So the 7 women reservations are distributed as: some from UR, some from EWS, some from SEBC, etc., based on proportionality. This system ensures representation across multiple dimensions of disadvantage. Candidates must select their category carefully during application as changing categories later is generally not permitted.

The salary structure for GPSC-recruited posts follows the 7th Pay Commission recommendations as adopted by the Gujarat Government. However, the exact pay scale varies by post, class (Class-I or Class-II), and department. The notification specifically states that pay level, basic pay, dearness allowance, house rent allowance, and other components are governed strictly by respective Recruitment Rules. Therefore, candidates must refer to individual detailed advertisements on the GPSC website for exact salary figures for each post. Generally, Class-I officers (like Assistant Director, Medical Officer of Health) are placed in higher pay matrix levels (Level 10-12) while Class-II officers (like Assistant Engineer, Administrative Officer) are placed in lower levels (Level 8-9).

The preliminary examination is the first elimination stage for most GPSC recruitments. It's typically an objective type exam with multiple choice questions. The exam pattern varies by post but generally includes questions on general knowledge, general studies, reasoning, and subject-specific knowledge. The purpose is to screen a large number of applicants and shortlist a manageable number for the main examination. The number of candidates shortlisted is usually 10-15 times the number of vacancies. The preliminary exam marks are usually not counted in the final merit list - they serve only as a qualifying stage. However, candidates must score above the cut-off marks which vary by category.

Negative marking may or may not be applicable depending on the specific advertisement. Candidates must check the individual advertisement for details. The preliminary exam is usually conducted in multiple centers across Gujarat. Admit cards are downloadable from the GPSC website 2-3 weeks before the exam. The exam duration is typically 2-3 hours. Results are declared within 1-2 months of the exam. Qualified candidates are then eligible to appear for the main examination. It's important to note that merely qualifying the preliminary exam doesn't guarantee selection - it's only the first hurdle. Many candidates make the mistake of relaxing after clearing prelims, only to perform poorly in mains due to inadequate preparation.

The main examination is the most crucial stage as marks from this stage are counted in the final merit list. It's typically a descriptive written exam consisting of several papers. The number of papers, subjects, and marks vary by post. For generalist posts, it usually includes papers on Gujarati, English, General Studies, and optional subjects. For technical posts, it focuses on subject-specific knowledge. Each paper is usually of 3 hours duration. The main exam tests not just knowledge but also writing skills, analytical ability, and expression. Answers must be written in the prescribed language (usually Gujarati or English as specified).

Preparation for mains requires a different strategy than prelims. While prelims test breadth of knowledge, mains tests depth. Candidates must develop answer writing skills, practice structuring answers, and manage time effectively during the exam. The main exam is usually conducted 2-3 months after the preliminary results. Evaluation takes 2-3 months, after which results are declared. Candidates are shortlisted for interview based on their main exam performance, usually 2-3 times the number of vacancies. The main exam marks carry significant weightage in the final selection - typically 70-80% of the total marks. Therefore, strong performance in mains is essential for final selection.

The interview, also called personality test, is the final stage of selection. It usually carries 20-25% weightage in the final merit. Candidates who clear the main examination are called for interview in order of merit, typically 2-3 times the number of vacancies. The interview panel usually consists of 3-5 members including GPSC commissioners and subject experts. The interview assesses personality traits, communication skills, general awareness, analytical ability, and suitability for public service. Questions may range from personal background to current affairs, from subject knowledge to situational judgment.

The interview is also when document verification takes place. Candidates must bring all original documents - educational certificates, caste certificates, experience certificates, age proof, etc. Any discrepancy between application details and original documents leads to disqualification. The interview process also includes verification of certificates for reservation claims. After the interview, a final merit list is prepared combining marks from main exam and interview. The final selection is based on this merit list, subject to medical fitness (for posts requiring it) and other verification. Selected candidates receive appointment letters and are given joining instructions. The entire selection process from preliminary exam to final appointment typically takes 12-18 months.

The GPSC notification includes several critical warnings that candidates must heed to avoid disqualification. First and foremost is the rule about "one application per advertisement." If you submit multiple applications for the same advertisement number, only the last confirmed application will be considered and all others will be rejected. This is to prevent candidates from trying different category options or correcting errors through multiple submissions. Another critical warning concerns photograph and signature uploads. Using wrong photos (someone else's photo, unclear photo, inappropriate photo) or wrong signatures (unsigned, digital signature, mismatch with documents) leads to immediate disqualification. The photograph must be recent and recognizable, while the signature must match your signature on official documents.

After the last date (16 February 2026, 23:59), no editing is allowed in the application. This means any errors discovered after submission cannot be corrected. Therefore, careful verification before final submission is essential. The SSCE (10th standard) certificate is mandatory for age proof - no other document is accepted. This is particularly important for candidates whose date of birth differs across documents. The SSC certificate date prevails. For posts marked with asterisk (*) - specifically Advertisement Nos. 130 and 131 - these are special recruitment for PwD candidates only. General candidates applying for these will be rejected. The commission reserves the right to increase or decrease vacancies, which means the final number of posts filled may differ from what's advertised. Also, the commission may collect consent or deposit for examination centers, which candidates must comply with.

Other important warnings include: saving the confirmed application form compulsorily (it's needed for future stages), ensuring generation of confirmation number (without which application is invalid), and understanding that failure to follow any instruction may lead to rejection. Candidates should also note that category-wise breakup for municipal corporation posts must be verified individually in respective advertisements as they may vary by corporation. Physical eligibility standards, if applicable for any post, will be specified in individual advertisements. The syllabus for examinations will be published separately advertisement-wise. Negative marking rules, if applicable, will be specified in individual exam patterns. All these warnings are based on past instances where candidates faced disqualification, so they should be taken seriously.