EPFO Social Security Assistant Exam 2021
Eligibility | Dates | Pattern | Syllabus
The Employees Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) is a central government organization, and it conducts this Social Security Assistant (SSA) exam once a year to recruit eligible candidates for the post of Social security officer. This post is a dream post for numerous aspirants, and it provides them with an excellent opportunity to work in government institutes.
The candidates will undergo 3 phases in the selection process that is, Preliminary Examination, Mains Examination, and Computer Skill Test. The Preliminary Examination is conducted for 100 marks and the Mains Examination is conducted for 153 marks.
Exam Highlights
| Level of Exam | Graduate, National Level |
| Exam Medium | English, Hindi |
| Exam Frequency | Once in a year |
| Purpose of the Exam | The purpose of EPFO SSA examination is to recruit candidates for the post of Social security assistant officer. |
| Conducting Body | Employees Provident Fund Organization |
EPFO Social Security Assistant Exam Eligibity Criteria 2021
- Nationality
- Educational Qualification
- Degree of a recognized university or equivalent as on the closing date for online registration of application.
- Possessing a speed of at least 5000 key depressions per hour for Data Entry Work.
- Age Limit The age of the candidate to appear in the EPFO Social Security Assistant Exam should be minimum of 18 years and maximum of 27 years.
A candidate must be either:
a. a citizen of India, or
b. a subject of Nepal, or
c. a subject of Bhutan, or
d. a Tibetan refugee who came over to India, before the 1st January, 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India, or
e. a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia and Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.
f. Provided that a candidate belonging to categories (b), (c), (d) and (e) above shall be a person in whose favor a certificate of eligibility has been issued by the Government of India.
However, there are age relaxations for candidates belonging to the reserved categories. They are given below in the table:
| Category | Upper Age Limit |
|---|---|
| SC/ST | 32 years |
| OBC-NCL | 30 years |
| Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (General) | 40 years |
| Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (SC/ST) | 45 years |
| Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (OBC – NCL) | 43 years |
| Ex-SM + General | 30 years |
| Ex-SM + OBC-NCL | 33 years |
| Ex-SM +SC/ST | 35 years |
There is no such restriction on the number of attempts as long as the age criteria is being fulfilled.
EPFO Social Security Assistant Exam Important Dates 2021
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Starting Date of Application | To be notified |
| Last Date of Application | To be notified |
| Admit Card release date | To be notified |
| Preliminary Exam Date | To be notified |
| Main Exam Date | To be notified |
| Date of Skill Test | To be notified |
EPFO Social Security Assistant Exam Pattern 2021
Important points regarding the pattern of the exam:
- Phase–I is qualifying in nature and marks will not be reckoned for final merit.
- The candidates will be shortlisted for Phase-II in the ratio of 1:10 i.e. about 10 times the number of vacancies in each category on the basis of their performance in Phase – I.
- The marks obtained in Phase – II will be considered for final selection.
- The descriptive paper will be conducted online immediately after completion of an online objective test of Phase-II Main Examination
- The candidates will be shortlisted for Phase-III in the ratio of 1:5 i.e. about 5 times the number of vacancies in each category on the basis of their performance in Phase – II.
- Computer Skill Test will be qualifying in nature. Marks obtained will not be reckoned for merit ranking
Pattern for Phase I – Preliminary Examination
| Sl. No. | Name of the Paper/Section | Nature | Nos. of Questions | Question Type | Duration | Negative Marking | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English Language This paper will test the English language proficiency of the candidates. |
Qualifying Nature | 30 | Objective (Multiple Choice) | 20 mins | 0.25 | 30 |
| 2 | Reasoning Ability This paper will test the reasoning skills of the candidates |
Qualifying Nature | 35 | Objective (Multiple Choice) | 20 mins | 0.25 | 35 |
| 3 | Numerical Aptitude This paper will test the mathematical skills of the candidates. |
Qualifying Nature | 35 | Objective (Multiple Choice) | 20 mins | 35 | 35 |
| Total Marks* | 100 |
*The total marks shown here are considered for merit ranking purposes.
Pattern for Phase II – Main Exam
| Sl. No. | Name of the Paper/Section | Nature | Nos. of Questions | Question Type | Duration | Negative Marking | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reasoning Ability This paper will test the reasoning skills of the candidates |
Merit Ranking Nature | 40 | Objective (Multiple Choice) | 35 mins | 0.25 | 60 |
| 2 | General Awareness This paper will test the general knowledge of the candidates |
Merit Ranking Nature | 40 | Objective (Multiple Choice) | 20 mins | 0.25 | 40 |
| 3 | English Language This paper will test the English language proficiency of the candidates |
Merit Ranking Nature | 30 | Objective (Multiple Choice) | 30 mins | 0.25 | 40 |
| 4 | Quantitative Aptitude This paper will test the mathematical skills of the candidates |
Merit Ranking Nature | 40 | Objective (Multiple Choice) | 40 mins | 0.25 | 60 |
| 5 | Descriptive Paper It is an English language paper with an emphases on analysis and comprehension |
Qualifying Nature | 3 | Descriptive | 45 mins | 30 | |
| Total Marks* | 230 |
*The total marks shown here are considered for merit ranking purposes.
Pattern for Phase III – Computer Skill Test (Computer Data Entry Test)
Candidates will be required to appear for the Skill Test to assess speed and accuracy for Data Entry Work.
EPFO Social Security Assistant Exam Syllabus 2021
Syllabus for Phase I – Preliminary Examination
1 English Language
- Reading comprehension
- Para jumbles
- Cloze test
- Error spotting
- Error correction
- Fillers
2 Reasoning Ability
- Puzzles
- Input-output
- Order and ranking
- Alphanumeric series
- Coding and decoding
- Number series
- Logical reasoning
- Inequalities
- Direction sense
- Seating arrangement
- Syllogism
- Data sufficiency
3 Numerical Aptitude
- Simplification and approximation
- Ratios
- Averages
- Percentage
- Time and work
- Distance and speed
- Quadratic equations
- Data sufficiency
- Data interpretation
- Arithmetic question
Syllabus for Phase II – Main Exam
1 Reasoning Ability
- Puzzles, Seating arrangement
- Input-output
- New pattern
- Coding and decoding
- Order and ranking
- Blood relations
- Syllogism
- Verbal reasoning
- Direction based problems
- Series based problem
2 General Awareness
- History and geography of India
- Important dates and events
- Indian economy
- Science
- Fundamentals of Computer
- Current affairs
- Sports
- Financial policies in India
3 English Language
- Reading comprehension
- Para jumbles
- Error spotting
- Cloze test
- Fillers
- Error correction
- Sentence correction
- Fill the blacks
- Passive voice
- Odd one out
- Synonym
- Paragraph completion
- Error correction
4 Quantitative Aptitude
- Time and speed
- Investment
- Time and work
- Fundamental arithmetic operations
- Simple and compound interest
- Percentage
- Bar graph
- Data interpretation
- Algebra
- Profit and loss
- Number system
- Averages
5 Descriptive Paper
- Letters
- Comprehension
- Precis
Syllabus for Phase III – Computer Skill Test (Computer Data Entry Test)
Computer Skill Test (Computer Data Entry Test): Minimum requirement is 5000 key depressions per hour.
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Exam Highlights
| Level of Exam | Graduate, National Level |
| Exam Medium | English, Hindi |
| Exam Frequency | Once in a year |
| Purpose of the Exam | The purpose of EPFO SSA examination is to recruit candidates for the post of Social security assistant officer. |
| Conducting Body | Employees Provident Fund Organization |