FCI Assistant Grade III (Technical)
Group A · Live + Recorded · 2026
For the Technical post, Paper I and Paper II carry 120 marks each, and both count toward your rank. This course prepares you for all of it: Phase I, Paper I, and the Group A Paper II in Agriculture, Botany and Zoology.
Notification not yet released as of September 2026. The time before it comes out is your best preparation window. Start now and build Paper II before the dates are announced.
Secure checkout on Agriguru EdTech · Live + recorded classes · Malayalam medium · Access till the date of the FCI AG 3 Phase II examination
Free demo class
See how we teach before you enrol
A sample Zoology class for FCI AG-III Technical Paper II. Watch it free, then decide.
Zoology · FCI AG-III Technical · 10:09
The exam, verified
FCI AG-III at a glance
Exam pattern, eligibility, syllabus and pay scale below are taken from FCI's last Category III notification (Advt. No. 01/2022). FCI can change details in the 2026 notification, so we update this page when it comes out.
Phase I: Preliminary
100 questions · 100 marks · 60 minutes with sectional timing · negative marking of ¼ per wrong answer
| Section | Qs | Marks | Time | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 25 | 25 | 15 min | English |
| Reasoning Ability | 25 | 25 | 15 min | Bilingual |
| Numerical Aptitude | 25 | 25 | 15 min | Bilingual |
| General Studies | 25 | 25 | 15 min | Bilingual |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 min |
- General Studies: History, Geography, Economy and General Science up to Class 8 (20 questions) + Current Affairs (5 questions).
- The English section is in English only; the other sections are bilingual (English and Hindi).
- Phase I marks are not counted in the final merit list, but only about 15 times the number of vacancies are called to Phase II.
Phase II: Main exam
Paper I + Paper II in a single sitting · 240 marks · 150 minutes · negative marking of ¼ per wrong answer
Paper I: common for all AG-III posts
| Section | Qs | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 25 | 25 | 20 min |
| Reasoning Ability | 25 | 25 | 20 min |
| Numerical Aptitude | 25 | 25 | 20 min |
| General Studies(incl. Computer Awareness) | 45 | 45 | 30 min |
| Total | 120 | 120 | 90 min |
Paper II: AG-III Technical
| Group | Subjects | Qs | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group A | Agriculture + Botany + Zoology | 60 | 120 | 60 min |
| Group B | Agriculture + Chemistry + Physics | 60 | 120 | 60 min |
- General Studies in Paper I: History, Geography, Economy (25) · General Science up to Class 10 (10) · Current Affairs (5) · Computer Awareness (5).
- Each Paper II question carries 2 marks. You choose Group A or B on the application form, and the choice is final.
- Tests are bilingual (English and Hindi), except the language sections.
For the Technical post, final merit = Paper I + Paper II. That's 240 marks, split exactly 50/50. Phase I only decides who gets into Phase II, so strong Paper II preparation has to sit alongside a solid Paper I.
Previous cut-offs: AG-III (Technical)
Final Phase II cut-offs, out of 240 (Paper I + Paper II), by zone and category
2022 notification · exam held 5 March 2023
| Zone | UR | OBC | EWS | SC | ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SouthKerala | 117.00 | 105.25 | 103.75 | 92.00 | 85.50 |
| North | 99.75 | 93.50 | 92.00 | 83.00 | 76.25 |
| East | 108.75 | 99.00 | 99.50 | 95.00 | 78.50 |
| West | 102.25 | 96.25 | 95.25 | 88.75 | 80.00 |
| North-East | 94.75 | 87.00 | 78.00 | 89.50 | 80.25 |
2019 notification · exam held 27 July 2019
| Zone | UR | OBC | EWS | SC | ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SouthKerala | – | 112.25 | – | 88.75 | 74.75 |
| North | 99.50 | – | 90.75 | 81.75 | 81.50 |
| East | 102.50 | 99.25 | 88.00 | 79.00 | 75.00 |
| West | 93.25 | – | 84.50 | 78.75 | 75.75 |
| North-East | 98.00 | 85.00 | – | 78.00 | – |
- “–” means there was no vacancy in that category and zone. In 2019, North-East had only one post in each listed category.
In 2022, the South Zone had the highest UR cut-off of all five zones: 117 out of 240, and the highest OBC, EWS and ST cut-offs too. Kerala candidates face some of the stiffest competition, so a strong score in both papers matters.
Eligibility (AG-III Technical)
As per Advt. No. 01/2022
- B.Sc. in Agriculture, or a B.Sc. with Botany, Zoology, Bio-Technology, Bio-Chemistry, Microbiology or Food Science
- Or B.Tech / BE in Food Science, Food Science & Technology, Agricultural Engineering or Bio-Technology
- Proficiency in use of computers
- No minimum percentage prescribed. You just enter your graduation percentage on the form.
- Age 18–27. Relaxation: SC/ST +5, OBC +3, PwBD +10 (OBC +13, SC/ST +15)
- One post, one zone per cycle: North, South, East, West or North-East
Salary and vacancies
Pay scale from the notification
₹28,200 – ₹79,200
Pay scale (IDA pattern)
₹40K – ₹50K
In-hand per month (estimate)
4,000+
Vacancies expected
Not yet out
Notification, as of Sep 2026
- HRA and other allowances (dress, lunch, children's education, etc.), stated as about 32% of basic pay, plus DA
- CPF, gratuity, pension, LTC, leave encashment, medical reimbursement
- Technical is a field post: mandis, procurement centres and FCI godowns
- Application fee exempt for SC, ST, PwBD, women, serving defence personnel and eligible ex-servicemen
Selection process
Merit is prepared post-wise within each zone.
Phase I
Online screening test, common to all posts. Not counted in final merit. About 15× vacancies move on.
Phase II
Paper I + Paper II (Group A or B) in one sitting. Combined 240 marks decide your rank.
Document Verification
About 3× the vacancies are called, based on Phase II merit.
Recruitment zones
FCI recruits zone by zone. You can apply in only one zone per cycle, and merit is prepared separately for each zone.
North Zone
9 states/UTsDelhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Chandigarh (UT), Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh
South Zone
Includes KeralaAndhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andaman & Nicobar Islands (UT), Lakshadweep (UT), Puducherry (UT)
East Zone
5 statesBihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Sikkim, West Bengal
West Zone
7 states/UTsChhattisgarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Goa, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Daman & Diu (UT)
North-East Zone
7 statesArunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura
- If selected, you can be posted in any state within your zone, and FCI can also post you anywhere in India in the interest of the Corporation.
- Exam centres are chosen separately from the zone. In 2022, Kerala had Phase I centres at Kochi, Kannur, Thrissur, Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode, and a Phase II centre at Kochi.
- Zone list as per Advt. No. 01/2022. Confirm it in the 2026 notification.
The job
What an AG-III (Technical) does
AG-III (Technical) staff work in FCI's quality control wing, making sure the wheat and rice FCI buys, stores and distributes meets government quality standards. FCI's notification describes it as a field-level post: you work in the mandis, procurement centres and godowns of FCI.
Your work across the grain cycle
Typical duties at each stage, from purchase to public distribution
Procurement
Check wheat, paddy and rice at mandis and procurement centres against the Government of India's Uniform Quality Specifications before stock is accepted.
Receipt at depot
Inspect and sample incoming stock at FCI godowns and record its quality.
Storage & preservation
Inspect stacks regularly, spot insect or pest damage, and oversee preventive and curative treatment such as fumigation.
Movement
Check the quality of stock sent to other regions by rail or road.
Issue under PDS
Make sure grain issued to state governments for the Public Distribution System and other schemes meets the standards.
Testing & records
Draw samples for physical and chemical analysis at FCI laboratories, and keep quality records and reports.
Why your degree fits
Paper II subjects, on the job
- Entomology and plant protection: identifying storage pests and deciding on treatment
- Insects and rodents (Zoology): the main threats to stored grain
- Grain quality parameters: moisture, damaged and discoloured grains, foreign matter
- Chemistry: the basis of lab analysis and fumigant use
Work life and growth
What to expect
- Field-based work in mandis, procurement centres and depots, not a desk-only job
- Busiest during the wheat (rabi) and rice (kharif) procurement seasons
- Posting within your zone, with rotation between depots and sections (see transfer policy below)
- Promotion path within Category III (AG-III → AG-II → AG-I), then to Category II (Manager), each step needing 3 years' service in the grade below
Duties are indicative, based on FCI's notification and the published role of its quality control wing. Exact duties and promotion timelines are set by FCI and can vary by posting.
After selection
Transfer policy for AG-III
AG-III is a Category III post. These are the rules that apply to Category III staff under FCI's Comprehensive Transfer Policy Guidelines (Circular No. EP-03-2023-33, 2023).
3 choices
Division preferences at first posting
5 years
Max in one depot or section
15 years
Max in one office in entire service
2 years
Service before an inter-zonal request
First posting and routine transfers
Within your zone
- On joining, you give 3 Division preferences. Divisions are allotted in order of merit, and you can be posted to your hometown on a merit-cum-priority basis, subject to vacancies.
- You can serve a maximum of 5 years in one depot or section, after which you move to another depot or section.
- You can serve a maximum of 15 years in one office (a Divisional Office with its depots, a Regional Office, a Zonal Office or HQ) across your career.
- You won't be posted back to a seat you've already served in (except in specialised cadres).
- After completing your normal tenure, you're eligible for transfer back to your preferred Region.
- Transfer orders are normally issued twice a year, before the rabi (RMS) and kharif (KMS) marketing seasons.
Moving to another zone
Inter-zonal and mutual transfers
- On tenure basis: possible after 2 years of service (excluding probation), on grounds such as a spouse in government or PSU service, a dependant's medical treatment unavailable in your zone, or a threat to life. Allowed for up to 5 years in your career (extendable by 1 year).
- On permanent basis: possible after 2 years of service (including probation), on grounds such as a spouse's job, serious illness, threat to life, or being a widow/widower, divorcee or single parent. You join the new zone at the bottom of the seniority list.
- Mutual transfer: allowed between zones or regions with an employee of the same designation and cadre, after completing standard tenure.
- All inter-zonal transfers depend on vacancies and administrative convenience. Promotion from Category III to Category II (Manager) involves a change of Region.
Special cases
Considered subject to vacancies and administrative convenience
- Married couples: if both spouses work in FCI, or one works in an All India Service, central or state government, or a PSU, a posting at or near the spouse's station can be requested.
- Children in Class X or XII: exempt from routine transfer for that academic year.
- Widow and single-parent employees in Category III are exempt from routine transfer.
- Employees with disabilities, or caring for a dependant with a benchmark disability, may be posted near their native place or exempted from routine transfer.
- Within 2 years of retirement: a transfer to your home state or chosen station can be requested.
Under FCI's staff regulations, every employee is liable to serve anywhere in India. The rules above explain how postings normally work, but FCI can revise its transfer policy at any time.
Why this course is built differently
Phase I gets you in. Paper I + Paper II decide your rank.
For the Technical post, final selection rests on 240 marks from Phase II. Phase I is a gate, not a score, so every hour of preparation should build toward both Phase II papers.
Where the marks that decide your rank actually sit
| Stage | Marks | Counts toward final rank? |
|---|---|---|
| Phase I: English, Reasoning, Numerical Aptitude, General Studies | 100 | No · screening only |
| Phase II Paper I: English, Reasoning, Numerical Aptitude, General Studies | 120 | Yes · 50% |
| Phase II Paper II: Agriculture + Botany + Zoology (Group A) | 120 | Yes · 50% |
Final merit total: 240 marks, Phase II only. Negative marking of ¼ applies throughout.
Why Agriguru EdTech?
Paper II is where your agriculture degree gives you the edge, and Paper I is where most agriculture graduates lose it. We teach both, in Malayalam, with weekly sectional mocks and full-length tests so you walk into Phase II ready for all 240 marks.
What we provide
Classes
Attend live, or rewatch any time
- Live + recorded classes for flexible, complete learning
- Detailed syllabus coverage aligned with the latest FCI AG 3 Technical syllabus
- Exam-oriented classes for Phase I, Paper I and Group A Paper II
- Regular doubt-clearing sessions for concept clarity
Practice
Test, review, improve
- Weekly subject-wise sectional mock tests for focused practice
- Full-length mock tests to build speed, accuracy and exam readiness
- Practice sessions built around sectional timing and ¼ negative marking
- Access till the date of the FCI AG 3 Phase II examination
Choose your group
This course is built for Group A
You pick Group A or Group B for Paper II on the application form, and it can't be changed later. Pick the group whose two science subjects you're stronger in.
Group A
Covered in this courseThe natural fit for most B.Sc. Agriculture, Botany, Zoology, Bio-Technology and Microbiology graduates.
Group B
Suits Food Technology and Agricultural Engineering graduates, or anyone stronger in Chemistry and Physics.
Syllabus
Every subject, topic by topic
Tap a subject to see its topics. Paper II subjects are specific to Group A; the rest are common to Phase I and Phase II Paper I.
- Statistics of Indian Agriculture (Cereals & Pulses)
- Elementary Entomology
- Plant Protection
- Agricultural Economics
Paper II topics are from FCI's official 2022 syllabus. Common-paper topics are indicative, compiled from the notification and previous papers. Always confirm against the official notification for your cycle.
What you get
Course features
- Live + Recorded Classes for flexible and comprehensive learning
- Detailed syllabus coverage aligned with the latest FCI AG 3 Technical syllabus
- Regular doubt-clearing sessions for concept clarification
- Weekly subject-wise sectional mock tests for focused practice
- Full-length mock tests to improve speed, accuracy and exam readiness
- Daily WhatsApp Quiz
- Exam-oriented classes and practice sessions
- Suitable for highly self-motivated aspirants who prefer structured online preparation
- Course Validity: Till the date of the FCI AG 3 Phase II Examination
Join the course
Live + recorded classes · Group A · Malayalam medium
Access till the date of the FCI AG 3 Phase II examination
FAQs
Common questions
Prepare for all 240 marks
Live and recorded classes, doubt-clearing sessions, weekly sectional mocks and full-length tests for FCI AG-III Technical, Group A, in Malayalam.