The Army Ordnance Corps (AOC) is expected to conduct Group C civilian recruitment for 2,615 vacancies across posts such as Tradesman Mate, Fireman, Junior Office Assistant (JOA), Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) and other notified roles. Eligible Indian candidates should rely on the official AOC recruitment portal for the final advertisement, live application link, post-wise eligibility, zone-wise vacancies and closing date.
The official AOC website currently advises applicants to watch its “Latest News” section, as the displayed vacancy data are marked tentative and the formal advertisement is under process.
Recruitment overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting body | Army Ordnance Corps (AOC), Ministry of Defence |
| Recruitment name | AOC Group C Civilian Recruitment 2026 |
| Total vacancies | 2,615 posts, as reported for the current recruitment cycle |
| Key posts | Tradesman Mate, Fireman, Junior Office Assistant, MTS and other Group C civilian posts |
| Job location | Across India, subject to the recruitment notification and allotted units/regions |
| Application mode | Online |
| Official portal | aocrecruitment.gov.in |
| Selection stages | Written examination plus qualifying physical/skill test, depending on post |
| Status | Candidates should verify the active application notice, exact dates and eligibility on the official portal before submitting an application |
| Official Website | https://aocrecruitment.gov.in/ |
This is a civilian central-government recruitment process under the Army Ordnance Corps; it is not an Indian Army soldier recruitment rally. Selected candidates may be posted in AOC establishments and units according to organisational requirements.
Tentative vacancies and pay
AOC’s official tentative-vacancy document lists the following major posts. These figures must be treated as provisional until the final 2026 notification is published.
| Post | Tentative vacancies in official AOC document | Pay level | Basic pay range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tradesman Mate | 2,313 | Level 1 | ₹18,000 to ₹56,900 |
| Fireman | 656 | Level 2 | ₹19,900 to ₹63,200 |
| Junior Office Assistant | 99 | Level 2 | ₹19,900 to ₹63,200 |
The official tentative PDF itself shows a larger combined count for these three listed categories, while recruitment-news reports describe the upcoming 2026 Group C campaign as having 2,615 vacancies across five posts. This difference reinforces why applicants should not depend solely on unofficial vacancy tables or social-media posts. Confirm the exact post-wise and category-wise vacancies from the final advertisement and application portal.
Common reservation categories shown in AOC vacancy documents include UR, EWS, OBC, SC, ST, Ex-Servicemen, Meritorious Sportspersons and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities, where applicable.
Eligibility details
Eligibility varies by post, so candidates must read the specific conditions in the final notification. In general, recruitment coverage for the advertised Group C roles includes qualifications ranging from Class 10, Class 12, and, for some positions, a bachelor’s degree.
Tradesman Mate / MTS
These Level 1 posts normally target candidates with a Class 10 or equivalent qualification, subject to the final notification’s exact requirements. They are suitable for applicants looking for entry-level central-government civilian employment.
For the physical qualifying stage shown in AOC’s examination scheme for Tradesman Mate, candidates must complete:
- A 1.5 km run in 6 minutes.
- Carrying 50 kg for 200 metres in 100 seconds.
The official scheme lists separate relaxed timing norms for eligible Ex-Servicemen and a separate female standard: a 1.5 km run in 8 minutes 26 seconds, plus carrying 50 kg for 200 metres in 3 minutes 45 seconds.
Fireman
Fireman candidates should be prepared for a stricter physical-measurement and endurance stage. The official AOC scheme states the following qualifying requirements:
- Minimum height of 165 cm without shoes, with a 2.5 cm concession listed for ST candidates.
- Minimum unexpanded chest of 81.5 cm and expanded chest of 85 cm.
- Minimum weight of 50 kg.
- 1.6 km run in 6 minutes for candidates other than female/ESM candidates.
- Carrying a person weighing 63.5 kg for 183 metres within 95 seconds.
- Clearing a 2.7-metre ditch.
- Climbing a 3-metre vertical rope using hands and feet.
Female candidates have a listed 1.6 km run standard of 8 minutes 26 seconds, while Ex-Servicemen have age-based timing relaxations.
Junior Office Assistant
For JOA, candidates need to meet the qualification requirements specified in the final notice and clear a typing test. AOC’s scheme provides the following typing standard:
- English typing speed of 35 words per minute on computer; or
- Hindi typing speed of 30 words per minute on computer.
The stated standards correspond to 10,500 KDPH for English or 9,000 KDPH for Hindi, based on five key depressions per word.
Selection process and exam pattern
The selection process generally has two parts:
- Stage I: Qualifying physical or skill test, depending on the post.
- Stage II: Written examination for candidates who qualify in the applicable physical/skill stage.
For Level 1 / 10th-standard posts, the written exam pattern published by AOC includes 150 objective questions for 150 marks:
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | 25 | 25 |
| Numerical Aptitude | 25 | 25 |
| General English | 50 | 50 |
| General Awareness | 50 | 50 |
| Total | 150 | 150 |
For 10+2 and graduate-level posts, AOC’s scheme shows:
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | 25 | 25 |
| General Awareness | 25 | 25 |
| English Language and Comprehension | 100 | 100 |
| Total | 150 | 150 |
The written paper is objective-type and normally has a two-hour duration. Questions are set in English and Hindi, except the General English section. Visually handicapped candidates receive 20 additional minutes per hour, according to the published AOC scheme.
How to apply online
Once the application link is activated, follow these steps:
- Visit the official AOC recruitment portal.
- Open the latest AOC Group C Recruitment 2026 notification and read it fully.
- Click Sign Up, New Registration, or the active Apply Online link.
- Register using an active mobile number and email address.
- Log in and enter personal, educational, category and correspondence details carefully.
- Select the eligible post or posts, if the portal permits post preferences.
- Upload the photograph, signature and required certificates in the prescribed format and size.
- Review every entry, particularly name spelling, date of birth, qualification, category and contact information.
- Pay the fee only if the final notification specifies one.
- Submit the form and save the confirmation page, application number and fee receipt.
Reports indicate that applications may be scheduled from late August through September 2026, but applicants should treat every date as unconfirmed until it appears on the official AOC portal.
Documents to keep ready
Before starting registration, prepare:
- Aadhaar or another valid photo identity document
- Active mobile number and email ID
- Class 10 certificate and marks memo
- Class 12 certificate, degree or other qualification documents, where required
- Recent passport-size photograph
- Scanned signature
- Caste certificate for SC/ST/OBC candidates, in the prescribed Central Government format where applicable
- EWS certificate, if applicable
- PwBD certificate, if applicable
- Ex-Servicemen discharge/service documents, if applicable
- Valid typing qualification or experience documents, if demanded for JOA or related posts
Applicants should make sure their documents are valid on the relevant cut-off date. An OBC certificate issued only for state-level reservation may not automatically satisfy Central Government recruitment requirements; always follow the format and date conditions stated in the official notification.
Important caution for applicants
Do not submit an application based solely on YouTube videos, Telegram messages, job portals or vacancy posters. The official AOC PDF currently labels its vacancy figures as tentative and says that the advertisement is under process.
Before applying, verify these five points directly on the official website:
- Exact opening and closing dates
- Final number of vacancies
- Post-wise age limit and educational qualification
- Application fee and category exemptions
- Physical standards, exam date and posting terms
For Telugu-speaking applicants, the safest approach is to download the English/Hindi notification PDF, check the post code and eligibility line by line, and only then complete the online form. A small mistake in category, qualification, post choice or uploaded document can lead to rejection at document verification.