PFRDA Grade A 2026
PYQ Analysis
+ Solutions
Three exam cycles (2021, 2022, 2025), every recollected question solved from first principles, answer keys verified, and the entire 2026 syllabus mapped by PYQ evidence.
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Phase I countdown
Thursday, 15 October 2026 · Phase I online exam
What's inside your free download
4 PDFs — the 122-page 2026 analysis pack, plus full solved papers for 2021, 2022 & 2025.
Analysis
- 2026 notification changes vs 2025 — what shifted and why it matters
- Subject-level weightage from 294 Paper 2 questions across 6 papers
- Topic-level breakdowns for all 7 existing subjects
- How to handle 5 brand-new blocks (no PYQs yet)
- Paper 1 section-wise trends (QA, Reasoning, English, GA)
- Phase II descriptive English patterns
- NPS / APY / Vatsalya rule changes since the last exam
- Errata & key-check register — 7 verified corrections
- Phase I cut-offs and a 5-week plan
Solved PYQs
- 2025 Phase I Paper 1 — 80 MCQs (full recollection)
- 2025 Phase I Paper 2 — 46 MCQs
- 2025 Phase II Papers 1 & 2 — 46 questions
- 2022 Phase I & II — full set (177 questions)
- 2021 Phase I Paper 2, Phase II — 98 questions
- Every answer verified independently, rather than trusting the recollected key
- Short explanation for each question with chapter/rule reference
- KEY CHECK boxes wherever the recollected key was wrong
Exam at a glance — 2026
Advt. No. 03/2026 · General stream · 25 of 30 posts.
| Section | Qs | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| English Language | 20 | 25 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 20 | 25 |
| Test of Reasoning | 30 ↑ | 25 |
| General Awareness | 20 | 25 |
| Paper 2 — General | 50 | 100 |
Duration: Paper 1 (English/QA/Reasoning/GA combined) 60 min · Paper 2 40 min
Negative marking: ¼ per question · Separate cut-offs per paper + aggregate
| Paper | Marks | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 — Descriptive English | 100 | 1/3 |
| Paper 2 — General stream | 100 | 2/3 |
What changed in 2026
Paper 1 grew to 90 Qs
Was 80. Now 40 seconds per question instead of 45. Speed matters more.
Reasoning: 30 Qs
Was 20. Each Q is worth 0.83 marks — less than other sections. Don't get stuck.
Paper 2 has 5 new blocks
PFRDA Act, Budget/Survey, AI/ML, Marketing, Media added. 12 blocks share 50 Qs.
Paper 2 weightage
294 questions across 6 papers (2021–2025). Weightage is evenly spread across subjects (13–16% each) — nothing can be skipped.
| Subject | PYQ hits | Share | Est. 2026 Qs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Companies Act, 2013 | 46 | 16% | 3–5 |
| Finance | 44 | 15% | 3–5 |
| Costing | 44 | 15% | 4–5 |
| Pension Sector | 43 | 15% | 4–6 |
| Management | 39 | 13% | 3–4 |
| Commerce & Accountancy | 40 | 14% | 4–5 |
| Economics | 38 | 13% | 3–4 |
Note: Pension Sector is estimated slightly higher (4–6) than its raw PYQ share alone would suggest, despite Companies Act having more historical hits (46 vs 43) — it's PFRDA's own regulatory domain, so we weight it up rather than going purely off 2021–2025 frequency.
PFRDA Act, 2013
Bare Act structure — Authority, NPS, intermediaries, penalties
Union Budget & Economic Survey
Deficit types, key announcements, Survey themes
AI / Machine Learning
Supervised/unsupervised, LLMs, overfitting, cross-validation
Marketing & Communication
4Ps, pricing, digital marketing, EI, active listening
Media
Convergence, AR/VR, algorithms, micro-targeting
Paper 2 — all 12 blocks
The 7 blocks with PYQ history, plus the 5 new ones added for 2026.
Companies Act, 2013
Dividend, Prospectus, Directors, NCLT
Finance
Regulators, markets, instruments, GST/FRBM
Costing
CVP/BEP, variances, lean tools
Pension Sector
NPS, APY, EPS-95, Vatsalya 2025
Management
Leadership, motivation, HRD, communication
Commerce & Accountancy
Ratios, Ind AS, ESOP, cash flow
Economics
IS-LM, multiplier, money supply, BoP
PFRDA Act, 2013
Bare Act structure — Authority, NPS, intermediaries, penalties
Union Budget & Economic Survey
Deficit types, key announcements, Survey themes
AI / Machine Learning
Supervised/unsupervised, LLMs, overfitting, cross-validation
Marketing & Communication
4Ps, pricing, digital marketing, EI, active listening
Media
Convergence, AR/VR, algorithms, micro-targeting
Who can apply
Age limit
≤ 30 years
Born on or after 01.08.1996. SC/ST +5 yr, OBC +3 yr, PwBD +10-15 yr.
Qualification
PG / LLB / B.E. / CA
Master's or 2-yr PG diploma in any discipline, or LLB, or B.E./B.Tech, or CA/CS/CMA/CFA.
Application fee
₹1,000
SC/ST/PwBD/Ex-servicemen exempt. Separate fee per stream (can apply in up to 2 streams).
Frequently asked questions
When is the PFRDA Grade A 2026 exam?
Phase I (online screening) is on 15 October 2026. Phase II (merit stage) follows on 20 November 2026.
Can I apply for more than one stream?
Yes — PFRDA allows applying in up to 2 streams (General, Research, Actuary, Rajbhasha), each with its own ₹1,000 application fee.
Is there negative marking?
Yes, ¼ mark is deducted per wrong answer in Phase I, with separate cut-offs per paper plus an aggregate cut-off.
What's the salary?
Basic pay starts at ₹62,500, with gross monthly pay around ₹2.05 lakh at the minimum scale. Posted in New Delhi or Mumbai, transferable anywhere in India.
Is the PDF really free?
Yes — no payment at any point. Creating a free CGGPrep account (with a one-time email verification code) unlocks all 4 files from your dashboard.
Disclaimer. This PDF is an independent study aid by CGGPrep and is not affiliated with or endorsed by PFRDA. Questions are memory-based recollections from candidates and may differ from actual papers. Rules and figures stated as of September 2026 — always confirm against the official notification (Advt. No. 03/2026) and current PFRDA circulars at pfrda.org.in.
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Download the full PYQ pack
447 solved questions, topic weightage, key corrections, a 5-week plan — everything you need for PFRDA Grade A Phase I on 15 October.