LDC
The gateway PSC exam
What this role actually involves
Unlike the highly centralized Secretariat Assistant or the education-focused University Assistant, the LDC cadre is district-based: you apply for, get ranked in, and work within a specific district.
Deployed across Revenue, Health Services, Education, the Motor Vehicles Department, Treasury, and Land Revenue. Postings are localized within the chosen home district; inter-district transfers are strictly monitored and usually cost relative seniority.
Core responsibilities are routine administration (processing applications, maintaining records, dispatch, archiving citizen communications) and public interface work as the frontline for citizens seeking state services and certificates.
Scale of pay: ₹26,500 to ₹60,700, reflecting current active pay revision for this entry tier. Gross entry emoluments, including DA and HRA, are approximately ₹36,000 to ₹39,000 per month.
Where this exam actually takes you
No competitor shows aspirants the real promotion path after selection. This is it, straight from entry post to ceiling post.
Lower Division Clerk (LDC)
Upper Division Clerk (UDC) / Senior Clerk
Head Clerk / Chief Clerk
Junior Superintendent (JS)
GazettedGazetted status begins here
Senior Superintendent (SS)
GazettedAdministrative Officer / Assistant Director
GazettedIn senior departments
Stage by stage
Stage 1: Common 10th Level Prelims
- Marks
- 100 (screening only)
- Negative marking
- 0.33 marks deducted for every incorrect response
Screening threshold.
Stage 2: LDC District Mains
- Marks
- 100 (single paper, final ranking merit)
- Negative marking
- 0.33 marks deducted for every incorrect response
Final ranking is determined solely by this stage, divided by individual district quotas. No interview.
Mark-wise topic distribution
General Knowledge and Current Affairs (50 Marks)
- History5 Marks
Arrival of Europeans, local history of Travancore/Malabar, Kerala social reformers, Indian Freedom Struggle.
- Geography5 Marks
Basic physical traits of the earth, Indian topography, Kerala's rivers, forests, and districts.
- Economics and Civics5 Marks
Basic features of the Indian economy, Five-Year Plans, NITI Aayog, fundamental rights.
- Kerala Governance and Local Administration10 Marks
Kerala Civil Service structure, public service commissions, land reforms, social security schemes.
- Science and Public Health14 Marks
Life Science and Public Health (6M): organs, vitamins, communicable diseases. Physics (5M) and Chemistry (3M): units, mechanics, heat, light, atoms, gas laws.
- Arts, Literature, Culture, Sports5 Marks
Cultural festivals, regional authors, Malayalam journalism, Olympics and national awards.
- Current Affairs6 Marks
Key local, national, and international events from the preceding 12 months.
Quantitative Aptitude and Languages (50 Marks)
- Simple Arithmetic and Mental Ability20 Marks
Arithmetic (10M): fractions, percentages, profit and loss, interest, ratio. Mental Ability (10M): series, analogies, coding-decoding, calendar problems.
- General English20 Marks
Grammar (10M): parts of speech, tenses, voice. Vocabulary (10M): synonyms, antonyms, idioms.
- Regional Language (Malayalam/Tamil/Kannada)10 Marks
Direct text translation, word purity, syntax grammar, regional idioms.
Who can apply
| Stream | Who can apply | Age limit |
|---|---|---|
| General | Pass in S.S.L.C. (Class 10) or recognized equivalent. | 18 to 40 years |
| OBC | Same educational qualification as General. | Relaxation up to 43 years |
| SC/ST | Same educational qualification as General. | Relaxation up to 45 years |
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