FCI Manager Syllabus 2026: Phase I and Phase II Topics

The FCI Manager syllabus covers four common sections (English Language, Reasoning Ability, Numerical Aptitude and General Studies) and, for some posts, a post-specific paper in accounts, agriculture and food science, civil engineering, or electrical and mechanical engineering. Manager (Hindi) candidates take separate language and translation papers. The Food Corporation of India sets these papers for its Category II Manager recruitment.

FCI names the sections and subjects in its notification, but for most of them it does not publish a topic-wise list. The topic lists below are built from the last notification (Advt. No. 02/2022-FCI Category-II) and from questions asked in previous papers. Use them as a working checklist, not as an official list. As of 28 October 2026, a new Category II notification is awaited, so recheck the syllabus when it is released.

Table of Contents

• FCI Manager Syllabus at a Glance

• Key Points to Know Before You Start

• Phase I Syllabus

• Phase II Paper I Syllabus

• Phase II Paper II Syllabus by Post

• Manager (Hindi) Syllabus: Papers III and IV

• Overlap Between Phase I and Phase II

• Is There a Syllabus for the Interview?

• How to Cover the FCI Manager Syllabus

FCI Manager Syllabus at a Glance

This table maps each paper to its sections, as per the 2022 notification. For marking rules and timing strategy, see the FCI Manager exam pattern page.

Key Points to Know Before You Start

• General Studies has fixed sub-limits: In Phase I, 20 questions came from history, economy, geography and general science up to Class 8 level, and 5 from current affairs. Phase II raises general science to Class 10 level and adds computer awareness.

• Your Paper II depends on your post: General, Depot and Movement candidates take only Paper I in Phase II. Accounts, Technical, Civil and Electrical Mechanical candidates take Paper I and Paper II.

• Paper II carries double marks: Each Paper II question is worth 2 marks, so 60 questions equal the full 120 marks of Paper I.

• Manager (Hindi) is a separate track: It replaces Papers I and II with Papers III and IV, including a typed descriptive paper.

• Do not rely on older pattern pages: Some pages still show Phase I with only three sections (English, Reasoning and Quant, 30 to 35 questions each). The 2022 notification used four sections of 25 questions each, so follow the official notification.

Phase I Syllabus

Phase I tests the same four sections for every post. Each section has 25 questions with a 15-minute timer, so you need speed in all four, not just your strongest.

Phase I marks are not counted in the final merit, but you need a strong score to be among the roughly 15 candidates per vacancy called to Phase II. Data interpretation, puzzles and reading comprehension usually carry the most questions, so build them first.

Phase II Paper I Syllabus

Paper I is common to posts A to G and has the same four sections as Phase I, but with more questions, more time and a deeper General Studies section.

English Language (25 questions, 20 minutes)

• Comprehension: Long passages on economy, governance and general topics, with inference and vocabulary questions.

• Grammar: Error detection, sentence correction, phrase replacement and fillers.

• Verbal ability: Para jumbles, cloze test, word usage and idioms.

Reasoning Ability (25 questions, 20 minutes)

• Arrangements: Linear, circular and floor-based puzzles, often with two or three variables.

• Logical reasoning: Syllogism, statement and assumption, cause and effect, input-output.

• Short topics: Inequality, coding-decoding, blood relations and direction sense.

Numerical Aptitude (25 questions, 20 minutes)

• Data interpretation: Tables, bar graphs, pie charts and caselets.

• Arithmetic: Percentage, profit and loss, interest, ratio, mixtures, time and work, speed and distance, mensuration.

• Calculation: Simplification, approximation, number series and quadratic equations.

General Studies (45 questions, 30 minutes)

For posts A, B and C, Paper I is the only Phase II paper counted for merit. General Studies is the largest section, so a planned static GK revision can lift your total more than an extra hour of quant practice.

Phase II Paper II Syllabus by Post

Paper II has 60 questions worth 2 marks each, to be answered in 60 minutes. The notification names the subject area for each post; the topic lists below come from that description and from past papers.

Manager (Accounts): General Accounting and Finance

Manager (Technical): Agriculture, Food Science and Biotechnology

• Agriculture: Crop production statistics for cereals and pulses, agronomy basics, post-harvest management, food grain storage and protection, agricultural extension.

• Food science and technology: Food chemistry, food microbiology, food processing and preservation, quality control and grain grading.

• Entomology: Storage pests, integrated pest management, fumigation, rodent control.

• Biotechnology: Useful and harmful microbes, genetic engineering basics, plant pathogens and their control.

• Chemistry and biochemistry: Atomic structure, bonding, organic compounds, carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

• Food laws: Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 and its regulations, and related legal provisions.

Manager (Civil Engineering)

• Materials and construction: Building materials, concrete technology, construction planning and management, contracts and tendering.

• Structures: Strength of materials, structural analysis, design of RCC and steel structures.

• Geotechnical and surveying: Soil mechanics, foundations, levelling, theodolite surveying, contouring.

• Transportation and estimation: Highway engineering, estimating, costing and valuation.

Manager (Electrical Mechanical Engineering)

• Mechanical: Thermodynamics, heat transfer, refrigeration and air conditioning, theory of machines, machine design, strength of materials, production and industrial engineering.

• Electrical: Electrical circuits and network theorems, electrical machines, measurements, power systems, control systems, basic electronics.

• Application areas: Material handling, estimation and costing, maintenance of warehouse equipment.

Engineering candidates often study at a depth that suits other engineering exams, but Paper II has only 60 questions in 60 minutes. Focus on core concepts and standard numericals you can solve in under a minute. Subject-wise practice tests on Testkart can help you check whether your Paper II preparation is at the right depth before you attempt full mocks.

Manager (Hindi) Syllabus: Papers III and IV

Manager (Hindi) candidates take two Phase II papers instead of Papers I and II.

In 2022, Paper IV answers had to be typed using the Inscript or Remington (GAIL) Hindi keyboard layout, so practise typing in Hindi alongside the content.

Overlap Between Phase I and Phase II

Most of what you study for Phase I is reused in Phase II Paper I. Plan your preparation so you study each topic once at the higher level.

Is There a Syllabus for the Interview?

No. FCI does not publish a syllabus for the interview. Expect questions on your academic background, your chosen post, FCI's role in procurement, storage and the public distribution system, and current issues in food security. Candidates for Technical and Accounts posts should be ready for basic subject questions from their Paper II area.

How to Cover the FCI Manager Syllabus

1. Weeks 1 to 6: Learn concepts in Numerical Aptitude and Reasoning, read English editorials daily, and start a monthly current affairs notebook.

2. Weeks 3 to 10: Begin your Paper II subject alongside, one or two hours a day. Accounts and Technical candidates should cover the high-weight areas first.

3. Weeks 6 to 10: Cover static General Studies, Class 10 science and computer awareness, and take topic-wise tests.

4. Weeks 10 to 14: Take sectional tests with the official timers (15 minutes for Phase I, 20 to 30 minutes for Phase II Paper I).

5. Final phase: Full-length mocks for both phases, same-day analysis, and revision from your error log.

Official recruitment portal: https://www.recruitmentfci.in/