SSC ASO Recruitment 2026: Apply Online for 341 Assistant Section Officer Posts
The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has released the official notification for the SSC ASO 2026 recruitment. This is a Limited Departmental Competitive Examination designed to fill vacancies for the post of Assistant Section Officer / Assistant Grade within specific government cadres.
Short Information
The recruitment is being conducted by the Staff Selection Commission for the Central Secretariat Service (CSS) and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). There are a total of 341 vacancies available, and the last date to apply online is 16 July 2026.
Application Fee
| Category | Fee | Payment Mode |
|---|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS | Nil | Check Official Notification |
| SC / ST / PwBD | Nil | Check Official Notification |
Eligibility Criteria & Vacancies
This recruitment is a Limited Departmental Competitive Examination and is not open to the general public. Only in-service government employees from the specified feeder cadres who meet the service requirements as of 01 July 2025 are eligible to apply.
Vacancy Details & Eligibility
| Post Name | Total Vacancies | Age Limit | Educational / Service Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assistant Section Officer (CSS, DoPT) | 318 | Check Official Notification | Officers in Upper Division Grade of CSS with $\ge$ 6 years approved service as of 01 July 2025. |
| Assistant Section Officer (MEA) | 23 | Check Official Notification | Officers in UDC Grade of MEA with $\ge$ 6 years approved service and completion of mandatory training as of 01 July 2025. |
Category-Wise Vacancy Breakdown
| Service / Cadre | UR | SC | ST | PwBD | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Secretariat Service (CSS), DoPT | 189 | 71 | 58 | 19 | 318 |
| Ministry of External Affairs (Cadre Cell) | 23 | - | - | - | 23 |
| Total | 212 | 71 | 58 | 19 | 341 |
Note: PwBD seats for CSS include 6 VH, 4 OH, 4 HH, and 5 Others.
Selection Process & Exam Pattern
The selection process for SSC ASO 2026 is a two-stage merit-based system. The final merit list is prepared based on the combined aggregate of the Computer Based Examination and the evaluation of service records.
Stage 1: Computer Based Examination (CBE) - 300 Marks
| Paper | Subjects | Type | Max Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper-I | General Awareness, Constitutional Provisions, Parliamentary Procedures, Reading Comprehension, Manual of Office Procedure, Allocation/Transaction of Business Rules, Noting & Drafting | Objective (MCQ) | 150 | 3 Hours |
| Paper-II | Service Rules (Leave, Conduct, CCA, Pension, NPS), Financial Rules (TA, LTC), Legislations (RTI 2005, POSH 2013), Records Management, Précis Writing | Objective (MCQ) | 150 | 3 Hours |
Important Exam Notes:
- Negative Marking: 0.25 marks will be deducted for every wrong answer in both papers.
- Exam Centre: The examination will be conducted in Delhi-NCR only.
- Scribe Provision: Eligible PwBD candidates are provided with a scribe and an additional 20 minutes per hour of compensatory time.
Stage 2: Evaluation of Service Records - 100 Marks
Candidates who qualify in the Computer Based Examination (Part-I) will proceed to Part-II. This stage involves the evaluation of Annual Performance Appraisal Reports (APARs) for a maximum of 100 marks.
Final Merit Calculation
Final Score = Part-I (300 Marks) + Part-II (100 Marks) = 400 Total Marks.
How to Apply Online
Eligible candidates must follow a two-step process: completing the One Time Registration (OTR) and then submitting the specific exam application.
- Visit the official SSC website.
- Complete the One Time Registration (OTR). Note: Candidates registered on the old portal (ssc.nic.in) must create a fresh OTR on the new portal (ssc.gov.in).
- Log in using your Registration Number and password.
- Select the "Apply" link for the "Assistant Section Officer / Assistant Grade Limited Departmental Competitive Examination, 2025".
- Enter departmental details, including cadre, joining date, and length of service.
- Capture a live photograph via webcam/smartphone (pre-existing photos are not allowed).
- Upload a scanned signature (JPEG, 10–20 KB).
- Upload the required documents and submit the application.
- Crucial Step: Print the submitted application and forward it through your Head of Department (HoD) or Head of Office (HoO) to SSC (NR), New Delhi, by 23 July 2026.
Required Documents Checklist
- Certified true copy of the first page of the Service Book (attested by HoD/HoO).
- Certified copy of particulars of service (posts held, pay scale, capacity).
- Disability Certificate (for PwBD candidates).
- Certificate for physical limitation to write (for those availing scribe).
- Live photograph and scanned signature.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Who is eligible to apply for the SSC ASO 2026 recruitment? Only serving government employees in the Upper Division Grade of the Central Secretariat Clerical Service (CSS) or the UDC Grade of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) with at least six years of approved service as of 01 July 2025 are eligible.
Q2. What is the last date for the online application? The last date to apply online is 16 July 2026 (up to 11:00 PM). However, the hard copy forwarded by the department must reach SSC (NR) by 23 July 2026.
Q3. Where will the SSC ASO 2026 exam be conducted? The Computer Based Examination will be held tentatively in August 2026 exclusively in the Delhi-NCR region.
Q4. What is the salary for the Assistant Section Officer post? The post is Group B Non-Gazetted at Pay Level-7, with a monthly pay scale ranging from Rs. 44,900 to Rs. 1,42,400, plus applicable government allowances.
Q5. Will my application be accepted if I submit it directly to SSC? No. Applications must be forwarded through the Head of Department (HoD) or Head of Office (HoO). Direct applications will be rejected.
| Link Name | Link |
|---|---|
| Apply Online | Click Here |
| Official Notification / Advertisement | Click Here |
| Official Website | Click Here |