Staff Selection Commission has released the official notification for Assistant Section Officer / Assistant Grade Limited Departmental Competitive Examination, 2025, which is being conducted in 2026. Through this recruitment process, SSC will fill 341 Assistant Section Officer / Assistant Grade vacancies in the Central Secretariat Service, Department of Personnel & Training and Ministry of External Affairs Cadre Cell. The notification was uploaded on the SSC official website on 25 June 2026.
This is a departmental competitive examination, not a fresh open recruitment for all graduates. Eligible serving departmental candidates from the specified feeder grades can apply online through the SSC website. The Computer Based Examination is scheduled tentatively in August 2026 and the exam will be conducted in Delhi-NCR only.
SSC ASO Recruitment 2026 Post Name
Assistant Section Officer / Assistant Grade
SSC ASO Recruitment 2026 Total Vacancies
341 Posts
SSC ASO Recruitment 2026 Job Location
Delhi-NCR / Central Government Offices
The official notice states that the examination will be conducted in Delhi-NCR only. The selected candidates will be recommended for inclusion in the select lists of Assistant Section Officer in Central Secretariat Service and Assistant in Ministry of External Affairs Cadre Cell as per available vacancies.
SSC ASO Recruitment 2026 Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online Application Start Date | 25 June 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 16 July 2026 |
| Last Time for Online Application | 11:00 PM |
| Last Date for Forwarded Hard Copy to SSC NR | 23 July 2026, 6:00 PM |
| Last Date for Candidates Abroad / Andaman & Nicobar / Lakshadweep | 30 July 2026, 6:00 PM |
| Computer Based Examination | August 2026 |
The online application window is from 25.06.2026 to 16.07.2026, and the last date and time for online application submission is 16.07.2026 up to 2300 hours.
SSC ASO Recruitment 2026 Vacancy Details
| Service / Cadre | UR | SC | ST | Total | PwBD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Secretariat Service, DoPT | 189 | 71 | 58 | 318 | 19 |
| Ministry of External Affairs, Cadre Cell | 23 | – | – | 23 | – |
| Total | 212 | 71 | 58 | 341 | 19 |
The PwBD vacancies for Central Secretariat Service include 6 VH, 4 OH, 4 HH and 5 Others.
SSC ASO Recruitment 2026 Job Wise Salary Details
| Post Name | Pay Level | Salary Range |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant Section Officer / Assistant Grade | Pay Level-7, Group B Non-Gazetted | ₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400 |
The official notice mentions Assistant Section Officer / Assistant Grade as Pay Level-7 Group B Non-Gazetted post with pay scale of ₹44,900 to ₹1,42,400.
SSC ASO Recruitment 2026 Age Limit
The official notification does not mention a separate open-market age limit for this recruitment. This is a Limited Departmental Competitive Examination, so eligibility is mainly based on the candidate’s approved service in the feeder grade as on 01 July 2025.
SSC ASO Recruitment 2026 Eligibility Criteria
| Service / Cadre | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| Central Secretariat Service, DoPT | Officer in Upper Division Grade of the Central Secretariat Clerical Service with not less than 6 years of approved service as on 01 July 2025 |
| Ministry of External Affairs, Cadre Cell | Upper Division Clerk Grade employee who has completed the prescribed mandatory training and has not less than 6 years approved service in the grade as on 01 July 2025 |
Candidates must ensure that their parent Service / Cadre is one of the participating services and that they satisfy the prescribed eligibility conditions before applying. Applications must also be forwarded through the proper department or office channel.
SSC ASO Recruitment 2026 Educational Qualifications Required
For this SSC ASO Recruitment 2026, the notification does not prescribe a fresh graduate qualification like regular open SSC exams. The eligibility is departmental in nature. Candidates must belong to the required feeder grade and must have the required approved service experience as mentioned in the notification. For the Ministry of External Affairs cadre, completion of prescribed mandatory training is also required.
SSC ASO Recruitment 2026 Selection Process
The selection process will be based on Computer Based Examination and Evaluation of Record of Service / APARs. The Computer Based Examination carries 300 marks, and the evaluation of record of service carries 100 marks. Final selection will be made on the basis of aggregate performance in Part-I and Part-II.
SSC ASO Recruitment 2026 Exam Pattern
| Part | Paper / Stage | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part-I | Paper-I – Objective Type | 150 | 3 Hours |
| Part-I | Paper-II – Objective Type | 150 | 3 Hours |
| Part-II | Evaluation of Record of Service / APARs | 100 | As per SSC process |
| Total | 400 |
Paper-I and Paper-II will be objective type papers. There will be negative marking of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer in both papers. Candidates eligible for scribe facility will get 4 hours for each paper.
SSC ASO Recruitment 2026 Application Fee Category Wise
| Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| General / UR | Not specified in official notice |
| SC / ST | Not specified in official notice |
| PwBD | Not specified in official notice |
The official notice does not provide a separate category-wise application fee table for this departmental examination. Candidates should check the SSC application portal and official notification before final submission.
SSC ASO Recruitment 2026 Last Date to Apply
The last date to submit the online application is 16 July 2026 up to 11:00 PM. After online submission, the printed application with required documents must reach the SSC Northern Region office through the proper Service / Cadre Controlling Authority by 23 July 2026 up to 6:00 PM.
SSC Assistant Section Officer Post Description
The Assistant Section Officer post in the Central Secretariat Service is an important administrative post in Central Government departments. Selected candidates will handle official files, noting, drafting, government procedures, office communication, departmental coordination and related administrative work. The role requires strong knowledge of office procedure, service rules, constitutional provisions, parliamentary procedure and government instructions.
SSC Assistant Grade Post Description
The Assistant Grade post under Ministry of External Affairs Cadre Cell is also a responsible administrative cadre post. Selected candidates may be involved in official documentation, records management, file processing, service-related matters and departmental administrative duties. Since this is a departmental selection, candidates are expected to already have experience in government office work and feeder grade responsibilities.
SSC ASO Recruitment 2026 Important Links
| Link Name | Details |
|---|---|
| Official Notification | SSC Assistant Section Officer / Assistant Grade LDCE 2025 Notification |
| Apply Online | Apply through SSC official online portal using OTR and Live Exam section |
| SSC Official Website | Staff Selection Commission official website |
| SSC Northern Region Updates | Candidates should also check SSC Northern Region for exam centre and admit card updates |
SSC ASO Recruitment 2026 How to Apply Online
Eligible departmental candidates must visit the SSC official website and complete One Time Registration if they have not already generated OTR on the new SSC portal. The old OTR from the earlier SSC website will not be valid for the new website. After completing OTR, candidates can proceed to fill the online application form.
Candidates should log in using their registration number and password, then click the Apply link under Assistant Section Officer / Assistant Grade Limited Departmental Competitive Examination, 2025 in the Live Exam section. They must fill department, cadre, service details, feeder service joining date, length of service, exam medium and other employment details carefully.
After filling the form, candidates should upload the required documents, capture a proper live photograph, upload signature, verify all details in preview, accept the declaration and submit the application. Once the application is submitted successfully, candidates should take a printout for record and forwarding purpose.
The printed copy of the online application form, along with required documents, must be forwarded through the respective Service / Cadre Controlling Authority to the Regional Director, Staff Selection Commission, Northern Region, New Delhi, within the prescribed date. Only applications forwarded by the Head of Department or Head of Office will be considered for admission to the examination.
SSC ASO Recruitment 2026 Summary
SSC ASO Recruitment 2026 is a major departmental opportunity for eligible government employees seeking promotion or selection to Assistant Section Officer / Assistant Grade posts. A total of 341 vacancies are available in Central Secretariat Service and Ministry of External Affairs Cadre Cell. Eligible candidates should complete the online application before 16 July 2026 and ensure that the printed application is forwarded through the proper channel before the prescribed deadline.