Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has officially released the SSC ASO Recruitment 2026 notification for the Assistant Section Officer / Assistant Grade Limited Departmental Competitive Examination, 2025. A total of 341 vacancies are available across the Central Secretariat Service (CSS) under DoPT and the Ministry of External Affairs (Cadre Cell). Eligible departmental candidates can apply online from 25 June 2026 to 16 July 2026 (up to 11:00 PM). The Computer Based Examination is scheduled tentatively in August 2026 in Delhi-NCR only.
SSC ASO Notification PDF Download 2026
The official SSC ASO Recruitment 2026 notification PDF has been uploaded on the SSC headquarters website. Candidates are strongly advised to download and read the full notification before applying, as it contains detailed instructions about eligibility, application process, exam scheme, scribe provisions, and malpractice rules. The SSC ASO official notification PDF is available at the link below.
| Document | Link |
|---|---|
| Official Notification PDF | https://ssc.gov.in |
| Apply Online | https://ssc.gov.in |
| SSC Northern Region Website | https://sscnr.nic.in |
SSC ASO Recruitment 2026 – Quick Overview
This is a Limited Departmental Competitive Examination open only to in-service government employees of the participating cadres. The SSC ASO Bharti 2026 is conducted to add candidates to the Select List for the grade of Assistant Section Officer / Assistant, a Group B Non-Gazetted post at Pay Level-7. The notification reference number is No. 4/2/2026-CONF-5, published on 25 June 2026.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organization | Staff Selection Commission (SSC) |
| Exam Name | ASO / Assistant Grade Limited Departmental Competitive Examination, 2025 |
| Post Name | Assistant Section Officer (ASO) / Assistant Grade |
| Total Vacancies | 341 |
| Pay Level | Level-7 (Rs. 44,900 – Rs. 1,42,400) |
| Group | Group B, Non-Gazetted |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Exam Mode | Computer Based Examination (CBE) |
| Exam Centre | Delhi-NCR only |
| Official Website | https://ssc.gov.in |
Also Read: Check All Latest SSC Recruitment Notifications Apply Online
SSC ASO Notification 2026 – Important Dates
Candidates appearing in the SSC Assistant Section Officer Exam 2025 must strictly observe the schedule below. The online application window is open for just over three weeks, and hard copies forwarded through the department have a separate deadline. Missing any of these dates will result in rejection of candidature.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Published | 25 June 2026 |
| Online Application Start Date | 25 June 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 16 July 2026 (up to 11:00 PM / 2300 hours) |
| Last Date for Receipt of Hard Copy (General) | 23 July 2026 (up to 6:00 PM / 1800 hours) |
| Last Date for Receipt of Hard Copy (Abroad / A&N / Lakshadweep) | 30 July 2026 (up to 6:00 PM / 1800 hours) |
| Computer Based Examination (Tentative) | August 2026 |
The last date to submit the SSC ASO online application is 16 July 2026. After submitting online, candidates must also send the printed application along with required documents through their Head of Department / Head of Office to SSC Northern Region, New Delhi, so as to reach by 23 July 2026.
SSC ASO Vacancy 2026 – Category-Wise Breakdown
The SSC ASO vacancy 2026 is distributed across two cadres - Central Secretariat Service under DoPT and the Ministry of External Affairs Cadre Cell. The CSS cadre carries category-wise reservation including 19 seats reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD). MEA vacancies are all under the Unreserved category with no PwBD reservation reported.
| Sl. No. | Service / Cadre | UR | SC | ST | Total | PwBD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central Secretariat Service (CSS), DoPT | 189 | 71 | 58 | 318 | 19* |
| 2 | Ministry of External Affairs (Cadre Cell) | 23 | – | – | 23 | – |
| Total | 341 |
*PwBD breakup for CSS: 6 seats for VH (Visually Handicapped), 4 for OH (Orthopedically Handicapped), 4 for HH (Hearing Handicapped), and 5 for Others.
SSC ASO Eligibility Criteria 2026 – Who Can Apply
The SSC ASO Limited Departmental Exam 2025 is not open to the general public. Only serving government officials of the specific feeder cadres are eligible. The crucial date for counting approved service is 1 July 2025 for both cadres. Candidates must ensure they meet the exact conditions as specified below before applying.
Eligibility for Central Secretariat Service (CSS), DoPT
Any officer in the Upper Division Grade of the Central Secretariat Clerical Service who, as on 01 July 2025, has rendered not less than six years' approved service in that grade is eligible to appear.
Eligibility for Ministry of External Affairs (Cadre Cell)
Officers in the Upper Division Clerk Grade of the MEA Service who, as on 01 July 2025, have (a) successfully completed such mandatory training programme(s) as prescribed by the Ministry of External Affairs and (b) rendered not less than six years' approved service in the grade are eligible.
Disqualification Conditions
A candidate who resigns, quits service, or whose services are terminated after applying will not be eligible for appointment on the result of this examination. Similarly, candidates appointed to an ex-cadre post or another service on "transfer" without a lien in the SSA/UDC grade are not eligible. This does not apply to candidates on deputation with the approval of the competent authority.
Also read: SSC SSA/UDC LDCE 2025 Notification Out - Apply Online for 227 Group C Posts
SSC ASO Apply Online 2026 – Step-by-Step Process
The SSC ASO Apply Online 2026 process involves two stages: One Time Registration (OTR) on the SSC portal, followed by filling the actual examination application. Candidates who had registered on the old website (ssc.nic.in) must create a fresh OTR on the new website (ssc.gov.in) as the old OTR is not functional on the new portal.
- Visit the official SSC website: https://ssc.gov.in
- Click on "Register Now" under the Login or Register section to complete One Time Registration (OTR) if not already done on the new website.
- During OTR, opt for Aadhaar-Based Authentication as advised by the Commission.
- After OTR is complete, log in using your Registration Number and password.
- Click the "Apply" link under "Assistant Section Officer / Assistant Grade Limited Departmental Competitive Examination, 2025" in the Live Exam tab.
- Fill in departmental details - select your Cadre/Service, joining date of feeder service, and length of service.
- Capture a live photograph using webcam/smartphone as prompted (no pre-existing photo allowed).
- Upload your scanned signature in JPEG format (10–20 KB, dimensions: 6 cm × 2 cm).
- Upload mandatory documents including certified true copy of Service Book (first page) and particulars of service. PwBD candidates must also upload their disability certificate.
- Review all entries in the Preview section, accept the declaration, and click Submit Application.
- Take a printout of the submitted application form.
- Submit the printed copy along with all required documents through your Head of Department / Head of Office to SSC (NR), New Delhi, by 23 July 2026.
Important: Only those candidates whose application is forwarded by their Head of Department / Head of Office will be considered for admission to this examination. Applications submitted directly without departmental forwarding will be rejected.
SSC ASO Exam Pattern 2026 – Scheme of Examination
The SSC Assistant Section Officer Exam 2026 is conducted in two parts. Part-I is a Computer Based Examination (CBE) carrying 300 marks, and Part-II involves Evaluation of Service Records (APARs) carrying 100 marks. The final merit is prepared on the combined aggregate of both parts. There is no separate qualifying exam - this is a competitive examination.
Part-I: Computer Based Examination (300 Marks)
| Paper | Subjects | Type | Max. Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper-I | (i) General Awareness – flagship programmes and GoI initiatives (ii) Constitutional provisions and their general application in GoI (iii) Parliamentary procedures (Manual of Parliamentary Procedures, MoPA instructions) (iv) Reading Comprehension in English / Hindi (v) Central Secretariat – Manual of Office Procedure (vi) Allocation of Business Rules and Transaction of Business Rules (vii) Noting and Drafting |
Objective (MCQ) | 150 | 3 hours (4 hours for eligible scribe candidates) |
| Paper-II | (i) Service Rules – Leave Rules, Conduct & CCA Rules, Pension and NPS Rules (ii) Financial Rules – TA, LTC (iii) Legislations – RTI Act 2005, POSH Act 2013 (iv) Records Management (v) Précis Writing |
Objective (MCQ) | 150 | 3 hours (4 hours for eligible scribe candidates) |
There is a negative marking of 0.25 marks (25%) for each wrong answer in both Paper-I and Paper-II. Candidates must attempt the examination only in the language (English or Hindi) opted in the application form. There will be no question paper in Braille.
Part-II: Evaluation of Record of Service (100 Marks)
One hundred marks are reserved for evaluation of Annual Performance Appraisal Reports (APARs). Candidates shortlisted based on their Part-I aggregate performance will proceed to Part-II. Marks from Part-II will be added to determine the final rank. Once APARs have been evaluated, no request for change in APAR grading will be entertained.
Also Read: SSC JSA / LDC LDCE 2025 Notification Out - Apply Online for 149 Group C Posts in 12 Departments
SSC ASO Selection Process 2026
The SSC ASO selection process 2026 is a two-stage merit-based system. Candidates must clear the Computer Based Examination before their service records are evaluated. Final selection is strictly based on combined merit - no candidate has a right to selection merely by passing the exam.
- Stage 1 – Computer Based Examination (Part-I): Paper-I and Paper-II, each of 150 marks. The Commission may fix minimum qualifying marks individually for each paper.
- Stage 2 – APAR Evaluation (Part-II): Only candidates who qualify Part-I are eligible. Service records (APARs) are evaluated for 100 marks.
- Final Merit: Aggregate of Part-I (300 marks) + Part-II (100 marks) = 400 marks total. Names of finally selected candidates will be arranged in order of merit separately for each cadre.
Tie-Breaking Rules
In case of equal aggregate marks, ties are resolved in the following order: (i) Marks in Paper-I, (ii) Marks in Paper-II, (iii) Date of birth - older candidate ranked higher, (iv) Alphabetical order of names.
Pay Scale – SSC ASO Salary 2026
Candidates wondering about the salary for Assistant Section Officer will be pleased to know that this is a Group B Non-Gazetted post. The SSC ASO pay scale is at Pay Level-7 in the 7th Pay Commission Pay Matrix, with a pay range of Rs. 44,900 to Rs. 1,42,400 per month. Additional allowances such as HRA, DA, and TA apply as per government rules.
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Scribe and Compensatory Time Provisions
PwBD candidates in the category of Blindness and Cerebral Palsy are eligible for scribe / assistive technology support. Candidates with other benchmark disabilities may also avail scribe support on producing a certificate from a Government health institution (as per Annexure-II). A compensatory time of 20 minutes per hour of examination is provided to all eligible scribe candidates, including those who choose not to avail the scribe facility.
Documents Required for SSC ASO Application 2026
Candidates must upload the following documents with the online application and also include self-attested photocopies with the printed hard copy forwarded by the department. Original documents should not be submitted.
| Document | Required For |
|---|---|
| Certified true copy of first page of Service Book (attested by HoD/HoO) | All candidates |
| Certified copy of particulars of service showing posts held, scale of pay, and capacity (substantive/officiating/permanent/temporary) | All candidates |
| Certificate of Disability (as per Annexure-VII / Annexure-VIII) | PwBD candidates only |
| Certificate for physical limitation to write (Annexure-II or Annexure-III) | Candidates availing scribe under Para 35(b)/(c) |
| Live photograph captured on application portal | All candidates |
| Scanned signature in JPEG format (10–20 KB) | All candidates |
Common Mistakes to Avoid – SSC ASO Apply Online 2026
Based on typical departmental exam application processes, candidates should be especially careful about the following errors that frequently lead to rejection or disqualification.
- Using Old SSC OTR: OTR created on the old website (ssc.nic.in) will not work on ssc.gov.in. Candidates must create a new OTR on the new website before applying.
- Not forwarding hard copy through HoD/HoO: Online submission alone is not enough. The printed application must be forwarded by the Head of Department or Head of Office and must reach SSC NR by 23 July 2026. Failure to do this renders the application void.
- Uploading pre-existing photographs: The portal requires a live photograph captured at the time of application. Uploading a pre-existing photo will lead to summary rejection.
- Miniature or blurred signatures: Signatures must occupy at least 80% of the signature box and must be clear. Miniature signatures are the most common reason for rejection.
- Mismatch in personal details: Name, date of birth, father's name, and mother's name in the application must exactly match the Matriculation certificate. Any discrepancy can cancel your candidature.
- Submitting multiple applications: Only one application is allowed per candidate. Multiple submissions may lead to rejection of all applications.
- Not verifying service eligibility before applying: Candidates must confirm they have completed six years of approved service in the feeder grade as on 01 July 2025 before applying.
- Changing appearance before the exam: The appearance on exam day must match the photograph in the application form. Examination staff may deny entry to candidates with noticeably different appearances.
- Carrying electronic devices: Mobile phones, Bluetooth devices, or any electronic gadget in the examination hall attracts a debarment of 3–5 years.
Important Links – SSC ASO Recruitment 2026
- Apply Online: Click here
- Official Notification PDF: Click here
- Official Website: Click here
- Join Arattai Channel: Click Here
- Join Telegram Channel: Click Here
- Join WhatsApp Channel: Click Here
- Sarkari Result: Click Here
- Download Mobile App: Click Here
