• Notification Release Date: 06 July 2026
• Online Application Start Date: 06 July 2026
• Last Date to Apply Online: 27 July 2026 (11:00 PM)
• Last Date for Online Fee Payment: 28 July 2026 (11:00 PM)
• Application Form Correction Window: 01 August 2026 to 02 August 2026
• Computer Based Examination (Paper-I): 17 October 2026
• Descriptive Examination (Paper-II): To be Notified Later

• General / OBC / EWS: No Application Fee
• SC / ST / PwBD: No Application Fee
• All Eligible Departmental Candidates: ₹0 (Nil)

Age Limit (as on 01 July 2025)

• Minimum Age: Not Specified
• Maximum Age: Not Specified

Note: There is no specific minimum or maximum age limit prescribed in the official notification. Candidates must be eligible serving Upper Division Clerks (UDC) / Senior Secretariat Assistants with at least 6 years of approved regular service as on 01.07.2025 to apply for the SSC ASO LDCE Recruitment 2026.

Total Post - 341 Posts

*PwBD Vacancy Break-up:

• VH (Visually Handicapped): 6 Posts
• OH (Orthopedically Handicapped): 4 Posts
• HH (Hearing Handicapped): 4 Posts
• Others: 5 Posts

• Must be a serving Upper Division Clerk (UDC) / Senior Secretariat Assistant in the participating departments.
• Must have completed at least 6 years of approved regular service in the grade as on 01 July 2025.
• The recruitment is conducted through the Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE) 2025 and is open only to eligible departmental candidates.
• Candidates should carefully read the official notification to ensure they meet all eligibility conditions before applying online.

The SSC ASO Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE) 2025 is not open to the general public. Only eligible serving government employees belonging to the prescribed feeder cadres can apply. The crucial date for determining eligibility and approved service is 01 July 2025.

Eligibility for Central Secretariat Service (CSS), DoPT

Candidates must fulfill the following conditions:

• Must be a serving Upper Division Clerk (UDC) in the Central Secretariat Clerical Service (CSCS).
• Must have completed at least 6 years of approved regular service in the grade as on 01 July 2025.

Eligibility for Ministry of External Affairs (Cadre Cell)

Candidates must fulfill the following conditions:

• Must be a serving Upper Division Clerk (UDC) in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Service.
• Must have successfully completed the mandatory training programme(s) prescribed by the Ministry of External Affairs.
• Must have completed at least 6 years of approved regular service in the grade as on 01 July 2025.

The SSC Assistant Section Officer (ASO) Recruitment 2026 selection process consists of two parts. Part-I is a Computer Based Examination (CBE) carrying 300 marks, while Part-II is the Evaluation of Service Records (APARs) carrying 100 marks. The final merit list will be prepared based on the combined marks obtained in both parts.

Part-I: Computer Based Examination (CBE)

Paper-I

• Subjects:
  • General Awareness and Government of India flagship programmes
  • Constitutional Provisions and their application in Government
  • Parliamentary Procedures (Manual of Parliamentary Procedures & MoPA Instructions)
  • Reading Comprehension (English / Hindi)
  • Central Secretariat – Manual of Office Procedure
  • Allocation of Business Rules & Transaction of Business Rules
  • Noting and Drafting
• Exam Type: Objective (MCQ)
• Maximum Marks: 150
• Duration: 3 Hours (4 Hours for eligible scribe candidates)

Paper-II

• Subjects:
  • Service Rules (Leave Rules, Conduct Rules, CCA Rules, Pension & NPS Rules)
  • Financial Rules (TA & LTC)
  • RTI Act, 2005
  • POSH Act, 2013
  • Records Management
  • Précis Writing
• Exam Type: Objective (MCQ)
• Maximum Marks: 150
• Duration: 3 Hours (4 Hours for eligible scribe candidates)

Important Points

• Mode of Examination: Computer Based Test (CBT)
• Total Marks (Part-I): 300 Marks
• Question Type: Objective Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
• Negative Marking: 0.25 mark will be deducted for each wrong answer.
• Candidates must appear in the language (English or Hindi) selected in the application form.
• Braille question papers will not be provided.

Part-II: Evaluation of Service Records (APARs)

• Evaluation Method: Annual Performance Appraisal Reports (APARs)
• Maximum Marks: 100 Marks
• Only candidates shortlisted based on their Part-I performance will be considered for APAR evaluation.
• Marks obtained in Part-II will be added to the Part-I score to prepare the final merit list.
• After APAR evaluation is completed, no request for revision of APAR grading will be accepted.

Candidates selected for the Assistant Section Officer (ASO) post will be appointed as Group 'B' Non-Gazetted officers under the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC). The post carries Pay Level-7 in the Pay Matrix with an attractive salary package and various government allowances.

Pay Scale

• Pay Level: Level-7 (7th CPC Pay Matrix)
• Pay Scale: ₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400 per month
• Post Category: Group 'B' Non-Gazetted
• Starting Basic Pay: ₹44,900 per month

Allowances & Benefits

In addition to the basic pay, selected candidates are entitled to the following allowances as per Central Government rules:

• Dearness Allowance (DA)
• House Rent Allowance (HRA)
• Transport Allowance (TA)
• National Pension System (NPS) Benefits
• Leave Travel Concession (LTC)
• Medical Facilities
• Other admissible allowances as per government norms

Eligible departmental candidates can apply for the SSC ASO Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE) 2025 by following these steps:

• Visit the official SSC website and complete the One-Time Registration (OTR) if you have not already registered on the new portal.
• Log in using your registered credentials and select the Assistant Section Officer / Assistant Grade LDCE 2025 application form.
• Fill in all the required details carefully, including your service and cadre information.
• Upload the necessary documents, photograph, and signature in the prescribed format.
• Review all the information before submitting the online application.
• Submit the application form and take a printout of the final submitted application for future reference.
• Forward the printed application form along with the required documents through your Head of Department / Head of Office to the Regional Director, SSC (Northern Region), CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi before the prescribed deadline. Applications not forwarded through the competent authority will not be considered.
• Keep a copy of the submitted application and acknowledgement safely until the recruitment process is completed.

Candidates with benchmark disabilities (PwBD) can avail the facility of a scribe (scribe/reader) and compensatory time as per the SSC rules.

Scribe Facility

• Candidates belonging to the Blindness (VH) and Cerebral Palsy categories are eligible to use a scribe or assistive technology.
• Candidates with other benchmark disabilities may also avail the scribe facility by submitting a valid medical certificate issued by a Government Health Institution in the prescribed format.
• Candidates must submit the required certificate as mentioned in the official notification.

Compensatory Time

• Eligible candidates will receive 20 minutes of compensatory time for every hour of the examination.
• The additional time is available to all eligible candidates, whether or not they choose to use a scribe.

Candidates must upload the required documents while filling out the online application and submit self-attested photocopies along with the printed application form through their department. Original documents should not be submitted.

Required Documents

• Certified copy of the first page of the Service Book, attested by the Head of Department (HoD) / Head of Office (HoO).
• Certified copy of service particulars, including posts held, pay scale, and nature of appointment.
• Disability Certificate (for PwBD candidates only).
• Certificate for physical limitation to write, if applying for a scribe facility.
• Live photograph captured during the online application process.
• Scanned signature in JPEG format (10–20 KB).

To avoid rejection of your application, keep the following points in mind:

• Create a new One-Time Registration (OTR) on the SSC new portal (ssc.gov.in). Old OTRs from ssc.nic.in are not valid.
• Do not rely only on online submission. Ensure that the printed application is forwarded through your Head of Department / Head of Office within the prescribed deadline.
• Capture a live photograph during the application process. Uploading an old or pre-existing photograph may lead to rejection.
• Upload a clear signature that occupies most of the signature box. Small or blurred signatures may be rejected.
• Ensure that your name, date of birth, father's name, and mother's name exactly match your Matriculation certificate.
• Submit only one application. Multiple applications may result in cancellation of all submissions.
• Verify that you have completed 6 years of approved regular service as on 01 July 2025 before applying.
• Maintain the same appearance during the examination as shown in your application photograph.
• Do not carry mobile phones, Bluetooth devices, smart watches, or any electronic gadgets to the examination centre, as this may lead to disqualification or debarment.

The selection process for SSC ASO Recruitment 2026 consists of the following stages:

• Computer Based Examination (Part-I):
  • Candidates have to appear for a Computer Based Test (CBT) consisting of Paper-I and Paper-II.
  • Both papers are objective-type (MCQ) examinations carrying a total of 300 marks.
• Evaluation of Service Records (Part-II):
  • Candidates shortlisted based on their Part-I performance will undergo Annual Performance Appraisal Report (APAR) evaluation.
  • 100 marks are allotted for the evaluation of service records.
• Final Merit List:
  • The final merit list will be prepared based on the combined marks obtained in Part-I (300 Marks) and Part-II (100 Marks).
  • Candidates with the highest aggregate marks will be recommended for appointment as Assistant Section Officer (ASO).

Selection Stages at a Glance:

1. Computer Based Examination (Paper-I & Paper-II)
2. Evaluation of Service Records (APARs)
3. Final Merit List
4. Document Verification
5. Appointment to the Assistant Section Officer (ASO) Post

Q. Who can apply for SSC ASO Recruitment 2026?

Ans: Only eligible departmental candidates (UDC / Senior Secretariat Assistant or equivalent posts) working in government departments can apply. It is not open for the general public.

Q. How many vacancies are announced in SSC ASO 2026?

Ans: A total of 341 vacancies have been announced for Assistant Section Officer (ASO) and Assistant Grade posts.

Q. What is the minimum service requirement for SSC ASO?

Ans: Candidates must have at least 6 years of approved regular service in the feeder grade as on 01 July 2025.

Q. Is SSC ASO exam open for fresh candidates?

Ans: No, it is a Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE) and only serving eligible government employees can apply.

Q. What is the total marks of SSC ASO selection process?

Ans: The selection is based on 400 marks, which includes:

• 300 marks for Computer Based Examination (CBE)
• 100 marks for APAR (service record evaluation)

Q. Is there negative marking in SSC ASO exam?

Ans: Yes, there is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer in both Paper-I and Paper-II.

Q. What is the salary of SSC ASO?

Ans: The pay scale is Level-7 (₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400) under the 7th Pay Commission along with allowances like DA, HRA, and TA.

Q. What is the selection process for SSC ASO?

Ans: The selection process includes:

• Computer Based Examination (Paper-I & Paper-II)
• Evaluation of APAR (Service Records)
• Final Merit List preparation

Q. What subjects are included in SSC ASO exam?

Ans: The exam includes topics like General Awareness, Constitution, Parliamentary Procedures, Office Manual, Service Rules, Financial Rules, RTI Act, and Drafting.

Q. What are the common mistakes to avoid while applying?

Ans:

• Not creating new OTR on SSC new portal
• Incorrect service details
• Not forwarding application through HoD/HoO
• Uploading blurred photo or signature
• Submitting multiple applications