The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has officially released the notification for the ASO / Assistant Grade Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE), 2025. This recruitment drive aims to fill 341 vacancies for the prestigious post of Assistant Section Officer (ASO) / Assistant Grade in the Central Secretariat Service (CSS) and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
⚠️ Important: This is a Limited Departmental Competitive Examination exclusively for eligible in-service government employees. It is not open to the general public. This is a significant promotional opportunity for departmental candidates seeking to advance their careers to Group 'B' Non-Gazetted posts at Pay Level-7 (₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400).
The online application process commenced on 25 June 2026 and the last date to apply is 16 July 2026 (up to 11:00 PM). The Computer-Based Examination is tentatively scheduled for August 2026 and will be conducted only in Delhi-NCR. Read below for complete details including eligibility, vacancy distribution, selection process, exam pattern, and direct links.
| 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 (₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400) |
| Group | Group B, Non-Gazetted |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Exam Mode | Computer Based Examination (CBE) |
| Exam Centre | Delhi-NCR only |
| Official Website | ssc.gov.in |
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release Date | 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 Printed Application (General) | 23 July 2026 (up to 6:00 PM) |
| Last Date for Candidates Posted Abroad / A&N / Lakshadweep | 30 July 2026 (up to 6:00 PM) |
| Computer Based Examination (Tentative) | August 2026 |
| Admit Card | Will be intimated |
| Result Date | Will be updated here |
Candidates are advised to strictly adhere to the schedule above. Missing any deadline will result in disqualification.
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| All Candidates | ₹ 0/- (Nil) |
No application or examination fee is prescribed for this departmental examination. Since this is a Limited Departmental Competitive Examination meant for in-service government employees, the fee has been waived off by the Commission.
As this is a departmental examination meant for promotion of in-service employees, the age limit is determined by the length of approved service rather than a conventional minimum/maximum age criterion.
| Service/Cadre | Eligibility Requirement |
|---|---|
| Central Secretariat Service (CSS) | Minimum 6 years of approved service as Upper Division Grade of CSCS as on 1 July 2025 |
| Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) | Successfully completed mandatory training and minimum 6 years of approved service in UDC Grade as on 1 July 2025 |
SSC has notified a total of 341 tentative vacancies distributed across two services/cadres:
| Service / Cadre | UR | SC | ST | Total | PwBD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Secretariat Service (DoPT) | 189 | 71 | 58 | 318 | 19* |
| Ministry of External Affairs (Cadre Cell) | - | - | - | 23 | - |
| Grand Total | 212 | 71 | 58 | 341 | 19 |
*PwBD Break-up: VH – 6, OH – 4, HH – 4, Others – 5. Reservation for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) is applicable in the CSS vacancies as per government norms.
The SSC ASO LDCE 2026 is exclusively for departmental candidates belonging to the participating services.
Eligibility for Central Secretariat Service (CSS):
Eligibility for Ministry of External Affairs (MEA):
| Pay Level | Pay Scale (Per Month) |
|---|---|
| Level-7 (7th Pay Commission) | ₹ 44,900 – ₹ 1,42,400 |
Additional Benefits: The post of Assistant Section Officer is a Group 'B' Non-Gazetted position. In addition to the basic pay, employees are entitled to various allowances as per government norms, including:
The selection process consists of two parts:
Part I: Computer-Based Examination (CBE)
Part II: Evaluation of APAR / Record of Service
Final Merit List: The final merit list will be prepared based on the combined performance in both stages.
Tie-Breaking Criteria: In case of equal aggregate marks, ties are resolved in the following order:
Follow these steps to submit your application successfully:
Step 1: Complete One-Time Registration (OTR)
Step 2: Fill the Online Application Form
Step 3: Review and Submit
Step 4: Print and Forward Through Department
Step 5: Special Provisions for Remote Postings
Ans: A total of 341 vacancies have been announced for the post of Assistant Section Officer / Assistant Grade under the Central Secretariat Service (CSS) and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
Ans: This examination is exclusively for departmental candidates – in-service government employees of the participating cadres. It is not open to the general public.
Ans: The last date to submit the online application is 16 July 2026 (up to 11:00 PM). The last date for receipt of printed applications through the department is 23 July 2026.
Ans: No, the application fee is nil (₹0/-) for all candidates as this is a departmental examination.
Ans: The post is at Pay Level-7 with a pay scale of ₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400 per month.
Ans: The selection process consists of: Part I: Computer-Based Examination (300 marks) and Part II: Evaluation of APAR/Record of Service (100 marks).
Ans: The Computer-Based Examination will be conducted only at centres located in Delhi-NCR.
Ans: The Computer-Based Examination is tentatively scheduled for August 2026.
Ans: Candidates must have completed a minimum of six years of approved service as Upper Division Grade of CSCS as on 1 July 2025.
Ans: No. This is a Limited Departmental Examination exclusively for in-service government employees of the participating cadres.