SSC Assistant Section Officer (ASO) / Assistant Grade LDCE Recruitment 2025-2026 Notification Out for 341 Vacancies
The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has released the official notification for the Assistant Section Officer (ASO) / Assistant Grade Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE) 2025. A total of 341 vacancies have been announced for eligible departmental candidates working in participating Central Government Ministries and Departments. Interested candidates can submit their online applications from 25 June 2026 to 16 July 2026 through the official SSC website. The selected candidates will be appointed in Pay Level-7 under the 7th CPC with attractive salary, allowances and other Central Government benefits.
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Main Information Eligibility Vacancy Details Selection Procedure Salary Structure Application Fees Important Links Important Instructions Required Documents FAQs| Recruitment Name | Assistant Section Officer / Assistant Grade LDCE 2025 |
| Conducting Body | Staff Selection Commission (SSC) |
| Advertisement Year | 2025 |
| Total Vacancies | 341 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Application Start Date | 25 June 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 16 July 2026 |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | Not Applicable |
| Correction Window | As per SSC Schedule |
| Examination Mode | Computer Based Examination |
| Exam Month | August 2026 |
| Pay Level | Level-7 |
| Pay Scale | ₹44,900 - ₹1,42,400 |
| Job Location | Across India |
| Official Website | https://ssc.gov.in |
| Criteria | Details |
| Eligibility | Only eligible departmental candidates of participating Services/Cadres can apply through Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE). |
| Central Secretariat Service (CSS) | Upper Division Grade of Central Secretariat Clerical Service (CSCS) with minimum 6 years approved service as on 01 July 2025. |
| Ministry of External Affairs (Cadre Cell) | Upper Division Clerk Grade with successful completion of mandatory departmental training and minimum 6 years approved service as on 01 July 2025. |
| Nationality | Candidate must be an Indian Citizen and serving in the eligible Government Department. |
| Educational Qualification | As prescribed by the respective participating Department/Service. |
| Experience | Minimum 6 years approved regular service in the eligible cadre. |
| Crucial Date | 01 July 2025 |
| Department Verification | Application must be verified and forwarded by Head of Department/Head of Office. |
The Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE) is conducted for eligible departmental candidates serving in various Central Government Ministries and Departments. Applicants must fulfill the eligibility conditions prescribed for their respective cadre and possess the required qualifying service as mentioned in the official notification.
| Paper | Subject |
| Paper-I | General Awareness, Constitutional Provisions, Parliamentary Procedures, Reading Comprehension, Manual of Office Procedure, Allocation of Business Rules, Transaction of Business Rules, Noting & Drafting |
| Paper-II | Service Rules, Financial Rules, RTI Act, Records Management, Precis Writing |
| Part-II | Evaluation of APAR / Service Records |
| Total | Computer Based Examination + APAR Evaluation |
| Mode of Examination | Computer Based Examination |
| Question Type | Objective Type Multiple Choice Questions |
| Language | English / Hindi (As opted by candidate) |
| Total Papers | 2 |
| Marks in Paper-I | 150 |
| Marks in Paper-II | 150 |
| APAR Evaluation | 100 Marks |
| Grand Total | 400 Marks |
| Wrong Answer Penalty | 0.25 Marks Deducted |
| Applicable Papers | Paper-I & Paper-II |
| Unanswered Questions | No Negative Marking |
The recruitment process consists of a Computer Based Examination followed by evaluation as prescribed by the Staff Selection Commission. The examination tests General Intelligence, General Awareness, English Language and service-related knowledge. Candidates qualifying the examination will be considered for appointment based on merit and departmental eligibility.
| Department | Vacancies |
| Central Secretariat Service (CSS) | 318 |
| Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) | 23 |
| Total | 341 |
The Staff Selection Commission has announced a total of 341 vacancies for Assistant Section Officer (ASO) and Assistant Grade posts through the Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE) 2025 across participating departments.
| Stage 1 | Computer Based Examination (Paper-I & Paper-II) |
| Stage 2 | Evaluation of APAR / Service Records |
| Stage 3 | Preparation of Final Merit List |
| Stage 4 | Document Verification |
| Stage 5 | Appointment by Respective Department |
Selection will be based on the Computer Based Examination, verification of eligibility conditions, departmental service records and document verification as prescribed in the official notification.
| Particular | Details |
| Pay Level | Level-7 (7th Central Pay Commission) |
| Pay Scale | ₹44,900 - ₹1,42,400 |
Selected candidates will be appointed in Pay Level-7 of the 7th Central Pay Commission with a pay scale of ₹44,900 to ₹1,42,400 along with Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance, Transport Allowance, National Pension Scheme and other Central Government benefits.
| Salary Structure, In-Hand Salary & Allowances | Check SSC Assistant Section Officer (ASO) / Assistant Grade LDCE Recruitment 2025-2026 Notification Out for 341 Vacancies Salary Details 2026 |
| Category | Application Fee |
| General | Nil |
| OBC | Nil |
| EWS | Nil |
| SC | Nil |
| ST | Nil |
| PwBD | Nil |
| Women Candidates | Nil |
| Mode of Payment | Not Applicable |
No application fee is payable for the Limited Departmental Competitive Examination. Eligible departmental candidates can submit the online application within the prescribed dates.
| Application Mode | Online only through SSC website. |
| Department Verification | Applications must be verified by the Cadre Controlling Authority. |
| Eligibility Date | Eligibility will be determined as on 01 July 2025. |
| Multiple Applications | Only one application is permitted. |
| Photograph | Recent live photograph must be uploaded. |
| Signature | Candidate must upload scanned signature in prescribed format. |
| Correction Facility | Available only during correction window notified by SSC. |
| Exam Centre | Allotted by SSC and cannot be changed after final submission. |
| Admit Card | Download from SSC Regional Website. |
| Mobile Number | Keep active till completion of recruitment. |
| Email ID | Keep registered email active throughout the recruitment process. |
| Document Verification | Original documents must be produced whenever called. |
| Disqualification | Suppression of facts or submission of false information will lead to cancellation of candidature. |
| Final Decision | Decision of Staff Selection Commission shall be final and binding. |
Candidates should ensure that they satisfy all eligibility conditions including qualifying service, educational qualifications wherever applicable and departmental requirements before submitting the application. Applications must be submitted online only through the SSC website.
| Document | Purpose |
| Service Certificate | Verification of Approved Service |
| Forwarding Certificate from Head of Department | Mandatory |
| Identity Card | Identity Verification |
| Educational Qualification Certificate | Eligibility Verification |
| Recent Passport Size Photograph | Application Form |
| Signature | Application Form |
| APAR / ACR Records | Service Evaluation |
| Category Certificate | Reservation Benefits (if applicable) |
| PwBD Certificate | Disability Reservation (if applicable) |
| No Objection Certificate (NOC) | Wherever Applicable |
| Government Employee ID | Department Verification |
Candidates should keep service certificate, departmental NOC, educational qualification certificates, identity proof, recent passport-size photograph, signature and other supporting documents ready for verification.
| Official Website | Click Here |
| Apply Online | Click Here |
| Official Notification PDF | Click Here |
| What is SSC Assistant Section Officer (ASO) / Assistant Grade LDCE 2025? | It is a Limited Departmental Competitive Examination conducted by the Staff Selection Commission for eligible departmental candidates to fill Assistant Section Officer and Assistant Grade posts. |
| How many vacancies have been announced? | A total of 341 vacancies have been notified, including 318 vacancies in the Central Secretariat Service (CSS) and 23 vacancies in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). |
| Who can apply for SSC ASO LDCE 2025? | Only eligible departmental candidates fulfilling the prescribed qualifying service and other eligibility conditions mentioned in the official notification can apply. |
| What is the last date to apply online? | Eligible candidates can submit the online application up to 16 July 2026. |
| What is the pay scale of Assistant Section Officer? | Selected candidates will be appointed in Pay Level-7 with a pay scale of ₹44,900 to ₹1,42,400 under the 7th Central Pay Commission. |
| Is there any application fee? | No. There is no application fee for eligible departmental candidates appearing in the SSC ASO LDCE 2025 examination. |
| What is the selection process? | Selection is based on the Computer Based Examination, APAR evaluation, document verification and fulfillment of departmental eligibility conditions. |
| Is there negative marking in the examination? | Yes. A deduction of 0.25 marks is applicable for every incorrect answer in the Computer Based Examination. |
| When will the examination be conducted? | The Computer Based Examination is scheduled to be held in August 2026 as per the SSC examination calendar. |
| Where can I download the admit card? | Candidates can download the admit card from the respective SSC Regional Website before the examination. |
