Assistant Section Officer (ASO)
CSIR (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research) has invited online applications for 100 Assistant Section Officer (ASO) posts under Advt. No. E-I/RC/2026/2. This is a special recruitment only for non-recommended candidates of UPSC CSE-2024 whose details are on the Pratibha Setu Portal. Apply online from 23 June 2026 to 13 July 2026. You can download the official notification PDF from the links above.
| Application Start Date | 23 June 2026 (10:00 AM) |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 13 July 2026 (5:00 PM) |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | 13 July 2026 (5:00 PM) |
| CPT Exam Date | To be announced |
| UR / OBC (NCL) / EWS | Rs. 500 |
| Women / SC / ST / PwBD / Ex-Servicemen | Nil (Free) |
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- 6 Jul 2026 Recruitment published
CSIR ASO 2026 Overview
The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has released a recruitment notice for the post of Assistant Section Officer (ASO). This is Advertisement No. E-I/RC/2026/2. In total, there are 100 posts. The online application window is open from 23 June 2026 to 13 July 2026.
This is a special recruitment. It is meant only for the non-recommended candidates of the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) Civil Services Examination 2024 (CSE-2024). In simple words, if you appeared in CSE-2024 and were not finally recommended for any service, and your name appears on the UPSC Pratibha Setu Portal, only then can you apply. Candidates who did not appear in CSE-2024 are not eligible for this post.
Post and Vacancy Details
The 100 posts are divided into three cadres. All are Group B (Non-Gazetted) posts. The category-wise break-up is given below.
| Cadre | UR | SC | ST | OBC (NCL) | EWS | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASO (General) | 23 | 09 | 04 | 17 | 08 | 61 |
| ASO (Finance & Accounts) | 07 | 02 | 02 | 06 | 01 | 18 |
| ASO (Stores & Purchase) | 08 | 02 | 02 | 06 | 03 | 21 |
| Total | 38 | 13 | 08 | 29 | 12 | 100 |
Out of these 100 posts, 07 posts (including 02 backlog) are reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD). UR means Unreserved, SC means Scheduled Castes, ST means Scheduled Tribes, OBC (NCL) means Other Backward Classes (Non-Creamy Layer), and EWS means Economically Weaker Sections. The number of posts is provisional and may change at the time of selection.
Eligibility Criteria
Education: You must hold a Bachelor's degree from a recognised university. The final result of the degree should be declared on or before the last date of the online application.
Special condition: You must be a non-recommended candidate of UPSC CSE-2024. Your details must be available on the UPSC Pratibha Setu Portal. This is a must. Without it, you cannot apply.
Age Limit
The maximum age is 33 years, counted as on the closing date of the online application (13 July 2026). There is no minimum age given in the notice. Upper-age relaxation is allowed as per Government of India rules, as shown below.
| Category | Age Relaxation (beyond upper age limit) |
|---|---|
| SC / ST | 5 years |
| OBC (NCL) | 3 years |
| PwBD (Unreserved) | 10 years |
| PwBD (SC / ST) | 15 years |
| PwBD (OBC) | 13 years |
| Ex-Servicemen | Military service rendered + 3 years |
| CSIR Departmental candidates | 5 years |
Salary and Pay Scale
The Assistant Section Officer post is placed in Pay Level 7, Cell 1 of the 7th Pay Commission Pay Matrix. The pay range for Level 7 is Rs. 44,900 to Rs. 1,42,400. On top of the basic pay, you will also get Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), Transport Allowance (TA), and other benefits at Central Government rates. Council staff are also eligible for medical expense reimbursement, Leave Travel Concession (LTC), and House Building Advance, as per rules. The post is covered under the New Pension System.
Selection Process
The selection is done in a simple, step-by-step way. It is based mainly on your CSE-2024 marks.
- Step 1 - Shortlisting: Applications are screened. Candidates are shortlisted for the Computer Proficiency Test (CPT) in a ratio of about 1:5 (five times the vacancies in each category, subject to a minimum of five). Shortlisting is done on your total marks (Mains plus Personality Test) in UPSC CSE-2024.
- Step 2 - Computer Proficiency Test (CPT): The CPT carries 100 marks and runs for 1 hour. It is only a qualifying test. It checks your skill in Word Processing, Spreadsheets, and making Slides. You must score the minimum threshold marks to pass.
- Step 3 - Final Merit: The final selection is made on your total CSE-2024 marks (Mains plus Personality Test), provided you qualify the CPT.
- Step 4 - Document Verification: Shortlisted candidates must produce all original documents for checking.
The CPT will be held in Delhi, tentatively. CSIR may hold it in more than one city. The exam date will be told to shortlisted candidates later. A single merit list is prepared, and cadre (General / Finance and Accounts / Stores and Purchase) is allotted on merit and the choice you fill in the form.
CPT Minimum Qualifying Marks (out of 100)
| Category | Minimum Threshold | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| UR | 40% | 40 |
| EWS | 37% | 37 |
| OBC | 37% | 37 |
| SC | 35% | 35 |
| ST | 35% | 35 |
| All PwBD categories | 30% | 30 |
How to Apply
You can apply only online. No other mode is accepted. Keep your CSE-2024 roll number, a valid email, an active mobile number, and scanned documents ready before you start. Follow these steps:
- Open the CSIR recruitment portal using the Apply Online link given in the Important Links table above.
- Click on New Registration and register with your UPSC roll number, email, and mobile number. You will get a User ID and password.
- Log in, complete your profile (personal details, category, PwBD status, etc.), and lock it carefully. Locked details cannot be changed.
- Fill all tabs - Personal Details, Education, Experience, Additional Details, and Uploads. Upload your photo, signature, date-of-birth proof, education certificates (10th onwards), and CSE-2024 mark sheets.
- Preview the full form, then submit. An Application Number is generated.
- Pay the application fee (if applicable) through SBI Collect. Download the e-Receipt, fill in the payment details in the form, and take a printout of the final application.
Note down your User ID and password. Apply early to avoid last-minute website load. All future notices about this drive will be put only on the CSIR website, so keep checking it.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply for CSIR ASO 2026?
Only the non-recommended candidates of UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024 (CSE-2024) can apply. Your name must be on the UPSC Pratibha Setu Portal, and you must hold a Bachelor's degree. If you did not appear in CSE-2024, you cannot apply for this post.
How many posts are there in CSIR ASO 2026?
There are 100 posts of Assistant Section Officer (ASO). These are split into three cadres: General (61), Finance and Accounts (18), and Stores and Purchase (21).
What is the last date to apply for CSIR ASO 2026?
The last date to register and submit the online application is 13 July 2026 up to 5:00 PM. The last date to pay the application fee online is also 13 July 2026. The application window opened on 23 June 2026.
What is the application fee for CSIR ASO 2026?
The fee is Rs. 500 for Unreserved (UR), OBC (NCL), and EWS candidates. It is free (NIL) for women, SC, ST, PwBD, and Ex-Servicemen candidates. Payment is made online through SBI Collect.
What is the age limit for CSIR ASO 2026?
The maximum age is 33 years as on the closing date (13 July 2026). Upper-age relaxation is 5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC (NCL), and more for PwBD and Ex-Servicemen, as per Government of India rules.
What is the salary of a CSIR Assistant Section Officer?
The post is in Pay Level 7, Cell 1 of the 7th Pay Commission, with a pay range of Rs. 44,900 to Rs. 1,42,400. You also get Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance, Transport Allowance, and other Central Government benefits.
What is the selection process for CSIR ASO 2026?
First, candidates are shortlisted on the basis of their CSE-2024 marks (Mains plus Personality Test). Shortlisted candidates then take the Computer Proficiency Test (CPT), which is a 100-mark, 1-hour qualifying test. The final merit is decided by the CSE-2024 marks, provided you qualify the CPT.
How can I download the CSIR ASO 2026 notification?
You can download the official notification PDF directly from the Important Links table on this page. It is our fast copy of the official CSIR advertisement. Always cross-check the official notice for the final word.