SSC ASO 2026 notification is OUT. The Staff Selection Commission has released the Assistant Section Officer (ASO) / Assistant Grade Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE) 2026 notification for 341 vacancies in the Central Secretariat Service (CSS) under DoPT and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Cadre Cell. Notification No. 4/2/2026-CONF-5, dated 25 June 2026. Last updated: 06.07.2026.
SSC ASO 2026 – Key details
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting authority | Staff Selection Commission (SSC) |
| Exam name | ASO / Assistant Grade LDCE 2026 |
| Notification No. | 4/2/2026-CONF-5 |
| Notification date | 25 June 2026 |
| Total vacancies | 341 |
| Eligible cadres | CSS (DoPT), MEA Cadre Cell |
| Application mode | Online, through departmental channel |
| Exam mode | Computer Based Examination (CBE) |
| Exam city | Delhi-NCR only |
| Official website | ssc.gov.in |
Important dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | 25 June 2026 |
| Application Start | 25 June 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 16 July 2026 (up to 11:00 PM) |
| Exam Date | Tentatively August 2026 (to be confirmed) |
| Result | After exam |
SSC ASO 2026 vacancy details
The 341 vacancies cover Assistant Section Officer and Assistant grade posts across CSS (DoPT) and the MEA Cadre Cell. Since this is a promotion-based LDCE, not a fresh direct-recruitment drive, there’s no state-wise or open-category split the way a regular SSC exam would have — seats go to eligible serving staff only. Check the official notification PDF on ssc.gov.in for the exact cadre-wise break-up.
Eligibility criteria
- Must be a serving Upper Division Clerk (UDC) or Senior Secretariat Assistant (SSA) in the Central Secretariat Service (CSS) under DoPT, or in the MEA Cadre Cell
- Minimum 6 years of approved service in the grade as on 1 July 2025
- Application must be routed and forwarded through the candidate’s parent department / Head of Department — the usual process for SSC’s departmental exams
How to apply for SSC ASO 2026
- Visit the official portal: ssc.gov.in
- Go to the LDCE / Departmental Exam notices section and open the ASO 2026 notification
- Register and fill the online application form with service and cadre details
- Get the application forwarded through your Head of Department, as required for departmental candidates
- Submit before the deadline and save the confirmation for your records
SSC ASO 2026 exam pattern
The exam is a Computer Based Examination in Delhi-NCR only — 300 marks across Paper I and Paper II, plus 100 marks from APAR/service record evaluation. See the full SSC ASO 2026 syllabus and exam pattern for the section-wise marks, marking scheme, and CSMOP topic breakdown, since LDCE papers are structured differently from SSC’s open direct-recruitment exams like CGL or CHSL.
If you’re a fresh graduate rather than a serving departmental employee, this LDCE won’t apply to you — check SSC CGL 2026 instead for SSC’s open direct-recruitment vacancies.
Important links
| Link | Details |
|---|---|
| SSC ASO 2026 Notification PDF | Official Notification (No. 4/2/2026-CONF-5) |
| Apply Online – SSC ASO 2026 | Official SSC Portal |
| SSC Official Website | ssc.gov.in |
Last updated: 06.07.2026
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