OPSC Assistant Section Officer Recruitment 2026

The Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) has announced 340 Assistant Section Officer (ASO) vacancies under the Odisha Secretariat Service Cadre, Home Department, Government of Odisha.

The recruitment notification was released on 5 November 2026 under Advertisement No. 15 of 2026–27. Candidates possessing a bachelor's degree from a recognised university can apply, provided they satisfy the prescribed age, computer knowledge and Odia language requirements.

The selection process includes a written examination followed by a qualifying Computer Application Skill Test.

OPSC ASO Recruitment 2026 Overview

OPSC ASO Recruitment 2026 Important Dates

Candidates should complete their applications before the closing date to avoid technical difficulties.

OPSC ASO Vacancy 2026: Category-Wise Distribution

A total of 340 vacancies have been announced, including 114 positions reserved for women.

Horizontal reservations include 25 posts for Persons with Disabilities, 19 for Ex-Servicemen and 3 for Sportspersons, subject to notification conditions.

OPSC ASO Eligibility Criteria 2026

Educational Qualification

Applicants must possess a bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university or an equivalent qualification.

Candidates must also have adequate knowledge of computer applications.

Odia Language Requirement

Applicants must be able to read, write and speak Odia and fulfil at least one prescribed language qualification, such as passing Odia at the Middle School level, studying through Odia medium in the qualifying school examination, passing Odia in Class VII or above, or passing the prescribed government Odia language test.

OPSC ASO Age Limit 2026

The age limit is calculated as of 1 January 2026.

Age Relaxation

• SC/ST/SEBC candidates: 5 years

• Women candidates: 5 years

• Ex-Servicemen: 5 years

• Persons with Disabilities: 10 years

• Eligible PwD candidates belonging to SC/ST/SEBC: Up to 15 years

Age relaxation will be applicable according to Odisha Government recruitment rules.

OPSC ASO Application Fee 2026

The examination fee is refundable to eligible fee-paying candidates who actually appear in the written examination, subject to the prescribed refund conditions.

OPSC ASO Selection Process 2026

The recruitment process consists of two stages:

Stage 1: Written Examination

The written examination consists of three objective-type papers carrying a total of 400 marks.

Stage 2: Computer Application Skill Test

Candidates shortlisted from the written examination must appear for a practical Computer Skill Test carrying 50 marks. The test is qualifying in nature, and candidates must secure at least 40% marks.

Final merit will be determined from written examination marks among candidates qualifying the skill test. No interview stage is prescribed.

OPSC ASO Exam Pattern 2026

Important Examination Rules

• Written examination questions will be objective-type.

• Negative marking: 0.25 marks for each incorrect answer.

• Minimum qualifying marks in each paper: UR/SEBC 35%, SC/ST 30%, PwD 28%.

• Computer Skill Test qualifying marks: 40%.

OPSC ASO Syllabus 2026

Paper I – General Awareness

Indian History, Indian Constitution, Current Affairs, Geography of India and Odisha, Indian Economy, General Science, Environment, Governance and National and International Organisations.

Paper II – Reasoning and Mathematics

Number Series, Coding-Decoding, Direction Sense, Arithmetic Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning, Algebra, Mensuration, Statistics and Probability.

Paper III – English and Odia

English Grammar, Vocabulary, Synonyms, Antonyms, Sentence Correction, Reading Comprehension, Odia Grammar, Vocabulary and Language Comprehension.

Computer Application Skill Test

Windows, MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, MS Access and Internet Services.

OPSC ASO Salary 2026

Selected Assistant Section Officers will receive a starting basic salary of ₹35,400 per month, under Pay Level 9, Cell 1, of the Odisha Revised Scales of Pay Rules, 2017.

Additional allowances will be provided according to applicable government rules.

How to Apply Online for OPSC ASO Recruitment 2026

1. Visit the official OPSC website at https://opsc.gov.in.

2. Open the Assistant Section Officer Recruitment 2026 application link.

3. Complete the registration process.

4. Enter personal and educational details.

5. Upload the required photograph, signature and documents.

6. Pay the examination fee, if applicable.

7. Submit the application and save the confirmation for future reference.

OPSC ASO Recruitment 2026 Important Links

Note: Candidates should refer to Advertisement No. 15 of 2026–27 on the official website for complete instructions and any corrigendum.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How many vacancies are available in OPSC ASO Recruitment 2026?

A total of 340 Assistant Section Officer vacancies have been announced.

Q2. What is the last date to apply?

The last date for online applications is 30 November 2026.

Q3. What is the educational qualification?

Candidates must possess a bachelor's degree from a recognised university and fulfil the prescribed computer and Odia language requirements.

Q4. What is the OPSC ASO salary?

The starting basic salary is ₹35,400 per month under Pay Level 9.

Q5. Is there an interview in OPSC ASO Recruitment 2026?

No. Selection is based on the written examination and a qualifying Computer Application Skill Test.

Conclusion

OPSC ASO Recruitment 2026 offers an opportunity for graduates seeking a Group-B government position in Odisha. Interested candidates should carefully check their eligibility, complete the online application before 30 November 2026 and begin preparation according to the prescribed examination pattern.

Start your preparation on the Testkart app – Download Now: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.testkart.mocktest.courses.studynotes&hl=en_IN