ASRB AO Eligibility: Age Limit, Qualification and Relaxation

ASRB AO eligibility depends on three things: your degree and marks, your age on the reference date, and your nationality. The Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board (ASRB) set these rules for Administrative Officer (AO) and Finance and Accounts Officer (F&AO) posts in its 2021 notification (F.No. 2(2)/2021-Exam.II, dated 19 July 2021), the latest AO and F&AO advertisement we could verify.

Rules can change in a new advertisement, especially the age reference date and the application window. This page explains each condition, who is not eligible and which documents matter. Always confirm against the current notification on the ASRB website before you apply.

Table of Contents

Eligibility at a glance

Educational qualification

Both posts need a graduate degree from a recognised university with at least 55% marks in the final degree or an equivalent grade. The notification does not restrict the stream, so graduates of any discipline could apply. Candidates also need working knowledge of computers, which is tested in the interview.

For F&AO, the following were listed as desirable and not compulsory:

• Postgraduate specialisation: finance, accounting or commerce.

• Professional qualification: CA, ICWA or CS.

Check how your university converts CGPA to percentage and keep the certificate that shows the conversion. If your final result is not declared by the closing date in the notification, your application may be rejected, so read the result-date rule in the current advertisement carefully.

Age limit

The 2021 notification fixed the age at 21 years minimum and under 30 years as on 23 August 2021. That meant a date of birth between 24 August 1991 and 23 August 2000, both dates included. In a new advertisement, the reference date will change and the birth-date window will shift with it.

Relaxation is allowed only with a valid category certificate in the prescribed format. Without it, the normal age limit is applied strictly.

Nationality and other conditions

• Nationality: an Indian citizen, or a subject of Nepal or Bhutan, a Tibetan refugee who arrived before 1 January 1962, or a person of Indian origin who migrated from listed countries. Candidates who are not Indian citizens need an eligibility certificate from the Government of India.

• Departmental candidates: ICAR and other government employees must submit an undertaking that they have informed their Head of Office in writing. An employer's objection can lead to rejection or cancellation.

• Disability posts: posts reserved for persons with benchmark disabilities list functional requirements, such as sitting, reading and writing, and communication, so check them for your post.

• Single application: only one application per candidate is valid; if you submit more than one, the latest is considered and earlier fees are not refunded.

Who is not eligible

• Graduates with less than 55% marks in the final degree, unless the new advertisement says otherwise.

• Candidates below 21 or over the upper age limit after relaxation on the reference date.

• Candidates claiming a category without a valid certificate.

• Government employees whose employer has objected and who submitted no undertaking.

Fee and documents

In 2021, the fee for one post was Rs. 500 for UR, OBC and EWS candidates, and Rs. 20 for women, SC, ST and PwBD candidates. The fee for both posts was Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 40 respectively. Keep a recent photograph, signature, left thumb impression and valid ID ready. Read the original rules in the 2021 notification.