Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) has released Advertisement No. 15 of 2026-27 for OPSC ASO Recruitment 2026 for 340 posts of Assistant Section Officer (Group-B) in the Odisha Secretariat Service Cadre under the Home Department. Eligible Indian citizens can apply online through the official OPSC website, opsc.gov.in. The online application link and fee payment will be available from 9th November 2026 to 30th November 2026 (up to 5:00 PM).
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The written examination will be held on 17th January 2027 (Sunday). Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline from a recognized University and have adequate knowledge in Computer Application. The age limit is 21 to 42 years as on 1st January 2026. The scale of pay is Rs. 35,400/- in Level-9, Cell-1 as per the ORSP Rules, 2017. The selection will be through a Written Examination (400 marks) and a Skill Test in Computer Application (Practical – 50 marks, qualifying in nature).
OPSC ASO Recruitment 2026: Overview
Candidates can check the important details of the OPSC ASO Recruitment 2026 in the table below.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Organisation | Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) |
| Department | Home Department, Government of Odisha |
| Post Name | Assistant Section Officer (Group-B) |
| Cadre | Odisha Secretariat Service Cadre |
| Advertisement No. | 15 of 2026-27 |
| Total Vacancies | 340 (114-W) |
| Pay Scale | Rs. 35,400/- in Level-9, Cell-1 |
| Educational Qualification | Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline + Computer Knowledge |
| Age Limit | 21 to 42 years as on 01.01.2026 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Application Portal | https://opsc.gov.in |
| Application Start Date | 9th November 2026 |
| Application Last Date | 30th November 2026 (up to 5:00 PM) |
| Written Exam Date | 17th January 2027 (Sunday) |
| Official Website | opsc.gov.in |
OPSC Assistant Section Officer (Group-B) Vacancy 2026
OPSC has announced 340 Assistant Section Officer vacancies for 2026 under the Home Department, Government of Odisha. The category-wise and sub-category-wise vacancy distribution is provided below.
Category-Wise Vacancy
| Category | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| UR | 144 (48-w) |
| SEBC | 38 (13-w) |
| SC | 81 (27-w) |
| ST | 77 (26-w) |
| Total | 340 (114-w) |
Sub-Category Reservation
| Sub-Category | Total Posts | Current | Backlog |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sports Persons | 03 (01-w) | 03 (01-w) | – |
| Ex-Servicemen | 19 | 08 | 11 |
| Persons with Disabilities (PwD) | 25 (09-w) | 11 (03-w) | 14 (06-w) |
| – Category-I (Blindness/Low Vision) | 03 (01-w) | 03 (01-w) | – |
| – Category-II (Hearing Impairment) | 09 (04-w) | 03 (01-w) | 06 (03-w) |
| – Category-III (Locomotor disability etc.) | 03 (01-w) | 03 (01-w) | – |
| – Category-IV (Autism, ID, SLD, MI, MD) | 10 (03-w) | 02 | 08 (03-w) |
Note: Candidates belonging to PWD, Ex-Servicemen and Sports Persons, when selected as per reservation provided for them, shall be adjusted against the categories to which they belong. The number of vacancies to be filled up is subject to change by the Government without notice. Transgender candidates can also apply for the post.
OPSC ASO Recruitment Important Dates 2026
The important dates for OPSC ASO Recruitment 2026 are listed in the table below.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Advertisement Date | 05.11.2026 |
| Online Application and Fee Payment Starts | 9th November 2026 |
| Last Date for Submission of Online Application | 30th November 2026 (up to 5:00 PM) |
| Written Examination Date | 17th January 2027 (Sunday) |
| Skill Test in Computer Application | To be notified later |
OPSC ASO Eligibility Criteria 2026
Candidates applying for OPSC ASO Recruitment 2026 must check educational qualifications, age limit and other eligibility details before applying. Check the complete eligibility criteria here.
| Eligibility Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| Educational Qualification | A candidate must possess a Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline from a recognized University or possess such other qualification equivalent thereto and must have adequate knowledge in Computer Application as specified in the Schedule. |
| Age Limit | A candidate must have attained the age of 21 years and must not be above the age of 42 years on 1st January 2026 (born not earlier than 2nd January 1984 and not later than 1st January 2005). |
| Age Relaxation | Upper age limit is relaxed by 5 years for SEBC, SC, ST, Women & Ex-Servicemen, and by 10 years for PwD (permanent disability 40% or more). PwD belonging to SEBC/SC/ST are eligible for a cumulative age relaxation of 15 years. |
| Odia Language Knowledge | Must be able to speak, read and write Odia. Must have passed Middle School with Odia as a language subject, or Matriculation with Odia as the medium of examination, or passed Odia as a language subject in Class-VII or above, or passed an Odia test in M.E. School Standard conducted by the School and Mass Education Department. |
| Other Conditions | Must be a citizen of India. Must be of good mental condition and sound health. A candidate with more than one spouse living is not eligible. Government servants must inform their Heads of Office and furnish a “No Objection Certificate” during document verification. Candidates debarred by any PSC are not eligible. |
Also Read: OPSC ASO Syllabus 2026: Check Subject-Wise Syllabus, Exam Pattern, Marks Distribution
OPSC ASO Recruitment 2026 Notification PDF
Candidates can download the OPSC ASO notification 2026 PDF to check the detailed eligibility criteria, vacancies, syllabus, exam pattern, dates, guidelines, and other important instructions. The official PDF is attached below. Candidates can click on the link below to download the notification PDF.
OPSC ASO Notification 2026 PDF: Click to Download
OPSC ASO Apply Online 2026
The OPSC ASO Apply Online 2026 process starts on 9th November 2026 for 340 Assistant Section Officer vacancies. Eligible candidates can submit their application forms through the official OPSC website at opsc.gov.in until 30th November 2026 (up to 5:00 PM). Candidates must strictly avoid submitting more than one online application form through multiple PPSAN Accounts, as their applications will get rejected. On successful submission of the online registration, a unique “Permanent Public Service Account Number (PPSAN)” will be assigned to the applicant. Candidates are required to take a printout of the finally submitted online application form and put their signature under the declaration for submission to OPSC along with copies of requisite certificates and documents as and when asked.
OPSC ASO Apply Online 2026: Click to Apply
How to Apply for OPSC ASO Recruitment 2026?
- Visit the official OPSC website at https://opsc.gov.in.
- Open the online application link for Assistant Section Officer (Advt. No. 15 of 2026-27).
- Register and fill in the online application form with the required personal, educational and category details.
- Upload the scanned image of your latest passport-size photograph, full signature, and Left-hand Thumb Impression (LTI).
- Upload the requisite documents as specified in the advertisement — HSC certificate, Intermediate/+2 certificate, Bachelor’s Degree certificate, mark-lists, Caste Certificate, Odia Test Pass Certificate, Disability Certificate (if applicable), Sports Identity Card, Ex-Servicemen certificate and affidavit, NOC (if applicable), and Aadhaar Card.
- Pay the examination fee of Rs. 700/- online (exempted for SC, ST and PWD candidates).
- Submit the application before 30th November 2026 (up to 5:00 PM) and download the confirmation page. Keep at least four copies of the latest passport-size photograph uploaded for future use.
- The Admission Certificate for the Written Examination/Skill Test will be uploaded on the OPSC website prior to the date of the exam.
OPSC ASO Application Fee 2026
Candidates must pay the applicable examination fee online while filling the Online Application Form. The fee details are given below.
| Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| General / SEBC | Rs. 700/- |
| SC / ST / PWD | Exempted |
Note: The examination fee paid shall be refunded only to those candidates who actually appear in the Written Examination. Refunds will be processed to the original mode of payment (Credit Card, Debit Card, UPI, Net Banking, Wallet, etc.) after completion of the Written Examination. Applications without payment of examination fees (except SC/ST/PWD candidates) will be taken as incomplete and outrightly rejected.
OPSC ASO Selection Process 2026
The competitive examination for recruitment to the posts of Assistant Section Officer will be conducted in the following successive stages:
| Stage | Details |
|---|---|
| Written Examination | Objective Type (Multiple Choice Questions) — 400 marks |
| Skill Test in Computer Application (Practical) | Qualifying in nature — 50 marks |
A. Written Examination
| Papers | Subjects | Marks | No. of Questions | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | General Awareness | 100 | 100 | 1 1/2 hrs |
| II (A) | Test of Reasoning & Mental Ability | 50 | 50 | 1 1/2 hrs |
| II (B) | Mathematics (10th Standard Level) | 50 | 50 | (Combined with II A) |
| III (A) | English | 100 | 100 | 2 hrs |
| III (B) | Odia | 100 | 100 | (Combined with III A) |
| Total | 400 | 400 |
Note: For each wrong answer, 0.25 marks shall be deducted. The candidates shall answer the questions in English except the Odia language paper. The minimum qualifying marks in each paper are 35% for UR/SEBC, 30% for SC/ST, and 28% for PWD. For Ex-Servicemen & Sports Persons, the minimum qualifying marks will be the same as their caste category.
B. Skill Test in Computer (Practical)
The candidates who secure the minimum qualifying marks will be shortlisted for the Computer Skill Test as per merit on the basis of aggregate marks secured. The number of candidates shortlisted will be about 2 times the advertised vacancies (subject to a minimum of 5 if vacancies are 5 or less) and about 1.5 times the advertised vacancies (rounded to the higher digit) if the vacancies are more than 5.
Note: The final ranking of the candidates who qualify the Skill Test shall be on the basis of aggregate marks secured in the Written Examination (400 marks). In case of a tie, the candidate securing higher marks in General Knowledge (Paper-I) shall rank above others. If the marks in Paper-I are also the same, the person older in age shall be placed above the younger.
OPSC ASO Salary 2026
Selected candidates will receive a pay scale as per the ORSP Rules, 2017. The details are given below.
| Salary Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Pay Level | Level-9, Cell-1 |
| Scale of Pay | Rs. 35,400/- |
| Allowances | Usual Dearness and other Allowances as sanctioned by the Government of Odisha from time to time |
| Pension | Covered by the defined Contributory Pension Scheme (NPS) as per the Odisha Civil Services (Pension) Amendment Rules, 2005 |
OPSC Assistant Section Officer (Group-B) Recruitment 2026 FAQs
Ques: How many vacancies are announced under OPSC ASO Recruitment 2026?
Ans: OPSC has announced 340 Assistant Section Officer (Group-B) vacancies — UR 144, SEBC 38, SC 81, and ST 77 — under Advertisement No. 15 of 2026-27. Out of the total, 114 vacancies are reserved for women.
Ques: What is the last date to apply for OPSC ASO Recruitment 2026?
Ans: The last date for submission of the registered online application and payment of examination fees is 30th November 2026 (up to 5:00 PM). The application link opens on 9th November 2026.
Ques: What is the educational qualification required for OPSC ASO Recruitment 2026?
Ans: Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline from a recognized University and must have adequate knowledge in Computer Application. Candidates must also be able to speak, read and write Odia.
Ques: What is the age limit for OPSC ASO Recruitment 2026?
Ans: The age limit is 21 to 42 years as on 1st January 2026. The upper age limit is relaxed by 5 years for SEBC, SC, ST, Women & Ex-Servicemen, and by 10 years for PwD (permanent disability 40% or more).
Ques: What is the application fee for OPSC ASO Recruitment 2026?
Ans: The examination fee is Rs. 700/- for candidates other than SC, ST and PWD. SC/ST/PWD candidates are exempted. The fee is refunded only to those candidates who actually appear in the Written Examination.
Ques: What is the selection process for OPSC Assistant Section Officer (Group-B) Recruitment 2026?
Ans: The selection process comprises a Written Examination (400 marks) and a Skill Test in Computer Application (Practical – 50 marks, qualifying in nature). The written exam consists of three papers — General Awareness (100 marks), Reasoning & Mental Ability (50 marks) and Mathematics (50 marks), and Language (English 100 marks and Odia 100 marks). There is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer. The written examination will be held on 17th January 2027.
