OPSC ASO Syllabus 2026: The Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) has released the Assistant Section Officer (ASO) Recruitment 2026 notification under Advertisement No. 15 of 2026-27. Candidates preparing for the examination should carefully understand the official OPSC ASO Syllabus 2026, exam pattern, subject-wise topics, marking scheme and selection process before starting their preparation.
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According to the examination scheme provided in the official notification, the selection process includes a written examination followed by a Skill Test in Computer Application (Practical). The written examination carries 400 marks, while the computer skill test carries 50 marks and is qualifying in nature.
Candidates can check the complete paper-wise syllabus and examination structure below.
OPSC ASO Syllabus 2026 – Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Authority | Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) |
| Post Name | Assistant Section Officer (ASO) |
| Advertisement No. | 15 of 2026-27 |
| Examination Name | OPSC ASO Examination 2026 |
| Total Written Exam Marks | 400 Marks |
| Number of Written Papers | 3 |
| Computer Skill Test | 50 Marks |
| Written Exam Type | Objective Type (MCQ) |
| Negative Marking | 0.25 marks for each wrong answer |
| Selection Process | Written Examination and Computer Skill Test |
| Official Website | www.opsc.gov.in |
OPSC ASO Syllabus 2026: Notification Download
OPSC ASO Exam Pattern 2026
As mentioned in the official notification, the written examination consists of three papers covering General Awareness, Reasoning and Mental Ability, Mathematics, English and Odia.
The detailed examination scheme is given below.
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Questions | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General Awareness | 100 | 100 | 1 Hour 30 Minutes |
| Paper II | Reasoning & Mental Ability | 50 | 50 | 1 Hour 30 Minutes |
| Paper II | Mathematics (10th Standard Level) | 50 | 50 | Included in Paper II |
| Paper III | English | 100 | 100 | 2 Hours |
| Paper III | Odia | 100 | 100 | Included in Paper III |
| Paper IV | Computer Skill Test (Practical) | 50 | As per practical test | 1 Hour |
Total Written Examination: 400 Marks
Computer Skill Test: 50 Marks (Qualifying)
Also Read: OPSC ASO Recruitment 2026 Notification Out, 340 Vacancies, Apply Online From 9 November @opsc.gov.in
Important Points About the Exam Pattern
- The written examination consists of objective-type multiple-choice questions (MCQs).
- Each question in the written examination carries 1 mark.
- A negative marking of 0.25 marks will be deducted for every incorrect answer.
- Candidates must answer the questions in English, except for the Odia language paper or where otherwise specified in the question paper.
- Only candidates shortlisted after the written examination will be called for the Computer Skill Test.
- The Computer Skill Test is qualifying in nature.
OPSC ASO Subject-Wise Syllabus 2026
The detailed syllabus mentioned in Appendix-I of the official advertisement is divided into three written papers and one practical computer skill test.
Paper I – General Awareness (100 Marks)
Paper I carries 100 marks and includes questions on national and international current affairs, Indian history, geography, the Constitution, governance, economy, science, environment and important institutions.
The official syllabus includes the following topics:
- Current National Events
- Current International Events
- History of British Rule in India and the Freedom Struggle
- Indian Constitution
- Salient Features of World Physical Geography
- Physical Geography of India and Odisha
- Important Aspects of Governance, Transparency and Accountability
- E-Governance
- Role of Civil Services in Democracy
- Indian Economy
- Planning, Growth, Development and Employment
- Poverty Alleviation
- Resource Mobilisation and Inflation
- Defence and Indian Armed Forces
- Scientific Inventions and the Use of Science in Everyday Life
- Environmental Issues, Ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change
- Important National and International Institutions, Organisations and Forums – their Structure and Mandate
Candidates should prepare these subjects according to the official topic list and give attention to both static General Awareness and current events.
Paper II – Test of Reasoning, Mental Ability and Mathematics (100 Marks)
Paper II carries a total of 100 marks. It is divided into two sections: Reasoning and Mental Ability (50 marks) and Mathematics (50 marks).
A. Test of Reasoning and Mental Ability – 50 Marks
The official syllabus covers verbal and non-verbal reasoning.
Verbal Reasoning:
- Number Series
- Alphabet Series
- Test of Direction Sense
- Coding-Decoding
- Number Ranking
- Arithmetic Reasoning
- Problems of Age Calculation
Non-Verbal Reasoning:
- Non-Verbal Series
- Mirror Images
- Cubes and Dice
- Grouping Identical Figures
- Embedded Figures, etc.
B. Mathematics – 50 Marks
The Mathematics section is based on the 10th Standard Level. The official syllabus includes:
- Arithmetic
- Algebra
- Mensuration (2D and 3D)
- Statistics and Probability
Candidates should practise mathematical problems regularly and focus on accuracy and time management.
Paper III – Language (200 Marks)
Paper III consists of two language sections: English and Odia. Each section carries 100 marks, making the total marks for this paper 200.
A. English – 100 Marks
The official English syllabus includes the following topics:
- Grammar
- Verbs
- Prepositions
- Adverbs
- Subject-Verb Agreement
- Error Correction and Recognition
- Tenses
- Fill in the Blanks with Articles, etc.
- Vocabulary
- Synonyms
- Antonyms
- Comprehension
- Sentence Rearrangement
Candidates should improve their grammar, vocabulary and reading comprehension skills to prepare effectively for this section.
B. Odia – 100 Marks
The Odia language section is also worth 100 marks. According to the official notification, the syllabus covers:
- Odia Grammar
- Vocabulary
- Comprehension
- Sentence Rearrangement
Candidates should refer to the exact Odia syllabus printed in Appendix-I of the official advertisement for the detailed wording of the topics.
Paper IV – Skill Test in Computer Application (Practical) – 50 Marks
Candidates shortlisted after the written examination will be called for the Skill Test in Computer Application. This practical test carries 50 marks and is qualifying in nature.
The official notification mentions the following computer-related topics:
- Windows
- MS Office
- MS Word
- MS Excel
- MS PowerPoint
- MS Access
- Usage of Internet Services
Candidates should practise these applications practically instead of relying only on theoretical knowledge.
OPSC ASO Negative Marking 2026
The OPSC ASO written examination includes negative marking. According to the official examination scheme, 0.25 marks will be deducted for every wrong answer.
| Answer Type | Marks |
|---|---|
| Correct Answer | +1 Mark |
| Wrong Answer | -0.25 Mark |
| Unattempted Question | No deduction |
Candidates should read each question carefully and avoid random guessing because incorrect answers can reduce their overall scores.
Also Read: WBPSC IDO Syllabus 2026: Check Subject-Wise Syllabus, Exam Pattern, Marks Distribution
OPSC ASO Minimum Qualifying Marks
The notification specifies minimum qualifying marks in each paper of the written examination for shortlisting candidates for the next stage.
As stated in the advertisement:
| Category | Minimum Qualifying Marks |
|---|---|
| UR | 35% |
| SC | 30% |
| ST | 30% |
The notification also provides category-specific treatment for Ex-Servicemen and Sports Persons according to their respective categories. Candidates belonging to other applicable categories, including PwD, should check the complete official advertisement for the relevant provisions.
OPSC ASO Selection Process 2026
The selection process for Assistant Section Officer consists of the following stages:
1. Written Examination
The first stage is the written examination carrying 400 marks. It consists of three papers covering General Awareness, Reasoning and Mental Ability, Mathematics, English and Odia.
2. Skill Test in Computer Application
Candidates shortlisted after the written examination will be called for the practical computer skill test. It carries 50 marks and is qualifying in nature.
Candidates must qualify in the computer skill test to remain eligible for further consideration.
How to Download OPSC ASO Syllabus 2026?
Candidates can follow these steps to check the official syllabus:
- Visit the official website of Odisha Public Service Commission: https://www.opsc.gov.in/
- Open the Advertisements section.
- Find Assistant Section Officer Recruitment under Advertisement No. 15 of 2026-27.
- Open and download the official notification PDF.
- Go to Appendix-I, titled “Scheme and Syllabus of the Examination”.
- Check the examination scheme and detailed subject-wise syllabus.
Important Links
| Description | Official Link |
|---|---|
| OPSC Official Website | www.opsc.gov.in |
| Official Advertisement / Notification | Click Here |
| Examination Syllabus | Click Here |
| OPSC Examination Updates | www.opsc.gov.in |
FAQs
Q1. How many marks is the OPSC ASO written examination?
The OPSC ASO written examination carries a total of 400 marks across three papers.
Q2. How many papers are included in the OPSC ASO written examination?
There are three written papers: Paper I – General Awareness, Paper II – Reasoning and Mental Ability and Mathematics, and Paper III – English and Odia.
Q3. What is the total mark for Paper I?
Paper I, General Awareness, carries 100 marks and consists of 100 questions.
Q4. What is the Mathematics syllabus for OPSC ASO 2026?
The Mathematics syllabus is based on the 10th Standard Level and includes Arithmetic, Algebra, Mensuration (2D and 3D), Statistics and Probability.
Q5. Is there negative marking in the OPSC ASO examination?
Yes. A deduction of 0.25 marks applies for every incorrect answer in the written examination.
Q6. What is the total mark for the OPSC ASO Computer Skill Test?
The Computer Skill Test carries 50 marks and is qualifying in nature.
Q7. Which computer topics are included in the OPSC ASO syllabus?
The practical test covers Windows, MS Office applications such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint, MS Access and the usage of Internet Services.
Q8. Is the OPSC ASO Computer Skill Test compulsory?
Candidates shortlisted after the written examination are called for the Computer Skill Test. The test is qualifying in nature.
Q9. Where can candidates download the OPSC ASO Syllabus 2026?
Candidates can download the official recruitment notification from the OPSC website, www.opsc.gov.in. The detailed syllabus is provided in Appendix-I of the notification.
Q10. What is the official website of OPSC?
The official website of Odisha Public Service Commission is www.opsc.gov.in
