Opening Overview
Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) has released Advertisement No. E-I/RC/2026/2 for recruitment to the post of Assistant Section Officer (ASO) from non-recommended candidates of UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024 (CSE-2024). A total of 100 vacancies are available across General, Finance & Accounts, and Stores & Purchase cadres. Online application is open from 23/06/2026 to 13/07/2026.
Post Details Table
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organization | Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) |
| Post Name | Assistant Section Officer (ASO) |
| Total Vacancies | 100 |
| Qualification | University Degree + Non-Recommended candidate of UPSC CSE-2024 (as per UPSC Pratibha Setu Portal) |
| Last Date | 13/07/2026 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Official Website | https://recruitment.csir.res.in |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Application Start Date | 23/06/2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 13/07/2026 |
| Last Date for Online Fee Payment | 13/07/2026 |
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| UR / OBC (NCL) / EWS | ₹500 |
| Women / SC / ST / PwBD / Ex-Servicemen | ₹0 |
Payment Mode: Online payment through SBI Collect (UPI / Debit Card / Net Banking etc.).
Age Limit
- Maximum Age: Not exceeding 33 years
- Age calculated as on: Closing date of online application (13/07/2026)
Age Relaxation (Upper Age Limit):
- SC / ST: 5 years
- OBC (NCL): 3 years
- PwBD (UR): 10 years
- PwBD (SC/ST): 15 years
- PwBD (OBC): 13 years
- Ex-Servicemen: 3 years after deduction of actual military service from actual age as on closing date
- CSIR Departmental Candidates: 5 years
Vacancy Details
Post-wise Vacancy
| Post / Cadre | UR | SC | ST | OBC (NCL) | EWS | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assistant Section Officer (General) | 23 | 09 | 04 | 17 | 08 | 61 |
| Assistant Section Officer (Finance & Accounts) | 07 | 02 | 02 | 06 | 01 | 18 |
| Assistant Section Officer (Stores & Purchase) | 08 | 02 | 02 | 06 | 03 | 21 |
| Total | 38 | 13 | 08 | 29 | 12 | 100 |
Backlog Notes (as per notification):
- ASO (Finance & Accounts) ST: 1 backlog vacancy out of 2
- ASO (Finance & Accounts) OBC: 2 backlog vacancies out of 6
PwBD Reservation
Out of total 100 vacancies, 07 posts (including 02 backlog) are reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD) (minimum 40% disability with valid certificate), with the following breakup:
- Blindness and Low Vision: 02 (including 01 backlog)
- Deaf and Hard of Hearing: 01
- Locomotor Disability (including cerebral palsy, leprosy cured, dwarfism, acid attack victims, muscular dystrophy): 02 (including 01 backlog)
- Autism / Intellectual Disability / Specific Learning Disability / Mental Illness: 02
- Multiple Disabilities (including deaf-blindness): included as per suitability
Eligibility / Qualification
Candidates must fulfill both conditions:
- Educational Qualification: Must possess a University Degree.
- UPSC CSE-2024 Condition: Must be a non-recommended candidate of UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024 (CSE-2024) as per list/details available on the UPSC Pratibha Setu Portal.
Only candidates meeting the above eligibility should apply.
Selection Process
- Screening / Shortlisting
- Candidates will be shortlisted for CPT in a minimum ratio of 1:5 (5 times of total vacancies of ASO in each category, subject to minimum 5 candidates).
- Shortlisting will be based on total marks (Mains + Personality Test) obtained in UPSC CSE-2024 (as per marksheet).
- Computer Proficiency Test (CPT)
- Qualifying in CPT is mandatory for further consideration.
- Final Selection
- Based on UPSC CSE-2024 total marks (Mains + Personality Test) subject to qualifying and securing minimum threshold marks in CPT.
- Document Verification
- Original documents will be verified for age, eligibility, category, PwBD, ex-servicemen, employment status, etc.
Tie-Breaking (if scores are tied):
- Higher marks in CSE-2024 Mains
- Older candidate (Date of Birth)
- Earlier acquisition of essential degree
- Alphabetical order of first name
Exam Pattern
Computer Proficiency Test (CPT)
| Test | Total Marks | Duration | Nature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Proficiency Test (CPT) | 100 | 1 hour | Qualifying |
CPT will assess proficiency in:
- Word Processing
- Spreadsheet
- Slide/Presentation generation
- Typing passage and office-related computer tasks
Minimum Qualifying (Threshold) Marks in CPT:
| Category | Minimum % | Minimum Marks (Out of 100) |
|---|---|---|
| UR | 40% | 40 |
| EWS | 37% | 37 |
| OBC | 37% | 37 |
| SC | 35% | 35 |
| ST | 35% | 35 |
| All PwBD Categories | 30% | 30 |
CPT City: Delhi (tentative). CSIR may conduct CPT in more than one city or outside Delhi.
Salary / Pay Scale
- Post: Assistant Section Officer (ASO)
- Classification: Group B (Non-Gazetted)
- Pay Level: Level 7 (Cell 1)
- Pay Scale: ₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400
Allowances/Benefits (as per CSIR rules): DA, HRA, TA, medical reimbursement, LTC, advances (as applicable), and pension as per applicable government rules (NPS for eligible cases).