CSIR Assistant Section Officer (ASO) Group B Recruitment 2026 | 100 Posts
Published/Updated: 03 August 2026 08:08:49
The official online application window for these 100 CSIR Group B vacancies closed on July 13, 2026. CSIR is currently cross-referencing applicant data with the official UPSC Pratibha Setu repository. Registered candidates should pivot to daily typing and macro software formatting practice to clear the mandatory Computer Proficiency Test (CPT) outlined below.
The Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) has released a recruitment notification for the post of Assistant Section Officer (ASO). This recruitment is specifically for candidates who were not recommended by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2024. CSIR, a premier R&D organization in India, is looking for dynamic individuals to join its workforce.
Organization: Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) | Last Date: 13 July 2026 | Total Vacancies: 100
Important Dates
| Notification Release | 23 June 2026 |
|---|---|
| Application Start | 23 June 2026 |
| Last Date | 13 July 2026 |
| Fee Payment Last Date | 13 July 2026 |
Application Fee
- General / OBC/ EWS: Rs.500/-
- SC / ST /PwBD/Ex-Servicemen/women: Rs.0/-
- Mode: Online Payment.
Age Limit As on 13 June 2026
- Minimum Age: Not Applicable
- Maximum Age: 33 Years
Eligibilty Criteria
| Category | Requirement | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Exam Requirement | UPSC Exam | Must have appeared in Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2024 conducted by UPSC |
| Selection Status | Recommendation Status | Must be a NON-recommended candidate (not in final merit list) |
| Stage Qualification | Performance Condition | Must have cleared all stages (Prelims + Mains + Interview) but not selected in final list |
| Portal Inclusion | Pratibha Setu Listing | Name must be included in the UPSC Pratibha Setu Portal list (CSE 2024) |
| Eligibility Source | Official Data Access | Candidate data must be available for verified employers through UPSC system |
| Application Rule | Restriction | Candidates not meeting above criteria are NOT eligible to apply |
Vacancy Details 100 Posts
| Post Name | Post Code | UR | SC | ST | OBC (NCL) | EWS | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASO (General) | ASO | 23 | 09 | 04 | 17 | 08 | 61 |
| ASO (Finance & Accounts) | ASO | 07 | 02 | 02 | 06 | 01 | 18 |
| ASO (Stores & Purchase) | ASO | 08 | 02 | 02 | 06 | 03 | 21 |
| Total | |
38 | 13 | 08 | 29 | 12 | 100 |
Total Vacancies: 100
| Disability Type | Posts |
|---|---|
| Blindness and Low Vision | 02 (including 01 backlog) |
| Deaf and Hard of Hearing | 01 |
| Locomotor disability (CP, Leprosy Cured, Dwarfism, Acid Attack Victims, Muscular Dystrophy) | 02 (including 01 backlog) |
| Autism, Intellectual Disability, Specific Learning Disability & Mental Illness | 02 |
Expert Guide: Step-by-Step Navigation
About This Expert Guide : The Sarkari Database Editorial Team has prepared this Expert Guide after reviewing the official recruitment notification. It provides practical guidance to help candidates understand the application process and avoid common mistakes. This guide is for informational purposes only. In case of any difference, the official notification and the recruiting authority's instructions will prevail.
This specific Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) drive represents a highly unique, elite recruitment pathway. By restricting application access exclusively to candidates who cleared the Preliminary, Mains, and Interview rounds of the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2024 but missed the final recommendation list, CSIR is filtering for exceptional administrative talent. This highly targeted structure radically alters standard competitive dynamics, making the pool small but intensely qualified.
Departmental Cadres & Workflow Differences:
Allocated candidates will be distributed into three specialized operational streams. Joining the General Cadre puts you in charge of foundational office administration, public relations, and legal compliance structures inside CSIR labs. The Finance & Accounts track deals directly with institutional budget management, central research grants, and public auditing workflows. Meanwhile, the Stores & Purchase wing oversees complex logistical operations, handling international equipment tenders and laboratory inventory distribution networks across India.
Work Environment & Progression:
As a Group B (Non-Gazetted) officer positioned at Pay Level 7, you enter the central government ecosystem with excellent baseline allowances. Because CSIR is a premier scientific research and development entity rather than a standard bureaucratic ministry, the workplace environment is highly academic, professional, and modern. Progression pathways are highly structured, allowing dedicated officers to advance toward Section Officer (SO) and Under Secretary cadres over time based on departmental evaluations.
Selection Process Permanent
Applications will be screened and shortlisted candidates will be called for a Computer Proficiency Test (CPT). Shortlisting for CPT will be based on the total marks obtained in UPSC's CSE-2024 (Mains + Personality Test). Final selection will be based on the total marks from UPSC CSE-2024, subject to qualifying the CPT with the minimum threshold marks.
Syllabus
Shortlisted applicants must clear a mandatory, qualifying Computer Proficiency Test (CPT) modeled to evaluate day-to-day office processing skills. The evaluation matrix spans three practical software applications:
- Advanced Word Processing: Evaluates formal text formatting speed, page alignment setups, structural indexing, data table insertions, and official newsletter editing mechanics.
- Spreadsheet Automation: Focuses on data computation using standard mathematical formulas, sorting financial charts, cell styling, and auditing data rows relative to administrative workflows.
- Slide Generation Frameworks: Tests your ability to build professional corporate presentation decks, manage transition timings, embed logical layouts, and design clean, high-impact overview charts.
Required Document
Candidates are required to upload scanned copies of the following documents:
- Photograph (JPG, less than 50 kb)
- Signature (JPG, less than 50 kb)
- Proof of Date of Birth (PDF, less than 1 MB)
- Educational Qualification Certificates (10th onwards) (PDF, less than 1 MB each)
- UPSC CSE-2024 Mark Sheets (Preliminary & Mains + Personality Test) (PDF, less than 1 MB)
- Experience Certificate (if applicable) (PDF, less than 1 MB)
- Caste/Community Certificate (if applicable) (PDF, less than 1 MB)
- Disability Certificate (if applicable) (PDF, less than 1 MB)
- Any other supporting documents (PDF, less than 1 MB)
Note: All documents should be legible and as per the specifications mentioned in the official notification.
Salary Criteria
The post is classified as Group B (Non-Gazetted) with Pay Level – 7 of the Pay Matrix. The salary range is from Rs. 44,900 to Rs. 1,42,400 per month, along with usual allowances as per Central Government rates.
Important Links
Download NotificationFrequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Who is eligible to apply for the Assistant Section Officer (ASO) post?
A: Only candidates who possess a University degree and are non-recommended candidates of the Civil Services Examination 2024 conducted by the Union Public Service Commission are eligible to apply.
Q: What is the application fee for the ASO post?
A: The application fee is Rs. 500.00 for Unreserved (UR), OBC (NCL), and EWS categories. Women/SC/ST/PwBD/Ex-Servicemen candidates are exempted from the application fee.
Q: What is the selection process for the ASO post?
A: The selection process involves shortlisting based on UPSC CSE-2024 marks, followed by a mandatory Computer Proficiency Test (CPT). Final selection will be based on UPSC CSE-2024 marks, subject to qualifying the CPT.
Q: What is the last date to apply for the ASO position?
A: The last date for registration and submission of the online application is 13.07.2026 (05:00 PM).
Q: Where can I find more information about CSIR?
A: You can find more information about CSIR on their official website: https://www.csir.res.in