CSIR Assistant Section Officer (ASO) Recruitment 2026 notification out for 100 posts. Check eligibility, age limit, salary, application fee, vacancy details, selection process and apply online by 13 July 2026.
CSIR ASO Recruitment 2026 Overview
The Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), under the Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India, has released Advertisement No. E-I/RC/2026/2 inviting online applications for 100 Assistant Section Officer (ASO) posts. The recruitment is exclusively for non-recommended candidates of the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024 (CSE-2024) listed in the UPSC Pratibha Setu database. Eligible candidates can apply online from 23 June 2026 to 13 July 2026.
Job Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Short Title | CSIR ASO Recruitment 2026 |
| Organization | Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) |
| Ministry | Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India |
| Advertisement Number | E-I/RC/2026/2 |
| Post Name | Assistant Section Officer (ASO) |
| Cadres | General; Finance & Accounts; Stores & Purchase |
| Total Vacancies | 100 |
| Pay Level | Group B (Non-Gazetted), Pay Level-7 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Selection Process | Screening + Shortlisting (UPSC CSE 2024) + Computer Proficiency Test |
| Job Location | Across India |
| Application Start Date | 23 June 2026 (10:00 AM) |
| Last Date to Apply | 13 July 2026 (05:00 PM) |
Vacancy Details
| Cadre | UR | SC | ST | OBC-NCL | EWS | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assistant Section Officer (General) | 23 | 9 | 4 | 17 | 8 | 61 |
| Assistant Section Officer (Finance & Accounts) | 7 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 18 |
| Assistant Section Officer (Stores & Purchase) | 8 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 21 |
| Grand Total | 38 | 13 | 8 | 29 | 12 | 100 |
PwBD Reservation
A total of 7 posts are reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD), spanning the following categories:
- Blindness and Low Vision
- Deaf and Hard of Hearing
- Locomotor Disability
- Autism
- Intellectual Disability
- Mental Illness
- Multiple Disabilities
Eligibility Criteria
Only candidates satisfying BOTH of the following conditions are eligible:
- Must possess a recognized University Degree; AND
- Must be a NON-RECOMMENDED candidate of the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024 (CSE-2024) appearing in the UPSC Pratibha Setu database.
Candidates who do not fulfil both conditions are NOT eligible to apply.
Age Limit
The maximum age is 33 years, calculated on the closing date of the online application. Age relaxation is applicable as follows:
| Category | Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC / ST | 5 years |
| OBC-NCL | 3 years |
| PwBD (UR) | 10 years |
| PwBD (OBC) | 13 years |
| PwBD (SC/ST) | 15 years |
| Ex-Servicemen | 3 years after deduction of actual military service rendered |
| CSIR Departmental Candidates | 5 years |
Pay Scale and Benefits
Assistant Section Officer is a Group B (Non-Gazetted) post in Pay Level-7 with a pay scale of ₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400. In addition to basic pay, the following allowances and benefits are admissible as per rules:
- Dearness Allowance (DA)
- House Rent Allowance (HRA)
- Transport Allowance (TA)
- Medical Reimbursement
- Leave Travel Concession (LTC)
- House Building Advance
- New Pension System (NPS)
- Government accommodation as per rules
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| UR | ₹500 |
| OBC-NCL | ₹500 |
| EWS | ₹500 |
| SC | Nil |
| ST | Nil |
| Women | Nil |
| PwBD | Nil |
| Ex-Servicemen | Nil |
Selection Process
Selection is carried out in the following stages:
- Stage 1 – Application Screening: Based on UPSC CSE 2024 marks.
- Stage 2 – Shortlisting: In approximately a 1:5 ratio based on total marks obtained in UPSC CSE 2024 (Mains + Personality Test).
- Stage 3 – Computer Proficiency Test (CPT): Qualifying in nature.
- Stage 4 – Final Merit List.
Final selection is based on UPSC CSE 2024 Mains + Personality Test marks together with qualifying the Computer Proficiency Test.
Computer Proficiency Test (CPT)
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Duration | 1 Hour |
| Marks | 100 |
| Nature | Qualifying Only |
| Tentative City | Delhi (CSIR may conduct CPT in additional cities if required) |
The CPT covers Word Processing, Spreadsheet, PowerPoint Presentation, Office Productivity Tasks and Typing Exercises. The minimum qualifying marks are:
| Category | Minimum Qualifying Marks |
|---|---|
| UR | 40 |
| EWS | 37 |
| OBC | 37 |
| SC | 35 |
| ST | 35 |
| PwBD | 30 |
Cadre Allocation
Cadre allocation among General, Finance & Accounts and Stores & Purchase is based on merit and candidate preference. A cadre once allotted cannot be changed.
Job Location
The posting is across India. Selected candidates may be posted at CSIR Headquarters, New Delhi, or any CSIR Laboratory, Institute, Unit or Extension Centre, and are liable to serve anywhere in India.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online Application Start Date | 23 June 2026 (10:00 AM) |
| Last Date to Apply | 13 July 2026 (05:00 PM) |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | 13 July 2026 (05:00 PM) |
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many vacancies are announced under CSIR ASO Recruitment 2026?
CSIR has announced 100 Assistant Section Officer vacancies — 61 in General, 18 in Finance & Accounts and 21 in Stores & Purchase — under Advertisement No. E-I/RC/2026/2.
Who can apply for CSIR Assistant Section Officer Recruitment 2026?
Only candidates who possess a recognized University Degree AND are non-recommended candidates of UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024 (CSE-2024) appearing in the UPSC Pratibha Setu database are eligible. Both conditions must be met.
What is the age limit for CSIR ASO Recruitment 2026?
The maximum age is 33 years, calculated on the closing date of the online application, with relaxation of 5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC-NCL, 10/13/15 years for PwBD (UR/OBC/SC-ST), 3 years (after deduction of service) for Ex-Servicemen and 5 years for CSIR departmental candidates.
What is the application fee for CSIR ASO Recruitment 2026?
The fee is ₹500 for UR, OBC-NCL and EWS candidates. SC, ST, Women, PwBD and Ex-Servicemen candidates are exempt (Nil).
What is the salary of a CSIR Assistant Section Officer?
The ASO is a Group B (Non-Gazetted) post in Pay Level-7 with a pay scale of ₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400, plus DA, HRA, TA, medical reimbursement, LTC, House Building Advance, NPS and government accommodation as per rules.
What is the selection process for CSIR ASO Recruitment 2026?
Selection involves application screening based on UPSC CSE 2024 marks, shortlisting in approximately a 1:5 ratio (Mains + Personality Test), a qualifying Computer Proficiency Test, and a final merit list.
Is the Computer Proficiency Test mandatory?
Yes. The Computer Proficiency Test (CPT) is a mandatory qualifying stage of 100 marks and 1 hour, covering word processing, spreadsheet, PowerPoint, office productivity tasks and typing exercises.
Where will the CPT be conducted?
The CPT is tentatively scheduled in Delhi. CSIR may conduct the test in additional cities if required.
Can candidates other than UPSC CSE 2024 non-recommended candidates apply?
No. Only non-recommended UPSC CSE 2024 candidates listed in the UPSC Pratibha Setu database, who also hold a recognized University Degree, are eligible. Other candidates cannot apply.
Where can I apply online for CSIR ASO Recruitment 2026?
Eligible candidates must apply online through the CSIR recruitment portal at before 13 July 2026 (05:00 PM).