CSIR ASO Exam Date 2026, Check Exam Schedule, Exam Pattern

The Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) is expected to announce the CSIR ASO Exam Date 2026 soon on the official website. Candidates are now eagerly awaiting the examination schedule. Recruitment is being conducted for Group B (Non-Gazetted) posts, and selected candidates will receive the prescribed pay scale, along with Central Government allowances and other applicable benefits.

CSIR ASO Exam Date 2026

The Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) has completed the online application process for the recruitment of 100 Assistant Section Officer (ASO) vacancies. Candidates who have successfully registered are now awaiting the announcement of the CSIR ASO Exam Date 2026, which is expected to be released shortly.

CSIR ASO Recruitment 2026

The CSIR ASO Recruitment is being conducted to fill Assistant Section Officer (ASO) posts in the General, Finance & Accounts, and Stores & Purchase cadres. The recruitment is limited to non-recommended candidates of the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2024 whose names are listed on the UPSC Pratibha Setu Portal.

Candidates can refer to the official notification for detailed information on the eligibility criteria, selection process, and other recruitment-related guidelines.

Download CSIR ASO Notification 2026 PDF

CSIR Assistant Section Officer Exam 2026: Overview

Note: The recruitment is specifically meant for eligible UPSC CSE-2024 non-recommended candidates.

CSIR ASO Exam 2026: Important Dates

CSIR ASO Vacancy Details Category-wise

The Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) has notified 100 Assistant Section Officer (ASO) vacancies across the General, Finance & Accounts, and Stores & Purchase cadres. The detailed cadre-wise and category-wise distribution of vacancies is provided in the table below.

CSIR ASO Eligibility

Candidates are advised to verify their eligibility before submitting the application form. The CSIR ASO Recruitment 2026 is exclusively open to a specified category of eligible candidates and is not intended for general applicants.

Age Limit (As on 13 July 2026):

The maximum age limit for applying is 33 years as on 13 July 2026, which is the closing date for online applications.

Age Relaxation:

Candidates belonging to reserved categories such as SC, ST, OBC, PwBD, and Ex-Servicemen will be eligible for age relaxation as per Government of India rules.

Educational Qualification:

Applicants for CSIR ASO Recruitment 2026 must possess a Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university and should have appeared in the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2024.

Eligibility is restricted to candidates whose names are included in the UPSC Pratibha Setu Portal as non-recommended candidates. Those who did not appear in UPSC CSE 2024 are not eligible for this recruitment.

CSIR ASO Apply Online Link

The online application process for CSIR ASO Recruitment 2026 has been closed. Eligible candidates should complete and submit their online application before the deadline to avoid any last-minute issues.

Application Fee

Steps to Apply for the CSIR ASO Application Form 2026

Candidates interested in applying for Assistant Section Officer (ASO) posts can follow the step-by-step guide below.

1. Visit the official website: https://www.csir.res.in or https://recruitment.csir.res.in
2. Click on “Apply Online” and complete the registration process.
3. Log in using your User ID and password.
4. Fill in your personal details, education details, and other required information.
5. Upload your photo, signature, and necessary documents.
6. Check all details carefully and submit the application form.
7. Pay the application fee (if applicable) through SBI Collect.
8. Download the fee receipt and keep a printout of the final submitted form for future use.

Document Upload Specification

CSIR ASO Selection Process

The selection process is based on candidates’ performance in UPSC CSE 2024 and a Computer Proficiency Test (CPT). There is no separate written examination.

1. Shortlisting: Candidates will be shortlisted for the CPT based on their total marks in UPSC CSE 2024 (Mains + Personality Test).
2. Computer Proficiency Test (CPT): Shortlisted candidates must appear for a qualifying CPT of 100 marks.
3. Final Merit List: The final merit list will be prepared based on UPSC CSE 2024 marks, subject to qualifying the CPT.
4. Cadre Allocation: Selected candidates will be allotted General, Finance & Accounts, or Stores & Purchase cadre based on merit and preference.
5. Document Verification: Candidates selected in the merit list will be called for document verification before appointment.

CSIR ASO CPT Exam Pattern

Candidates shortlisted for the Computer Proficiency Test (CPT) will be assessed on their practical computer skills needed for routine office tasks. The test is qualifying in nature, carries 100 marks, and must be completed within 1 hour.

Minimum Qualifying Marks (Category-wise)

Candidates must secure the minimum qualifying marks prescribed for their category to qualify for the Computer Proficiency Test:

CSIR ASO Syllabus

The test evaluates candidates on three key areas:

• Word Processing: Typing passages, document formatting, editing, and other MS Word-related tasks.
• Spreadsheet Preparation: Creating and managing spreadsheets, using formulas, formatting data, and performing basic calculations in MS Excel.
• Presentation Creation: Preparing PowerPoint presentations, inserting text, images, tables, and applying formatting features.

CSIR ASO Tie-Breaking Policy

In cases where two or more candidates obtain the same score in the recruitment process, the CSIR will resolve the tie by applying the following criteria:

1. Higher Marks in Mains Examination: The candidate securing higher marks in the UPSC Mains Examination (CSE-2024) will be ranked higher in the merit list.
2. Date of Birth: If the tie persists, the older candidate (based on date of birth) will be placed higher.
3. Earlier Acquisition of Essential Degree: Candidates who obtained the required educational qualification earlier will be given preference.
4. Alphabetical Order of First Name: If the tie remains unresolved after applying the above criteria, candidates will be ranked according to the alphabetical order of their first names.

CSIR ASO Salary

Candidates selected for the Assistant Section Officer (ASO) post in CSIR will receive a salary under Pay Level 7, Cell 1 of the 7th Pay Commission Pay Matrix. The starting basic pay is Rs 44,900 per month, which can increase up to R 1,42,400 with experience and career progression.

Apart from the basic salary, candidates appointed as Assistant Section Officers (ASOs) will be entitled to various benefits under Central Government norms. These include Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), Transport Allowance, medical facilities, Leave Travel Concession (LTC), and other applicable allowances as per CSIR rules.

Selected officers will have a 2-year probation period and may be posted anywhere across CSIR laboratories, institutes, extension centres, or CSIR Headquarters.