OPSC Assistant Section Officer Recruitment 2026: 340 Posts, Eligibility and How to Apply
The Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) has invited online applications for 340 posts of Assistant Section Officer (Group-B) in the Odisha Secretariat Service Cadre under the Home Department. The pay is ₹35,400 in Level 9, Cell 1, with the usual Dearness and other Allowances. Any graduate who meets the Odia language rule can aim for this Odisha government job, so this is a big chance for the state’s graduates.
The application link is open from 9 November 2026 and you must apply by 30 November 2026, 5:00 PM. The written exam is tentatively fixed for 17 January 2027. Read this article fully, because Odia knowledge proof and caste certificate dates can cancel your form. Trusted updates come from GovtJobsAlert.in.
Key Highlights of OPSC Assistant Section Officer Recruitment 2026
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Odisha Public Service Commission, Cuttack |
| Advertisement | Advertisement No. 15 of 2026-27 (dated 5 November 2026) |
| Post | Assistant Section Officer (Group-B), Odisha Secretariat Service Cadre, Home Department |
| Total Vacancies | 340 (114 for women) |
| Pay | ₹35,400, Level 9, Cell 1 (Pay Matrix, ORSP Rules 2017) |
| Application Window | 9 November 2026 to 30 November 2026, 5:00 PM |
| Written Exam | 17 January 2027 (Sunday), tentative |
| Mode | Online only, on the OPSC website |
How Many Vacancies Are There in OPSC Assistant Section Officer Recruitment 2026?
| Post | Category | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant Section Officer | UR | 144 (48 for women) |
| Assistant Section Officer | SEBC | 38 (13 for women) |
| Assistant Section Officer | SC | 81 (27 for women) |
| Assistant Section Officer | ST | 77 (26 for women) |
| Assistant Section Officer | Total | 340 (114 for women) |
The horizontal quotas below are adjusted inside the categories above. A PwD, Ex-Servicemen or Sports Person candidate is counted against the social category he or she belongs to.
| Quota | Posts | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Sports Persons | 3 | 1 for women |
| Ex-Servicemen | 19 | 8 current, 11 backlog |
| PwD: Blindness or Low Vision | 3 | 1 for women |
| PwD: Hearing Impairment | 9 | 4 for women; 6 are backlog |
| PwD: Locomotor disability | 3 | 1 for women |
| PwD: Autism, Intellectual, Learning Disability, Mental Illness, Multiple | 10 | 3 for women; 8 are backlog |
| All PwD combined | 25 | 9 for women; disability of 40% or more |
Unfilled women posts go to male candidates of the same category. SC and ST seats cannot be exchanged. The Government can change the vacancy number without notice.
What Is the Eligibility for OPSC Assistant Section Officer 2026?
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Education | Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline from a recognised university, or an equivalent qualification |
| Computer | Adequate knowledge of Computer Application, as specified in the Schedule |
| Odia | Must be able to speak, read and write Odia (see below) |
| Nationality | Citizen of India |
| Transgender | Transgender candidates can apply |
Pass any one of these to prove Odia knowledge: Middle School with Odia as a language subject; Matriculation or equivalent with Odia as medium in a non-language subject; Odia as a language subject in the final exam of Class VII or above; or a test in Odia at Middle English School standard by the School and Mass Education Department.
If your High School certificate does not show Odia, you may submit a Headmaster certificate, a Principal certificate (Odia in Class VII or above) or an Odia Test Pass Certificate. The certificate must be issued on or before the last date of application. Forging an Odia certificate is a criminal offence, and the candidate can be debarred from OPSC recruitment.
Government servants can apply within age limit, but they must inform their Head of Office in writing and bring a No Objection Certificate to document verification. Qualification is counted as on the closing date.
What Is the Age Limit for OPSC ASO 2026?
| Category | Age Rule |
|---|---|
| Minimum age | 21 years as on 1 January 2026 |
| General maximum | 42 years as on 1 January 2026 |
| SEBC, SC, ST, Women, Ex-Servicemen | 5 years relaxation |
| PwD (40% or more) | 10 years relaxation |
| PwD of SEBC, SC or ST | 15 years relaxation (cumulative) |
🎂 Not sure if you meet the age criteria? Use our free Age Calculator for Government Exams to find your exact age on the cut-off date and instantly check your eligibility — including SC / ST / SEBC / PwBD age relaxation. →
You must be born between 2 January 1984 and 1 January 2005. A candidate in more than one category gets only one, the most beneficial, relaxation. PwD candidates below 40% permanent disability get no relaxation. SC, ST and SEBC benefits are for candidates of Odisha only. Your date of birth is accepted only as written in the High School Certificate or equivalent.
What Is the Salary of Assistant Section Officer in Odisha 2026?
| Component | Detail |
|---|---|
| Pay | ₹35,400 per month, Level 9, Cell 1 |
| Allowances | Usual Dearness and other Allowances as sanctioned by the Government of Odisha |
| Pension | Contributory Pension Scheme (NPS) for those appointed on or after 1 January 2005 |
NPS application is mandatory for all recommended candidates at the time of joining.
What Is the Selection Process and Exam Pattern for OPSC ASO 2026?
| Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| Written Examination | Objective MCQ, 400 marks, three papers |
| Document Verification | After the written result, with hard copy of the form and originals |
| Skill Test in Computer | Practical, qualifying, 50 marks |
| Medical Examination | By Medical Board for selected candidates |
| Paper | Subject | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| I | General Awareness | 100 |
| II | Reasoning and Mental Ability (50) plus Mathematics, 10th level (50) | 100 |
| III | English (100) plus Odia (100) | 200 |
Each question carries 1 mark and 0.25 mark is deducted for each wrong answer. To be shortlisted you must score the minimum in each paper separately: 35% for UR and SEBC, 30% for SC and ST, and 28% for PwD. Ex-Servicemen and Sports Persons follow their caste category.
Candidates are shortlisted for the skill test in order of aggregate written marks. About 1.5 times the vacancies per category are called, or about 2 times (minimum 5) where a category has 5 or fewer posts. You need at least 40% in the skill test. The final rank is on the 400 written marks; a tie goes to higher marks in General Knowledge (Paper I), then to the older candidate. Check the syllabus page for preparation help.
The provisional answer key goes on the website right after the exam. Anyone who does not object online within the given date forfeits the right to raise the matter later in any forum. Exam is held in 33 zones of Odisha; you choose two zones in order of preference, and a change of zone will not be entertained. See the exam calendar for other dates.
How to Apply Online for OPSC Assistant Section Officer 2026?
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Read the advertisement on the OPSC website (link in Essential Links below) |
| 2 | Register on the OPSC portal; you get a unique PPSAN number |
| 3 | Fill in the form carefully and choose two exam zones |
| 4 | Upload your photograph, full signature, Left-hand Thumb Impression and documents |
| 5 | Pay ₹700 online if you are not SC, ST or PwD, and give bank details for refund |
| 6 | Submit, print the form, sign the declaration and keep it for document verification |
Submit only one application. Using more than one PPSAN account gets all your forms rejected. To change a submitted form, cancel it and apply again by the last date. Keep your HSC certificate, degree mark-lists, Odia proof and caste certificate ready, and keep four copies of your photograph.
What Are the Important Dates for OPSC ASO 2026?
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Date | 5 November 2026 |
| Application Starts | 9 November 2026 |
| Last Date and Fee Payment | 30 November 2026, 5:00 PM |
| Written Examination | 17 January 2027 (Sunday), tentative; centres to be notified |
What Is the Application Fee for OPSC ASO 2026?
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| UR and SEBC | ₹700 |
| SC, ST and PwD | Nil (exempted) |
Pay online only (card, UPI, net banking or wallet). The fee is refunded only to candidates who actually appear in the written exam, after the exam is over, to the original payment mode. A form without the fee, where it applies, is incomplete and rejected.
Which Mistakes Can Cancel Your OPSC ASO Application?
| Condition | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Incomplete form | Missing uploads or documents lead to rejection |
| No hard copy | Not bringing the signed hard copy at verification leads to rejection |
| Late certificates | Certificates issued after 30 November 2026 will not be accepted |
| SEBC certificate | Must be issued on or after 10 November 2023; an OBC certificate will not be considered for SEBC seats |
| Women’s caste certificate | Must say “daughter of”; “wife of” certificates are liable for rejection |
| Sports and PwD proof | Without a valid certificate you are treated under your caste category; sports proof must be from the Director of Sports, Odisha only, and prizes or participation certificates are not accepted |
| Ex-Servicemen | Children of Ex-Servicemen cannot apply against these seats; Ex-Servicemen already in regular State Government civil jobs are not eligible for the reservation, only the age relaxation |
| False information | Wrong, forged or suppressed details cancel candidature at any stage |
| Caste and category | Once entered, cannot be changed; no withdrawal of candidature. A certificate found cancelled later means your candidature is cancelled or your recommendation withdrawn |
| Malpractice | Seeking support by gratification or pressure means disqualification and possible debarment |
| Selection list | Being in the select list gives no right to appointment |
| Other modes | Applications by any mode except the OPSC website are rejected |
Admission to every stage is provisional. Anyone debarred earlier by OPSC, another State PSC or UPSC is not eligible for that period, and a person with more than one living spouse is not eligible unless the State Government exempts the case. Never pay anyone for a job, because the Commission warns that such claims are a cheat.
Essential Links for OPSC Assistant Section Officer Recruitment 2026
- Download Official Notification PDF
- Official Notification Page for OPSC Assistant Section Officer Recruitment 2026 (Advt No. 15 of 2026-27), Apply Online 9 to 30 November
- Apply Online for OPSC Assistant Section Officer Recruitment 2026 (Advt No. 15 of 2026-27), Apply Online 9 to 30 November
- Join WhatsApp Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Telegram Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Odisha Government Jobs Telegram Channel
Graduates, this is a rare chance at a Group-B secretariat post. Fix your Odia proof and certificates first, then submit your form by 30 November 2026, 5:00 PM, and not on the last evening when portals slow down. Keep visiting GovtJobsAlert.in for more graduate government jobs.