The Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) has issued Advertisement No. 15 of 2026-27 (notice dated 05.11.2026) for 340 posts of Assistant Section Officer (Group-B) in the Odisha Secretariat Service Cadre under the Home Department. Selection is through a written examination of 400 marks followed by a qualifying computer skill test.
OPSC ASO 2026 at a glance
| Advertisement | No. 15 of 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Post | Assistant Section Officer (Group-B), Odisha Secretariat Service Cadre, Home Department |
| Vacancies | 340 (114 reserved for women) |
| Pay | Rs. 35,400 — Level 9, Cell 1 (ORSP Rules, 2017) plus DA and allowances |
| Online application | 09.11.2026 to 30.11.2026 (till 5:00 PM) |
| Written examination | 17.01.2027 (Sunday), tentative |
| Selection | Written exam (400 marks) + Computer skill test (50 marks, qualifying) |
| Application fee | Rs. 700; no fee for SC, ST and PwD |
| Official website | opsc.gov.in |
Category-wise vacancies
Figures include backlog vacancies. The number in brackets is the posts reserved for women.
| Category | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| UR | 144 (48 women) |
| SEBC | 38 (13 women) |
| SC | 81 (27 women) |
| ST | 77 (26 women) |
| Total | 340 (114 women) |
Within these 340 posts, the following are reserved for special categories. Selected candidates are adjusted against their own social category (UR, SEBC, SC or ST).
| Sub-category | Posts |
|---|---|
| Persons with Disabilities (40% or more) | 25 (9 women) — Blindness/Low vision 3, Hearing impairment 9, Locomotor 3, Autism/Intellectual/SLD/Mental illness/Multiple 10 |
| Ex-Servicemen | 19 |
| Sports Persons | 3 (1 woman) |
Transgender candidates are eligible to apply.
Eligibility
Age limit
21 to 42 years as on 1 January 2026 — born not earlier than 2 January 1984 and not later than 1 January 2005. Upper age relaxation:
- SEBC, SC, ST, Women and Ex-Servicemen: 5 years
- Persons with Disabilities (40% or more): 10 years
- PwD candidates belonging to SEBC, SC or ST: 15 years (cumulative)
A candidate falling in more than one category gets only one relaxation, whichever is most beneficial. Date of birth is taken from the HSC or equivalent certificate.
Educational qualification
A Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university, with adequate knowledge of computer applications as specified in the schedule.
Knowledge of Odia
The candidate must be able to speak, read and write Odia, and must have any one of:
- passed Middle School examination with Odia as a language subject;
- passed Matriculation or equivalent with Odia as medium of examination in a non-language subject;
- passed Odia as a language subject in the final examination of Class VII or above; or
- passed a test in Odia of Middle English School standard conducted by the School and Mass Education Department.
Other conditions
- Citizen of India, of sound health; selected candidates are examined by a Medical Board.
- Government servants may apply but must inform their Head of Office and produce an NOC at document verification.
- Eligibility is judged on the closing date of the online application.
- Reservation for SC/ST (by birth) and SEBC applies only to those of Odisha. OBC certificates are not accepted for SEBC.
- The SEBC certificate must be issued on or after 10.11.2023.
Application fee
Rs. 700, paid online. SC, ST and PwD candidates are exempt. The fee is refunded to candidates who actually appear in the written examination, to the original payment mode; bank details must still be filled in the form in case that refund fails.
Selection process
- Written examination — three objective papers, 400 marks, 0.25 negative marking. You must reach the minimum qualifying marks in each of Paper I, II and III separately.
- Document verification — qualified candidates submit the hard copy of the online form with documents.
- Computer skill test — 50 marks, practical, qualifying (40% needed). About 1.5 times the vacancies are called, by merit in the written exam.
- Merit list — on the 400 written marks only.
Full details: ASO exam pattern and ASO syllabus.
Examination zones
The written exam is held at 33 zones across Odisha: Baleshwar, Brahmapur, Bhubaneswar, Kataka, Sambalpur, Anugola, Baragada, Bhadrak, Balangir, Boudh, Debagada, Dhenkanal, Gajapati, Ganjam, Jagatsinghpur, Jayapur, Jajapur, Jharsuguda, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Kendrapada, Kendujhar, Khordha, Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj, Nuapada, Nabarangpur, Nayagada, Puri, Rayagada, Raurkela, Sonpur and Sundaragada. Choose two zones in order of preference; change of zone is not allowed later.
Documents to upload
- HSC or equivalent certificate (proof of age)
- +2 / Intermediate / Diploma certificate
- Bachelor's degree certificate, and mark sheets of HSC and degree
- Caste certificate (SC/ST by birth, SEBC), where applicable
- Odia test pass certificate or school certificate showing Odia in Class VII / ME standard
- Permanent disability certificate (40% or more), where applicable
- Sports identity card from the Director of Sports, Odisha, where applicable
- Ex-Servicemen release certificate and affidavit (format in Appendix-II), where applicable
- NOC from employer, where applicable
- Photo identity proof (Aadhaar preferred)
Certificates must be issued on or before the date of submission of the online application.
How to apply
- Go to opsc.gov.in and register; you get a Permanent Public Service Account Number (PPSAN).
- Fill the form, upload photo, full signature and left-hand thumb impression, and the documents above.
- Pay the fee online (if applicable) and submit before 30.11.2026, 5:00 PM.
- Print the submitted form and sign it — it is needed at document verification.
Do not submit more than one application through multiple PPSAN accounts; such applications are rejected.