Summary
The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has released the official notification for the Assistant Section Officer (ASO)/Limited Level Assistant (LDCE) Competitive Examination 2025.
The notification has been posted on the official website of the commission (ssc.gov.in) and the online application process is currently underway.
The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has issued an official notification for the Assistant Section Officer (ASO)/Disciplinary Assistant (LDCE) Competitive Examination 2025, inviting eligible candidates from departments to apply for recruitment to key posts in the Central Secretariat Service (CSS) and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The notification has been posted on the official website of the commission (ssc.gov.in) and the online application process is currently underway.
According to the notification, the recruitment drive is aimed at filling a total of 341 vacancies across all participating services. Eligible candidates can submit online applications through the SSC portal before 16 July 2026, 11:00 pm.
Departments are required to submit paper copies of completed applications to SSC by July 23, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. For candidates working abroad or posted to distant places like Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep, the last date for receipt of printed applications has been extended to July 30, 2026 by 6:00 pm.
To apply, candidates must first go through the One Time Registration (OTR) process on the new SSC portal if they have not already registered. After logging in with their credentials, candidates are required to access the ASO/Assistant Grade LDCE 2025 application form, provide the required personal and service information, upload the required documents, photograph and signature and review all the details carefully before final submission. After submitting the online application, candidates must download and print the application form and submit it through the concerned Department Head or Office Head along with the required supporting documents. Applications not sent through the established departmental channel will not be considered.
The notification clarifies that the examination is open exclusively to eligible candidates for departments belonging to the participating services. To fill vacancies in the Central Secretariat Service, candidates must be serving as Senior Division Officers in the Clerical Service of the Central Secretariat and have a minimum of six years of approved service as on July 1, 2025. Candidates applying under the Foreign Office category must be employed at the senior department clerk level, possess the required mandatory training qualifications and have at least six years of approved service by the same completion date.
SSC has informed candidates that the recruitment exam will be conducted in computer mode in August 2026. The examination centers for the test will be located exclusively in the Delhi-NCR region. Candidates are advised to make travel and accommodation arrangements accordingly once the exam schedule is announced.
The selection process for SSC ASO/Assistant Grade LDCE 2025 will consist of two main stages. The first stage will involve a computer-based exam comprising Paper I and Paper II. In the second phase, Applicants’ Annual Performance Reports (APARs) will be assessed. The final merit list will be compiled by combining the marks obtained in the written examination with the marks obtained in the APAR assessment process.
Read the official notice here.
Last updated: June 27, 2026