The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has officially released the SSC ASO/Assistant Grade Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE) 2026 Notification for eligible departmental candidates. Through this recruitment drive, SSC aims to fill 341 vacancies for the posts of Assistant Section Officer (ASO) and Assistant Grade in the Central Secretariat Service (CSS) and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
The online application process has already started on the official SSC portal, and eligible candidates can submit their applications until 16 July 2026 (11:00 PM). This is an excellent promotion opportunity for departmental employees working in the Central Government.
SSC ASO LDCE Recruitment 2026:
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization | Staff Selection Commission (SSC) |
| Exam Name | Assistant Section Officer/Assistant Grade LDCE 2026 |
| Total Vacancies | 341 |
| Posts | Assistant Section Officer (ASO), Assistant Grade |
| Job Location | Across India |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Online Application Starts | 25 June 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 16 July 2026 (11:00 PM) |
| Last Date for Department to Send Hard Copy | 23 July 2026 |
| Remote Area Last Date | 30 July 2026 |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Exam Date | August 2026 (Tentative) |
| Exam Centre | Delhi-NCR |
| Official Website | https://ssc.gov.in |
SSC ASO LDCE Vacancy 2026
SSC has announced 341 vacancies under the Limited Departmental Competitive Examination for recruitment to:
- Assistant Section Officer (ASO) – Central Secretariat Service (CSS)
- Assistant Grade – Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)
The vacancies are available only for eligible departmental employees and are not open for direct recruitment candidates.
Educational Qualification & Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must satisfy the following eligibility conditions before submitting the application.
For Central Secretariat Service (CSS)
Applicants must:
- Be serving as Upper Division Grade Officers in the Central Secretariat Clerical Service (CSCS).
- Have completed at least six years of approved service as on 01 July 2025.
For Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)
Candidates should:
- Be working as Upper Division Clerk (UDC).
- Possess the prescribed mandatory departmental training qualifications.
- Have completed six years of approved service as on 01 July 2025.
Nationality
- Candidate must be an Indian citizen.
Important Note
- This examination is exclusively meant for departmental candidates.
- Fresh graduates and open market candidates are not eligible to apply.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
| Notification Released | 25 June 2026 |
| Online Application Begins | 25 June 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 16 July 2026 |
| Last Date for Departments to Submit Hard Copy | 23 July 2026 |
| Last Date for Remote Areas | 30 July 2026 |
| Computer-Based Examination | August 2026 (Tentative) |
How to Apply for SSC ASO LDCE Recruitment 2026
Eligible candidates can follow these steps:
- Visit the official SSC website.
- Complete the One-Time Registration (OTR), if not already registered.
- Login using your credentials.
- Open the ASO/Assistant Grade LDCE 2026 application form.
- Fill in all personal and service-related details.
- Upload the required documents, photograph, and signature.
- Verify all information carefully.
- Submit the online application.
- Download and print the application form.
- Submit the printed application through your Head of Department/Head of Office along with all required documents.
Important: Applications not forwarded through the prescribed departmental channel will be rejected.
Important Links To Apply Online:
| Description | Link |
| Apply Online | https://ssc.gov.in |
| Official Notification PDF | Click Here |
| Official Website | Click Here |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. How many vacancies are available in SSC ASO LDCE Recruitment 2026?
Answer: A total of 341 vacancies have been announced.
Q2. What is the last date to apply?
Answer: The last date for online application submission is 16 July 2026 (11:00 PM).
Q3. Who can apply for SSC ASO LDCE 2026?
Answer: Only eligible departmental candidates working in the Central Secretariat Service (CSS) or Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) with the prescribed service experience can apply.
Q4. What is the mode of examination?
Answer: The examination will be conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode.
Q5. Where will the examination be conducted?
Answer: The examination centres will be located only in the Delhi-NCR region.