OPSC ASO recruitment 2026: 340 posts, 114 for women; apply by November 30
By Rhea MalhotraDigital Life Writer, Peepals Yuva
Representative image: 6689062 / Pixabay
OPSC has advertised 340 Assistant Section Officer posts, 114 for women, on 5 November 2026; graduates aged 21 to 42 can apply online until 30 November.
What Happened
The Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) has advertised 340 posts of Assistant Section Officer (ASO) in Group B of the Odisha Secretariat Service, with 114 of them reserved for women. The notification, Advertisement No. 15 of 2026-27, was released on Thursday, 5 November 2026. Online applications on www.opsc.gov.in open from Monday, 9 November 2026, according to most reports, though one report gives 11 November, and close at 5 pm on Monday, 30 November 2026. Graduates aged 21 to 42 with computer knowledge can apply, and selection will be through a written examination and a skill test. One report puts the written exam tentatively on Sunday, 17 January 2027.
Key Facts
- Recruiting body: Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC).
- Posts: 340 Assistant Section Officer posts, Group B, Odisha Secretariat Service, under the Home Department.
- Women: 114 posts reserved for women.
- Notification: Advertisement No. 15 of 2026-27, released 5 November 2026.
- Applications: online at www.opsc.gov.in from 9 November 2026 (one report says 11 November) to 5 pm on 30 November 2026.
- Eligibility: bachelor's degree from a recognised university or equivalent, computer knowledge, age 21 to 42 years as on 1 January 2026.
- Selection: written examination and skill test; written exam tentatively on 17 January 2027, according to one report.
- Pay: basic pay of Rs 35,400 at Level 9, Cell 1, plus government allowances.
Why It Matters
Assistant Section Officer posts are Group B jobs in the Odisha Secretariat, the state government's main administrative office, with a basic pay of Rs 35,400 at Level 9 plus allowances. For graduates in Odisha looking for a government career, a single notification with 340 such posts is a major opportunity.
The number of posts is significant. With 340 vacancies, this is a sizeable intake for a single secretariat cadre, and the reservation of 114 posts for women gives women candidates about a third of the seats. The wide age band, from 21 to 42, also opens the exam to experienced graduates as well as recent ones.
The selection process has two parts. Candidates must first clear the written examination and then a skill test. Since computer knowledge is a stated requirement for the job, applicants should read the syllabus and the skill-test rules in the official notification before preparing.
Applicants should rely on the official notice. Reports differ on the exact opening date of the application window, and the exam date given in one report is tentative. The OPSC website is the place to confirm dates, fees, the syllabus and document requirements before applying.
Peepals calculation: Women's reserved posts make up about 34% of the total (114 ÷ 340 ≈ 0.335). By category, the reported vertical split is 144 unreserved, 38 for SEBC (OBC), 81 for Scheduled Castes and 77 for Scheduled Tribes, which adds up to the full 340 (144 + 38 + 81 + 77 = 340). The application window from 9 November to 30 November is 22 days long, counting both ends. Our calculation from the reported figures.
| Category | Posts (reported) |
|---|---|
| Unreserved (including 48 for women) | 144 |
| SEBC (OBC) | 38 |
| Scheduled Castes | 81 |
| Scheduled Tribes | 77 |
| Total | 340 |
Impact
Short-term: Graduates in Odisha can prepare documents and apply online once the window opens, before the 30 November deadline.
Long-term: Filling 340 ASO posts will add staff to the Odisha Secretariat, and the women's reservation will raise the number of women officers in the state's administrative offices.
Who is affected: Graduates aged 21 to 42 in Odisha, especially women candidates; candidates from reserved categories; and departments in the Odisha Secretariat that need staff.
What to watch next: The opening of online applications on www.opsc.gov.in and the 30 November 2026 deadline.
Key Takeaway
OPSC has advertised 340 Assistant Section Officer posts, 114 for women, with online applications open until 5 pm on 30 November 2026 for graduates aged 21 to 42.
Questions and Answers
How many posts are in OPSC ASO recruitment 2026?
340 Assistant Section Officer posts in Group B of the Odisha Secretariat Service, with 114 reserved for women.
What is the last date to apply for OPSC ASO 2026?
5 pm on Monday, 30 November 2026, on www.opsc.gov.in. Most reports say applications open on 9 November; one says 11 November.
Who can apply for OPSC ASO?
Candidates with a bachelor's degree from a recognised university or equivalent, computer knowledge, and age between 21 and 42 years as on 1 January 2026.
What is the salary of an OPSC ASO?
A basic pay of Rs 35,400 at Level 9, Cell 1, plus applicable government allowances.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
By Rhea Malhotra, Digital Life WriterCovers Digital Life and more for Peepals Yuva. All stories by Rhea Malhotra
WHO study: one in four teens had no active day in a week
Call of Duty Mobile Season 10 brings Verdansk on November 11
Get the day's stories in your inbox
Peepals Weekly: the week decoded, free. One email a week, unsubscribe in one click.
Rhea Malhotra is a pen name of the Peepals Global Editorial Team, which researches, fact-checks and publishes every story. The portrait is an illustration.
