If you’ve been searching for OPSC ASO Recruitment 2026, here’s the honest, up-to-date picture: the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) has not yet released the official notification for Assistant Section Officer (ASO) posts, even though this has been one of the most anticipated recruitments among Odisha’s graduate job seekers for months now.
What we do have is a solid, official-but-unofficial signal — a number that came not from OPSC, but from the Odisha Legislative Assembly. Here’s everything confirmed so far, what’s still speculation, and how to use the waiting period productively.
While you wait, you might also want to check our post on Kendrapara District Court Recruitment 2026 for another clerical-track opportunity that’s currently open.
Where Did the “348 Vacancies” Number Actually Come From?
This is important to understand, because a lot of content online states “348 vacancies” as if it were an official OPSC figure — it isn’t, at least not yet.
On 9th March 2026, in the Odisha Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha), opposition leader Arun Kumar Sahu raised a question about vacant positions in the State Secretariat. In response, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi stated that as of 31st December 2025, 348 ASO posts had been identified for recruitment.
This is a legitimate government statement — but it is an Assembly record, not an OPSC recruitment notification. The actual number of posts advertised, once OPSC issues the formal notification, could match this, or could differ (increase, decrease, or be released in phases).
Why Everyone Expects the Notification Soon
A few factors are fueling the expectation that OPSC will release this notification imminently:
- The Assembly disclosure itself signals the government has already identified and likely budgeted for these vacancies.
- Odisha’s 2027 Panchayat elections are seen as a practical incentive for the government to complete Secretariat-level recruitment well in advance.
- OPSC has a recent track record of ASO recruitment — it last released a notification for 29 ASO posts on 1st May 2025 — so the administrative machinery for conducting this exam is already in place.
That said, none of this guarantees a specific release date. Treat “coming soon” as exactly that, not a confirmed timeline.
What We Know for Sure (Based on Established OPSC ASO Patterns)
While we wait for the official 2026 notification, here’s what has remained consistent across recent OPSC ASO recruitments, which gives a reasonable (though not guaranteed) preview of what to expect:
| Detail | Established Pattern |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Body | Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) |
| Post | Assistant Section Officer (ASO), Group-B (Non-Gazetted) |
| Educational Qualification | Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline from a recognized university |
| Additional Requirement | Working knowledge of Computer Applications |
| Odia Language Requirement | Ability to read, write, and speak Odia (often requiring Odia as a subject passed in 7th/10th/12th) |
| Pay Scale | ₹35,400 – ₹1,12,400 (Level-9, Cell-1, ORSP Rules 2017) |
| Application Fee | Nil in recent cycles |
| Selection Process | Written Exam (CBT, 3 papers) → Computer Skill Test (qualifying) → Document Verification/Interview |
⚠️ Age limit is genuinely unclear right now — different sources report conflicting figures (some say 21–42 years, others 21–32 years). Rather than guess, we’re flagging this clearly as unconfirmed. Please don’t rely on any specific age limit until the official notification is out.
Likely Exam Pattern (Based on Recent OPSC ASO Cycles)
If the 2026 recruitment follows the recent pattern, expect a 3-paper written exam:
| Paper | Subject | Approx. Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | General Awareness | Indian economy, polity, history, geography, science & tech, current affairs |
| Paper 2 | Reasoning, Mental Ability & Mathematics | 10th-standard level analytical/problem-solving questions |
| Paper 3 | Language (English & Odia) | Grammar, comprehension, vocabulary, writing ability |
Recent cycles have used negative marking of 0.25 marks per wrong answer, with the Computer Skill Test being qualifying in nature (you must pass it, but it may not count toward final merit ranking).
Note: This is based on recent precedent, not a confirmed 2026 exam pattern. OPSC could revise the format for this cycle.
What Should You Do While Waiting?
- Start your General Awareness and Odia/English preparation now — these subjects benefit from consistent, long-term study rather than last-minute cramming.
- Keep your documents ready: graduation certificate, mark sheets, Odia-medium proof (if applicable), ID proof, and passport-size photographs.
- Complete your OPSC One-Time Registration (OTR) on opsc.gov.in if you haven’t already — this saves time once the application window opens.
- Don’t pay for or trust any “confirmed” application link or date circulating on social media before the official notification appears on opsc.gov.in — unofficial claims about ASO recruitment tend to spread quickly given how anticipated this recruitment is.
- Bookmark this page — we’ll update it the moment OPSC releases the official notification with confirmed vacancies, dates, and eligibility.
Important Links
- Official OPSC Website: opsc.gov.in
Note: As of this writing, no official OPSC ASO 2026 notification has been released. All vacancy and pattern details above are based on the Assembly disclosure and recent precedent, not a confirmed government notification.
FAQs: OPSC ASO Recruitment 2026
Has the OPSC ASO Recruitment 2026 notification been released?
No, as of now, OPSC has not released the official notification. It is widely anticipated but not yet confirmed.
How many vacancies are expected?
Around 348 posts, based on a statement made by the Chief Minister in the Odisha Legislative Assembly on 9 March 2026 — not an official OPSC figure.
What is the eligibility qualification for ASO?
Based on recent OPSC ASO cycles, a Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline, computer knowledge, and Odia language proficiency are typically required. Final eligibility will be confirmed only in the official notification.
What is the expected salary for ASO?
Based on the current pay structure, ₹35,400 – ₹1,12,400 (Level-9 of ORSP Rules, 2017), plus applicable allowances.
Is there a written exam?
Based on recent cycles, yes — a 3-paper written exam followed by a qualifying computer skill test and document verification/interview.
When will the application process start?
This isn’t confirmed yet. It will be announced along with the official notification on opsc.gov.in.
This article is based on publicly available information, including a statement made in the Odisha Legislative Assembly on 9 March 2026 and patterns from recent OPSC ASO recruitment cycles. It is not based on an official 2026 OPSC notification, which has not yet been released. LearnOdisha will update this post immediately once OPSC issues the official notification.
For more Odisha government recruitment updates, keep following LearnOdisha.
