Aspirants preparing for the upcoming recruitment drive for the OPSC ASO 2026 examination must familiarize themselves thoroughly with the official curriculum, exam layout, and selection stages. Conducted by the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) across various centers in Odisha, this esteemed Assistant Section Officer recruitment requires dedicated preparation. To kickstart your preparation journey effectively, you can also Review OPSC ASO Previous Year Question Papers and access the OPSC ASO Syllabus PDF Download.
OPSC ASO 2026 Examination Overview
The selection process consists of two major stages: a Written Examination carrying a total of 400 marks and a Computer Skill Test that is qualifying in nature carrying 50 marks. Candidates who successfully clear the written exam proceed to the practical skill evaluation.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) |
| Post Name | Assistant Section Officer |
| Total Questions | Paper 1- 100 Paper 2- 200 Paper 3- 100 |
| Duration | Paper 1- 1.5 hours Paper 2- 1.5 hours Paper 3- 2 hours |
| Total Marks | 400 |
| Negative marking | 0.25 marks |
| Official Website | www.opsc.gov.in |
OPSC ASO Exam Pattern
The written test comprises multiple-choice questions spread across multiple papers. Each question carries 1 mark, with a negative marking of 0.25 marks for every incorrect attempt. The minimum qualifying marks for the UR category are 35%, while for SC/ST/PWD categories, it is 30%.
| Papers | Subjects | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | General Awareness | 100 | 100 | 1.5 hours |
| Paper 2 | Test of Reasoning & Mental Ability | 50 | 100 | 1.5 hours |
| Mathematics (10th standard) | 50 | 100 | ||
| Paper 3 | Language | |||
| English | 100 | 100 | 2 hours | |
| Odia | 100 | 100 | 2 hours | |
| Total | Total | 400 | 400 | 5 hours |
Subject-Wise Detailed Syllabus
Candidates must prepare all sub-topics carefully to excel in the examination. Below are the checklists for each subject:
General Awareness Syllabus
- Defence & Indian Armed Forces
- Scientific Inventions and Use of Science
- Environment, Ecology, Biodiversity, Climate Change
- National & International Institutions and their Mandates
- Current National & International Events
- History of British Rule in India and Freedom Struggle
- Indian Constitution
- World & Indian Physical Geography (including Odisha)
- Governance: Transparency, Accountability, E-Governance, Civil Services
- Indian Economy: Planning, Growth, Development, Employment, Poverty, Inflation
Reasoning & Mental Ability Syllabus
- Coding-Decoding
- Number Ranking
- Arithmetic Reasoning
- Age-related Problems
- Number Series
- Alphabet Series
- Mirror Images
- Analogy
- Grouping of Identical Figures
- Cubes and Dice
- Embedded Figures
- Direction Sense Test
Mathematics Syllabus
- Algebra
- Statistics & Probability
- Mensuration (2D & 3D)
- Average
- Ratio & Proportion
- Time & Work
- Time & Distance
- Arithmetic:
- Percentage
- Profit & Loss
- Simple & Compound Interest
English Language Syllabus
- Subject-Verb Agreement
- Vocabulary (Synonyms & Antonyms)
- Fill in the Blanks (including Articles)
- Verbs, Tenses, and Prepositions
- Comprehension & Unseen Passages
- Adverbs
- Error Correction
- Sentence Rearrangement
Odia Language Syllabus
- ବାକ୍ୟ ପୁନର୍ବିନ୍ୟାସ (Sentence Rearrangement)
- ଅନୁଛେଦ (Paragraph Writing)
- ଭ୍ୟାକରଣ (Grammar): କ୍ରିୟା, ଭ୍ରମ ସଂଶୋଧନ, କାଳ (Tenses), କ୍ରିୟା ବିଶେଷଣ
- ଭାଷାଜ୍ଞାନ: ପ୍ରତିଶବ୍ଦ (Synonyms), ବିପରୀତ ଅର୍ଥବୋଧକ ଶବ୍ଦ (Antonyms)
Computer Skill Test (Practical)
- MS Access
- Internet Usage & Services
- Basics of MS Windows
- Computer Fundamentals
- MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Next Steps for Candidates
After reviewing the detailed syllabus and exam pattern, candidates should regularly check the official portal at www.opsc.gov.in for exam schedule notifications, admit card release timelines, and travel arrangements. Ensure you practice mock tests regularly and keep your documents ready ahead of the examination dates.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Negative Marking & Net Score Calculator
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