What is SSC CGL ASO in CSS Post? - Full Form, Eligibility, Salary, Promotion and the Job Profile

ASO in CSS
Assistant Section Officer in Central Secretariat Service (ASO in CSS)
Table of Contents
What is ASO in CSS? ASO in CSS Post Summary ASO in CSS Eligibility Criteria ASO in CSS Selection Process ASO in CSS Top Ministry ASO in CSS Job Profile ASO in CSS Salary ASO in CSS Benefits & Allowance ASO in CSS Promotion Hierarchy ASO in CSS Hierarchy Responasiblity ASO in CSS Advantages ASO in CSS Disadvantages

What is ASO in CSS?

The full form of ASO in CSS is Assistant Section Officer in Central Secretariat Service. It is a Group B (Non-gazetted) service under the central government, which comes under various ministries and departments of the Central Secretariat. The main responsibility of this post is to assist and support senior officers at the domestic level in file management, drafting, noting and policy implementation. ASOs in CSS are required to coordinate with senior officers to complete administrative and clerical tasks.
The Central Secretariat is an administrative branch of the Government of India that helps in policy formulation and smooth functioning of various ministries and departments across the country.
The recruitment for this post is conducted through the SSC - CGL exam. Officers selected through this exam are posted only at the headquarters of ministries in Delhi location.

ASO in CSS Post Summary

ASO in CSS Post Summary
Detail Information
Exam Name SSC CGL (Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level)
Post Name Assistant Section Officer (ASO)
Group B (Non-Gazetted)
Conducting Body Staff Selection Commission (SSC)
Ministry Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Finance, etc.
Department Various departments under Central Secretariat
Pay Level 7
Basic Salary 44,900
Service Type Central Government
Job Location Primarily in Delhi (Central Secretariat) and other government offices across India.
Job Responsibilities Assisting in the administration of day-to-day work.
Next Promotion Section Officer (SO)
Nature of Work Desk based administrative work.

ASO in CSS Eligibility Criteria

ASO in CSS Eligibility Criteria
Detail Information
Education Qualification Bachelor degree from recognise university
Age limit 20 - 30 years

ASO in CSS Selection Process

  • Tier 1: The SSC CGL Tier 1 is an objective based online test. Candidates only need to qualify this stage.
  • Tier 2 Paper 1: Candidates who qualify Paper 1 in Tier 2 are called for the subsequent stages.
  • Document Verification: The Central Secretariat Service (CSS) verifies and authenticates the candidates documents.
  • Normal Medical Test: Candidates must submit a medical report to verify their medical fitness.
  • Training: After selection candidates undergo short training at the Institute of Secretariat Training & Management (ISTM) old JNU campus, new Delhi.
  • Post Allotment: After training selected candidates are required to fill out a department preference form. Based on this ministry allotment is done according to the candidates preferences.

ASO in CSS Top Ministry

  • Ministry of Home Affairs
  • Ministry of Finance
  • Ministry of Health
  • Ministry of Information Broadcasting
  • Ministry of Defense
  • Ministry of Education
  • Ministry of Commerce and Industry
  • Election Commission

ASO in CSS Job Profile

The job profile of ASO in CSS is below:

  • File & Document Management: The ASO is responsible for organizing the official files and documents of the allotted ministry or department, preparing important folders and maintaining proper records.
  • Drafting and Noting: Drafting, noting and sending government policies, official letters and emails. Preparing necessary documents for meetings and conferences.
  • Coordination: Facilitating coordination between ministers, departments and senior officers.
  • RTI (Right to Information): Processing RTI applications and forwarding them to the concerned department.
  • Policy Implementation: Providing administrative support for the execution of policies and guidelines.
  • Meetings and Conferences: Organizing official meetings, writing minutes of the meeting, preparing required documents and participating in meetings.

ASO in CSS Salary

The basic salary of an ASO in CSS is up to ₹44,900. With benefits and allowances the gross salary can go up to ₹85,000. After deductions like tax, pension, etc. the in-hand salary typically comes to around ₹75,000.

ASO in CSS Salary
Rank Pay level Grade pay Basic salary Gross salary
Assistant Section Officer (ASO) 7 4,600 ₹44,900 ₹65,000 - ₹85,000
Section Officer (SO) 8 4,800 ₹47,600 ₹70,000 - ₹90,000
Under Secretary 10 5400 ₹56,100 ₹85,000 - ₹1,05,000
Deputy Secretary 11 6600 ₹67,700 ₹1,00,000 - ₹1,20,000
Director 12 7600 ₹78,800 ₹1,25,000 - ₹1,45,000
Joint Secretary 14 10,000 ₹1,44,200 ₹1,50,000 - ₹1,80,000
Additional Secretary 15 12,000 ₹1,82,200 ₹2,00,000 - ₹2,25,000
Secretary 17 Apex Scale ₹2,25,000 (Fixed) ₹2,50,000 - ₹2,60,000

ASO in CSS Benefits & Allowance

  • DA (Dearness Allowance)
  • TA (Travel Allowance)
  • HRA (House Rent Allowance)
  • Government Residential Quarter
  • Pension with Government Contribution (NPS)
  • CGHS (Central Govt Health Scheme)
  • CGEIS (Central Government Employees Group Insurance Scheme)
  • Paid Leaves

ASO in CSS Promotion Hierarchy

  • Assistant Section Officer (ASO) / Entry-level Post
  • Section Officer (SO)
  • Under Secretary / Deputy Director
  • Deputy Secretary / Joint Director
  • Director
  • Joint Secretary
  • Additional Secretary
  • Secretary

ASO in CSS Hierarchy Responasiblity

  • Assistant Section Officer (ASO): The ASO is an entry-level officer who handles the daily administrative tasks of a ministry's section. They assist senior officers in maintaining records, handling official correspondence and preparing reports.
  • Section Officer (SO): The Section Officer supervises a section and oversees the work of other employees. They verify the work done by subordinates and report to senior officers.
  • Under Secretary / Deputy Director: The Under Secretary supervises 2 to 3 Section Officers and monitoring their work to ensure everything is done correctly and on time.
  • Deputy Secretary / Joint Director: The Deputy Secretary is the deputy head of a division playing a key role in the divisions operations and policy decisions. They review the work of Section Officers and Under Secretaries preparing proposals for senior officers.
  • Director: The Director serves as the vigilance officer ensuring discipline and transparency within the department. They are responsible for preventing corruption and maintaining fairness in processes. They investigate any irregularities and report findings when necessary.
  • Joint Secretary: The Joint Secretary heads a division responsible for finalizing policies and implementing plans. They coordinate all activities within the division and ensure the department achieves its goals on time. They also play an active role in coordinating with the government and other ministries.
  • Additional Secretary: The Additional Secretary oversees multiple divisions and manages their operations. They assist in making major departmental decisions and monitor the activities of all divisions.
  • Secretary: The Secretary is the highest-ranking official in a ministry or department. They bear the final responsibility for the departments work including policy formation and the implementation of plans.

ASO in CSS Advantages

  • Choice-based Ministry: ASO CSS candidates are given the option to choose their ministry based on their interests and preferences.
  • No Field Work: The nature of the ASO CSS role is desk-based, so officers do not have to engage in fieldwork.
  • Variety of Ministries: ASO CSS provides candidates with the opportunity to work in various central government ministries.
  • Promotion Opportunities: After serving as an ASO in CSS candidates have opportunities for promotion to positions such as Section Officer, Under Secretary and higher roles.
  • Cross Functional Experience: ASO CSS candidates may be allocated to different ministries over time providing them with the chance to gain experience in various sections and roles within different ministries. However this depends on the candidates perspective and the ministrys requirements.

ASO in CSS Disadvantages

  • Adjustment Challenges: Every ministry has its own working style so adjusting to a new ministry can be time-consuming and challenging for an ASO.
  • Limited Posting Locations: Since the central government operates from Delhi and all major ministry headquarters are also located in Delhi. As CSS is a headquarters-based service & ASO CSS officers must serve in Delhi until retirement.
  • Repeated Work: The work of an ASO CSS is often repetitive with similar tasks to be performed daily. This can lead to a decrease in interest over time.
  • Workload Variability: While not all ministries are the same but some sections may have a significantly higher workload leading to stress and pressure.
  • Departmental Exam: To be promoted to senior positions ASO candidates must pass departmental exams which can be challenging.
  • Less Field Exposure: The role of an ASO CSS is primarily desk-based, with limited opportunities for fieldwork or ground-level exposure.
  • Limited Scope for Creativity: ASO CSS job roles come with predefined guidelines and rules limiting the scope for creativity in daily tasks.
  • No Power: ASO CSS officers do not have direct authority or decision-making power as they work under senior officers who hold the power and make the decisions.

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