Press Council of India ASO Recruitment 2026: The Press Council of India (PCI) has released a fresh vacancy circular for the post of Assistant Section Officer (ASO). The circular, dated 26 September 2026 (F.No. 1/6/2020-PCI (Admn.) (Part-III)), invites applications from eligible Indian citizens through direct recruitment.
This is a re-advertisement. PCI had first advertised these posts on 18.05.2024 and held the exam on 04.05.2025. That exam was later cancelled through a notice dated 18.06.2026, and applications are now being invited again.
This article covers the vacancy details, eligibility, pay scale, exam pattern, syllabus, application fee, and the application process.
Press Council of India ASO Recruitment 2026: Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Press Council of India |
| Post Name | Assistant Section Officer (ASO) |
| Group | Group B, Non-Gazetted |
| Total Vacancies | 03 |
| Mode of Recruitment | Direct Recruitment |
| Pay Level | Level-6 (7th CPC) |
| Age Limit | 20–30 years |
| Qualification | Bachelor’s Degree |
| Application Fee | Rs. 100 (exemptions apply) |
| Selection Process | Tier-I (Objective) + Tier-II (Descriptive, Qualifying) |
| Mode of Application | Offline (by post) |
| Circular Date | 26.09.2026 |
| Job Location | New Delhi |
| Official Website | presscouncil.nic.in |
Press Council of India ASO Category-Wise Vacancy Details
| UR | OBC | SC | ST | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02 | 01 | 00 | 00 | 03 |
There are no posts reserved for SC or ST candidates in this recruitment.
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Good News for Candidates Who Applied in 2024
Candidates who applied under the 18.05.2024 advertisement and received an Admit Card for the 04.05.2025 exam can appear in the fresh exam even if they are now above the upper age limit. They will also not have to pay the exam fee again. However, they must submit a fresh application in the prescribed format and mention the Roll Number allotted to them for the 04.05.2025 exam.
PCI ASO Salary and Pay Scale
The Assistant Section Officer post is in Pay Level-6 of the 7th Pay Commission pay matrix. In the pre-revised pay structure, this equals Pay Band-2 (Rs. 9,300–34,800) with a Grade Pay of Rs. 4,200. Under Level-6, the basic pay starts at Rs. 35,400 per month. On top of that, employees get allowances such as Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), and Transport Allowance, as per central government rules. Since the posting is in New Delhi, HRA is paid at the higher city rate, which makes the in-hand salary quite attractive.
Press Council of India ASO Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
The minimum qualification is a Bachelor’s Degree from a recognised University or Institute.
Preference will be given to candidates who have any of the following: a Post Graduate degree from a recognised university, a Degree in Law, a Degree or Diploma in Journalism or Mass Communication, or knowledge of an additional Indian language apart from English and Hindi.
Typing Test Requirement (After Joining)
Selected candidates must pass a 15-minute computer typing test at a minimum speed of 30 w.p.m. in English or 25 w.p.m. in Hindi within two years of appointment. If they fail to pass within this period, their further increments will be stopped until they pass or are exempted. Once they pass, their pay will be refixed as if the increments had not been withheld, but no arrears will be paid for the withheld period.
Age Limit
The age limit is 20 to 30 years. Age will be calculated as on the closing date of application. The upper age limit is relaxable as per Government of India rules.
Only the date of birth recorded in the Matriculation/Secondary Examination certificate (or an equivalent certificate) will be accepted, and no later request to change it will be considered.
OBC candidates must not fall in the Creamy Layer as on the closing date and must submit the OBC certificate in the prescribed format (Annexure-II). Their candidature will remain provisional until the Appointing Authority verifies the claim.
Nationality
Only Indian citizens can apply.
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PCI ASO Application Fee
The application fee is Rs. 100. SC/ST candidates, Women, Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD), and Ex-servicemen (ESM) do not have to pay any fee.
The fee can be paid by Demand Draft or Cheque in favour of “Secretary, Press Council of India”, or through online transfer to PCI’s bank account. For online payment, a copy of the payment receipt with the UTR number must be attached with the application form.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Beneficiary Name | Press Council of India |
| Bank & Branch | State Bank of India, Scope Complex, Ground Floor, Core 6, Lodhi Road, New Delhi – 110003 |
| Account Number | 52142907714 |
| IFSC Code | SBIN0020511 |
| Beneficiary Address | Soochna Bhawan, 3rd Floor, 08-CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi |
PCI ASO Exam Pattern 2026
Tier-I: Objective Type
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 50 | 50 | 150 minutes (total) |
| General Awareness | 50 | 50 | |
| Mathematical Abilities / Quantitative Aptitude | 50 | 50 | |
| English Comprehension | 50 | 50 | |
| Total | 200 | 200 |
There is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer. Candidates must clear the sectional cut-off in each of the four sections separately: 40% for UR and 35% for OBC. Only those who clear every section will be shortlisted for Tier-II.
The question paper will be bilingual (Hindi and English), except the English Comprehension section, which will be in English only.
Tier-II: Descriptive Type (Qualifying)
| Paper | Max Marks | Cut-off | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Descriptive paper in English or Hindi (Essay / Precis / Letter / Application, etc.) | 100 | 65% for UR, 60% for OBC | 60 minutes |
Tier-II must be written entirely in either English or Hindi. Answering some questions in English and some in Hindi will lead to disqualification. PCI also reserves the right to add an additional tier to the exam.
PCI ASO Syllabus 2026
General Intelligence & Reasoning: Both verbal and non-verbal questions, covering analogies (semantic, symbolic/number, figural), classification, series (semantic, number, figural), coding-decoding, problem solving, word building, numerical and symbolic operations, space orientation and visualization, Venn diagrams, drawing inferences, punched hole and pattern folding/unfolding, figural pattern completion, indexing, address matching, date and city matching, classification of centre codes/roll numbers, embedded figures, syllogistic reasoning, statement-conclusion, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and social intelligence.
General Awareness: Awareness of the environment and its application to society, current events, everyday science, and questions on India and its neighbouring countries, especially History, Culture, Geography, Economic Scene, Politics, General Policy, and Scientific Research.
Quantitative Aptitude and English Comprehension: Refer to the full official circular for the detailed syllabus of these sections.
How to Apply for PCI ASO Vacancy 2026
Press Council of India ASO is an offline recruitment, so you need to send your application by post. Follow these steps:
- Download the vacancy circular and the prescribed application format from the official Press Council of India website.
- Fill in the application form carefully in the prescribed format. Candidates from the 2024 recruitment must mention their 04.05.2025 exam Roll Number.
- Attach self-attested copies of certificates for date of birth, educational qualification, category (OBC certificate as per Annexure-II, if applicable), and any other documents asked for.
- Attach the fee payment proof (DD, cheque, or UTR receipt), unless you are fee-exempt.
- Send the complete application to:
Under Secretary (Administration), Room No. 346, Press Council of India, 3rd Floor, Soochna Bhawan, 8, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi – 110003
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Last Date to Apply for Press Council of India ASO Vacancy
Applications must reach the above address within 30 days of the publication of the advertisement in Employment News. The deadline is counted from the Employment News publication date, not the circular date. Check the exact issue date and post your application well in advance, because late applications are usually not accepted.
Check PCI ASO Official Notification PDF
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many vacancies are there in the Press Council of India ASO Recruitment 2026?
There are 3 vacancies: 2 for UR and 1 for OBC.
What is the qualification for PCI ASO?
A Bachelor’s Degree from a recognised university. A PG degree, Law degree, Journalism/Mass Communication qualification, or knowledge of an extra Indian language is preferred.
What is the age limit for PCI ASO 2026?
20 to 30 years as on the closing date, with relaxation as per Government of India rules. Candidates who got admit cards for the 04.05.2025 exam are exempt from the upper age limit.
What is the application fee?
Rs. 100. SC/ST, Women, PwBD, and Ex-servicemen candidates are exempt. Candidates from the earlier 2024 recruitment also do not need to pay again.
What is the selection process?
A Tier-I objective exam (200 questions, 150 minutes, 0.25 negative marking) followed by a qualifying Tier-II descriptive paper.
What is the salary of an Assistant Section Officer in the Press Council of India?
The post is in Pay Level-6 of the 7th CPC, with a starting basic pay of Rs. 35,400 plus allowances.
Is the application online or offline?
Offline. You must send it by post to the Under Secretary (Administration), Press Council of India, New Delhi.
What is the last date to apply?
Applications must reach the office within 30 days of the advertisement’s publication in Employment News.
Is this Press Council of India ASO a permanent government job?
Yes. The post is filled by direct recruitment in Group B (Non-Gazetted), which is a regular central government post.
