Press Council of India ASO Recruitment 2026 - 3 Assistant Section Officer Posts

The Press Council of India (PCI) issued a vacancy circular dated 26 September 2026 inviting applications from eligible Indian citizens for direct recruitment to three Assistant Section Officer (ASO), Group B Non-Gazetted vacancies. The notified distribution is two Unreserved vacancies and one OBC vacancy.

The 2026 process is a continuation of the ASO recruitment advertised on 18 May 2024. The written examination held on 4 May 2025 was subsequently cancelled through the Council's notice dated 18 June 2026, after which applications were invited again under the current circular.

The essential educational qualification is a Bachelor's Degree from a recognised University/Institute. The notified desirable qualifications include a postgraduate degree, a Law degree, a Degree/Diploma in Journalism or Mass Communication, or knowledge of an additional Indian language apart from English/Hindi. Appointees are also required to qualify the prescribed computer typing test at 30 words per minute in English or 25 words per minute in Hindi within the period specified in the service conditions.

The standard age limit is 20 to 30 years, reckoned with reference to the closing date for receipt of applications, with upper-age relaxation available under applicable Government of India orders. Candidates who had applied against the earlier 18 May 2024 notice and were issued admit cards for the 4 May 2025 examination are covered by the special re-application provision in the current circular and must submit a fresh application quoting their earlier roll number.

The post is in Pay Level 6 of the 7th Central Pay Commission pay matrix, Rs. 35,400-1,12,400. The notified recruitment scheme includes a Tier-I objective examination and a Tier-II descriptive examination, followed by verification of eligibility and documents. No fresh examination date is included in this recruitment record because the current circular does not fix one.

Applications must be submitted in the prescribed offline proforma with the required supporting documents and fee proof, where applicable, so as to reach the Under Secretary (Administration), Press Council of India, Room No. 346, 3rd Floor, Soochna Bhawan, 8 CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi - 110003 within 30 days from publication of the short notice in Employment News. The application fee is Rs. 100 for candidates required to pay it; SC/ST candidates, women, PwBD candidates and Ex-Servicemen are exempt under the notified conditions.