Press Council of India Recruitment 2026 – Apply for 3 Assistant Section Officer Posts

Press Council of India Recruitment 2026

The Press Council of India (PCI), New Delhi, has issued a vacancy circular for the recruitment of Assistant Section Officer (ASO) posts under Group B, Non-Gazetted category. As per the official vacancy circular dated 26 September 2026, a total of 3 vacancies are available.

Eligible Indian citizens can apply for the Assistant Section Officer post in the prescribed application format. Candidates should check the educational qualifications, age limit, examination scheme, application fee, and other details before submitting their applications.

This recruitment notice is issued in continuation of the earlier vacancy circular dated 18 May 2024 and relates to the examination conducted on 4 May 2025, whose result was declared on 18 June 2026.

Press Council of India ASO Recruitment 2026 – Overview

Important Dates – Press Council of India ASO Recruitment 2026

Important: The closing date is calculated from the publication of the short notice in Employment News, not simply from the date printed on the circular. Candidates should check the relevant Employment News issue to confirm the exact deadline.

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Vacancy Details

The category-wise vacancy distribution for Assistant Section Officer is given below:

Educational Qualification – Press Council of India ASO Recruitment 2026

Candidates must possess the following qualifications:

Essential Qualification

– Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized University or Institute.

Desirable Qualifications

Candidates possessing any of the following qualifications will be considered as having desirable qualifications:

• Post Graduate Degree from a recognized University.

• Degree in Law from a recognized University.

• Degree or Diploma in Journalism or Mass Communication.

• Knowledge of an additional language apart from Hindi and English.

Candidates should refer to the official notification for the complete eligibility requirements.

Age Limit – Press Council of India ASO Recruitment 2026

The prescribed age limit for the Assistant Section Officer post is:

The crucial date for determining the age limit is the closing date of submission of the application.

Age relaxation for reserved categories will be applicable as per the extant Government of India rules.

OBC candidates must ensure that they do not fall under the creamy layer as on the closing date of application.

Salary and Pay Scale – Press Council of India ASO Recruitment 2026

Selected candidates will be appointed under Pay Level 6 of the 7th Central Pay Commission.

In addition to basic pay, applicable allowances will be admissible as per the rules of the Government of India.

Application Fee -PCI Assistant Section Officer Vacancy 2026

The application fee prescribed in the vacancy circular is ₹100.

The application fee is to be paid through the prescribed payment method mentioned in the official notification. Candidates should retain the payment receipt.

Selection Process – Press Council of India ASO Recruitment 2026

The selection process for Press Council of India Assistant Section Officer Recruitment 2026 consists of the following examination stages:

1. Tier-I Objective Type Examination.

2. Tier-II Descriptive Type Examination (Qualifying in Nature).

The Council reserves the right to prescribe additional stages or modify the examination scheme as per the official recruitment rules.

Exam Pattern – PCI Assistant Section Officer Vacancy 2026

Tier-I: Objective Type Examination

The Tier-I examination consists of 200 questions for 200 marks.

Duration: 150 Minutes

• The examination will be conducted through Computer Based Test (CBT) or OMR-based mode.

• There will be a negative marking of 0.25 marks for each incorrect answer.

• Candidates must qualify separately in each section of the Tier-I examination.

Tier-II: Descriptive Examination

The descriptive paper will assess writing ability and critical analysis skills. Candidates may write the paper in Hindi or English. Candidates writing in Hindi must use the prescribed language for the entire paper.

Minimum Qualifying Marks

The final merit list will be prepared on the basis of marks obtained in the Tier-I examination, subject to qualifying the Tier-II examination and other prescribed requirements.

How to Apply for Press Council of India ASO Recruitment 2026

Eligible candidates should submit their applications in the prescribed format given in Annexure-I of the official notification.

Follow the steps below to apply:

1. Visit the official website of the Press Council of India at presscouncil.nic.in.

2. Download the official Assistant Section Officer Recruitment 2026 vacancy circular and application form.

3. Read the eligibility conditions and instructions carefully.

4. Fill in the application form in block letters with the required personal, educational, category and contact details.

5. Attach self-attested copies of educational certificates, date of birth proof, category certificate (where applicable), identity proof and other required documents.

6. Attach the prescribed application fee payment receipt, if applicable.

7. Sign the declaration and verify all details before sending the application.

Application Submission Address for PCI Assistant Section Officer Vacancy 2026

The application should be sent by post to the following address:

The application must reach the prescribed address within 30 days from the publication of the short notice in Employment News.

Important Instructions for Candidates

• This circular is a continuation of the earlier vacancy circular dated 18 May 2024.

• Candidates who had applied under the earlier advertisement and were issued admit cards for the examination held on 4 May 2025, but were not declared qualified in Tier-I, are also addressed under the terms of the circular. They must submit a fresh application in the prescribed format.

• Candidates should read the official notice regarding fee exemption and eligibility applicable to candidates from the earlier examination.

• All eligibility conditions, including age and educational qualifications, will be verified by the Press Council of India.

• Incomplete applications or applications received after the prescribed deadline may be rejected.

• The Council reserves the right to cancel or modify the recruitment process as per the conditions stated in the notification.

Important Links – Press Council of India ASO Recruitment 2026

Note: The official circular is the controlling source for eligibility, application requirements and deadlines. Candidates should check the original notice and Employment News before submitting their applications.