The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) examines the recruitment of various posts of Grade “B” and “C” category in the Central Government Ministries and Departments. Assistant Section Officer (ASO) and Assistant Audit Officer (AAO) are some of the upper posts in the Central Government. To get selected for these posts, it is necessary to score high in the papers.
SSC CGL Exam
The SSC CGL Exam is conducted in various stages termed Tiers. The examination is conducted in 2 tiers. Tier-I and Tier-II is a Computer-Based Examination that consists of Objective-Type multiple-choice questions. The selected candidates will be required to appear for document verification along with the original documents and their photocopies.
The selected candidates for the post of Assistant Section Officer (ASO) are allocated positions in different ministries of the Central Government. Similarly, the qualified candidates for the Assistant Audit Officer are posted under the Indian Audit and Accounts Department, which is responsible for the audit of accounts of Central and State Governments and PSUs.
Before understanding the similarities and differences between SSC CGl ASO and AAO, let’s take an overview of examination of the posts
SSC CGL ASO vs SSC CGL AAO (Audit) Overview
The SSC Combined Graduate Level (CGL) Examination is one of the most competitive government exams in India, offering prestigious posts across various ministries and departments. Among the top choices for candidates are the positions of Assistant Audit Officer (AAO) and Assistant Section Officer (ASO). Both posts offer attractive salaries, job stability, and ample growth opportunities but differ significantly in terms of job profile, department, and responsibilities. In this article, we present a detailed comparison between SSC CGL AAO and SSC CGL ASO to help aspirants make an informed choice based on their career goals and preferences.
| Name of the Examination | Combined Graduate Level Examination, 2022 |
| Name of the Posts | Assistant Audit Officer, Assistant Section Officer |
| Name of the Examination Conducting Authority | Staff Selection Commission |
| Name of the Department For AAO | Indian Audit & Accounts Department under CAG |
| Name of the Department of ASO | Central Secretariat Service,Intelligence Bureau,Ministry of Railway,AFHQ,Others. |
| Classification of the Posts | Group “B” |
| The first and the last date of submission of online applications | 9th June 2025 to 4th July 2025 |
| Tier-I Examination Schedule | 13th August to 30th August, 2025 |
SSC CGL ASO vs SSC CGL AAO (Audit) Eligibility
When it comes to choosing between top-tier posts like SSC CGL ASO (Assistant Section Officer) and SSC CGL AAO (Assistant Audit Officer), understanding the SSC CGL Eligibility criteria is essential. Both posts offer excellent career growth and government benefits but differ significantly in terms of department, age limit, educational qualifications, and other eligibility requirements. To make the selection process easier for aspirants, we’ve provided a detailed comparison table between SSC CGL ASO and SSC CGL AAO, covering key aspects such as nationality, age criteria, educational background, and age relaxations as per the official SSC CGL notification.
| Criteria | SSC CGL ASO | SSC CGL AAO |
| Nationality | Must be a citizen of India, or a subject of Nepal/Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee (arrived before 1 Jan 1962), or a PIO from listed countries. | Same as ASO. |
| Age Limit | Depends on the department:• 20–30 years → CSS, Railway, AFHQ, MEA, etc.• 18–30 years → IB, MEITY, others | 18–30 years (i.e., born not before 02-01-1992 and not later than 01-01-2004) |
| Age Relaxation | SC/ST – 5 yrsOBC – 3 yrsPwD (UR) – 10 yrsPwD (OBC) – 13 yrsPwD (SC/ST) – 15 yrsESM – 3 yrs after deduction of military service | Same as ASO. |
| Essential Qualification | Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized university | Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized university |
| Desirable Qualification | Not mandatory, but preferred for some posts | CA, CMA, CS, M.Com, MBA (Finance), Master’s in Business Studies/Economics |
| Other Conditions | – | Must pass the Subordinate Audit/Accounts Service Exam during probation for confirmation |
| Final Year Students | Eligible if degree is acquired before the cut-off date | Same as ASO – must have essential qualification before the cut-off date (13 Oct 2022) |
Important note
It is pertinent to note that the result of the required qualification should have been declared by the Institute or University by the specified date. Only processing of the result by the respective University or Institute up to the cut-off date will not satisfy the required educational qualification criteria.
Therefore, the candidates making an application should be able to prove through documentary evidence that the result was declared on or before the cut-off date of the qualifying exam. In such a result declaration, the candidates should have been declared passed for considering them eligible for the applied post.
SSC CGL ASO vs SSC CGL AAO (Audit) Vacancies
Detailed break-up of SSC CGL Vacancy for SSC CGL ASO and AAO for 2025 are not yet announced. Break-up of previous year vacancies are as follows :
2024-2025
Vacancy for these posts occurs in different Central Government Departments. The SSC has released the final vacancies for SSC CGL 2024-25, including detailed numbers for top posts like ASO.No vacancies were reported for the Assistant Audit Officer (AAO) post for theat year. Below is the detailed department-wise breakup for ASO vacancies.
| Post Code | Department/Ministry | UR | SC | ST | OBC | EWS | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B03 | CSS (Central Secretariat Service) | 581 | 215 | 107 | 387 | 143 | 1433 |
| B04 | Intelligence Bureau (IB) | 29 | 17 | 0 | 16 | 11 | 73 |
| B05 | Ministry of Railways | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| B06 | Ministry of External Affairs | 90 | 23 | 14 | 36 | 18 | 181 |
| B07 | Armed Forces Headquarters (AFHQ) | 13 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 19 |
| B08 | Election Commission of India | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| B09 | NIC, Ministry of Electronics & IT | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| B10 | Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| B11 | Central Administrative Tribunal | 4 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 11 |
| B12 | Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs | 5 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 12 |
| B14 | Central Information Commission | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| B34 | Central Vigilance Commission | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| B40 | Ministry of Corporate Affairs | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| B41 | Narcotics Control Bureau | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 11 |
2023 – 2024
Below is the detailed post-wise breakup for Assistant Section Officer (ASO) and Assistant Audit Officer (AAO) across various ministries and departments for the year 2023-2024.
| Department | Post | UR | SC | ST | OBC | EWS | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Secretariat Service (DoPT) | ASO | 342 | 108 | 24 | 149 | 69 | 692 |
| Intelligence Bureau | ASO | 18 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 37 |
| Ministry of Railways | ASO | 12 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 24 |
| Ministry of External Affairs | ASO | 58 | 13 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 100 |
| Ministry of Defence (AFHQ) | ASO | 14 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 4 | 35 |
| Election Commission | ASO | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| NIC, Ministry of Electronics & IT | ASO | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Ministry of Electronics & IT | ASO | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Central Administrative Tribunal | ASO | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 |
| Department | Post | UR | SC | ST | OBC | EWS | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C&AG (Comptroller and Auditor General of India) | Assistant Audit Officer | 158 | 49 | 24 | 84 | 31 | 346 |
| C&AG (Comptroller and Auditor General of India) | Assistant Accounts Officer | 53 | 17 | 8 | 28 | 10 | 116 |
2021 – 22
Below is the detailed post-wise breakup for Assistant Section Officer (ASO) and Assistant Audit Officer (AAO) across various ministries and departments for the year 2021-2022.
| Name of Department | UR | SC | ST | OBC | EWS | Total |
| Central Secretariat Service (DOPT) | 89 | 25 | 14 | 55 | 20 | 203 |
| Ministry of External Affairs | 26 | 13 | 6 | 24 | 8 | 58 |
| Intelligence Bureau | 11 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 12 |
| AFHQ (Ministry of Defence) | 27 | 12 | 5 | 12 | 6 | 62 |
| Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| Election Commission | 4 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 11 |
| Central Administrative Tribunal | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| National Technical Research Organisation | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Central Vigilance Commission | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Name of the Department | UR | SC | ST | OBC | EWS | Total |
| Indian Audit & Accounts Department under CAG | 138 | 50 | 24 | 90 | 33 | 335 |
2020 – 21
Below is the detailed post-wise breakup for Assistant Section Officer (ASO) and Assistant Audit Officer (AAO) across various ministries and departments for the year 2020-2021.
| Name of Department | UR | SC | ST | OBC | EWS | Total |
| Central Secretariat Service (DOPT) | 69 | 13 | 10 | 51 | 8 | 151 |
| Ministry of External Affairs | 38 | 13 | 6 | 24 | 8 | 89 |
| Intelligence Bureau | 11 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 23 |
| AFHQ (Ministry of Defence) | 36 | 15 | 9 | 20 | 8 | 88 |
| Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| Election Commission | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| Central Administrative Tribunal | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| National Technical Research Organisation | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| Central Vigilance Commission | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Name of the Department | UR | SC | ST | OBC | EWS | Total |
| Indian Audit & Accounts Department under CAG | 103 | 37 | 18 | 67 | 25 | 250 |
SSC CGL ASO v/s SSC CGL AAO Salary
The SSC CGL Salary for ASO vs AAO is as follows :
SSC CGL ASO Salary
The post of ASO comes under 4600-grade pay after application of the 7th Pay Commission. The salary will be upgraded as follows for different categories of departments. It is differentiated based on different categories.
| Particulars | X- Category | Y-Category | Z-Category |
| Basic – A | 44900 | 44900 | 44900 |
| Dearness Allowances | 13919 | 13919 | 13919 |
| House Rent Allowance – B | 12123 | 8082 | 4041 |
| Travel Allowance – C | 3600 | 1800 | 1800 |
| DA on TA | 1116 | 558 | 558 |
| Gross Salary (Total of A, B, C) | 75658 | 69259 | 65218 |
| National Pension Scheme | 5567 | 5567 | 5567 |
| CGHS | 325 | 325 | 325 |
| CGEGIS | 2880 | 2880 | 2880 |
| Total Deductions | 8772 | 8772 | 8772 |
| Salary in Hand | 66886 | 60487 | 56446 |
1. Promotion to Section Officer (4800): To get promoted after 5-7 years, it is necessary to pass the inter-department exam, or else the promotion takes place after 10-12 years.
2. Promotion from Section Officer to Section Officer (5400): It requires around 4 years to get promoted to 5400-grade pay Section Officer.
3. For Promotion from Section Officer (5400) to Under Secretary, it requires four to six years.
4. You will be promoted to the post of Deputy Secretary just before retirement, i.e., before you reach the age of 60 years. It is one of the highest posts with the highest salary.
SSC CGL AAO Salary
The salary of an Assistant Audit Officer (AAO) is in the range of 63000 to 70000, which is in-hand salary varying as per the city of posting. The salary structure with different elements is provided below:
| Level of Payscale | Pay level-B |
| Payscale | Rs. 47600 to Rs. 151100 |
| Grade Pay | 4800 |
| Basic Pay | Rs. 47600 |
| HRA (depending on the city) | 27% Cities – Rs. 12852 |
| 18% Cities- Rs 8568 | |
| 9% Cities- Rs 4284 | |
| Dearness Allowances (Current-31%) | Rs. 14756 |
| Travel Allowances | Cities- 3600,Other Places- 1800 |
| Gross Salary | 27 % Cities- Rs. 79924 |
| 18% Cities- Rs 73,282 | |
| 9% Cities- Rs 68,998 |
Promotion Policy: There are in total two promotions and retirement takes place at the Grade Pay of Rs. 6600.
SSC CGL ASO v/s SSC CGL AAO Powers and Responsibilities
Powers and responsibilities of SSC CGL ASO vs AAO is as follows :
| Aspect | SSC CGL ASO (Assistant Section Officer) | SSC CGL AAO (Assistant Audit Officer) |
|---|---|---|
| Posting Departments | Central Secretariat Service, Ministry of Railway, Intelligence Bureau, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, and others. | Indian Audit and Accounts Department (IAAD), assisting CAG in auditing Central and State Government and Public Sector Enterprises. |
| Powers | – Monitor and take quick action on project/activity delays.- Analyze rules, guidelines, procedures, precedents.- Identify alternative solutions and analyze pros/cons.- Manage cadre of various established services.- Handle questions from MPs, government bills.- Maintain link between Central Secretariat and Parliament.- Organize financial management, budget preparation.- Handle litigation work.- Monitor and control government policies. | – Accept leave applications, claims, provident fund claims.- Dispose of e-waste and old records.- Implement departmental guidelines.- Procure permissions for audit tours, training.- Conduct audit-related training.- Verify bills (TA, LTC, expenses).- Maintain office premises, service book, library.- Scrutinize and present Inspector Reports.- Manage major/minor irregularities in audit software.- Manage audit planning and execution.- Convert audit paras to draft reports.- Coordinate with field units for info.- Review postal unit invoices for discrepancies. |
| Responsibilities | – Drafting notes, submissions, letters.- Examine court case issues.- Collect additional info impacting court cases.- Assist in policy formation, implementation, and monitoring deviations.- Balance powers and responsibilities.- Comfortable working hours, weekends off.- Prestigious and straightforward role. | – Conduct audit tours 4 times a year.- Stay outstation 45-60 days per quarter for audits.- Prepare audit plan within 10-15 days.- Handle various sections: Administration, Audit Planning & Execution, Reporting, Post Communication.- Manage junior staff and in-house training.- Ensure audit compliance and reporting accuracy. |
FAQs
The age limit for AAO lies between 18-30 years whereas, for ASO, the age limit lies in the range of 20-30 years. It is only for the Intelligence Bureau, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, and other Ministries/ Departments/ Organisations that for the post of Assistant Section Officer, the age limit range is fixed between 18-30 years.
The AAO and ASO are Group “B” category posts.
The candidate should make an application on or before 23-01-2022 and make the payment up to 25-01-2022.