How to be ASO in MEA? Eligibility Criteria, Salary Structure, and More

MEA, or the Ministry of External Affairs, is a part of the Indian administration that is responsible for maintaining relations and communication with other countries. The Staff Selection Commission offers young candidates a great opportunity to work with the central government’s top organisations. One of the top positions under SSC CGL is an assistant section officer or ASO in MEA.

SSC conducts the Combined Graduate Level (CGL), which is one of the ways to kickstart your career as an ASO in MEA. Here we have provided complete details in the article below that will cover ASO in the Ministry of External Affairs eligibility, job profile, pay scale, and more! 

How to Become an ASO in MEA

To become an  ASO in the Ministry of External Affairs, you need to clear the SSC CSL Exam (Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level). Here  is the step-by-step process: 

Step 1: Apply for SSC CGL:

First, visit the official website: ssc.nic.in and fill out the online application form. Select the ASo in MEA as your preference

Step 2: Clear the SSC CGL Exam

SSC CGL is conducted in four tiers:

Computer Proficiency Test (CPT)	Computer Proficiency Test (CPT)	Computer Proficiency Test (CPT)	Computer Proficiency Test (CPT)
Objective-type online test	Objective-type online test with a focus on English, Math, and Reasoning	Essay/Letter writing (pen and paper)	Computer Proficiency Test (CPT)

Step 3: Document Verification and Selection

After clearing all tiers, your documents will be verified, and a final merit list will be prepared based on your scores.

Eligibility Criteria for ASO in MEA

SSC conducts the CGL examination for the recruitment of various Group “B” and Group “C” officer-level posts in central-level ministries and departments. Here are the eligibility criteria for ASO in MEA:

Name of the Post	Classification of the Post
Assistant Section Officer (ASO)  in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)	Group “B”
Age Limit	20 – 30 Years

Upper Age Limit Relaxation for ASO in MEA

Permissible relaxation is the upper age limit, as well as category codes for claiming age relaxation as of the date of reckoning, as follows: 

Category	Age Relaxation
OBC	3 years
SC/ST	5 years
PwDe + Gen	10 years
PwD + OBC	13 years
PwD + SC/ST	15 years
Ex-servicemen	3 years after the deduction of military service rendered from the actual age as of the closing date

Educational Qualification and Nationality for ASO in MEA

Enlisted below are the essential qualification details according to the post of ASO in MEA: 

• Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised university or equivalent
• A candidate must be either;
  • a citizen of India, or
  • a subject of Nepal, or
  • a subject of Bhutan, or
  • a Tibetan refugee who came over to India, before the 1st of January 1962, to permanently settle in India, or
  • a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania (Formerly Tanganyika and Zanzibar), Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, and Vietnam to permanently settle in India.

Salary Structure of Assistant Section Officer 

The pay scale of an ASO in MEA ranges from INR 44,900 to INR 14,2400 with a grade pay of INR 4600 in addition to permissible allowances by the Central Government. As per the 7th Pay Commission, the ASO in MEA would get a salary of around INR 66,000/- pm initially. Let’s take a look below: 

Pay Level	Level 7
Pay Scale	INR 44,900 – INR 1,42,400
Grade Pay	4600
Basic Pay	INR 44,900
HRA	10,776
DA (Current 17%)	7,633
Travel Allowance	Cities – 3600; Other Places – 1800
Gross Salary Range (approx)	66,909

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Job Profile & Training Details of ASO in MEA 

The Assistant Section Officer (ASO) plays a major role in maintaining the workflow of the department. They have important work responsibilities, and they revolve around Indian diplomacy. Here are some of the work responsibilities of ASO in MEA: 

• Assistant IFS officers in day-to-day work
• Noting, drafting, and communication with the head office
• Plan and examine international documents
• Coordinate between various offices, as well as the headquarters of the home nation
• To promote friendly relations between the state and its people

The following are the training details of ASO in MEA:

• At the time of joining, there will be no immediate training. However, to get a foreign posting, you have to undergo 30 days of training as well as a foreign language test. 
• The foreign language proficiency test is mandatory to get a foreign posting
• Training is hectic, with a lot to learn in a brief period, for effective work
• Training takes place at the Foreign Service Institute (FSI), JNU, New Delhi

Promotion Policy for ASO in MEA

As an ASO in the Ministry of External Affairs, you will have the following career path: 

Director 
↓
Deputy Secretary
↓
Under Secretary
↓
Section Officer
↓
Assistant Section Officer (ASO)

Career Growth and Promotions

ASOs in MEA can excerpt the following career progression: 

• Assistant Selection Officer (ASO)
• Selection Officer (SO)
• Under Secretary
• Deputy Secretary 
• Director 

The first promotion from Assistant Section Officer (ASO) to section officers takes around 4 – 5 years after clearing departmental exams. Otherwise, it may take around 10 – 14 years to get promoted on a seniority basis. 

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ASO in the Ministry of External Affairs Job Posting/Location

Outside India, the following locations are given to ASO in MEA, which is further divided into 5 categories – A+, A, B, C, and Hard C: 

Country Category	Posting Locations
A+	New York, Toronto, Washington DC, Wellington, Geneva
A	London, Paris, Madrid, Mexico City, Tokyo
B	Chicago, Warshaw, Zurich, Sydney
C	Thimphu, Kuwait, Bangkok
Hard C	Kabul, Damascus, Kandahar

Tips to Crack SSC CGL for ASO in MEA 

Here are some important tips to crack SSC CGL for ASO in MEA: 

• Focus on English and General Awareness- heavily weighted in Tier I and Tier II
• Stay updated on current affairs and international relations 
• Practice previous year papers and mock tests 
• Maintain consistent study with a proper strategy

FAQs

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That’s everything you need to know about ASO in MEA. For more such helpful and informative articles, stay connected with Leverage Edu. And if you’re planning to study at a top university abroad, our experts are here to guide you every step of the way. Reach out to us today.