Last updated: September 11, 2026 at 12:03 AM
The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has opened the admit card download window for the Computer Proficiency Test (CPT) held for recruitment to 100 Assistant Section Officer (ASO) posts under Advt. No. E-I/RC/2026/2. Shortlisted candidates can download the CPT admit card from the CSIR Recruitment Portal between 05.09.2026 (10:00 AM) and 11.09.2026 (05:00 PM) using their Application Number and Date of Birth. CSIR has not announced the test date in a separate notice, so the exact date, reporting time and venue are printed on the admit card itself.
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CSIR ASO CPT Admit Card 2026 — Overview
| Exam Name | Computer Proficiency Test (CPT) for the post of Assistant Section Officer |
| Post Name | Assistant Section Officer — General (61), Finance and Accounts (18), Stores and Purchase (21); 100 posts in total |
| Organization | Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India |
| Notification / Advertisement No. | Advt. No. E-I/RC/2026/2 |
| Location | All India / Central Govt — officers are liable to serve anywhere in India at any CSIR laboratory, institute, unit, extension centre or CSIR Headquarters. CPT centre: Delhi (tentative) |
| Admit Card Download Window | 05.09.2026 (10:00 AM) to 11.09.2026 (05:00 PM) |
| Login Credentials | Application Number + Date of Birth + captcha, followed by an OTP sent to the registered mobile number and email ID |
| CPT Date | Not announced in a separate notice — printed on your admit card |
| Exam Centre | Delhi, tentatively (as stated in the advertisement) |
| Duration and Marks | 01 hour, 100 marks |
| Nature of the Test | Qualifying only — final merit is drawn from UPSC CSE-2024 marks |
| Pay Level | Group B (Non-Gazetted), Pay Level 7, Cell 1 — Rs. 44,900 to Rs. 1,42,400 |
| Admit Card Link | Download CPT Admit Card |
| Official Website | recruitment.csir.res.in |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online application start date | 23.06.2026 (10:00 AM) |
| Last date to submit online application | 13.07.2026 (05:00 PM) |
| CPT admit card download starts | 05.09.2026 (10:00 AM) |
| CPT admit card download closes | 11.09.2026 (05:00 PM) |
| Computer Proficiency Test (CPT) date | As printed on the admit card — not announced separately |
CPT Exam Pattern
| Component | Detail |
|---|---|
| Mode | Computer-based practical test conducted at a designated centre |
| Duration | 01 hour |
| Total marks | 100 |
| Skills tested | Word processing (typing of a passage and other word processing exercises), preparation of a spreadsheet, and preparation of a PowerPoint presentation with related exercises |
| Nature of the test | Qualifying only — CPT marks are not added to the final merit list |
| Who is called for the CPT | Candidates screened and shortlisted in the ratio of 1:5, that is five times the number of vacancies, category-wise |
| Basis of final selection | Total marks (Mains plus Personality Test) obtained in UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024, subject to securing the minimum threshold marks in the CPT |
| Exam centre | Delhi, tentatively. CSIR reserves the right to conduct the test elsewhere |
Minimum Qualifying Marks in the CPT
| Category | Minimum Marks (out of 100) |
|---|---|
| UR (Unreserved) | 40 |
| EWS | 37 |
| OBC (NCL) | 37 |
| SC / ST | 35 |
| PwBD (all categories) | 30 |
How to Download the CSIR ASO CPT Admit Card 2026
- Open the CSIR Recruitment Portal at recruitment.csir.res.in and click the link for Download Admit Card for Computer Proficiency Test (CPT) [Assistant Section Officer Recruitment].
- On the Download Admit Card page, enter your Application Number and Date of Birth, then type the text shown in the captcha image. Use the Reload Captcha option if the image is unclear.
- Click Generate OTP. The OTP is sent by SMS and email to your registered mobile number and email ID. SMS is available only for the first two attempts, so use the OTP received on your registered email after that.
- Enter the OTP to open your admit card. Check your name, photograph, signature, roll number, test date, reporting time and centre address carefully.
- Download the PDF and take a clear colour printout. Keep a spare copy, because the download link closes on 11.09.2026 at 05:00 PM.
Note: The download link is live only between 05.09.2026 (10:00 AM) and 11.09.2026 (05:00 PM). If your Application Number or Date of Birth is not accepted, contact the CSIR Recruitment Cell helpdesk at ra.helpdesk@csir.res.in before the window closes.
Documents to Carry to the Exam Centre
| Document | Format / Notes |
|---|---|
| Printed CPT admit card | Clear colour printout on A4 paper; the photograph and signature must be legible |
| Original photo identity proof | Aadhaar Card, PAN Card, Voter ID, Passport or Driving Licence. The name must match the name on the admit card exactly |
| Photocopy of the photo ID | One self-attested photocopy, commonly collected at the centre |
| Passport-size photographs | Two recent photographs, identical to the one printed on the admit card |
| Blue or black ballpoint pen | For signing the attendance sheet and any declaration at the centre |
| Instructions printed on your admit card | Read them before the test day — they are the authoritative list for your centre and they override this general list |
The CSIR Recruitment Portal notice does not itemise the documents to be carried, so the table above is standard exam-centre guidance. The instructions annexed to your own admit card are the final word.
Important Links
| Link | Open |
|---|---|
| Download CPT Admit Card (Direct Link) | Download Admit Card |
| CSIR Recruitment Portal (Home) | Open CSIR Recruitment Portal |
| Official Advertisement (Advt. No. E-I/RC/2026/2) | Download Notification PDF |
| CSIR Official Website | Visit csir.res.in |
| Join Telegram Channel | Join Telegram Channel |
| Join WhatsApp Channel | Join WhatsApp Channel |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Waiting until 11.09.2026 to download — the link closes at 05:00 PM that day and there is no reopening notice on the portal.
- Burning both SMS attempts on a bad captcha. SMS delivery of the OTP works only for the first two occasions; after that the OTP arrives only on your registered email, so check that inbox and its spam folder.
- Assuming the CPT date will be announced separately. CSIR has published only the download window, so the test date, reporting time and venue exist only on your admit card.
- Carrying an ID whose name spelling differs from the admit card — a mismatch is the most common reason candidates are stopped at the gate.
- Treating the CPT as a scoring paper. It is qualifying only; clearing the category threshold is all that matters, because the merit list is built from your UPSC CSE-2024 Mains plus Personality Test marks.
- Practising only typing. The test also covers spreadsheet work and building a PowerPoint presentation within the same one hour.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. When can I download the CSIR ASO CPT admit card 2026?
The download link is open from 05.09.2026 at 10:00 AM until 11.09.2026 at 05:00 PM on the CSIR Recruitment Portal.
Q2. What do I need to log in and download the admit card?
Your Application Number and Date of Birth, plus the captcha, after which an OTP is sent to your registered mobile number and email ID.
Q3. I am not receiving the OTP on SMS. What should I do?
SMS delivery is available only for the first two occasions, so use the OTP sent to your registered email address instead.
Q4. What is the CSIR ASO CPT exam date?
CSIR has not published the test date in a separate notice; it is printed on your admit card along with the reporting time and centre address.
Q5. What is tested in the Computer Proficiency Test?
Word processing including typing a passage, preparation of a spreadsheet, and preparation of a PowerPoint presentation with related exercises, in one hour for 100 marks.
Q6. How many marks do I need to qualify?
40 marks for UR, 37 for EWS and OBC, 35 for SC and ST, and 30 for all PwBD categories, out of 100.
Q7. Do CPT marks count towards the final merit list?
No — the CPT is qualifying only, and the final selection is made on the total marks (Mains plus Personality Test) obtained in UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024.
Q8. Where will the CPT be held and whom do I contact for help?
The test is scheduled in Delhi tentatively, and download or login problems can be raised with the CSIR Recruitment Cell helpdesk at ra.helpdesk@csir.res.in.
Disclaimer: The information above has been compiled from the official notification for the convenience of job seekers. Candidates are advised to verify all details from the official website before applying.
