Assistant Section Officer (AFHQ)
सहायक अनुभाग अधिकारी (सशस्त्र सेना मुख्यालय)
Pay Level 7 civilian post via SSC CGL in the Armed Forces Headquarters — file work for the Army, Navy and Air Force HQs in Delhi.
Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service · Ministry of Defence
Exam
SSC CGL
Qualification
Graduate
Age limit
20–30 years
Transfers
Rare
Work hours
Regular office hours, five days a week
Probation
2 years
Estimated in-hand / month
₹76,316
Gross ₹83,700 · CTC ≈ ₹11.3 lakh/yr
Where are you posted?
Assistant Section Officer (AFHQ) · rates as of January 2026 (DA 60%). Excludes CGHS, GPF/insurance deductions and special allowances. Estimate only.
New to pay slips? Read how in-hand salary is worked out.
What you will actually do
- Examining receipts and putting up notes with rules and precedents
- Drafting letters, office memoranda and replies
- Preparing material for Parliament questions and RTI replies
- Maintaining files and tracking references on e-Office
- Coordinating with other sections and offices
A typical day
You sit in a directorate of Army, Naval or Air Headquarters or an inter-service organisation, working alongside uniformed officers. The work is secretariat-style: examining cases on personnel, procurement, works or budget, writing notes and drafting replies. Officers in uniform rotate every two or three years, so the civilian staff carry the institutional memory. Hours are regular and the office culture is disciplined and punctual.
Promotion path
Timelines are ranges and vary by cadre. See how promotions and MACP work.
Assistant Section Officer (AFHQ) (joining)
Pay Level 7
₹72,000–₹84,000 in-hand
Section Officer (Group B gazetted)
8–12 years, or sooner through the limited departmental exam · Level 8 · via departmental exam
₹76,000–₹88,000 in-hand
Under Secretary
Further 8–10 years · Level 11 · via dpc
₹1,02,000–₹1,19,000 in-hand
Promotion timelines vary by cadre and vacancies. If not promoted, MACP gives a pay upgrade after 10, 20 and 30 years.
How to get in
Staff Selection Commission
- 1.Tier-I computer-based test
- 2.Tier-II computer-based test (including computer knowledge module)
- 3.Document verification
Eligibility: Bachelor's degree from a recognised university. Age 20–30. SC/ST: 5 years, OBC: 3 years, PwBD: 10 years (more for SC/ST/OBC PwBD), as per the notification.
The good
- ✓ Level 7 pay with a settled Delhi posting
- ✓ Orderly work environment and fixed hours
- ✓ Good promotion flow in the cadre
The hard parts
- – Delhi's cost of living
- – Civilians work under service officers and have limited say
- – Desk-bound, routine file work
Postings
Almost entirely in Delhi, in the defence headquarters offices. Movement is between directorates, not cities.
Questions people ask
What is the in-hand salary of Assistant Section Officer (AFHQ)?+
Assistant Section Officer (AFHQ) is a Pay Level 7 post with a starting basic pay of ₹44,900. At current rates (DA 60%, January 2026), the starting in-hand salary is roughly ₹72,000–₹84,000 a month, depending on whether you are posted in a Z, Y or X class city.
What is the qualification and age limit for Assistant Section Officer (AFHQ)?+
Bachelor's degree from a recognised university. Age: 20–30 years. Relaxation: SC/ST: 5 years, OBC: 3 years, PwBD: 10 years (more for SC/ST/OBC PwBD), as per the notification.
Which exam do I need to clear for Assistant Section Officer (AFHQ)?+
SSC CGL (Staff Selection Commission).
Is AFHQ a military job?+
No. It is a civilian secretariat service under the Ministry of Defence. There is no uniform, physical test or field posting.
Compare with similar posts
Assistant Section Officer (CSS)
सहायक अनुभाग अधिकारी (CSS)
Pay Level 7 policy-support post in central ministries in New Delhi via SSC CGL — file work at the heart of government.
Assistant Section Officer (Ministry of External Affairs)
सहायक अनुभाग अधिकारी (विदेश मंत्रालय)
Pay Level 7 post via SSC CGL in the Foreign Ministry — desk work in Delhi with postings to Indian embassies abroad.
Assistant Section Officer (Ministry of Railways)
सहायक अनुभाग अधिकारी (रेल मंत्रालय)
Pay Level 7 post via SSC CGL in the Railway Board secretariat in Delhi — policy file work, with railway passes.
Books to prepare for SSC CGL
- See on Amazon
Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations
R.S. Aggarwal (S. Chand)
The standard practice book for arithmetic. Strong on volume of questions; weak on shortcuts, so pair it with solved papers.
- See on Amazon
SSC Mathematics Chapterwise Solved Papers
Kiran Prakashan
Thousands of actual SSC questions sorted by topic. The quickest way to see what is really asked.
- See on Amazon
Objective General English
S.P. Bakshi (Arihant)
Grammar rules with exam-style practice sets. Good for error spotting and sentence improvement.
All 7 books for SSC CGL, CPO and other graduate-level exams
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Sources
This profile is being reviewed. Confirm details in the latest official notification. Salary computed from pay rules as of January 2026.