CSIR Junior Secretariat Assistant Syllabus 2025 and Exam Pattern 2025: Check Subject Wise Topics and Download PDF

Jun 2, 2025, 12:46 IST

CSIR NIO JSA Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2025: The CSIR NIO syllabus consists of three subjects, i.e. Mental Ability Test/General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Awareness, and English Language. A total of 200 MCQs will be asked in the exam for the JSA and Junior Stenographer posts. Check the detailed CSIR NIO Exam Pattern and Syllabus here.

Download the CSIR JSA syllabus here
Download the CSIR JSA syllabus here

CSIR NIO Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2025: The CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography has announced 25 vacancies for the Junior Secretariat Assistant and Junior Stenographer posts. The last date to apply online for these administrative posts is June 24, 2025. The candidates will be selected for the post based on their performance in the written exam and proficiency test in computer/Stenography. As per the official notification, the written exam is tentatively scheduled in the 1st week of July 2025. As the examination is around the corner, candidates must check the syllabus and begin their preparation at the earliest. 

Typically, the CSIR NIO syllabus is divided into three subjects, i.e. Mental Ability Test/General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Awareness, and English Language. Candidates must also check the CSIR NIO exam pattern to understand the exam requirements and scoring parameters in a detailed manner. The competitive written examination consists of 200 objective-type questions. However, the exam pattern for both posts differs in terms of maximum marks, exam duration, marking scheme, and other parameters. Read on to get complete details of the CSIR NIO Exam Pattern and Syllabus 2025 on this page.

Apply Online for CSIR-NIO Posts

CSIR NIO Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2025 Highlights

The CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography has released the CSIR NIO Exam Pattern for all the posts in the official notification. Aspirants should be well aware of the exam format, syllabus, and marking scheme during the preparation to strategise well. Here are the key highlights of the CSIR NIO syllabus and pattern shared below for the candidate’s reference.

Particular

Details

Exam Conducting Body

CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography

Post Name

Junior Secretariat Assistant and Junior Stenographer

Vacancy

25

Selection Process

Written Exam and Proficiency test in computer/Stenography

Mode of Examination

OMR-based or computer-based objective-type multiple-choice examination

Medium of Question

English and Hindi except the questions on English Language

Standard of Exam

10+2/Class XII

Total Number of Questions

200

Negative Marking

Yes

CSIR NIO Exam Pattern 2025 for Junior Secretariat Assistant (Gen/F&A/S&P)

The CSIR NIO JSA exam consists of two papers, i.e. Paper I and Paper II. Paper I is qualifying in nature, and Paper II will be assessed for only those candidates who secure the minimum threshold marks in Paper I. There shall be no negative marking in Paper I, whereas 1 mark shall be deducted for every wrong answer in Paper II. Check the complete CSIR NIO JSA Exam Pattern 2025 in the table below:

Paper

Subject

Number of Questions

Maximum Marks

Exam Duration

Paper I

Mental Ability Test

100

200

90 minutes

Paper II

General Awareness

50

150

1 hour

English Language

50

150

CSIR NIO Exam Pattern 2025 for Junior Stenographer

The CSIR NIO Junior Stenographer exam will consist only of one paper with three parts, i.e. General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Awareness, and English Language & Comprehension. It consists of 200 multiple-choice questions for 200 marks. The exam duration shall be 2 hours. As per the marking scheme, each question carries 1 mark, and a negative marking of 0.25 marks is applicable for every wrong answer. Check the CSIR NIO Exam Pattern 2025 for the Junior Stenographer post shared below:

Subject

No. of Questions

Maximum Marks

Exam Duration

General Intelligence & Reasoning

50

50

2 hours (2 hours and 40 minutes for PwBD candidates eligible for scribe)

General Awareness

50

50

English Language & Comprehension

100

100

CSIR NIO Syllabus PDF

Free access to the CSIR NIO syllabus PDF helps candidates streamline their exam preparation. It enables them to focus only on the exam-relevant chapters and customise their study plan accordingly. Get the direct link to download the CSIR NIO JSA Syllabus PDF on this page.

CSIR-NIO Syllabus 

Download PDF

CSIR NIO Syllabus 2025 Subject-Wise Topics

The CSIR NIO syllabus is divided into three subjects, i.e. Mental Ability Test/General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Awareness, and English Language. It is based on the 10+2/Class XII standard level. Aspirants must master all the topics to improve their chances of achieving high scores in the competitive written exam. To help, we have shared below the important topics for all subjects to ease the candidate’s preparation:

Subject

Important Topics

English Language & Comprehension

Vocabulary

Analogies

Paragraph Formation

Preposition

Odd Word Out

Paragraph Completion

Sentence Correction

Fill in the Blanks

Sentence Improvement

Error Spotting

Word Meaning Match

Reading Comprehension

Spelling Mistakes

Synonyms & Antonyms

One Word Substitution

Rearrangement of Words in Sentence

Sentence Formation

Sentence Completion

Sentence Reconstruction

Idioms and Phrases

English Proficiency

Jumbled Paragraph, etc

Mental Ability Test

General Intelligence & Reasoning

Partnership

Blood Relations

Verbal Logic

Syllogisms

Statement & Conclusion

Decision Making

Data Structures

Input & Output

Family Tree Problem

Coding-Decoding

Alphabetical Series

Visual & Critical Reasoning

Series

Problem Solving

Linear & Matrix Arrangements 

Circular Arrangements

Bar Graph

Pie Chart

Tables

Puzzles

Caselets

Situational Judgement, etc


Quantitative Aptitude

Percentages

Ratios

Median

Number System

Simple Interest

Compound interest

Vectors

Coordinate geometry

Venn Diagram

HCF & LCM

Arithmetic Progression

BODMAS

Binomial Expansion

Profit & Loss

Calendar

Permutation & Combination

Mode

Arithmetic Mean

Trigonometry

Time, Speed, Distance

Ratios & Proportions

Mensuration

Harmonic Mean

Set Theory

Geometric Mean

Linear Equations Algebra

Geometric Progression

Logarithm

Probability

Geometry

Work & Time

Averages

Probability

Clocks, etc

General Awareness

National and International Affairs

Politics

Awards & Awardees

Business

Mythology

General Science

Society

Geography

Literature

Banking Current Affairs

Films

Sports

Economics

History, etc

How to Cover the CSIR NIO Syllabus 2025?

Candidates must integrate smart planning, resources, and consistency when preparing for the CSIR NIO exam. This can help them solidify their concepts and get ample time to revise high-priority topics. Here are a few important tips to cover the CSIR NIO syllabus shared below:

  • Analyse the CSIR NIO Exam Pattern and Syllabus thoroughly to identify the test format and important topics for all subjects.
  • Prepare a timetable that includes coverage of basic concepts, unlimited practice and daily revision sessions.
  • Practice mock tests and previous papers to boost your speed, Problem-Solving skills, Situational Judgment skills, accuracy, and time management.
  • Revise all the topics regularly to retain information for a definite period.

Best Books for CSIR NIO Preparation 2025

Get your hands on the best CSIR NIO exam books to clearly understand all the concepts and practice unlimited questions to achieve mastery. Some of the best books for CSIR NIO preparation are listed below:

  • Manorama Year Book by Mammen Mathew
  • Lucent General Knowledge
  • Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by RS Aggarwal
  • Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis
  • A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning by R S Aggrawal
  • Analytical Reasoning by MK Pandey
Upasna Choudhary
Upasna Choudhary

Content Writer

Upasna Choudhry holds a Master’s degree in Forensic Chemical Sciences and has an extensive background in preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Examination. She currently contributes to the Exam Prep Section of Jagran Josh, where her passion for reading and writing shines through her work. Upasna specializes in creating well-researched and aspirant-centric content, simplifying complex topics, and providing strategic preparation insights. Her academic expertise and firsthand experience with competitive exams enable her to deliver valuable resources tailored to the needs of exam aspirants.

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