LIC AAO 2026: Complete Guide to the Assistant Administrative Officer Exam
Last updated: 2026-11-14 · MockMentor
The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) recruits officers as Assistant Administrative Officers (AAO). The latest cycle is the 32nd batch, notified on 16 August 2025, with 350 AAO (Generalist) posts and a separate notification for 410 AAO (Specialist) and 81 Assistant Engineer posts. LIC has not yet announced the next AAO cycle.
LIC AAO at a glance (2025 cycle)
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Post | Assistant Administrative Officer (Generalist) |
| Vacancies | 350 (UR 142, OBC 91, SC 51, EWS 38, ST 28) |
| Age | 21 to 30 years as on 1 August 2025 |
| Qualification | Bachelor's degree in any discipline |
| Selection | Prelims, Mains, interview, medical |
| Starting basic pay | ₹88,635 |
| Monthly emoluments | About ₹1,26,000 in an "A" class city |
| Service bond | 4 years; ₹5 lakh if you leave early |
| Fee | ₹700 plus GST; ₹85 for SC/ST/PwBD |
2025 cycle dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online application | 16 August to 8 September 2025 |
| Prelims | 3 October 2025 |
| Mains | 8 November 2025 |
Eligibility
- Age: 21 to 30 years as on 1 August 2025 (born between 2 August 1995 and 1 August 2004).
- Relaxation: SC/ST 5 years, OBC 3 years, PwBD 10 years (13 for OBC, 15 for SC/ST).
- Qualification: a Bachelor's degree in any discipline, with the result declared by 1 August 2025.
Exam pattern
Prelims (1 hour, no negative marking)
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| English Language (qualifying only) | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
About 20 times the vacancies in each category go through to Mains. Prelims marks do not count in the final list.
Mains: objective (300 marks, 2 hours 30 minutes, no negative marking)
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning Ability | 30 | 90 | 40 minutes |
| General Knowledge and Current Affairs | 30 | 60 | 20 minutes |
| Data Analysis and Interpretation | 30 | 90 | 40 minutes |
| Insurance and Financial Market Awareness | 30 | 60 | 20 minutes |
Mains: descriptive (25 marks, 30 minutes): a typed English test of letter writing and precis. It is qualifying only.
You must clear each Mains section separately.
Interview and final selection
- About 3 times the vacancies are called for interview, on Mains rank.
- The interview carries 60 marks. The pass mark is 30 (27 for SC/ST/PwBD).
- Final merit = Mains marks + interview marks.
Cut-off (2025 cycle)
These figures were compiled from score cards and result notices by coaching institutes and exam portals, and checked against at least two such sources. They are not taken from the recruiter's own website, so treat them as a guide and confirm on the official site before relying on them.
| Category | Mains (out of 300) |
|---|---|
| General | 232 |
| OBC | 221 |
| EWS | 220 |
| SC | 205 |
| ST | 189 |
Sectional minimums applied in both stages. In Prelims, General candidates needed 18 each in Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude and 10 in English.
Salary and service conditions
- Pay scale: ₹88,635 - 4,385(14) - 1,50,025 - 4,750(4) - 1,69,025.
- Total emoluments at the start are about ₹1,26,000 a month in an "A" class city, including HRA and City Compensatory Allowance.
- Probation: one year, extendable to two.
- Bond: you must serve at least four years. Leaving earlier costs ₹5,00,000.
- Most vacancies are in mofussil (smaller-town) branches, and new officers are generally posted outside their home zone for at least five years.
Frequently asked questions
Is there negative marking in LIC AAO?
No. Neither the Prelims nor the Mains objective test has negative marking.
What is the salary of LIC AAO?
The basic pay is ₹88,635, and total monthly pay at the start is about ₹1,26,000 in an "A" class city.
When is the next LIC AAO notification?
LIC has not announced it yet. The 2025 notification came out on 16 August 2025.
Source: LIC: Recruitment of AAO (Generalist), 32nd Batch, notification dated 16 August 2025.
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