How LIC AAO selection works
LIC recruits its Assistant Administrative Officers directly, in three stages followed by a medical. You qualify the prelims to reach the mains; mains marks alone decide who is called for interview; mains and interview marks together make the final merit list; and candidates on that list who are found medically fit are offered appointment. The details below are from the 2025 (32nd batch) AAO (Generalist) notification — a new notification may change them.
Stage-by-stage flow
- Prelims — qualifying online testClear the minimum in each of the three sections. About 20 times the vacancies in each category, subject to availability, go through to the mains. Prelims marks don’t carry forward.
- Mains — objective + descriptiveFour objective tests and a typed English descriptive paper; you must clear each section and the aggregate.
- InterviewAbout three times the vacancies are called, by mains rank within each category; 60 marks.
- Final merit listMains and interview marks are added, subject to the minimums in both. There is no waiting list.
- Pre-recruitment medical & joiningCandidates in the final merit list take a medical exam; those found fit are offered appointment and called for training.
Prelims — the gateway
A one-hour online objective test in three separately timed sections of 20 minutes each: Reasoning Ability (35 questions, 35 marks), Quantitative Aptitude (35 questions, 35 marks) and English Language (30 questions, 30 marks). English is qualifying only, so 70 marks count towards the shortlist. There is no negative marking. The minimum in each section was 18, 18 and 10 marks (16, 16 and 9 for SC/ST/PwBD). In 2025 the prelims were held on 3 October (some sessions at one Bhagalpur centre were re-held on 7 October), and 7,760 Generalist candidates were shortlisted for the mains on 29 October 2025.
Mains — the decider
Four separately timed objective tests of 30 questions each — Reasoning Ability (90 marks, 40 min), General Knowledge & Current Affairs (60 marks, 20 min), Data Analysis & Interpretation (90 marks, 40 min) and Insurance & Financial Market Awareness (60 marks, 20 min): 120 questions and 300 marks in 2 hours, with no negative marking. Straight after comes a 30-minute English descriptive paper, typed on the computer: 2 questions for 25 marks on communication skills (emails, reports, situation analysis and précis writing). It is qualifying only and is evaluated only if you clear the objective part. Section minimums were 45, 30, 45 and 30, plus 10 in the descriptive (40, 27, 40, 27 and 9 for SC/ST/PwBD). The 2025 mains was held on 8 November, and 1,119 Generalist candidates qualified for interview on 4 February 2026.
Interview
Only mains marks decide who is called: about three times the number of vacancies, by rank within each category, subject to enough candidates qualifying. The interview carries 60 marks, and you need at least 30 (27 for SC/ST/PwBD) to stay in the process. LIC sends interview call letters to the email address given in the application.
Documents & biometrics
At the interview you submit the signed, system-generated printout of your online application and the fee receipt, and produce originals with self-attested photocopies of all relevant certificates — proof of age, degree with the result declared on or before the eligibility date, and caste, EWS or disability certificates in LIC’s prescribed formats. OBC candidates need a non-creamy-layer certificate in the prescribed format; in 2025 it had to be issued on or after 1 April 2025. Missing documents can cancel your candidature. Your biometric data is captured and verified again at document verification before the interview.
Candidates working in government or public sector undertakings must bring a No Objection Certificate from their employer. LIC’s documents don’t state the 2025 interview dates, so we don’t show any.
Final merit & medical exam
The final merit list is drawn up on mains plus interview marks (out of 360), subject to the minimums in both. If two or more candidates tie, the one with the higher educational qualification ranks higher, and then the older candidate; there is no contingency or waiting list. Candidates in the final merit list take a pre-recruitment medical exam and are offered appointment if found fit. In 2025, LIC shortlisted 350 Generalist candidates for the medical on 9 April 2026 and listed 333 as eligible on 14 May 2026, to be called for training. Selected officers serve one year’s probation (extendable to two) and sign a ₹5 lakh bond to serve at least four years.
Crack LIC AAO with your own daily plan
Daily targets, PYQ practice sets & timed mocks — to the latest pattern.
Peak for the mains, the stage that counts
Since only the mains and the interview build your rank, JobSafal weights your plan toward the mains — while still getting you safely past every prelims section.
Mains-weighted plan
Clear the prelims, then peak for the mains tests that decide merit.
Practice mocks
Timed LIC AAO mocks in the online exam format.
Date alerts
Call letter, exam and result reminders.
Practice sets
Previous-year-style practice sets, solved, for prelims and mains.
