If you have been tracking UP government job notifications, you have certainly come across the term Samiksha Adhikari — more formally known as Review Officer (RO). The name sounds bureaucratic, but the reality of this job is far more interesting than it appears on paper. This is one of the few Uttar Pradesh government positions where you get a gazetted officer designation, a posting permanently fixed in Lucknow, and an air-conditioned desk job with predictable 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM hours — no field work, no transfers to remote districts.
For any aspirant weighing their options across UP government exams, understanding exactly what a Samiksha Adhikari does — and how it differs from an ARO (Assistant Review Officer) — is essential before you decide where to invest two or three years of preparation.
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What Is a Samiksha Adhikari (Review Officer)?
A Samiksha Adhikari, or Review Officer (RO), is a gazetted government officer posted in the Uttar Pradesh Secretariat in Lucknow. The UP Secretariat — spread across landmark buildings like Lok Bhawan, Bapu Bhawan, and Annex buildings near the Vidhan Bhawan area — is where the state government formulates its policies, drafts Government Orders (GOs), and processes administrative decisions across all departments.
The RO's core function is to be the quality checkpoint on this process. Before any draft government order, policy document, or administrative proposal moves upward to the Additional Secretary or Principal Secretary for final approval, it must pass through the RO. This means the RO reads the draft, checks it for factual accuracy, legal compliance, consistency with existing rules, and clarity of language. If there is an error or ambiguity, the RO flags it — sometimes sending it back to the originating section, sometimes coordinating directly with the Law Department.
This intellectual nature of the work is precisely why the UP Secretariat Service has a reputation that rivals district-level administrative postings. You are not just shuffling files — you are genuinely engaged with the substance of governance.
Pay Scale and In-Hand Salary of Review Officer
The Review Officer post sits at Pay Level 8 of the 7th Pay Commission matrix, with a starting basic pay of ₹47,600. Here is what the full salary structure looks like:
| Salary Component | Amount (₹/month) |
|---|---|
| Basic Pay (Level 8) | 47,600 |
| Dearness Allowance (DA @ 50%) | 23,800 |
| House Rent Allowance (Lucknow — Y city, 18%) | 8,568 |
| Transport Allowance + DA | 5,400 |
| Special UP Secretariat Allowance | 2,500 |
| Gross Salary | ~87,868 |
| NPS Deduction (10%) | 7,140 |
| Income Tax & Other Deductions | ~4,700 |
| Net In-Hand (2026) | ~₹76,000–78,000 |
This is the updated 2026 in-hand figure for a fresh Samiksha Adhikari posted in Lucknow (Y-city HRA at 18%). The number was approximately ₹60,000–72,000 in earlier years when DA was lower; the 2026 DA hike to 50% has pushed in-hand to ₹76,000+. Posting in a Z-category city reduces in-hand by approximately ₹4,300 due to the lower 9% HRA rate.
📊 Want the full salary breakdown?
Year-by-year salary progression from joining to retirement, all allowances explained, comparison with other UP posts:
Read: Samiksha Adhikari Salary 2026 — Complete Guide →What Is an ARO — Assistant Review Officer?
The Assistant Review Officer (ARO) is the junior counterpart to the RO in the same secretariat setup. Key differences:
- Pay Level: Level 6, with basic pay starting at ₹35,400 (in-hand approx. ₹45,000–55,000)
- Nature of work: The ARO primarily handles typing-related duties — converting handwritten notes to typed drafts, doing Hindi translations of English correspondence, maintaining file indexes, and supporting the RO in day-to-day file processing
- Typing requirement: ARO requires Hindi typing at 25 WPM on computer — this is a hard qualifying requirement
- O Level certificate: Mandatory for ARO candidates — this is a NIELIT computer proficiency certificate
- Posting: Same as RO — always Lucknow Secretariat
The ARO role is often the first step: many candidates qualify as ARO first, gain secretariat experience, and then prepare for the RO exam. The career trajectory is ARO → RO → Section Officer → Joint Secretary → Additional Secretary.
How Many Posts Are Available?
The latest UPPSC RO/ARO recruitment cycle (2023 batch, result expected 2026) advertised a total of 411 posts — split between Review Officer and Assistant Review Officer positions across various government departments housed in the UP Secretariat.
This is a relatively small but highly competitive recruitment. The selectivity, combined with the prestige of a permanent Lucknow posting, makes the exam more competitive per seat than many district-level recruitments.
Educational Qualification for RO and ARO
For Review Officer (RO): A graduate degree from a recognized university is the basic eligibility. There is no specific stream requirement — Arts, Science, Commerce, and professional degrees all qualify.
For Assistant Review Officer (ARO): Graduate degree plus a valid O Level certificate from NIELIT (National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology). The O Level is a foundational computer applications course — it takes approximately 6 months to complete and can be done from any NIELIT-accredited study center across UP.
Age limit for both posts: 21–40 years (relaxation applicable for reserved categories as per UP government norms).
Also Read:
RO vs SDM — Why Many Aspirants Prefer the Secretariat
This comparison comes up constantly in preparation circles, and it is worth settling honestly.
An SDM (Sub-Divisional Magistrate) from PCS is a Level 10 post with higher pay (basic ₹56,100) and significantly more administrative power — you handle land disputes, revenue courts, disaster management, law and order. The SDM post carries real authority and social status in the district.
But there are costs: SDMs face frequent transfers every 2–3 years, often to rural or semi-urban postings far from family. The work week regularly extends into evenings and weekends. Election duty, flood relief coordination, and district-level emergencies are part of the job.
An RO, by contrast:
- Is permanently posted in Lucknow — family stays stable, children attend the same school throughout career
- Works 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM, Monday to Friday — no emergency postings
- Has no field visits — all work is desk-based in air-conditioned secretariat buildings
- Gets government quarters in Lucknow (Gomti Nagar / Jankipuram area), which are a significant perk in a city with rising rents
For candidates who prioritise stable family life in an urban setting over the prestige of district-level power, the RO route makes complete sense. It is not a compromise — it is a deliberate, well-reasoned choice that many experienced aspirants make.
Exam Pattern for UPPSC RO/ARO
The UPPSC RO/ARO exam consists of three stages:
- Prelims (Objective): General Studies + General Hindi — 140 questions, 140 marks, 2 hours
- Mains (Descriptive): Four papers — General Studies I & II, General Hindi, and a subject-specific paper. Total 400 marks, merit is determined here
- Typing Test (ARO only): Qualifying in nature — Hindi typing 25 WPM on computer. Must pass to be considered for final merit list
The exam demands solid General Hindi preparation — synonyms, antonyms, grammar, and comprehension — because Hindi is tested at both prelims and mains stages. Unlike PCS, where Hindi is one component, here it is central to selection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Samiksha Adhikari a gazetted officer post?
Yes. The Review Officer (Samiksha Adhikari) is a gazetted government officer under the UP Secretariat Service. This means the RO's signature carries official government authority, and the officer is listed in the official Government Gazette. The ARO post is non-gazetted.
Can a Review Officer be transferred out of Lucknow?
In standard practice, no. The RO post is tied to the UP Secretariat, which is located in Lucknow. Unlike district officers (SDM, BDO, Tehsildar), the RO does not have a field posting component. This permanent Lucknow posting is one of the most valued aspects of the job among serving officers.
