The Government of Odisha conducts the Odisha Civil Services Examination (OCSE) to select candidates for administrative positions in Group A and Group B services under state government departments. The examination is conducted in accordance with the Odisha Civil Services (Combined Competitive Recruitment Examination) Rules, 1991, and its amendments, including the third Amendment Rules, 2022.
The 2025 examination has been updated through an addendum increasing total vacancies to 465 posts, including reservations for women, ex-servicemen, sports persons, and persons with disabilities (PWD).
Important Dates
- Online Application Start Date: 20 January 2026
- Online Application End Date: 20 February 2026
- Last Date for Submission of Registered Applications: 27 February 2026 (5:00 PM)
- Preliminary Examination Date (Tentative): 7 June 2026 (Sunday)
Examination Fee
- General, OBC, and Other Categories (except SC/ST/PwD): ₹700
- SC/ST/PwD candidates: Exempted from fee
- Mode of Payment: Online (Credit/Debit Card, UPI, Net Banking, Wallet, etc.)
- Refund Policy: Examination fee will be refunded only to candidates who appear in both Preliminary Examination papers. The examination fee will be refunded through the same payment method that was used during the transaction.Candidates must provide valid bank account details to facilitate refund in case of technical issues.
Vacancy Details
The total vacancies for OCSE 2025 are 465 posts, divided across Group A and Group B services as follows:
| Group | Service Name | Number of Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| Group A | Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) | 16 |
| Group A | Odisha Police Service (OPS) | 31 |
| Group A | Odisha Finance Service (OFS) | 89 |
| Group B | Odisha Taxation & Accounts Service (OT&AS) | 87 |
| Group B | Odisha Revenue Service (ORS) | 54 |
| Group B | Odisha Labour Service (OLS) | 20 |
| Group B | Odisha Welfare Service (OWS) | 16 |
| Group B | Odisha Employment Service (OES) | 13 |
| Group B | Odisha Skill Development & Employment Service | 10 |
| Group B | Odisha Transport Service (OTS) | 8 |
| Group B | Odisha Tourism Service (OTS) | 8 |
| Group B | Odisha Excise Service (OES) | 6 |
| Group B | Odisha Cooperative Service | 4 |
Reservation:
- Persons with Disabilities (PWD): 4%
- Ex-Servicemen: 3%
- Sports Persons: 1%
- Women candidates: Category-wise reservation applicable
Eligibility Criteria
i. Citizenship
- Candidate must be a citizen of India.
ii. Age Limit
- Minimum Age: 21 years (as of 1 Jan 2025)
- Maximum Age: 42 years (as of 1 Jan 2025)
- Relaxation:
- SC/ST/SEBC/Women/Ex-Servicemen: +5 years
- Persons with Disabilities (≥40% disability): +10 years
- Cumulative relaxation applicable for SC/ST/SEBC PWD candidates
iii. Educational Qualification
- Candidate must hold a Bachelor’s Degree from:
- Indian University established by Central or State Act
- Institution established by Parliament
- A university recognized as a Deemed University by the UGC under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956
- Foreign University recognized by the Central Government
iv. Language Proficiency
Candidate must know Odia, demonstrated by:
- Successfully completing Middle School with Odia as one of the subjects, or
- Passing High School with Odia as a medium in non-language subjects, or
- Passing Class VII final exam in Odia, or
- Qualifying in the Odia language test held by the School & Mass Education Department
v. Other Conditions
- Candidate must have good moral character and be physically and mentally fit.
- Government servants must provide No Objection Certificate (NOC).
- Candidates with multiple spouses or disqualifications from previous PSC exams are ineligible.
Pay Scale
| Group | Service Name | Pay Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Group A | OAS, OPS | ₹56,100/- Level-12 Cell-1 |
| Group B | All other services (OT&AS, ORS, OLS, OWS, OES, etc.) | ₹44,900/- Level-10 Cell-1 |
The Pay Matrix follows ORSP Rules 2017, as applicable for different posts.
Selection Process
The OCSE 2025 is conducted in three stages:
Stage 1 – Preliminary Examination (Objective Type)
- Purpose: Screening for Main Examination
- Papers: 2 Papers, 200 marks each, 2 hours duration
- Paper I – General Studies
- Paper II – General Studies
- Negative Marking: 1/3rd mark deducted for wrong answers
- Qualifying Marks: Minimum 33% in Paper II; Paper I marks counted for qualification criterion
Stage 2 – Main Examination (Written + Interview)
- Written Test: 9 papers (2 qualifying + 7 for merit assessment)
- Subjects: As per OCS(CCRE) Schedule-III
- Optional Papers: 2 papers
- Marks: Total 1750 marks (written) + 250 marks (Interview/Personality Test) = 2000 marks
Stage 3 – Interview / Personality Test
- Conducted for top candidates based on written exam performance
- Marks contribute to final ranking
8. Application Process
- Visit the OPSC official website: https://opsc.gov.in
- Carefully read the detailed advertisement.
- Register for a Permanent Public Service Account Number (PPSAN).
- Fill the Online Application Form with accurate details.
- Upload scanned passport-size photograph, full signature, and left-hand thumb impression (LTI).
- Pay the examination fee online (if applicable).
- Verify the submitted application; if corrections are needed, cancel and reapply before the closing date.
- Keep multiple copies of uploaded photograph for future use.
- Download admission certificate from the OPSC portal when available.
- Follow official notifications for document verification and interview.
