Odisha removes attempt limit for Odisha Civil Services examination
Eligible candidates can now appear for the OCS exam any number of times provided they meet age requirements.
The Odisha government has approved a proposal to eliminate restrictions on how many times candidates can sit for the Odisha Civil Services (OCS) examination. According to reports from Moneycontrol, India Today, and Urban Acres, the decision was made during a State Cabinet meeting led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on November 9, 2026.
The Cabinet cleared amendments to the Odisha Civil Services (Combined Competitive Recruitment Examination) Rules, 1991. Under these revised provisions, aspirants from all categories can take the exam as many times as they wish, as long as they satisfy the prescribed age and other eligibility criteria.
Previously, the number of allowed attempts varied by social category. General category applicants were limited to six attempts, while those from the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) could appear nine times. Candidates from the Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) categories already had unlimited attempts.
Chief Secretary Anu Garg stated that candidates remain eligible to sit for the exam until they reach the upper age limit or fail to meet other conditions. For General category candidates, the upper age limit is 42 years.
The Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) conducts the OCS examination annually to recruit for Group A and Group B positions in departments such as police, revenue, and welfare. The government said the change aims to provide fairer, merit-based opportunities for aspirants.
The implementation of these amended rules will be reflected in future OCS recruitment notifications issued by the OPSC.