Odisha removes attempt limit for Odisha Civil Services examination
Eligible candidates can now sit for the OCS exam any number of times provided they meet age requirements.
The Odisha government has approved an amendment to the Odisha Civil Services (Combined Competitive Recruitment Examination) Rules, 1991, to eliminate the cap on examination attempts. According to India Today, the decision was made during a State Cabinet meeting on November 9, 2026, chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.
Under the new rules, candidates may appear for the OCS examination as many times as they wish, as long as they satisfy the prescribed age and other eligibility conditions. This removes previous category-based restrictions where General category candidates were limited to six attempts and Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) candidates were limited to nine attempts.
Candidates from the Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) categories previously had no limit on attempts. The state government stated that the amendment aims to provide fairer and wider opportunities for merit-based selection.
The OCS examination is conducted annually by the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) to recruit for various Group A and Group B posts. Successful applicants are appointed to departments including police, revenue, and welfare services.
The Cabinet also approved amendments to the Odisha Superior Judicial Service and Odisha Judicial Service Rules, 2007, following directions from the Supreme Court of India. This move is intended to increase opportunities for new law graduates and improve training for entry-level judicial officers.