Overview

The Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) has announced the OPSC OCS Notification 2024, inviting online applications for 399 vacancies in Group A and Group B. This official notification provides comprehensive details about the Odisha Civil Service Examination 2023. The OPSC, responsible for conducting the Civil Services Examination in Odisha, is offering this opportunity to eligible candidates. The selection process involves three stages: Prelims, Mains, and Interviews, with the Prelims being qualifying. Interested candidates should apply online before the deadline. For more information on vacancies, key dates, eligibility, selection process, and exam pattern, please refer to the detailed article.

Important Dates

The important dates for the Odisha Civil Service  examination are as follows:-

Selection Process

The Selection process of the Odisha Civil Service Examination is as follows:-

• Preliminary Examination
• Mains Examination
• Interview

Eligibility Criteria

• Educational Qualification-Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s Degree in any field from a recognized State or National University or a Deemed University. They should also be proficient in reading, writing, and speaking Odia, and must meet one of the following criteria:

1.  Have passed the Middle School Examination with Odia as a language or subject.
2.  Have completed the HSC or an equivalent exam with Odia as the medium of instruction in a non-language subject.
3.  Have studied Odia as a language subject in the final examination of class 8 at school or another educational institution.

• Age Limit- The age limit as prescribed by the board is a candidate has to be a minimum of 21 years of age and a maximum of 38 years of age. Age relaxation would be given as per government rules.

Syllabus & Exam Pattern

• Negative Marking- There will be a negative marking of 0.33% or 1/3rd marks for every wrong answer.
• Time Duration- The preliminary examination will be conducted with Paper 1 and Paper 2 for two hours each. In total the paper will be conducted in 4 hours.
• No. of Questions- There will be a total of 100 questions in paper 1 of the prelims and a total of 80 questions in paper 2 of the prelims.
• Types of Questions- The Odisha Civil Service examination will have objective type/multiple choice questions.
• Mode of Exam- The Odisha Civil Service examination will be held online.
• Qualifying Marks- The minimum qualifying mark for General Studies paper II is 33%.

Exam Pattern of Prelims:-

Exam Pattern of  Mains Examination:-

Syllabus

The syllabus for the Preliminary examination of Odisha Civil Services is as follows:-

Preliminary examination

Paper I:-

• Current Affairs (National and International)
• History of India and the Indian National Movement
• History of Odisha and Odisha Nationalism
• Odisha and Indian Geography- Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and  the World
• Indian Polity and Governance- Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj
• Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
• Economic and Social Development- Sustainable development, poverty, inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector initiative, etc.
• General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity, and climate change.
• General Science

Paper II:-

• Comprehension
• Interpersonal Skills including communication skills.
• Logical Reasoning and Analytical ability
• Decision-making problem-solving
• General mental ability
• Basic Numeracy (Number and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.) Class X Level, Data Interpretation (Charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency, etc)

Mains Examination

Part I-

Paper I:- ODIA LANGUAGE

• Comprehension of given passages
• Precis Writing
• Usage and Vocabulary
• Short Essays
• Translation from English to Odia and Vice Versa

Paper II:- English Language

• Comprehension of given passages
• Precis Writing
• Usage and Vocabulary
• Short Essays

PART 2:-

Paper I:- Essay

Paper II: - General Studies Paper I:-

• Indian Heritage and Culture
• Odisha Heritage and Culture
• History and Geography of the world and society

Paper III: - General Studies Paper II:-

• Governance
• Constitution
• Polity
• Social Justice
• Inter-State Relations

Paper IV:- General Studies Paper III:-

• Technology
• Economic Development
• Bio-diversity
• Environment
• Security and Disaster Management

Paper V:- General Studies Paper IV

• Ethics
• Integrity
• Aptitude

Exam Analysis

The exam analysis of the Odisha Public Service Commission is as follows:-

Admit Card

The Odisha Public Service Commission releases the admit card for the Odisha Civil Service Exam on its official website. Candidates can download their admit card by following the below steps:

• Visit the official website of the OPSC at www.opsc.gov.in.
• Click on the "Admit Card" tab on the homepage.
• Select the region from which the candidate has applied for the exam.
• Click on the link provided for the OPSC admit card.
• Enter the candidate's registration number or roll number and date of birth.
• Click on the "Submit" button.
• The admit card will be displayed on the screen.
• Download and take a printout of the admit card for future reference.

Result

Once the OPSC declares the result for the Odisha Civil Service examination, candidates can follow the steps below to check their results:

• Visit the official website of the OPSC at www.opsc.gov.in
• Click on the "Results" tab on the homepage.
• Select the Odisha Civil Service option from the drop-down menu.
• Click on the link for the results of the OPSC Examination.
• The result will be displayed in the form of a PDF file.
• Use the "Ctrl+F" function to search for your roll number in the PDF file.
• If your roll number is present in the list, you have qualified for the exam.

Cut Off

The cut-off will be released with the release of the results of the Odisha Public Service Commission examination on the official website.

Answer Key

Tentative Answer Keys for the Computer Based Examination will be placed on the website of the Commission after the Examination.

• For the answer, the Key candidate must visit the official website www.opsc.gov.in
• On the home page, click on the ‘OPSC Results’ tab.
• Candidates will be redirected to a different page.
• After clicking on the tab, candidates now need to click on the Answer Key link.
• Applicants will now see the login page where they have to log in using their registration/roll no and password/date of birth.
• After filling in the credentials, click on submit.
• They will see the answer key on their screen.      
• Candidates are advised to save and download the answer key for future reference

Preparation Tips

A candidate appearing for the OPSC Examination should follow these tips for better preparation:-

• Know the syllabus: The first step towards preparing for any exam is to know the syllabus and exam pattern. Candidates should go through the OPSC  syllabus and exam pattern thoroughly to understand the topics and weightage of marks.
• Time management: Time management is crucial while preparing for the exam. Candidates should allocate a specific time for each section and topic and stick to the schedule. Also, candidates should take regular breaks to refresh their minds.
• Practice mock tests: Practicing mock tests is a great way to prepare for the exam. Candidates should attempt as many mock tests as possible to understand the exam pattern, and time management, and analyze their performance.
• Improve typing speed: OPSC  examination requires good typing speed, accuracy, and time management. Candidates should practice typing on the keyboard to improve their speed and accuracy.
• Revision: Revision is essential while preparing for any exam. Candidates should revise the topics regularly to keep them fresh in their minds.
• General knowledge: General knowledge is an important section of the OPSC exams. Candidates should read newspapers, magazines, and current affairs regularly to keep themselves updated.
• Stay focused: Candidates should stay focused and motivated while preparing for the exam. They should avoid distractions and negative thoughts.
• Stay healthy: A healthy mind and body are crucial while preparing for the exam. Candidates should eat healthily, exercise regularly, and take breaks to avoid burnout.

By following these tips, candidates can prepare well and score high in the OPSC exams.

Apply Online

• Visit the official website of the Odisha Public Service Commission at www.opsc.gov.in
• Click on the "Apply" tab on the homepage.
• Click on the OPSC civil service exam option.
• Click on the "Apply" link for the Odisha Civil Service exams.
• Read the instructions carefully and click on the "Register Now" button.
• Fill in the required details, such as name, date of birth, email ID, mobile number, etc. to register.
• After registration, log in with your credentials and complete the application form.
• Fill in all the required details, such as personal details, educational qualifications, work experience, etc.
• Upload your photograph and signature in the prescribed format.
• Pay the application fee through the online payment gateway using a debit card, credit card, or net banking.
• After the payment is successful, submit the application form.
• Candidates are advised to take a printout of the application form for future reference. Also, candidates should ensure that they meet the eligibility criteria before applying for the exam.

FAQs

What are the application fees for the Odisha Civil Service Examination?
The application fees for the Odisha Civil Service examination are as follows:- General/ OBC -₹500/- and all other categories are not required to pay any fees.

How many times can a candidate appear for the Odisha Civil Service Examination?
The limit prescribed by the Odisha Public Service Commission for the number of attempts by a candidate is 6 attempts or the maximum age limit. Whichever comes first.

Is the Rajasthan OPSC Examination tough?
The OPSC examination is tough but with the correct preparation, a candidate can score good marks.

When will the admit card for the OPSC Examination be released?
The admit card for the OPSC examination is released one or two weeks ahead of the examination date.