The Odisha government has scrapped the six-attempt limit for candidates appearing for the Odisha Civil Services (OCS) examination, opening the door for unreserved-category aspirants to make repeated attempts until they reach the prescribed upper age limit of 42 years.Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced the decision during his Independence Day address in Bhubaneswar, describing it as a step towards expanding opportunities for candidates preparing for one of Odisha’s most competitive state-level examinations.
Six-attempt restriction scrapped for general candidates
Under the earlier rules, candidates belonging to the unreserved category could appear for the OCS examination a maximum of six times. The Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) category had a limit of nine attempts, while candidates from the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) categories faced no restriction on the number of attempts.The revised system removes this distinction based on the number of attempts. Eligible candidates can now continue to sit for the OCS examination as long as they meet the prescribed eligibility conditions and have not crossed the upper age limit of 42 years.The move is significant for aspirants who may have exhausted their permitted attempts despite remaining within the age limit. It gives such candidates another opportunity to compete for coveted state government positions without the earlier six-attempt ceiling.
Decision aimed at widening opportunities
The announcement comes as a major relief for thousands of civil services aspirants who spend years preparing for competitive examinations. The OCS examination requires sustained preparation across subjects such as general studies, aptitude and Odisha-specific topics, making multiple attempts an important avenue for candidates to improve their performance.By removing the attempt cap, the government has effectively shifted the focus from the number of attempts to the candidate’s age eligibility. Aspirants will therefore have greater flexibility to continue their preparation and re-enter the competition.The change could particularly benefit candidates who were unable to clear the examination despite several attempts and still have sufficient time before reaching the upper age limit.
Free textbooks extended to Classes IX and X
The Chief Minister also announced the expansion of Odisha’s free textbook initiative during his Independence Day speech.Until now, students in government schools were provided free textbooks up to Class VIII. Under the expanded scheme, students studying in Classes IX and X will also receive textbooks free of cost.The decision is aimed at reducing the financial burden on families and ensuring that students do not face difficulties in accessing essential learning material as they move into higher classes.
Odisha to establish 2,200 model primary schools
Majhi further announced plans to establish 2,200 Godabarish Mishra Model Primary Schools across the state. The initiative is intended to strengthen the school education system and improve learning infrastructure at the primary level.The government also plans to appoint 45,000 additional teachers, a move that could address staffing gaps in schools and strengthen classroom teaching.The announcements on civil services examinations and school education together underline the government’s focus on widening access to both competitive opportunities and basic educational resources. For OCS aspirants, however, the removal of the attempt ceiling marks a particularly significant change, giving eligible candidates a longer runway to pursue a career in Odisha’s civil services.
