Bhubaneswar, Nov 11 (UDN): In a major relief for civil services aspirants, the Odisha government has decided to remove the restriction on the number of attempts for the Odisha Civil Services (OCS) examination, opening the door for eligible candidates to appear for the prestigious competitive examination without any attempt limit.
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The decision was approved by the State Cabinet at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday. The Cabinet cleared a proposal of the General Administration Department to amend the Odisha Civil Services (Combined Competitive Recruitment Examination) Rules, 1991.
Under the proposed amendment, candidates will be allowed to appear for the OCS examination an unlimited number of times, provided they fulfil the prescribed upper age limit and other eligibility requirements.
Chief Secretary Anu Garg said the decision is aimed at providing wider and fairer opportunities to aspirants while strengthening the merit-based recruitment process.
OCS Examination: What Changes for Aspirants?
The removal of the attempt restriction is expected to benefit candidates who have been unable to clear the examination despite repeated efforts.
Previously, candidates were generally permitted a maximum of six attempts, subject to applicable relaxations for reserved categories. The new decision removes this numerical restriction, allowing eligible candidates to continue participating in the recruitment process.
However, the relaxation does not mean that candidates can appear for the examination indefinitely regardless of age. The prescribed upper age limit and other eligibility conditions will continue to apply.
Age Limit and Eligibility Criteria Remain Unchanged
While the government has removed the cap on examination attempts, candidates must continue to satisfy the existing eligibility requirements under the OCS recruitment rules.
These include the prescribed age criteria, educational qualifications and other conditions applicable to the recruitment process.
Candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC), women and Persons with Disabilities (PwD) will continue to be governed by the applicable age-relaxation provisions.
Amendment to 1991 Rules to Give Effect to Decision
The Cabinet’s approval paves the way for an amendment to the Odisha Civil Services (Combined Competitive Recruitment Examination) Rules, 1991, which provide the regulatory framework for the examination.
The formal amendment will provide the legal basis for implementing the unlimited-attempt provision.
The move is expected to bring considerable relief to thousands of OCS aspirants across Odisha, particularly those who have exhausted their earlier permitted attempts but remain within the prescribed age limit.
With the removal of the attempt cap, candidates will have greater flexibility to prepare for and participate in the state’s civil services recruitment examination, subject to the applicable eligibility conditions.
