Odisha Gives Major Relief to Civil Services Aspirants, Raises Upper Age Limit to 42

Bhubaneswar: In a major decision aimed at helping government job aspirants, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has announced significant changes to the Odisha Civil Services (OCS) examination rules.
The government has decided to increase the upper age limit for government recruitment from 32 years to 42 years. Along with this, the existing restriction on the number of attempts for the OCS examination will also be removed.
Under the revised system, eligible candidates will be able to appear for the OCS examination multiple times until they reach the prescribed maximum age. Earlier, candidates from the general category were allowed six attempts, while SEBC candidates could make up to nine attempts. SC and ST candidates did not face a fixed attempt limit.
The move is expected to provide additional opportunities to thousands of aspirants who have been preparing for competitive examinations amid intense competition for government jobs.

Free Textbooks Extended to Classes 9 and 10

The Chief Minister also announced an expansion of the state’s free textbook scheme. The benefit, which was earlier available to students up to Class 8, will now be extended to Classes 9 and 10.

Odisha Plans 20 Lakh

Employment Opportunities
Speaking about employment generation, Majhi said Odisha is targeting at least three lakh jobs over the next one to two years and around 20 lakh jobs over the next five years.
The government is also focusing on skill development through partnerships with industries and international organisations. The World Skill Centre, established with Singaporean collaboration, will be expanded by adding three more branches.
At the same time, Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) across the state are being modernised. Centres of Excellence are planned in 25 ITIs, while 13 ITIs will get artificial intelligence laboratories.