Odisha removes six-attempt cap for OCS exam, general candidates can now appear till age 42
Odisha has removed the six-attempt ceiling for candidates appearing for the Odisha Civil Services examination. Under the revised rules, eligible unreserved-category aspirants can now take the exam repeatedly until they reach the upper age limit of 42 years. The state has also expanded free textbooks to Classes IX and X and announced plans to strengthen school education.
The Odisha government has lifted the six-attempt limit for candidates taking the Odisha Civil Services (OCS) exam, allowing general category applicants to attempt the test repeatedly until they turn 42. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi made the announcement during his Independence Day address in Bhubaneswar, saying it expands opportunities for those preparing for one of Odisha's toughest state-level exams.
Previously, unreserved candidates could only try for the OCS exam up to six times, while socially and educationally backward classes (SEBC) could make nine attempts and members of Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) had no limit. Now, any eligible candidate can continue to take the OCS test as long as they meet the eligibility criteria and haven't surpassed the age cap of 42 years.
The significant change offers a new chance to the unreserved category candidates who have exhausted their limit but remain under the age limit, giving them another opportunity to compete for significant state government positions.
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