What is OPSC OAS exam?
The Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) administers the Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) test, which is known as the OPSC OAS test. In order to choose applicants for administrative roles in the Odisha state government, it is one of the most prominent competitive examinations in the state. The purpose of the exam is to choose qualified candidates for a number of Group A and Group B positions in the Odisha Civil Services. Candidates who are accepted into the state administrative structure participate in governance, policymaking, and the execution of developmental initiatives.
What is the salary of OAS in Odisha?
The salary of an Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) officer in Odisha is structured according to the 7th Pay Commission, and it includes various allowances and benefits. Here’s a detailed breakdown:
Basic Pay Structure
- Entry-Level OAS Officer (Group A Junior Branch)
- Pay Scale: ₹56,100 per month (Level 12 of the pay matrix).
- Gross Salary: After adding allowances, the monthly salary can range from ₹70,000 to ₹80,000.
- Senior Branch (Promotions)
- Pay Scale: ₹67,700 to ₹78,800 per month (Level 13).
- Gross Salary: ₹85,000 to ₹95,000, including allowances.
- Superior Administrative Grade
- Pay Scale: ₹1,44,200 and above (Level 14 or higher).
- Gross Salary: Can go beyond ₹1.5 lakh per month with perks.
Additional Allowances and Benefits
- Dearness Allowance (DA): Adjusted periodically, typically 28%-42% of the basic pay.
- House Rent Allowance (HRA): Varies based on location (urban, semi-urban, or rural).
- Transport Allowance: Fixed as per the officer’s grade.
- Medical Benefits: Covers the officer and their dependents.
- Leave Travel Concession (LTC): For travel within India.
- Pension and Retirement Benefits: Post-retirement pension and gratuity.
Perks Beyond Salary
- Government-provided accommodation (or HRA if not availed).
- Official vehicles for higher-ranking officers.
- Administrative and support staff.
- Authority and decision-making power in governance and administration.
What is Eligibility Criteria for OPSC OAS ?
The candidate must ensure compliance with the OPSC OAS eligibility criteria established by the commission. Candidates must meet specific nationality, age, educational qualifications, and more requirements. Here’s a detailed breakdown:
Nationality
- The candidate must be a citizen of India.
Age Limit
A candidate appearing for the OPSC OAS examination must have attained the age of 21 years and must not exceed the age of 38 years as of January 1st of the examination year.
Age Relaxation for OPSC OAS
The upper age limit prescribed for the OPSC OAS examination can be relaxed as per government norms to provide equitable opportunities for certain categories of candidates.
- SC/ST/SEBC Candidates: Candidates belonging to the Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) are eligible for an age relaxation of 5 years. This means that the maximum permissible age for candidates in these categories is extended by 5 years beyond the standard upper age limit of 38 years.
- Women Candidates: All female candidates, irrespective of their category, are also eligible for the same 5-year relaxation in the upper age limit.
- Ex-Servicemen: Candidates who have served in the armed forces are granted a 5-year relaxation in the upper age limit, recognizing their service period and facilitating their reintegration into civilian employment opportunities.
- Persons with Disabilities (PwDs): Candidates with permanent disabilities of 40% or more are granted a more extensive relaxation of 10 years in the upper age limit.
Persons with Disabilities belonging to SC/ST/SEBC category are eligible for cumulative age relaxation benefits.
Educational Qualification
- To be eligible for the OPSC OAS examination, a candidate must hold a Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized institution, which may include a university established or incorporated by an Act of the Central or State Legislature in India, an educational institution established by an Act of Parliament, a university deemed to be a university under Section 3 of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Act, 1956, or a foreign university approved by the Central Government from time to time.
Other Eligibility Condition
- He/she must be able to read, write and speak Odia and have-
- Passed Middle School Examination with Odia as a Language subject; or
- Passed High School Certificate or equivalent examination with Odia as medium of examination in non-language subject; or
- Passed in Odia as a language subject in the final examination of Class-VII from a School or Educational Institution recognized by the Government of Odisha or the Central Government; or
- Passed a test in Odia in Middle English School Standard conducted by the School & Mass Education Department of the Government of Odisha.
- A candidate, who has more than one spouse living or in case of a woman candidate, if married to a person having one spouse living, shall not be eligible for appearing at the examination
- Government Servants, whether temporary or permanent, are eligible to apply provided that they possess the requisite qualifications and are within the prescribed age limit as provided under Para-3 of the Advertisement, failing which their candidature summarily be rejected. All candidates are required to obtain an NOC (No Objection Certificate) from their competent authority and attach it with the online application form at the time of submission of documents. They must inform their respective Heads of Departments in writing regarding the submission of their application for this recruitment and obtain a “No Objection Certificate”.
- If a candidate has, at any time, been debarred for a certain period/chance(s) by the Odisha Public Service Commission or other State Public Service Commission or U.P.S.C. from appearing at any Examination/Interview, he/she will not be eligible for such recruitment for that specified period/chance(s).
Physical Fitness
- The OPSC OAS candidate must have good moral character. Also, a candidate must be of good mental condition and bodily healthy and free from any physical defect likely to interfere with the discharge of his/her duties as an officer of the Service/Post. A candidate, who, after such medical examination, as the Government may prescribe, is not found to satisfy these requirements, will not be appointed.
Number of Attempts
The number of attempts allowed for the OPSC OAS examination varies based on the candidate’s category:
- General Category: Candidates are permitted a maximum of 4 attempts.
- SC/ST Candidates: There is no restriction on the number of attempts, provided the candidate remains within the prescribed upper age limit.
- SEBC and PwD (General) Candidates: Candidates in these categories are allowed up to 7 attempts.
What is OPSC OAS Exam Pattern ?
The OPSC OAS Exam is conducted in three stages: Preliminary Examination, Mains Examination, and Personality Test/Interview. Here’s a detailed breakdown of each stage:
Preliminary Examination (Prelims)
The preliminary exam serves as a screening test to shortlist candidates for the mains.
Exam Pattern
- Type: Objective (Multiple Choice Questions)
- Number of Papers: 2
- Total Marks: 400
- Duration: 2 hours per paper
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Questions | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | General Studies | 200 | 100 | 2 hours |
| Paper 2 | General Studies (CSAT)** | 200 | 80 | 2 hours |
Key Notes:
- Paper 2 (CSAT) is qualifying in nature; candidates must score 33% or above.
- Negative marking: 1/4th mark is deducted for each incorrect answer.
Mains Examination (Mains)
The mains exam is descriptive and evaluates the candidate’s in-depth knowledge and writing skills.
Exam Pattern
- Number of Papers: 9 (4 Compulsory + 2 Optional Papers)
- Total Marks: 2600
- Duration: 3 hours per paper
| Paper No. | Subject | Marks | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | Odia Language | 300 | Compulsory |
| Paper II | English Language | 300 | Compulsory |
| Paper III | English Essay | 200 | Compulsory |
| Paper IV | General Studies I | 300 | Compulsory |
| Paper V | General Studies II | 300 | Compulsory |
| Paper VI | Optional Paper I (Paper 1) | 300 | Optional |
| Paper VII | Optional Paper I (Paper 2) | 300 | Optional |
| Paper VIII | Optional Paper II (Paper 1) | 300 | Optional |
| Paper IX | Optional Paper II (Paper 2) | 300 | Optional |
Key Notes:
- The optional subjects are chosen by the candidates from a list provided by OPSC.
- Language papers are qualifying in nature (marks not counted in merit list).
The OPSC OAS Exam syllabus is divided into Preliminary and Mains exams, each with its own set of subjects and topics. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the syllabus for each stage:
What is OPSC OAS Syllabus (Preliminary Exam) ?
Paper I: General Studies (200 Marks)
This paper covers a wide range of topics, primarily focusing on General Knowledge and Current Affairs.
- Indian History and Culture
- Ancient, Medieval, and Modern Indian History
- Cultural Heritage of India
- Freedom Struggle and Post-Independence Indian History
- Indian and Odisha Geography
- Physical, Social, and Economic Geography of India and Odisha
- Climate, Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Industry
- Indian Polity and Governance
- Indian Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Local Governance
- Rights Issues, Welfare Schemes, Government Policies
- Economic and Social Development
- Economic Growth and Development
- Poverty, Unemployment, Social Justice, and Welfare Programs
- Economic Planning in India, Agriculture, and Industry
- Environmental Ecology and Biodiversity
- Environmental Pollution and its Control
- Climate Change, Sustainable Development, and Ecological Conservation
- Science and Technology
- Developments in Science and Technology
- Space, Nuclear Technology, Biotechnology, and Information Technology
- Current Affairs
- National and International Events (political, economic, scientific, etc.)
Paper II: General Studies (CSAT) (200 Marks)
This paper tests comprehension, reasoning, and analytical ability. It is qualifying in nature, and candidates must score at least 33% to move to the Mains.
- Comprehension
- Reading and understanding passages of text.
- Answering questions based on the passages.
- Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability
- Puzzles, Venn Diagrams, Data Sufficiency, etc.
- Analytical problems and decision-making skills.
- Basic Numeracy and Data Interpretation
- Arithmetic, percentages, averages, profit and loss, ratios.
- Data interpretation from charts, graphs, and tables.
- Mental Ability
- Analytical reasoning, logical puzzles, and pattern recognition.
What is OPSC OAS Mains Exam Syllabus ?
The Mains Exam is more detailed and consists of 9 papers (4 Compulsory + 2 Optional). Below is a breakdown:
Compulsory Papers
- Paper I: Odia Language
- Translation from English to Odia and vice versa.
- Essay Writing in Odia.
- Grammar and Composition.
- Paper II: English Language
- English Comprehension and Composition.
- Essay Writing, Precis Writing, and Grammar.
- Paper III: English Essay
- Candidates are required to write essays on general topics related to social, political, or economic issues.
- Paper IV: General Studies I
- Indian History (Ancient, Medieval, Modern)
- Geography (Physical and Economic)
- Indian Society (Social Issues, Culture, and Traditions)
- Paper V: General Studies II
- Governance, Polity, and International Relations
- Public Administration
- Welfare Schemes and Social Justice
Optional Papers (Choose 2 Subjects)
- Candidates must choose two optional subjects from the list provided by the OPSC. Each subject has two papers, and they cover a wide range of topics.
Some common optional subjects include:
- Anthropology
- Geography
- Sociology
- Public Administration
- Political Science & International Relations
- Law
- Botany
- Zoology
- History
- Agriculture
- Economics
- Management
Paper VI & VII: Optional Subject 1
- Paper 1 & Paper 2 for the chosen first optional subject.
Paper VIII & IX: Optional Subject 2
- Paper 1 & Paper 2 for the chosen second optional subject.
Personality Test/Interview
- The Interview assesses candidates’ overall personality, decision-making ability, knowledge, and suitability for an administrative role.
- Total Marks: 250
- It focuses on the candidate’s communication skills, clarity of thought, critical thinking, and understanding of societal issues.
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