Odisha lifts six-attempt limit for civil services exam, extends free textbooks to higher grades
The Odisha government removed the six-attempt ceiling for general candidates in the OCS exam, allowing attempts until the age limit of 42, and announced free textbooks for classes IX and X.
During his Independence Day speech in Bhubaneswar, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi declared that the Odisha government has abolished the six-attempt restriction for unreserved candidates in the Odisha Civil Services examination, permitting repeated attempts until the statutory age ceiling of 42. Earlier rules limited general candidates to six tries, SEBC candidates to nine, and offered unlimited attempts only to SC and ST applicants.
The change is intended to shift emphasis from the number of attempts to age eligibility, giving persistent candidates a longer window to qualify for state civil service roles. The announcement also included an expansion of the free textbook programme, now covering students in classes IX and X in government schools. Additionally, the government revealed a plan to set up 2,200 Godabarish Mishra Model Primary Schools and recruit 45,000 extra teachers to strengthen primary education infrastructure across Odisha.
Why it matters
It widens access to a key state job exam and reduces educational costs for higher-grade students.
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