Bhubaneswar: In a major decision aimed at expanding employment opportunities, the Odisha Cabinet on Wednesday approved a proposal to raise the upper age limit for entry into government service from 32 years to 42 years.
Announcing the decision after the Cabinet meeting, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja said the move was taken to provide a fair chance to overage aspirants who have been seeking inclusion in upcoming recruitment processes. “Numerous representations were received from various quarters requesting the enhancement of the upper age limit. Considering these appeals, the government has decided to revise the existing limit to ensure wider participation in recruitment examinations,” he stated.
The upper age cap for general candidates seeking government jobs in Odisha was earlier governed by the Odisha Civil Service (Fixation of Upper Age Limit) Rules, 1989, which set the limit at 32 years. The new revision marks a significant policy shift, offering a ten-year relaxation for aspiring candidates.
In addition to the general extension, the government clarified that further relaxation will continue to apply for candidates from reserved categories—including Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC), Women, Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), and Ex-Servicemen—in accordance with prevailing norms.
However, the enhanced age limit will not apply to posts for which the government has already prescribed a higher upper age limit through specific recruitment rules.
The decision is expected to benefit thousands of aspirants across the state who may have missed out on government job opportunities due to age restrictions. It is also seen as a timely move, particularly when the government is preparing for large-scale recruitments across various departments.
