If you are looking for a government job in Odisha, you might have heard of OSSSC, or the Odisha Sub-ordinate Staff Selection Commission. OSSSC is a government agency that conducts recruitment exams for various posts in the state of Odisha. In this blog post, we will explain what OSSSC is, what are its functions, what are the eligibility criteria and selection process for its exams, what are the latest updates and notifications for its exams, and how to prepare for its exams. Let’s get started!
What is OSSSC?
OSSSC stands for Odisha Sub-ordinate Staff Selection Commission. It was established in 2023 by the Government of Odisha as a statutory body under the provisions of the Odisha Sub-ordinate Staff Selection Commission (Dist. Cadre) Rules, 2023. OSSSC is responsible for conducting recruitment exams for district cadre posts under various departments of the Government of Odisha. Some of the posts that OSSSC recruits for are:
- Junior Assistant
- Junior Clerk
- Revenue Inspector
- Amin
- Excise Constable
- Forest Guard
- Village Agricultural Worker
- Horticulture Extension Worker
- Statistical Field Surveyor
- Pharmacist
- Radiographer
- Nursing Officer
- Livestock Inspector
- And many more
What are the Functions of OSSSC?
OSSSC performs the following functions:
- To prepare and maintain district-wise and category-wise merit lists of candidates for various posts under different departments of the Government of Odisha.
- To conduct written tests, physical tests, skill tests, and interviews for the selection of candidates for various posts under different departments of the Government of Odisha.
- To issue admit cards, answer keys, results, and certificates to the candidates who appear for the exams conducted by OSSSC.
- To advise the Government of Odisha on matters relating to the recruitment of district cadre posts under different departments of the Government of Odisha.
- To perform any other duties and functions as may be assigned by the Government of Odisha from time to time.
What are the Eligibility Criteria and Selection Process for OSSSC Exams?
The eligibility criteria and selection process for OSSSC exams vary depending on the post and the department. However, some of the common eligibility criteria are:
- The candidate must be a citizen of India.
- The candidate must have passed the High School Certificate Examination or equivalent examination from a recognized board or council.
- The candidate must have passed the +2 Examination or equivalent examination from a recognized board or council or a Diploma in Computer Application from a recognized institution for the posts of Junior Assistant and Junior Clerk.
- The candidate must have passed the Diploma in Pharmacy or Diploma in Medical Radiation Technology or Diploma in Nursing or Diploma in Animal Husbandry from a recognized institution for the posts of Pharmacist, Radiographer, Nursing Officer, and Livestock Inspector respectively.
- The candidate must have passed the Middle School Examination with Odia as a language subject or passed the Matriculation or equivalent examination with Odia as the medium of examination in non-language subjects or passed Odia as a language subject in the final examination of Class VII or passed a test in Odia in Middle English School Standard conducted by the School and Mass Education Department for the posts of Revenue Inspector, Amin, Excise Constable, Forest Guard, Village Agricultural Worker, Horticulture Extension Worker, and Statistical Field Surveyor respectively.
- The candidate must have attained the age of 18 years and must not have exceeded the age of 32 years as on the date of advertisement. However, there are relaxations in the upper age limit for candidates belonging to SC, ST, SEBC, Women, Ex-servicemen, PwD, and Sports categories as per the Government rules.
The selection process for OSSSC exams consists of the following stages:
- Preliminary Examination: This is a screening test of objective type questions to shortlist the candidates for the main examination. The syllabus and pattern of the preliminary examination vary depending on the post and the department.
- Main Examination: This is a written test of objective or descriptive type questions to test the knowledge and skills of the candidates for the post. The syllabus and pattern of the main examination vary depending on the post and the department.
- Physical Test: This is a test to assess the physical fitness and endurance of the candidates for the posts of Excise Constable, Forest Guard, and Livestock Inspector. The physical test consists of events such as running, cycling, swimming, high jump, long jump, etc. The standards and criteria of the physical test vary depending on the post and the department.
- Skill Test: This is a test to assess the practical skills of the candidates for the posts of Junior Assistant, Junior Clerk, Revenue Inspector, Amin, and Statistical Field Surveyor. The skill test consists of events such as typing, data entry, computer application, map reading, etc. The standards and criteria of the skill test vary depending on the post and the department.
- Interview: This is a test to assess the personality, attitude, and communication skills of the candidates for the posts of Revenue Inspector, Amin, and Nursing Officer. The interview is conducted by a board of experts and carries 10% of the total marks. The candidates are required to produce their original documents and certificates at the time of the interview.
The final merit list of the candidates is prepared based on the marks obtained in the main examination, physical test, skill test, and interview as applicable. The candidates are allotted to the posts and districts as per their rank, preference, and availability of vacancies.
What are the Latest Updates and Notifications for OSSSC Exams?
OSSSC releases the latest updates and notifications for its exams on its official website osssc.gov.in. The candidates can check the website regularly for the information regarding the advertisement, online application, syllabus, admit card, answer key, result, certificate verification, etc. of the exams conducted by OSSSC. Some of the latest updates and notifications for OSSSC exams are:
- The last date for exercising options/choices for the posts of Junior Assistant and Panchayat Executive Officer under Combined Recruitment Examination-2023 (III) has been extended up to 11 am of 24.01.2024.
- The online application for the posts of Pharmacist, Radiographer, Nursing Officer, and Livestock Inspector under Combined Recruitment Examination-2023 (IV) has been extended up to 11.59 pm of 31.01.2024.
- The provisional screening list (additional) for document verification of Combined Recruitment Examination-2023 for Deogarh district has been published.
- The detailed programme and date of download of admission letter for the conduct of main written examination of Combined Graduate Level Recruitment Examination for Specialist Posts/Services-2023 has been notified.
- The syllabus for technical papers (main written examination) for Combined Graduate Level Recruitment Examination for Specialist Posts/Services-2023 and Combined Technical Service Recruitment Examination-2023 has been published.
How to Prepare for OSSSC Exams?
To prepare for OSSSC exams, the candidates need to follow a systematic and smart strategy. Here are some tips that can help the candidates to prepare for OSSSC exams:
- Know the syllabus and pattern of the exam. The candidates should be familiar with the syllabus and pattern of the exam they are applying for. They should know the topics, sub-topics, marks, duration, number of questions, type of questions, negative marking, etc. of the exam. They should also refer to the previous year question papers and answer keys to get an idea of the difficulty level and trend of the exam.
- Make a study plan and follow it. The candidates should make a realistic and achievable study plan that covers all the topics of the syllabus and allocates sufficient time for revision and practice. They should follow the study plan diligently and monitor their progress and performance regularly. They should also make short notes and flashcards for quick revision and recall.
- Study the concepts and facts thoroughly. The candidates should study the concepts and facts related to the topics of the syllabus from reliable and authentic sources, such as textbooks, reference books, online courses, etc. They should understand the concepts and facts clearly and logically, and not rely on rote memorization. They should also revise the concepts and facts frequently and update their knowledge with the latest information and developments.
- Practice the questions and mock tests rigorously. The candidates should practice the questions and mock tests of the exam from various sources, such as sample papers, previous year papers, online test series, etc. They should practice the questions and mock tests in a time-bound and exam-like manner, and analyze their performance and mistakes. They should also improve their speed, accuracy, and time management skills by practicing the questions and mock tests regularly.
- Prepare for the physical test, skill test, and interview as per the standards and criteria. The candidates who are applying for the posts that require physical test, skill test, or interview should prepare for them as per the standards and criteria specified by OSSSC. They should maintain their physical fitness and endurance by doing regular exercises and following a healthy diet. They should also hone their practical skills and computer proficiency by doing hands-on practice and taking online courses. They should also prepare for the interview by brushing up their general knowledge, current affairs, and communication skills, and by practicing mock interviews and group discussions.
Conclusion
OSSSC is a government agency that conducts recruitment exams for various district cadre posts under different departments of the Government of Odisha. OSSSC exams are highly competitive and require a lot of preparation and hard work.