OPSC has opened 89 Scientific Officer posts in Odisha’s State Forensic Science Service Organization, and 29 of them are kept for women. These are Group B posts (a mid-level officer grade) that start at Rs 44,900 a month. You need a Master’s degree with at least 55% marks in the subject your chosen division asks for, and the online form runs from 06.11.2026 to 26.11.2026 until 5:00 PM.
Cuttack / Bhubaneswar (exact centre and schedule to be announced)
Admission certificate (admit card)
Will be put on the OPSC website before the exam (date not announced)
Application Fee
Category
Fee
UR, SEBC and all other candidates (not SC, ST or PwD)
Rs 700, paid online while filling the form
SC, ST and PwD (persons with disabilities)
Nil – no fee
Refund
Rs 700 is refunded only if you actually sit both Paper-I and Paper-II, and it goes back the way you paid
Vacancy Details
The 89 posts are spread over 10 divisions. The number in brackets shows how many of those posts are kept for women. UR means unreserved (open to all), SC is Scheduled Caste, ST is Scheduled Tribe and SEBC is Socially and Educationally Backward Classes.
Division
Total
UR
SC
ST
SEBC
Physics
7 (2)
4 (1)
1
2 (1)
0
Ballistics
6 (2)
3 (1)
0
2 (1)
1
Chemistry
10 (3)
4 (1)
3 (1)
3 (1)
0
Toxicology
13 (5)
8 (3)
3 (1)
2 (1)
0
Biology
14 (5)
6 (2)
4 (1)
2 (1)
2 (1)
Serology
4 (1)
3 (1)
1
0
0
DNA
12 (4)
6 (2)
2 (1)
3 (1)
1
Forensic Psychology
6 (1)
3 (1)
1
1
1
Cyber Forensic
11 (5)
5 (2)
2 (1)
2 (1)
2 (1)
Document
6 (1)
3 (1)
1
1
1
Grand Total
89 (29)
45 (15)
18 (5)
18 (7)
8 (2)
Posts for Persons with Disabilities
Division
Posts for PwD
Toxicology
1
Biology
1
Forensic Psychology
1
Document
1
Total
4
These 4 posts are for people with a permanent disability of 40% or more, and they come out of the 89 posts, not on top of them. A temporary disability certificate is not accepted. The notice lists the disability types that suit each division on page 2 of the long advertisement. It also says the number of vacancies can change without notice.
Eligibility Criteria
Criterion
Detail
Educational Qualification
Master’s degree from a recognised university in the subject set for your division, with at least 55% of the aggregate (total) marks. See the division table below.
You must be able to speak, read and write Odia, and show proof (see Knowledge of Odia below)
Nationality
Citizen of India
Application Restriction
Apply for one division only, and apply online only
Reservation
SC, ST and SEBC benefits are for SC, ST and SEBC candidates of Odisha only
Government Servants
May apply if they meet the age and qualification rules, but need a No Objection Certificate (NOC) at document verification
Character and Health
Good character, no criminal conviction and medically fit; if married, not more than one living spouse (unless the State Government exempts)
Age Relaxation
Category
Extra years allowed
SC, ST and SEBC
5 years (up to 47 years)
Women
5 years (up to 47 years)
Ex-Servicemen
5 years (up to 47 years)
Persons with disability (40% or more, permanent)
10 years (up to 52 years)
Persons with disability who are also SC, ST or SEBC
Combined relaxation up to 15 years (up to 57 years)
So if you are a woman from the General category and you were 45 on 01.01.2026, you can still apply, because the 5 extra years take your limit to 47. Your age is counted on 01.01.2026, not on the day you apply.
Not sure whether you are within the age limit?
Enter your date of birth, the cut-off date 01.01.2026 and your category relaxation to see instantly whether you fall inside the 21 to 42 year band.
Each division asks for a different Master’s degree. The list below is a short form, so check the exact wording in Annexure-A of the notice against your degree before you apply.
Division
Master’s degree accepted
Physics
M.Sc. in Physics, Applied Physics or Electronics (Physics in all 3 B.Sc. years); Integrated M.Sc. in Physics; or M.Sc. / Integrated M.Sc. in Forensic Science with Forensic Physics or Ballistics
Ballistics
M.Sc. in Physics, Applied Physics, Mathematics or Applied Mathematics (Physics or Mathematics in all 3 B.Sc. years); Integrated M.Sc. in Physics or Mathematics; or M.Sc. / Integrated M.Sc. in Forensic Science with Forensic Physics or Ballistics
Chemistry
M.Sc. in Chemistry, Analytical, Applied, Bio-chemistry or Pharmaceutical Chemistry, or Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance; Integrated M.Sc. in Chemistry; or M.Sc. / Integrated M.Sc. in Forensic Science with Forensic Chemistry or Toxicology
Toxicology
M.Sc. in Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry or Applied Chemistry; Integrated M.Sc. in Chemistry; or M.Sc. / Integrated M.Sc. in Forensic Science with Forensic Chemistry or Toxicology
Biology
M.Sc. in Zoology, Microbiology, Life Science, Genetics, Biotechnology, Biochemistry or Molecular Biology; Integrated M.Sc. in Biology; or M.Sc. / Integrated M.Sc. in Forensic Science with Forensic Biology, Serology or DNA
Serology
Same as Biology
DNA
M.Sc. in Zoology, Biotechnology, Genetics, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Microbiology or Life Sciences; Integrated M.Sc. in Biology; or M.Sc. / Integrated M.Sc. in Forensic Science with Forensic Biology, Serology or DNA
Forensic Psychology
Master’s degree in Psychology or Forensic Psychology, with Psychology as Honours or a main subject at B.A. or B.Sc. level
Cyber Forensic
M.Sc. or M.Tech in Computer Science, Computer Science and Engineering, Information Technology or Cyber Security; Master’s in Computer Application with a bachelor’s in Computer Application, Computer Science, Electronics, Physics, Mathematics or IT; or Master’s in Digital Forensics, or in Forensic Science with a cyber or computing specialisation
Document
Master’s degree in Physics or Chemistry; or Master’s in Forensic Science with Chemistry or Physics as a subject at B.Sc. level
Knowledge of Odia
You must be able to speak, read and write Odia. Any one of these four proofs is enough.
Proof
What it means
School exam with Odia
You passed the Middle English (M.E.) school exam or a higher exam with Odia as a language subject
Matriculation in Odia medium
You passed Matriculation or an equal exam, writing it in Odia, for a non-language subject
Class VII Odia
You passed Odia as a language subject in the final Class VII exam of a school recognised by the Odisha or Central Government
Odia test
You passed an Odia test at M.E. school standard held by the School and Mass Education Department or the Board of Secondary Education, Odisha
If your High School or Matriculation record does not show Odia, you can give a certificate from your High School headmaster or school principal, or an Odia Test Pass Certificate. It must be issued before the last date. A faked or changed Odia certificate is a criminal offence and leads to rejection and a ban from OPSC recruitment.
Who Should Apply
This is a regular Group B government post that starts at Rs 44,900 a month, not a contract job. People appointed on or after 01.01.2005 get the contributory pension scheme (a pension fund you pay into during your job, called NPS) instead of the old pension, and an NPS application is compulsory when you join.
You can apply for only one of the 10 divisions, so pick the one that matches your Master’s degree. Once you choose your category (General, SC, ST or SEBC) it cannot be changed, and if you spot a mistake you must cancel the form and apply again before the last date.
Odia is not a formality. You need paper proof, and OPSC says it can test your Odia reading, writing and speaking at the interview.
Reservation for SC, ST and SEBC is only for people of Odisha. An SEBC certificate must be issued on or after 07.11.2023, and women from SC, ST or SEBC need a caste certificate that says ‘daughter of’, not ‘wife of’.
Government employees can apply, but you must tell your office in writing and show a No Objection Certificate (NOC, a letter from your employer allowing you to apply) at document verification, so ask for it early.
Selection Process
Stage
Details
Paper-I (written, 100 marks)
90 minutes. 100 multiple-choice questions of 1 mark each: 50 in General English (synonyms, antonyms, idioms, prepositions, comprehension, spotting errors) and 50 in General Awareness, Aptitude and Reasoning (reasoning, data interpretation, science, current affairs, geography, history of India and Odisha, Indian constitution, computer basics). A wrong answer cuts 25% of that question’s marks.
Paper-II (written, 300 marks)
150 minutes. 150 multiple-choice questions of 2 marks each, set at Master’s degree level, with a separate paper for each division. The Paper-II syllabus for every division is in Annexure-B of the notice. A wrong answer cuts 25% of that question’s marks.
Shortlisting
OPSC fixes minimum qualifying marks for each paper and each category. Candidates who reach them are called for the Personality Test in order of written-exam marks, up to twice the number of posts in each category.
Personality Test / Viva Voce (50 marks)
A face-to-face interview worth 50 marks.
Merit list
A division-wise merit list is made from your written-exam marks (400) plus Personality Test marks (50), with reservation applied. A tie is broken first by higher Paper-II marks, then by age (the older candidate ranks higher).
Document verification and medical
Selected candidates have their original documents checked and are examined by a Medical Board. Admission to the exam and to document verification is provisional until this is done.
In short: the written exam carries 400 of the 450 marks, so it decides most of your result. Paper-II is worth 300 marks and is also the first tie-breaker.
Salary and Benefits
Component
Detail
Pay Level
Level 10, Cell 1 of the Pay Matrix under Rule 3 of the ORSP Rules, 2017
Starting Pay
Rs 44,900 a month
Allowances
Usual Dearness Allowance (DA) and other allowances, as the Odisha Government sanctions from time to time
Pension
Contributory Pension Scheme (NPS). The old pension is not available to people appointed on or after 01.01.2005, and an NPS application is compulsory at joining
In plain terms, you start at Rs 44,900 a month before allowances. DA (Dearness Allowance) is an extra amount added to pay as prices rise, so your monthly pay in hand will be higher than the starting figure.
How to Apply
Read the full advertisement and the instructions on the OPSC website (www.opsc.gov.in) before you start.
Register on the OPSC portal with a valid email ID and mobile number, then log in and fill the one-time profile. The portal says this profile works for all later OPSC advertisements.
Keep your documents ready as one PDF of at most 10 MB, plus scans of your recent passport-size photo, full signature and left thumb impression. The portal says each of these three scans can be at most 150 KB.
From 06.11.2026, click the apply link next to Advertisement No. 14 of 2026-27, choose one division and fill in the form, including your bank account details for any fee refund.
Pay the Rs 700 fee online if you are not from SC, ST or PwD. A form without the fee is rejected.
Submit the form and note your Permanent Public Service Account Number (PPSAN). Print the form, sign it under the declaration and keep it with your original documents for verification.
Note: only online applications are accepted. Forms sent in any other way are rejected.
Photograph or signature rejected by the upload form?
Resize your photo, signature and left thumb impression to the 150 KB limit the OPSC portal states, with the exact size and clarity the form needs.
Upload all your documents merged into one PDF of at most 10 MB when you submit the form. The Master’s degree, Odia, disability and Ex-Servicemen certificates must be dated on or before the day you submit the form, and later ones are not accepted.
Document
Format / Notes
Photo, signature and left thumb impression
Recent passport-size photo, full signature and left-hand thumb impression, all clear. The portal allows 150 KB each. Keep 4 spare photos. Resize your photo and signature →
Proof of age
H.S.C. (High School) or equal certificate from the Board or Council. Only the date of birth on it is accepted.
Intermediate / +2 certificate
From the concerned Board or Council
Bachelor’s degree certificate
From a recognised university
Master’s degree certificate
In your division’s subject (see Annexure-A), with at least 55% marks
Mark-lists
H.S.C. to Master’s degree, including fail marks if any. If you only have grades, add a university certificate that converts them to a percentage, with the formula.
Caste certificate
SC / ST of Odisha by birth, or SEBC certificate issued on or after 07.11.2023. Women need the ‘daughter of’ form, not ‘wife of’.
Odia proof
Any proof from the Knowledge of Odia section, issued before the last date
Disability certificate
Permanent Disability Certificate showing 40% or more, from the Medical Board. A temporary certificate is not accepted.
Ex-Servicemen Release Certificate
Issued under the Orissa Ex-Servicemen (Recruitment to State Civil Services and Posts) Rules, 1985
No Objection Certificate (NOC)
For government servants, from the competent authority
Photo ID proof
Any photo ID; the Aadhaar card is preferred
Proof of equal qualification
If you claim an equal qualification, the rule or authority (with number and date) that treats it as equal
Transgender candidates
Identity certificate or card from the competent authority, plus the document for the change of name
Do not skip the Rs 700 fee if you are not SC, ST or PwD. The notice says a form without the fee is incomplete and is rejected outright.
Do not leave out a document or upload it as separate files. All documents must be merged into one PDF of at most 10 MB, or your candidature is rejected.
Choose only one division. The notice allows one division per candidate, and it says OPSC will not entertain emails or letters asking to fix errors after you submit.
Do not use an old or wrong certificate. An SEBC certificate issued before 07.11.2023 is not valid, an OBC certificate is not accepted in place of SEBC, and a woman’s caste certificate must say ‘daughter of’.
Do not get your Odia certificate late. An Odia Test Pass Certificate must be issued before the last date, and a form without Odia proof can be rejected.
Do not wait for the last day. The notice itself asks you to apply early to avoid the last-hour rush.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last date to apply for OPSC Scientific Officer Recruitment 2026?
You can apply online from 06.11.2026, and the last date is 26.11.2026 at 5:00 PM.
How many Scientific Officer posts are there, and what is the pay?
There are 89 posts in 10 divisions, and the pay starts at Rs 44,900 a month (Pay Level 10) plus allowances.
What qualification do I need?
You need a Master’s degree with at least 55% marks in the subject your chosen division asks for, and you can apply for one division only.
What is the age limit?
You must be 21 to 42 years old on 01.01.2026, with 5 extra years for SC, ST, SEBC, women and Ex-Servicemen and 10 extra years for people with a permanent disability of 40% or more.
What is the application fee, and can I get it back?
The fee is Rs 700 for everyone except SC, ST and PwD candidates, and it is refunded only if you sit both Paper-I and Paper-II.
How will OPSC select candidates?
Selection is by a 400-mark written exam (two multiple-choice papers) and a 50-mark Personality Test, which is an interview.
When is the written exam?
The written exam is on 17.01.2027 (Sunday) at Cuttack or Bhubaneswar, and OPSC will announce the full schedule later.
Do I need to know Odia?
Yes, you must be able to speak, read and write Odia and show proof, such as passing Odia in school or an Odia Test Pass Certificate issued before the last date.
Disclaimer: The information above has been compiled from the official notification for the convenience of job seekers. Candidates are advised to verify all details from the official website before applying.
