Bhubaneswar: Here is a piece of good news for UPSC aspirants from Odisha.
The State Government is going to launch a scheme to provide free coaching to 200 aspirants who will appear for the Civil Services Examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
Bishnupada Sethi, Principal Secretary Higher Education has been making all out efforts in this regard.
Since he took over the Department of Higher Education steps are being taken on fast track mode to initiate such program, which will help out the bright young boys and girls of Odisha to bag elite jobs in the country by cracking UPSC Exams.
Accordingly Department of Higher Education has issued a notice inviting applications from the Government sponsored UPSC Civil Service Coaching Scheme for the session 2023-24.
According to Department officials, it will be a residential coaching. The State Government will be providing food and accommodation to the selected aspirants.
To shortlist the 200 aspirants, there will be a pre-qualifying entrance examination conducted by the State Selection Board. The examination is expected to be conducted on March 26, 2023, they said.
The entrance examination will be conducted in each of the five Regional Directorates of Education zones of the State, i.e., Berhampur, Bhubaneswar, Balasore, Jeypore and Sambalpur.
Coaching will be provided for one year for prelims and mains examination (general studies paper only) as per the syllabus of UPSC. However, the aspirants selected in prelims may continue for additional one year in the free coaching.
“Interested candidates, having the eligibility as mentioned in the guidelines, are requested to apply in the SAMS portal of the Higher Education Department to appear in the entrance examination,” read the notification.
The interested aspirants can submit their online applications for the free UPSC coaching by March 4. Candidates will have to pay Rs 100 online at the time of submission of the application. Candidates can download the admit card on March 16.
The State Government has decided to open a centralised professional coaching centre with a state-of-the-art library and digital learning hub here. The selected students will be kept in a suitable building till the coaching centre is ready.
The candidates will be allowed to stay for a maximum period of two years. A panel of young as well as senior IAS officers will mentor the civil services aspirants to pursue their goals.
According to the guidelines, selected aspirants will get free coaching, free food with accommodation facilities in Bhubaneswar. They have to stay in the Accommodation provided by the Department.
To appear in the entrance examination, a candidate must be a domicile of Odisha. A candidate must have attained the age of 21 years and must not have attained the age of 30 years on the 1st of August, 2023, in case of Unreserved category students. Age relaxation up to a maximum of five years will be given for SC and ST students while OBC candidates can avail three years relaxation.