Bhubaneswar: In a significant move aimed at providing greater opportunities for job aspirants, the Government of Odisha has decided to increase the upper age limit for entry into most government services from 32 to 42 years.
State Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi approved the proposal today. It comes in response to numerous representations seeking an enhancement of the age limit to enable overaged candidates to participate in upcoming recruitment processes.
Previously, the upper age limit for government service was set at 32 years, as per the Odisha Civil Service (Fixation of Upper Age Limit) Rules, 1989 (Rule 2). However, after careful consideration, the government has opted for a substantial increase to 42 years to broaden the pool of eligible candidates.
Key Exemptions and Relaxations:
It is important to note that this enhanced upper age limit of 42 years will not apply in certain cases:
- Where a higher upper age limit has already been specifically prescribed for a particular service or post.
- Where the upper age limit has been specifically prescribed for uniform services such as Police, Fire Services, Forest, and Excise services, and/or where a Physical Efficiency Test is a mandatory part of the recruitment rules.
Furthermore, the revised upper age limit will be subject to additional relaxations for specific categories as prescribed by the Government from time to time. These relaxations are typically applicable for:
- Scheduled Tribes (ST)
- Scheduled Castes (SC)
- Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC)
- Women
- Ex-servicemen
- Persons with Disabilities (PwDs)
This decision is expected to benefit a large number of aspiring candidates who may have been impacted by previous age restrictions, allowing them to compete for various government positions in the state.