Odisha: Age limit for state civil service exams raised from 32 to 38

Ahead of the panchayat elections, the Odisha government has decided to raise the upper age limit for entry to state government services from 32 to 38. However, it will be effective only for the recruitment advertisements made in the calendar years 2021 and 2022 or to be made in 2023.This decision was taken in a cabinet meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in Bhubaneswar. The decision was taken to enable the youth to avail opportunities to enter govt jobs who could not appear the recruitment examinations because of unavoidable reasons and stood age-barred during last two years. The decision to increase the upper age limit for government jobs was taken because state civil service examinations could not be held at regular intervals due to unavoidable circumstances and aspirants were deprived of the number of chances that they would otherwise have got, said official sources. The age limit has also been increased for different categories like ST/ST, women, persons with disabilities, etc.

Another major decision aimed at the rural areas was the approval of tender for several mega pipe water supply schemes. The schemes for two blocks of Mayurbhanj district, two of Cuttack district, three blocks in Sambalpur were approved and it was stated that the schemes will be completed in two years from the date of the agreement. The cabinet also approved grants in aid for non-Government colleges, Junior colleges, and Higher Secondary schools. The government decided to levy an annual license fee at 3 percent of the market value of land for temporary allotment of government land of a public entity.