The Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) has released the OPSC Scientific Officer Recruitment 2026 Notification for 89 Scientific Officer (Group-B) vacancies across 10 Divisions of the State Forensic Science Service Organization under the Home Department, Government of Odisha. Candidates who are eligible and interested can apply online from 6th November to 26th November 2026 (till 5:00 PM).
Applicants who register on the OPSC website and apply for the post will have to appear for a Written Examination (Paper-I & Paper-II) followed by a Personality Test/Viva Voce as part of the selection process. The Written Examination is scheduled to be held on 17th January 2027 (Sunday).
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OPSC Scientific Officer 2026: Overview
The quick overview of OPSC Recruitment 2026 for Scientific Officer vacancies is given below in the table:
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) |
| Post | Scientific Officer (Group-B) |
| Department | State Forensic Science Service Organization, Home Department, Government of Odisha |
| Advertisement No. | 14 of 2026-27 |
| Total Vacancies | 89 (29-W) |
| Divisions | 10 (Physics, Ballistics, Chemistry, Toxicology, Biology, Serology, DNA, Forensic Psychology, Cyber Forensic, Document) |
| Scale of Pay | Rs. 44,900/- (Level 10, Cell-1 of Pay Matrix under Rule-3 of ORSP Rules, 2017) |
| Qualification | Post Graduate or Master’s Degree in relevant discipline with minimum 55% aggregate marks |
| Age Limit | 21 to 42 years (as on 01.01.2026) |
| Selection | Written Examination (400 marks) and Personality Test (50 marks) |
| Exam Date | 17.01.2027 (Sunday) |
| Application Fee | Rs. 700/- (except SC, ST & PwD) |
| OPSC Notification Date | 28 October 2026 |
| OPSC Online Registration Starting Date | 06 November 2026 |
| OPSC Registration Last Date | 26 November 2026 (5:00 PM) |
| Official Website | https://www.opsc.gov.in |
The recruitment will be conducted as per the Odisha Forensic Science Service (Method of Recruitment and Conditions of Service of Group-‘A’ and Group-‘B’ Posts) Rules, 2025 and one-time relaxation Notification No. 25739, dated 18.07.2026 of the Government in the Home Department.
OPSC Scientific Officer Vacancy 2026
There are 89 seats (29-W) in total across 10 Divisions. As per the requisition furnished by the Home Department, 45 (15-W) vacancies are for the UR category, 08 (02-W) are reserved for SEBC, 18 (05-W) for SC and 18 (07-W) for ST. Also, 04 posts are reserved for Persons with Disabilities whose permanent disability is 40% or more. Candidates belonging to the PwD category shall be adjusted against the categories to which they belong.
| Sl. No. | Name of the Division | Total Vacancies | UR | SC | ST | SEBC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Physics | 07 (02-W) | 04 (01-W) | 01 | 02 (01-W) | 00 |
| 2 | Ballistics | 06 (02-W) | 03 (01-W) | 00 | 02 (01-W) | 01 |
| 3 | Chemistry | 10 (03-W) | 04 (01-W) | 03 (01-W) | 03 (01-W) | 00 |
| 4 | Toxicology | 13 (05-W) | 08 (03-W) | 03 (01-W) | 02 (01-W) | 00 |
| 5 | Biology | 14 (05-W) | 06 (02-W) | 04 (01-W) | 02 (01-W) | 02 (01-W) |
| 6 | Serology | 04 (01-W) | 03 (01-W) | 01 | 00 | 00 |
| 7 | DNA | 12 (04-W) | 06 (02-W) | 02 (01-W) | 03 (01-W) | 01 |
| 8 | Forensic Psychology | 06 (01-W) | 03 (01-W) | 01 | 01 | 01 |
| 9 | Cyber Forensic | 11 (05-W) | 05 (02-W) | 02 (01-W) | 02 (01-W) | 02 (01-W) |
| 10 | Document | 06 (01-W) | 03 (01-W) | 01 | 01 | 01 |
| Grand Total | 89 (29-W) | 45 (15-W) | 18 (05-W) | 18 (07-W) | 08 (02-W) |
Note 1: A candidate can apply for one Division only. Transgender candidates can apply for the said post.
OPSC Scientific Officer Notification 2026 Out @opsc.gov.in
OPSC Scientific Officer Notification 2026 has been released under Advertisement No. 14 of 2026-27, dated 28.10.2026, at opsc.gov.in. The OPSC Notification PDF contains details on vacancies, division-wise distribution, eligibility, age limit, reservation, fee, exam pattern, syllabus, and the application process.
OPSC Scientific Officer Notification 2026: Click to Download
OPSC Scientific Officer Recruitment 2026 Eligibility
The eligibility conditions for OPSC Recruitment 2026 for Scientific Officer posts are explained below.
OPSC Scientific Officer Educational Qualification
- The candidate must have a Post Graduate or Master’s Degree from a recognised University or equivalent in the various disciplines mentioned in Annexure-A of the detailed Advertisement for the respective Divisions, with minimum 55% of the aggregate marks.
- A candidate shall apply for one division only.
OPSC Scientific Officer Age Limit
A candidate must have attained the age of 21 years and must not be above the age of 42 years as on 1st January 2026 — i.e., he/she must have been born not earlier than 2nd January 1984 and not later than 1st January 2005.
Relaxations in the upper age limit:
| Category | Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SEBC, SC, ST, Women & Ex-Servicemen | 5 years |
| Persons with Disabilities (permanent disability 40% or more) | 10 years |
| PwD belonging to SEBC/SC/ST categories | Cumulative relaxation up to 15 years |
The age limits prescribed can in no case be relaxed. The Date of Birth entered in the High School Certificate or equivalent certificate issued by the concerned Board/Council will only be accepted by the Commission.
OPSC Scientific Officer Knowledge in Odia
A candidate must be able to speak, read and write Odia and must have:
- a) passed M.E. School or higher examination with Odia as a language subject; or
- b) passed Matriculation or equivalent examination with Odia as a medium of examination in a non-language subject; or
- c) passed in Odia as a language subject in the final examination of Class VII from a school or educational institution recognized by the Government of Odisha or the Central Government; or
- d) passed a test in Odia in Middle English School standard conducted by the School & Mass Education Department of the Government of Odisha / Board of Secondary Education, Odisha.
Explanation: If a candidate has not passed Odia as a subject in the HSC Examination or not passed Matriculation with Odia as medium, the candidate may provide a certificate issued by the Headmaster of the concerned High School, a certificate by the Principal of the recognized School showing Odia as a subject in Class-VII or above, or an Odia Test Pass Certificate from the School and Mass Education Department/Board of Secondary Education, Odisha — the certificate must be issued before the last date of application. Any manipulation/forgery/tampering of the Odia Pass Certificates will be treated as a criminal offence, besides rejection of candidature and debarment. The Commission reserves the right to test the candidate’s ability to read, write and speak Odia during the Interview process.
OPSC Scientific Officer 2026 Selection Process
Candidates who successfully apply for OPSC Scientific Officer Recruitment 2026 will have to clear the following stages:
- Written Examination (400 marks) — Objective Type Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ pattern) consisting of Paper-I and Paper-II.
- Personality Test / Viva Voce (50 marks) — shortlisting in the ratio of twice the number of vacancies in each category, in order of merit, after fixing minimum qualifying marks for each paper for different categories.
- Preparation of Merit List — division-wise merit list based on aggregate marks secured in the Written Examination and Personality Test/Viva Voce, subject to reservation.
Tie-breaking: In case of candidates securing the same aggregate marks, the candidate securing higher marks in Paper-II of the Written Test shall be ranked higher; in case of a further tie, merit shall be arranged in order of date of birth (the older in age ranked higher).
Note: Details relating to this recruitment like Qualifying Marks, marks secured by the Last Selected Candidate (LSC mark), individual marks, etc., shall only be declared on the Commission’s website after publication of the Final Result and Select List.
OPSC Scientific Officer Exam Pattern 2026
Written Examination (Total: 400 marks)
| Paper | Subjects | No. of Questions | Marks per Question | Total Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper-I | A) General English | 50 | 1 | 50 | 90 minutes (1½ hours) |
| Paper-I | B) General Awareness, General Aptitude & Reasoning | 50 | 1 | 50 | (composite) |
| Paper-II (for each Division) | Discipline-specific (Master’s Degree Level) | 150 | 2 | 300 | 150 minutes (2½ hours) |
| Total | 400 |
- Negative marking: 25% of the marks allotted to each question will be deducted for each wrong answer/response in both Paper-I & Paper-II.
- The standard of questions in Paper-II shall be of Master’s Degree level.
- The Plan/Scheme of Written Examination and syllabus are provided at Annexure-B of the advertisement.
Personality Test / Viva Voce: 50 marks.
OPSC Scientific Officer Application Fee 2026
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Candidates other than SC, ST & PwD | Rs. 700/- |
| SC, ST & PwD candidates | Exempted |
- The fee is to be paid online while filling the Online Application Form.
- The examination fee paid shall be refunded only to those candidates who actually appear in both Paper-I & Paper-II of the Written Examination. Applications without payment of the fee (except SC/ST/PwD) will be taken as incomplete and outrightly rejected.
- Refund shall be issued in due course after completion of the Written Examination, processed to the original mode of payment used at the time of the transaction (Credit Card, Debit Card, UPI, Net Banking, Wallet etc.).
- Candidates must furnish their bank account details (Account Number, IFSC Code, Name of the Account Holder and Name of the Bank branch) in the Online Application Form, required in case of failure of refund through the original mode due to technical glitches. The bank account must remain valid/active; the onus of furnishing correct details lies with the candidates, and OPSC shall not entertain any correspondence in this regard.
OPSC Scientific Officer Salary 2026
The scale of pay for the post of Scientific Officer (Group-B) is Rs. 44,900/- in Level 10, Cell-1 of the Pay Matrix under Rule-3 of the ORSP Rules, 2017, with usual Dearness and other Allowances as may be sanctioned by the Government of Odisha from time to time.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Post | Scientific Officer (Group-B) |
| Scale of Pay | Rs. 44,900/- (Level 10, Cell-1) |
| Allowances | Usual Dearness and other Allowances as sanctioned by the Government of Odisha |
| Pay Rules | ORSP Rules, 2017 (Rule-3 of Pay Matrix) |
How to Apply for OPSC Scientific Officer Recruitment 2026
Candidates can apply online only through the Commission’s website https://www.opsc.gov.in from 06.11.2026 to 26.11.2026 (5:00 PM). The link for registration and payment of examination fees shall be available during this period. The steps are:
- Visit the OPSC website https://www.opsc.gov.in and open the link for registration and payment of examination fees.
- Complete the registration by entering the required details through the Proforma Application.
- Fill in the Online Application Form carefully — the candidate can apply for one Division only.
- Pay the examination fee of Rs. 700/- through online mode (except SC, ST & PwD candidates), and furnish valid bank account details (Account Number, IFSC Code, Name of the Account Holder and Bank Branch).
- Upload the required documents, including the Permanent Disability Certificate (for PwD candidates — temporary disability certificates will not be accepted) and the SEBC Caste Certificate (Non-Creamy Layer) issued by the Competent Authority on or after 07.11.2023 (i.e., not more than 03 years before the first date of submission of the Online Application Form).
- Submit the registered online application on or before 26.11.2026 (5:00 PM) — the last date/closing date for submission.
Important: Applications without payment of examination fees (except SC/ST/PwD candidates) will be taken as incomplete and outrightly rejected. Candidates are advised to visit the Commission’s website regularly for detailed information and updates.
OPSC Scientific Officer 2026: Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Date | 28.10.2026 |
| Online Registration & Payment of Examination Fee — Start | 06.11.2026 |
| Last Date/Closing Date for Submission of Registered Online Application | 26.11.2026 (5:00 PM) |
| Date of Written Examination | 17.01.2027 (Sunday) |
| Detailed Schedule and Centre of Examination | To be notified in due course |
OPSC Scientific Officer 2026: Important Points
- The recruitment is governed by the Odisha Forensic Science Service (Method of Recruitment and Conditions of Service of Group-‘A’ and Group-‘B’ Posts) Rules, 2025 and one-time relaxation Notification No. 25739, dated 18.07.2026 of the Home Department.
- A candidate can apply for only one Division.
- Transgender candidates can apply for the post.
- The number of vacancies to be filled up is subject to change by the Government without notice, depending upon the exigencies of public service at the discretion of the State Government.
- Candidates furnishing SEBC certificates issued more than 03 years prior to the start date (06.11.2026) shall not be considered under the SEBC category — the certificate must be issued on or after 07.11.2023.
- If cancellation of any uploaded certificate (SC/ST/SEBC etc.) is detected at any stage of the recruitment examination or subsequently, the candidature of such candidates will be cancelled, or the recommendation withdrawn if the candidate has availed the benefits of reservation.
- PwD candidates must upload their Permanent Disability Certificate; persons with temporary disability will not be eligible for PwD reservation.
- Candidates must visit the OPSC website https://www.opsc.gov.in for detailed information regarding the advertisement, syllabus (Annexure-A and Annexure-B) and updates.
- Any kind of manipulation/forgery/tampering of Odia Pass Certificates will be treated as a criminal offence, with legal action besides rejection of candidature and debarment from further OPSC recruitment.
- The Commission reserves the right to test the candidate’s ability to read, write and speak Odia during the Interview process.
OPSC Scientific Officer Notification 2026 FAQs
Q1. How many vacancies are there in OPSC Scientific Officer Recruitment 2026?
Ans: There are 89 vacancies (29-W) across 10 Divisions — 45 (15-W) UR, 08 (02-W) SEBC, 18 (05-W) SC and 18 (07-W) ST — with 04 posts reserved for PwD (permanent disability 40% or more).
Q2. What is the OPSC last date to apply?
Ans: The last date/closing date for submission of the registered online application is 26 November 2026 at 5:00 PM.
Q3. When is the OPSC Scientific Officer exam?
Ans: The Written Examination will be held on 17 January 2027 (Sunday); the detailed schedule and centre of examination will be notified in due course.
Q4. What is the OPSC Scientific Officer age limit?
Ans: 21 to 42 years as on 01.01.2026 (born not earlier than 02.01.1984 and not later than 01.01.2005), with 5 years’ relaxation for SEBC/SC/ST/Women/Ex-Servicemen, 10 years for PwD, and cumulative relaxation up to 15 years for PwD belonging to SEBC/SC/ST.
Q5. What is the OPSC Scientific Officer qualification?
Ans: Post Graduate or Master’s Degree from a recognised University in the relevant discipline (as per Annexure-A for the respective Division) with minimum 55% aggregate marks, plus the Odia language requirement.
Q6. What is the OPSC Scientific Officer application fee?
Ans: Rs. 700/- for candidates other than SC, ST & PwD (who are exempted), payable online, and refunded only to candidates who actually appear in both papers of the Written Examination.
Q7. What is the OPSC Scientific Officer salary?
Ans: Rs. 44,900/- in Level 10, Cell-1 of the Pay Matrix under Rule-3 of the ORSP Rules, 2017, with usual Dearness and other allowances.
Q8. What is the selection process for OPSC Scientific Officer?
Ans: Written Examination (400 marks — Paper-I: General English + General Awareness/Aptitude/Reasoning, 100 marks, 90 minutes; Paper-II: discipline-specific Master’s level, 300 marks, 150 minutes, with 25% negative marking) followed by a Personality Test/Viva Voce (50 marks), with shortlisting at twice the number of vacancies in each category.
