Thumbnail: Viksit Haryana | OPSC Scientific Officer Recruitment 2026 — 89 posts, last date 26 November 2026
Big news for master’s degree holders — the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) has opened applications for 89 Scientific Officer (Group-B) posts in forensic science. The starting pay is Rs 44,900 per month, and online applications close on 26 November 2026 at 5:00 PM.
Applications are accepted only on the official OPSC website, opsc.gov.in. Each candidate can apply for one division only, so it is important to pick the division that matches your degree before filling the form.
OPSC Scientific Officer Recruitment 2026 — Quick Summary
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Post name | Scientific Officer (Group-B) |
| Total posts | 89 |
| Organisation | Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC), Home Department |
| Advertisement No. | 14 of 2026-27 (28 October 2026) |
| Pay | Rs 44,900 (Level-10, Cell-1) plus allowances |
| Eligibility | Master’s degree in the relevant subject, minimum 55% marks |
| Age limit | 21–42 years (as on 1 January 2026) |
| Application fee | Rs 700 (exempted for SC/ST/PwD) |
| Last date | 26 November 2026, 5:00 PM |
| Written exam | 7 February 2027 (revised date) |
What is the OPSC Scientific Officer Recruitment 2026?
The Odisha Public Service Commission has issued Advertisement No. 14 of 2026-27 for 89 Scientific Officer posts in the State Forensic Science Service Organisation under the Home Department, Government of Odisha. The posts are spread across 10 forensic science divisions, and the recruitment is being conducted under the Odisha Forensic Science Service (Method of Recruitment and Conditions of Service of Group-A and Group-B Posts) Rules, 2025.
How many posts are there in each division?
| Division | Total posts |
|---|---|
| Biology | 14 |
| Toxicology | 13 |
| DNA | 12 |
| Cyber Forensic | 11 |
| Chemistry | 10 |
| Physics | 7 |
| Ballistics | 6 |
| Forensic Psychology | 6 |
| Document | 6 |
| Serology | 4 |
| Total | 89 |
Category-wise, the posts are UR 45, SC 18, ST 18 and SEBC 8. Of the 89 posts, 29 are reported as reserved for women. The advertisement states that the number of vacancies may change at the discretion of the State Government.
Who can apply?
Candidates must hold a Post Graduate / Master’s Degree in the relevant discipline from a recognised university, with a minimum of 55% aggregate marks. The required qualification differs by division — the detailed conditions are given in Annexure-A of the advertisement.
| Division | Required qualification (summary) |
|---|---|
| Physics | Master’s in Physics / Applied Physics / Electronics, or Integrated M.Sc. (Physics) |
| Ballistics | Master’s in Physics / Applied Physics / Mathematics, or Integrated M.Sc. |
| Chemistry | Master’s in Chemistry / Analytical / Applied / Biochemistry / Pharmaceutical Chemistry |
| Toxicology | Master’s in Chemistry / Analytical / Applied Chemistry |
| Biology / Serology | Master’s in Zoology / Microbiology / Life Science / Genetics / Biotechnology / Biochemistry |
| DNA | Master’s in Zoology / Biotechnology / Genetics / Biochemistry / Molecular Biology / Microbiology / Life Sciences |
| Forensic Psychology | Master’s in Psychology or Forensic Psychology (Psychology as honours/principal subject at bachelor’s level) |
| Cyber Forensic | Master’s in Computer Science / CSE / IT / Cyber Security, or MCA with the prescribed bachelor’s degree |
| Document | Master’s in Physics or Chemistry (with the other subject at bachelor’s level) |
Candidates must be able to speak, read and write Odia — the advertisement mentions an Odia Test Pass Certificate. A candidate can apply for one division only.
What is the age limit?
| Category | Age limit |
|---|---|
| Minimum age | 21 years |
| Maximum age | 42 years |
| Age calculated as on | 1 January 2026 |
| Category | Age relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC / ST / SEBC / Women / Ex-Servicemen | 5 years |
| PwD (40% or more disability) | 10 years |
How much is the application fee?
| Category | Examination fee |
|---|---|
| General / SEBC | Rs 700 |
| SC / ST | Exempted (no fee) |
| PwD | Exempted (no fee) |
Notably, the Rs 700 fee will be refunded to candidates who actually appear in both Paper-I and Paper-II of the written examination. Candidates who do not appear in both papers will not get a refund.
What is the salary?
Selected candidates will receive a basic pay of Rs 44,900 at Level-10, Cell-1 of the pay matrix, along with dearness allowance (DA) and other admissible allowances.
What is the selection process and exam pattern?
Selection will be in two stages — a written examination (400 marks) and a Personality Test / Viva Voce (50 marks), for a total of 450 marks. Only candidates who qualify in the written examination will be called for the personality test.
Paper-I (100 marks, 90 minutes)
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General English | 50 | 50 |
| General Awareness, General Aptitude and Reasoning | 50 | 50 |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
Paper-II (300 marks, 150 minutes)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Total questions | 150 |
| Total marks | 300 (2 marks per question) |
| Duration | 150 minutes |
| Standard | Master’s degree level, division-wise syllabus |
There will be 25% negative marking for every wrong answer in both papers. The written examination will be held at Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.
Note on the exam date: the original advertisement scheduled the written examination for 17 January 2027, but the first corrigendum dated 6 November 2026 rescheduled it to 7 February 2027 (Sunday). Candidates should confirm the final date on opsc.gov.in.
Important dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification issued | 28 October 2026 |
| Online applications begin | 6 November 2026 |
| Last date to apply | 26 November 2026, 5:00 PM |
| Last date for fee payment | 26 November 2026, 5:00 PM |
| Written examination (revised) | 7 February 2027 (Sunday) |
What documents are required?
- High School Certificate or equivalent
- Intermediate / +2 Examination Certificate
- Bachelor’s Degree Certificate
- Master’s Degree Certificate in the concerned division
- Educational mark sheets from HSC to Master’s Degree
- Caste Certificate, if applicable
- Odia Test Pass Certificate, if applicable
- Permanent Disability Certificate, if applicable
- Ex-Servicemen Release Certificate, if applicable
- No Objection Certificate (NOC), if applicable
- Recent passport-size photograph and scanned signature
- Photo Identity Proof (Aadhaar Card preferred)
How to apply online
- Visit the official OPSC website at opsc.gov.in.
- Open the Scientific Officer Recruitment 2026-27 advertisement (Advertisement No. 14 of 2026-27).
- Read the full advertisement and check the eligibility for your preferred division.
- Complete the online registration process.
- Fill in the required personal, educational and other details in the application form.
- Upload the required photograph, signature and supporting documents.
- Pay the applicable examination fee through online mode.
- Review all the information before submitting.
- Submit the application before 26 November 2026 (5:00 PM) and keep a copy of the submitted form for future reference.
Important links
| Detail | Link |
|---|---|
| Apply Online | opsc.gov.in (OPSC online portal) |
| Official Website | www.opsc.gov.in |
| Notification PDF | Advertisement No. 14 of 2026-27, available on opsc.gov.in |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How many vacancies are there in OPSC Scientific Officer Recruitment 2026?
There are 89 posts across 10 forensic science divisions. Biology (14), Toxicology (13) and DNA (12) have the most posts.
Q2: What is the educational qualification required?
A Master’s degree in the relevant subject with at least 55% aggregate marks. The required qualification differs by division, so check Annexure-A of the advertisement.
Q3: What is the last date to apply?
The last date for online application and fee payment is 26 November 2026, 5:00 PM.
Q4: When will the written examination be held?
As per the first corrigendum dated 6 November 2026, the written examination will be held on 7 February 2027 (Sunday). The original date in the advertisement was 17 January 2027.
Q5: What is the salary of an OPSC Scientific Officer?
The starting basic pay is Rs 44,900 (Level-10, Cell-1), plus DA and other allowances.
Q6: How much is the application fee, and is it refundable?
The fee is Rs 700 for General/SEBC candidates; SC/ST/PwD are exempted. The fee is refunded to candidates who appear in both papers of the written examination.
Next Action: Read Advertisement No. 14 of 2026-27 and apply online on opsc.gov.in before 26 November 2026.
Sources: OPSC Advertisement No. 14 of 2026-27 (28 October 2026), opsc.gov.in; exam-date revision as per the corrigendum dated 6 November 2026. Candidates should verify all details in the official advertisement before applying.
