ODISHA MINISTERIAL SERVICES RULES 2026: RECRUITMENT & SERVICE CONDITIONS OF JUNIOR ASSISTANT TO SECTION OFFICER (ST &SC, MBCW DEPARTMENT)
ODISHA MINISTERIAL SERVICES RECRUITMENT RULES 2026
ST&SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department – Rules for Junior Assistant, Senior Assistant, ASO & Section Officer
Rules Title
Odisha Ministerial Services Rules, 2026
Issuing Authority
ST&SC Development, M&BCW Dept., Govt. of Odisha
Posts Covered
Junior Assistant, Senior Assistant, ASO, Section Officer
Appointing Authority
Respective District Collectors
Direct Recruitment
80%
Junior Assistant through competitive examination
Promotion
20%
From Group-D employees to Junior Assistant
Age Limit
21-32 Years
As on 1st January of recruitment year
Key Provisions of the Rules
- Short Title & Commencement: These rules may be called the Odisha Ministerial Services (Method of Recruitment and Conditions of Service of Junior Assistants, Senior Assistants, Assistant Section Officers and Section Officers and offices Sub-ordinate thereto under the ST&SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department) Rules, 2026. They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Odisha Gazette.
- Constitution of Service: The service shall consist of the following posts:
– Junior Assistant (Welfare)
– Senior Assistant (Welfare)
– Assistant Section Officer (Welfare)
– Section Officer (Welfare) - Methods of Recruitment:
– Junior Assistant (Welfare): 80% by Direct Recruitment through competitive examination conducted by Odisha Sub-ordinate Staff Selection Commission (OSSSC); 20% by Promotion from Group-D employees.
– Senior Assistant (Welfare): Promotion from Junior Assistants.
– Assistant Section Officer (Welfare): Promotion from Senior Assistants.
– Section Officer (Welfare): Promotion from Assistant Section Officers. - Eligibility for Direct Recruitment:
– Age: 21 to 32 years as on 1st January of recruitment year (relaxation for reserved categories as per rules).
– Qualification: Bachelor's Degree (+3) in any discipline with knowledge of Computer skill.
– Odia Language: Must be able to read, write and speak Odia with prescribed educational qualifications.
– Medical Fitness: Must be of good mental and physical health.
– Marital Status: Not more than one spouse living (if married). - Promotion Criteria (Group-D to Junior Assistant):
– Minimum 10 years of continuous service as on 1st January.
– Must have passed Matriculation or equivalent with Computer skill knowledge.
– Selection based on service record, qualifying computer skill test, and suitability with due regard to seniority. - Promotion Criteria (Junior Assistant to Senior Assistant):
– Minimum 6 years of continuous service as Junior Assistant.
– Must have passed Preliminary Accounts Examination. - Promotion Criteria (Senior Assistant to ASO):
– Minimum 4 years of continuous service as Senior Assistant.
– Must have passed Final Accounts Examination. - Promotion Criteria (ASO to Section Officer):
– Minimum 4 years of continuous service as ASO.
– Must have passed Final Accounts Examination. - Departmental Examination:
– Junior Assistants must pass Preliminary Accounts Examination.
– Senior Assistants and above must pass Final Accounts Examination.
– No exemption from passing Departmental examinations.
– Accounts Examination from MDRAFM is not equivalent to Board of Revenue examination. - Probation:
– Direct Recruitment: 2 years probation.
– Promotion: 1 year probation. - Inter-se Seniority: Determined with reference to position in respective select list. Promotee Junior Assistants rank below direct recruits in the same year.
- Transfer: Junior Assistants may seek transfer to another district after 3 years of continuous service, subject to vacancy and forfeiture of seniority.
- Reservations: As per Odisha Reservation Act, 1975 for SC/ST, and applicable rules for SEBC, Women, Sportsmen, Ex-servicemen and Persons with Disabilities.
Examination Scheme for Direct Recruitment
- Written Test (3 hours – 180 marks):
– Language Test (English & Odia): 75 marks (Objective)
– General Knowledge: 35 marks (Objective)
– Mathematics: 35 marks (Objective)
– Basic Computer Skills: 35 marks (Objective)
Note: Negative marking of 1/4th mark (0.25) for each wrong answer. - Practical Skill Test (1 hour – 35 marks):
– Basic Computer Skills (Qualifying in nature)
– Topics: Windows OS, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Excel, MS Access - Standard: Equivalent to Secondary School Examination.
- Selection: Those who qualify the written test shall be called for the practical skill test.
Important Points to Note
- District Cadre: The recruitment is district-wise. Once appointed in a district, the candidate shall not be transferred outside except for administrative reasons or public interest.
- Appointing Authority: The Respective District Collectors are the Appointing Authorities for all posts in the service.
- Committee: The Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) consists of the Appointing Authority (Chairman), a Senior Officer of the District Office (Member), and the District Welfare Officer (Member Convenor).
- Select List: Valid for one year from the date of publication or until a new select list is prepared, whichever is earlier.
- Relaxation: Government may relax any provision of these rules in public interest, with reasons recorded in writing.
- Interpretation: Any question relating to interpretation of these rules shall be referred to the Government in ST&SC Development, M&BCW Department, whose decision shall be final.
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📥 Download Rules PDF Share on WhatsApp Share via Gmail Share on TelegramFrequently Asked Questions
What are the Odisha Ministerial Services Rules, 2026?
These are the recruitment and service rules for posts of Junior Assistant, Senior Assistant, Assistant Section Officer and Section Officer under the ST&SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department, Government of Odisha.
What are the posts covered under these rules?
The service consists of: Junior Assistant (Welfare), Senior Assistant (Welfare), Assistant Section Officer (Welfare), and Section Officer (Welfare).
How is recruitment to the post of Junior Assistant (Welfare) made?
Recruitment is made through two methods:
– 80% by Direct Recruitment through competitive examination conducted by Odisha Sub-ordinate Staff Selection Commission (OSSSC).
– 20% by Promotion from amongst "Group-D" employees.
– 80% by Direct Recruitment through competitive examination conducted by Odisha Sub-ordinate Staff Selection Commission (OSSSC).
– 20% by Promotion from amongst "Group-D" employees.
What is the age limit for direct recruitment?
A candidate must have attained the age of 21 years and must not be above the age of 32 years as on the 1st day of January of the year in which recruitment is made. Age relaxation is available for reserved categories.
What is the educational qualification required?
Candidates must have passed Bachelor's Degree (+3) in any discipline (Arts, Science, Commerce) or equivalent qualification with knowledge of Computer skill.
What is the Odia language requirement?
Candidates must be able to read, write and speak Odia and have passed:
– Middle School with Odia as a language subject; or
– Matriculation with Odia as medium; or
– Odia as language subject in Class VII; or
– A test in Odia in Middle English School Standard conducted by S&ME Department.
– Middle School with Odia as a language subject; or
– Matriculation with Odia as medium; or
– Odia as language subject in Class VII; or
– A test in Odia in Middle English School Standard conducted by S&ME Department.
What are the promotion criteria for Group-D to Junior Assistant?
Group-D employees with minimum 10 years of continuous service and having passed Matriculation or equivalent with Computer skill knowledge are eligible. Selection is based on service record, qualifying computer skill test, and suitability with due regard to seniority.
What are the promotion criteria for Junior Assistant to Senior Assistant?
Junior Assistants must have rendered at least 6 (six) years of continuous service and must have passed the Preliminary Accounts Examination.
What are the promotion criteria for Senior Assistant to ASO and ASO to Section Officer?
For both promotions, candidates must have rendered at least 4 (four) years of continuous service in the feeder post and must have passed the Final Accounts Examination.
What is the probation period?
Direct Recruitment: 2 years probation. Promotion: 1 year probation. The period of probation shall be counted from the date of joining the post.
What is the Appointing Authority?
The respective District Collectors are the Appointing Authorities for all posts in the service.
Can a Junior Assistant be transferred to another district?
Yes. A Junior Assistant may seek transfer to another district after 3 years of continuous service, subject to vacancy availability. Upon transfer, he/she forfeits seniority for past service and ranks below the junior most Junior Assistant of the new district.
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