Overview
The Odisha Public Service Commission has released the official notification for the OPSC Scientific Officer Recruitment 2026 under Advt. No. 14 of 2026-27. A total of 89 vacancies are available for the post of Scientific Officer (Group B) in the State Forensic Science Service Organization under the Home Department, Government of Odisha. Candidates holding a Master’s Degree or Post Graduate qualification in specified science disciplines can complete their submission through the online registration process between 06 November 2026 and 26 November 2026. For regular updates on employment news across the state, job seekers can also browse the latest updates on Odisha Careers.
This recruitment drives vital appointments in state forensic laboratories across ten specialized scientific divisions, offering a Level 10 pay matrix to selected officers. Candidates must submit their application form through the official website within the announced registration window. All interested applicants must ensure that they satisfy the required education standards and age limits prior to submitting their forms for the OPSC Scientific Officer Recruitment 2026.
Vacancy Details
The notification announces 89 posts across 10 distinct technical divisions. Out of the total openings, 29 seats are reserved for women candidates. In addition, 4 vacancies are reserved horizontally for Persons with Disabilities (PwD) whose permanent disability is 40% or more. Candidates can apply for one division only.
| Sl. No. | Name of the Division | UR | SC | ST | SEBC | Total Vacancies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Physics | 04 (01-w) | 01 | 02 (01-w) | 00 | 07 (02-w) |
| 2 | Ballistics | 03 (01-w) | 00 | 02 (01-w) | 01 | 06 (02-w) |
| 3 | Chemistry | 04 (01-w) | 03 (01-w) | 03 (01-w) | 00 | 10 (03-w) |
| 4 | Toxicology | 08 (03-w) | 03 (01-w) | 02 (01-w) | 00 | 13 (05-w) |
| 5 | Biology | 06 (02-w) | 04 (01-w) | 02 (01-w) | 02 (01-w) | 14 (05-w) |
| 6 | Serology | 03 (01-w) | 01 | 00 | 00 | 04 (01-w) |
| 7 | DNA | 06 (02-w) | 02 (01-w) | 03 (01-w) | 01 | 12 (04-w) |
| 8 | Forensic Psychology | 03 (01-w) | 01 | 01 | 01 | 06 (01-w) |
| 9 | Cyber Forensic | 05 (02-w) | 02 (01-w) | 02 (01-w) | 02 (01-w) | 11 (05-w) |
| 10 | Document | 03 (01-w) | 01 | 01 | 01 | 06 (01-w) |
| — | Grand Total | 45 (15-w) | 18 (05-w) | 18 (07-w) | 08 (02-w) | 89 (29-w) |
Eligibility
Candidates must fulfill all basic conditions, academic standards, and language proficiencies by the closing date of the application form.
- General Conditions: The applicant must be a citizen of India, of good moral character, and sound mental and physical health. If married, the candidate must not have more than one spouse living.
- Academic Score: A candidate must possess a Post Graduate or Master’s Degree from a recognized University or equivalent with a minimum of 55% aggregate marks in the relevant subject area.
- Division-wise Qualifications:
- Physics: Master’s Degree in Physics or Applied Physics or Electronics with Physics as a subject at B.Sc. level; or Integrated M.Sc. in Physics; or Master’s Degree in Forensic Science with Forensic Physics or Ballistics and Physics/Forensic Science at B.Sc. level; or Integrated M.Sc. in Forensic Science with Forensic Physics or Ballistics.
- Ballistics: Master’s Degree in Physics or Applied Physics or Mathematics or Applied Mathematics with Physics or Mathematics at B.Sc. level; or Integrated M.Sc. in Physics or Mathematics; or Master’s Degree in Forensic Science with Forensic Physics or Ballistics and Physics/Mathematics/Forensic Science at B.Sc. level; or Integrated M.Sc. in Forensic Science with Forensic Physics or Ballistics.
- Chemistry: Master’s Degree in Chemistry or Analytical Chemistry or Applied Chemistry or Bio-chemistry or Pharmaceutical Chemistry or Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance; or Integrated M.Sc. in Chemistry; or Master’s Degree in Forensic Science with Forensic Chemistry or Toxicology and Chemistry at B.Sc. level; or Integrated M.Sc. in Forensic Science with Forensic Chemistry or Toxicology.
- Toxicology: Master’s Degree in Chemistry or Analytical Chemistry or Applied Chemistry; or Integrated M.Sc. in Chemistry; or Master’s Degree in Forensic Science with Forensic Chemistry or Toxicology and Chemistry at B.Sc. level; or Integrated M.Sc. in Forensic Science with Forensic Chemistry or Toxicology.
- Biology: Master’s Degree in Zoology or Microbiology or Life Science or Genetics or Biotechnology or Biochemistry or Molecular Biology; or Integrated M.Sc. in Biology; or Master’s Degree in Forensic Science with Forensic Biology/Serology/DNA and Botany/Zoology at B.Sc. level; or Integrated M.Sc. in Forensic Science with Forensic Biology/Serology/DNA.
- Serology: Master’s Degree in Zoology or Microbiology or Life Science or Genetics or Biotechnology or Biochemistry or Molecular Biology; or Integrated M.Sc. in Biology; or Master’s Degree in Forensic Science with Forensic Biology/Serology/DNA and Botany/Zoology at B.Sc. level; or Integrated M.Sc. in Forensic Science with Forensic Biology/Serology/DNA.
- DNA: Master’s Degree in Zoology or Biotechnology or Genetics or Biochemistry or Molecular Biology or Microbiology or Life Sciences; or Integrated M.Sc. in Biology; or Master’s Degree in Forensic Science with Forensic Biology/Serology/DNA and Zoology at B.Sc. level; or Integrated M.Sc. in Forensic Science with Forensic Biology/Serology/DNA.
- Forensic Psychology: Master’s Degree in Psychology or Forensic Psychology with Psychology as Honours or principal subject at Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science level.
- Cyber Forensic: Master’s Degree (M.Sc. or M.Tech) in Computer Science or Computer Science and Engineering or Information Technology or Cyber Security; or MCA with Bachelor’s degree in Computer Application, Computer Science, Electronics, Physics, Mathematics, or IT; or Master’s Degree in Digital Forensic / Forensic Science with specialization in Cyber Forensics, Information Security, Cyber Security, Multimedia Forensics, ICT, AI, Data Science, or Cyber Security Management.
- Document: Master’s Degree in Physics or Chemistry or Forensic Science with Chemistry or Physics as a subject at B.Sc. level.
- Odia Language Knowledge: The candidate must be able to speak, read, and write Odia and must have passed M.E. School or higher examination with Odia as a language subject; or passed Matriculation with Odia as a medium of examination in a non-language subject; or passed Odia as a language subject in Class VII; or passed an Odia test in M.E. School standard conducted by the School & Mass Education Department of Odisha.
Age Limit
Candidates applying for the OPSC Scientific Officer Recruitment 2026 must satisfy the prescribed age boundaries as on 01 January 2026.
- Minimum Age: 21 years (born not later than 01 January 2005).
- Maximum Age: 42 years (born not earlier than 02 January 1984).
- Upper Age Relaxation: Relaxable by 5 years for candidates belonging to SC, ST, SEBC, Women, and Ex-Servicemen.
- PwD Relaxation: Relaxable by 10 years for Persons with Disabilities with permanent disability of 40% or more.
- Cumulative Relaxation: PwD candidates belonging to SC, ST, or SEBC categories are eligible for a cumulative relaxation of up to 15 years.
Salary and Benefits
Selected candidates will receive appointment in Group B service under the State Forensic Science Service Organization. The position carries a pay scale of Rs. 44,900/- in Level 10, Cell 1 of the Pay Matrix under Rule 3 of the ORSP Rules, 2017. In addition to the basic pay, appointees will receive usual Dearness Allowance and other allowances as sanctioned by the Government of Odisha from time to time. New entrants will be covered under the defined Contributory Pension Scheme (NPS).
Important Dates
All important dates officially notified for this selection drive are provided below:
| Event | Date / Time |
|---|---|
| Notification Publication Date | 28 October 2026 |
| Online Registration Start Date | 06 November 2026 |
| Last Date for Online Registration and Fee Payment | 26 November 2026 (5:00 PM) |
| Last Date for Submission of Online Application | 26 November 2026 (5:00 PM) |
| Written Examination Date | 17 January 2027 (Sunday) |
Selection Process
The recruitment process consists of two stages totaling 450 marks: Written Examination (400 marks) → Personality Test / Viva Voce (50 marks).
The Written Examination is objective type (Multiple Choice Questions) held in Kataka/Bhubaneswar across two papers:
| Paper | Subject & Pattern | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper-I | Part A: General English (50 questions, 1 mark each) Part B: General Awareness, Aptitude & Reasoning (50 questions, 1 mark each) |
100 marks | 90 minutes |
| Paper-II | Subject-specific technical syllabus for each division (150 questions, 2 marks each) of Master’s Degree level | 300 marks | 150 minutes |
There is a negative marking of 25% of the allotted marks for every incorrect answer in both papers. Candidates qualifying the written test will be shortlisted for the Personality Test in a ratio of twice the number of vacancies in each category.
How to Apply
Eligible candidates can complete the online application process by following these steps:
- Visit the official OPSC portal at www.opsc.gov.in and review Advertisement No. 14 of 2026-27.
- Click on the online application link and complete the initial registration.
- Fill in personal details, caste information, educational scores, and banking details required for fee processing.
- Upload scanned copies of your recent passport-size photograph, full signature, left-hand thumb impression (LTI), and educational certificates merged into a single PDF within 10 MB.
- Pay the examination fee of Rs. 700 online (if applicable). SC, ST, and PwD candidates of Odisha are exempted from the fee. Note that the fee will be refunded to candidates who actually appear in both papers of the written test.
- Verify all entered entries and submit the online application form before 26 November 2026 at 5:00 PM.
- Download and print the submitted form with your unique Permanent Public Service Account Number (PPSAN) for future verification.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the total vacancy count for OPSC Scientific Officer Recruitment 2026?
A total of 89 vacancies are available across 10 specialized divisions in the State Forensic Science Service Organization.
2. What is the last date to submit the application form?
The closing date for submission of online applications and payment of examination fees is 26 November 2026 till 5:00 PM.
3. What is the minimum educational qualification required?
Candidates must hold a Post Graduate or Master’s Degree in the relevant science discipline with at least 55% aggregate marks.
4. What is the application fee for this recruitment?
Candidates other than SC, ST, and PwD must pay Rs. 700 online, which will be refunded after appearing in both papers of the written exam. SC, ST, and PwD candidates pay no fee.
5. When will the written examination be conducted?
The written examination is scheduled to take place on 17 January 2027 in Kataka and Bhubaneswar.
Disclaimer: Odisha Careers is not affiliated with any government body. Please verify all details on the official notification before applying.
