Introduction to OPSC Scientific Officer Recruitment 2026
The Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) has officially released Advt. No. 14 OF 2026-27, inviting online applications from qualified candidates for 89 Scientific Officer vacancies under the State Forensic Science Laboratory and Home Department, Government of Odisha. This recruitment drive offers an exceptional career path for post-graduates and specialized science professionals looking to serve within the state administrative framework. Qualified aspirants who want to explore all latest Odisha Government Jobs can find this notification as a premier opportunity to enter Group-A state services.
Detailed Vacancy & Eligibility Breakdown
| Post | Posts | Age Limit | Pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physics | 7 | Must have attained the age of 21 years and must not be above the age of 42 years on the 1st day of January, 2026 | Rs. 44,900 |
| Ballistics | 6 | Must have attained the age of 21 years and must not be above the age of 42 years on the 1st day of January, 2026 | Rs. 44,900 |
| Chemistry | 10 | Must have attained the age of 21 years and must not be above the age of 42 years on the 1st day of January, 2026 | Rs. 44,900 |
| Toxicology | 13 | Must have attained the age of 21 years and must not be above the age of 42 years on the 1st day of January, 2026 | Rs. 44,900 |
| Biology | 14 | Must have attained the age of 21 years and must not be above the age of 42 years on the 1st day of January, 2026 | Rs. 44,900 |
| Serology | 4 | Must have attained the age of 21 years and must not be above the age of 42 years on the 1st day of January, 2026 | Rs. 44,900 |
| DNA | 12 | Must have attained the age of 21 years and must not be above the age of 42 years on the 1st day of January, 2026 | Rs. 44,900 |
| Forensic Psychology | 6 | Must have attained the age of 21 years and must not be above the age of 42 years on the 1st day of January, 2026 | Rs. 44,900 |
| Cyber Forensic | 11 | Must have attained the age of 21 years and must not be above the age of 42 years on the 1st day of January, 2026 | Rs. 44,900 |
| Document | 6 | Must have attained the age of 21 years and must not be above the age of 42 years on the 1st day of January, 2026 | Rs. 44,900 |
| Total | 89 |
| Post | UR | OBC | SC | ST | EWS | PWD | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physics | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Ballistics | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Chemistry | 4 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Toxicology | 8 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 13 |
| Biology | 6 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 14 |
| Serology | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| DNA | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Forensic Psychology | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| Cyber Forensic | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| Document | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| Post | Qualification |
|---|---|
| Physics | Master's Degree in Physics or Applied Physics or Electronics with Physics or Integrated M.Sc. in Physics or Forensic Science with Forensic Physics or Ballistics |
| Ballistics | Master's Degree in Physics or Applied Physics or Mathematics or Applied Mathematics or Integrated M.Sc. in Physics or Mathematics or Forensic Science |
| Chemistry | Master's Degree in Chemistry or Analytical Chemistry or Applied Chemistry or Bio-chemistry or Pharmaceutical Chemistry or Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance or Forensic Science |
| Toxicology | Master's Degree in Chemistry or Analytical Chemistry or Applied Chemistry or 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 Forensic Science with Forensic Biology or Serology or DNA |
| Serology | Master's Degree in Zoology or Microbiology or Life Science or Genetics or Biotechnology or Biochemistry or Molecular Biology or Forensic Science with Forensic Biology or Serology or DNA |
| DNA | Master's Degree in Zoology or Biotechnology or Genetics or Biochemistry or Molecular Biology or Microbiology or Life Sciences or Forensic Science with Forensic Biology or Serology or DNA |
| Forensic Psychology | Master's Degree in Psychology or Forensic Psychology with Psychology as Honours or principal subjects at Bachelor's level |
| Cyber Forensic | Master's Degree in Computer Science or Computer Science and Engineering or Information Technology or Cyber Security or Computer Application or Digital Forensic or Forensic Science with Specialization in Cyber Forensics |
| Document | Master's Degree in Physics or Chemistry or Forensic Science with Chemistry or Physics as one of the subjects at Bachelor of Science level |
| Part / Paper | Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper-I | General English, General Awareness, General Aptitude & Reasoning | 100 | 100 | 90 minutes |
| Paper-II | Specific Division Subject | 150 | 300 | 150 minutes |
Candidates selected through this notification will be deployed across various specialized forensic divisions in Odisha. Aspirants seeking to check more Graduate jobs in Odisha should review the discipline-specific criteria carefully before submitting their applications via the official portal at opsc.gov.in. Applicants can also reference announcements such as the OPSC OCS Main Subject Code Notice 2026 for Written Exam recruitment details to understand the commission's examination standards.
Discipline-Wise Vacancy Breakdown
The 89 vacancies are distributed across ten core forensic divisions. Candidates must verify their academic specializations against the specific requirements of each division before applying.
| Discipline / Post Name | UR | OBC | SC | ST | EWS | PwD | Total Posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physics | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Ballistics | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Chemistry | 4 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Toxicology | 8 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 13 |
| Biology | 6 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 14 |
| Serology | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| DNA | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Forensic Psychology | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| Cyber Forensic | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| Document | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| Total Summary | 45 | 7 | 16 | 18 | 2 | 4 | 89 |
Educational Qualifications & Age Criteria
Eligibility for OPSC Scientific Officer posts requires specific academic credentials and age parameters defined by the commission:
- Educational Qualification: Candidates must possess a Post Graduate or Master's Degree in a relevant discipline (such as Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Toxicology, Zoology, Computer Science, IT, Forensic Science, etc.) with at least 55% aggregate marks from a recognized university.
- Language Requirement: Proficiency in Odia is mandatory. Candidates must have passed Odia as a language subject at the M.E. school level or higher.
- Age Limits: Applicants must be between 21 and 42 years of age as on 01 January 2026.
- Age Relaxations: Upper age limits are relaxed by 5 years for SEBC, SC, ST, Women, and Ex-Servicemen candidates, and by 10 years for PwD candidates.
Salary Structure & Remuneration
Appointed candidates will be placed in a permanent Group-A state government position under the Home Department. The compensation package is structured as follows:
- Pay Scale: Rs. 44,900/- to Rs. 1,42,400/- in Level 10, Cell-1 of the Odisha Revised Scale of Pay Matrix.
- Basic Pay: Rs. 44,900/- per month.
- Allowances: Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), and Transport Allowance as per Odisha State Government rules, resulting in an estimated gross monthly salary of approximately Rs. 79,032/- and an in-hand salary of around Rs. 71,200/-.
Selection Methodology & Exam Pattern
The selection process comprises a rigorous multi-stage evaluation designed to test core scientific acumen and general aptitude:
- Stage 1: Written Examination: Consists of two objective-type papers. Paper-I covers General English, Awareness, Aptitude, and Reasoning (100 MCQs, 100 Marks, 90 Minutes). Paper-II covers the Specific Division Subject (150 MCQs, 300 Marks, 150 Minutes).
- Marking Scheme: A negative marking scheme applies, deducting 25% of the assigned marks (0.25 marks for Paper-I and 0.50 marks for Paper-II) for every incorrect answer.
- Stage 2: Personality Test / Viva Voce: Carries 50 marks for candidates who qualify through the written examination.
- Stage 3: Document Verification & Medical Assessment: Final verification of original academic certificates and medical fitness evaluation.
Application Fee & Payment Guidelines
Candidates must submit their examination fee through secure online channels as per the commission guidelines:
- General, OBC, and EWS Candidates: Required to pay an examination fee of Rs. 700/-.
- SC, ST, and PwD Candidates: Fully exempted from fee payment (applicable to candidates domiciled in Odisha).
- Payment Mode: Online transactions via Credit Card, Debit Card, Net Banking, UPI, or Digital Wallets.
Step-by-Step Online Application Guide
Eligible candidates can apply online by adhering to the official application procedure:
- Visit the official OPSC recruitment portal at opsc.gov.in.
- Navigate to the 'Apply Online' section and select Advt. No. 14 OF 2026-27 for Scientific Officer posts.
- Complete initial registration using a valid mobile number and email address.
- Log in with your credentials, fill out personal, educational, and category details accurately.
- Upload scanned copies of your recent passport-size photograph, signature, and left-hand thumb impression (LTI).
- Pay the requisite application fee online (if applicable) and submit the form.
- Download and print a hard copy of the submitted application form for future verification.
Essential Documents Checklist
Keep the following documents ready in scanned format before starting your online application:
- H.S.C. or equivalent certificate and marksheet for proof of date of birth.
- Intermediate / Higher Secondary (+2) examination certificate and marksheet.
- Bachelor's Degree certificate and consolidated marksheets.
- Master's Degree certificate and marksheets reflecting a minimum of 55% aggregate marks.
- Odia language pass certificate (M.E. School or higher examination).
- Caste or SEBC certificate issued by a competent authority, if claiming reservation.
- Scanned passport-size photograph, signature, and Left-hand Thumb Impression.
Candidate Advisories & Important Warnings
Applicants must take note of the following strict rules issued by the commission to prevent application rejection:
- A candidate is permitted to apply for only one division/discipline under this recruitment notification.
- Submitting multiple application forms for different disciplines will result in the outright rejection of all submissions.
- Ensure that Odia language proficiency is duly supported by academic certificates matching the M.E. school level requirement.
- Verify all entered data against original documents before final submission, as correction windows may be restricted.
