OPSC Group B Recruitment 2026 Notification Out

The Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) has released Advertisement No. 05 of 2026-27 for Special Recruitment to the posts of Assistant Fisheries Officer (Group-B) of the Odisha Fisheries Service Cadre, under the Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Department. This recruitment drive is specifically for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) category candidates, with a total of 44 (13-W) vacancies.

Interested and eligible candidates can apply online through the OPSC website, www.opsc.gov.in, from 24.07.2026 to 24.08.2026 (5:00 PM).

Notification PDF: OPSC Assistant Fisheries Officer Recruitment 2026 Notification (Advertisement No. 05 of 2026-27)

OPSC Assistant Fisheries Officer Recruitment 2026: Quick Overview

Important Dates

• Online Application Start Date: 24.07.2026
• Online Application Closing Date: 24.08.2026, 5:00 PM
• Written Examination Date: 26.09.2026 (Saturday)
• Detailed Exam Schedule and Centre: Not specified yet — to be notified in due course on the OPSC website

Also read: VSSC Apprentice Recruitment 2026-27: 460 Vacancies, Walk-In Interview 25 July

OPSC Assistant Fisheries Officer Vacancy Details

Sub-Category Reservation

Candidates belonging to Ex-Servicemen and PwD categories will be adjusted against the categories to which they belong. Exchange of reservation between SC and ST categories will not be considered. The number of vacancies is subject to change by the Government without notice.

Age Limit

As this is a Special Recruitment for SC and ST categories only, a candidate must have attained the age of 21 years and must not be above the age of 47 years as on 1st January 2026, i.e., born not earlier than 2nd January 1979 and not later than 1st January 2005.

• Persons with Disabilities (40% or more permanent disability) belonging to SC/ST categories get an age relaxation of 10 years over and above 47 years.
• Age relaxation for PwD is available only to Cat-I (Visually Impaired, including Low Vision/Partially Blind) and Cat-II (Hearing Impaired, including Partially Deaf with suitable aid), as requisitioned by the Government.
• Save as provided above, the prescribed age limits cannot be relaxed in any case.
• A candidate falling under more than one category will be eligible for only one age relaxation benefit — whichever is most beneficial.
• Only the date of birth entered in the High School Certificate or equivalent certificate issued by the concerned Board/Council will be accepted.

Educational Qualification

A candidate must possess a Bachelor’s Degree in Fishery Science (B.F.Sc.) from a recognized University in India or abroad.

Other Eligibility Conditions

• The candidate must be a citizen of India.
• The candidate must be able to read, write, and speak Odia, and must satisfy one of the following: passed Middle School Examination with Odia as a language subject; passed Matriculation or equivalent with Odia as medium of examination in a non-language subject; passed Odia as a language subject in the Class-VII final examination from a Government-recognized school; or passed a test in Odia in Middle English School Standard conducted by the School and Mass Education Department.
• A candidate with more than one living spouse is not eligible unless exempted by the State Government for good and sufficient reasons.
• Government servants (temporary or permanent) can apply if within the prescribed age limit and qualification, provided they inform their Head of Office in writing and obtain a No Objection Certificate.
• Candidates debarred by OPSC, another State PSC, or UPSC from appearing in any examination/Viva Voce Test will not be eligible for the debarred period.
• Only candidates who fulfil the qualification and age limit by the closing date of the online application will be considered eligible.
• A candidate must be of good mental condition and bodily health, free from any physical defect likely to interfere with the discharge of duties, subject to medical examination.

Also read: SAIL RSP Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Notification Out – Apply Online for 1110 Trade, Diploma, Graduate Apprentices Posts

Application Fee

No examination fee is required to be paid for applying or appearing in this recruitment.

OPSC Assistant Fisheries Officer Selection Process

The Competitive Examination for recruitment to the post of Assistant Fisheries Officer consists of the following stages:

Written Examination Pattern

• Each question carries 2 marks.
• There is no negative marking for wrong answers.
• The Commission will fix qualifying marks for each paper for all categories of candidates.
• Candidates securing the minimum qualifying marks in the written examination will be called for the Viva Voce Test, about two times the advertised vacancies for each category and sub-category, subject to a minimum of 5.
• The merit list will be prepared based on the total marks secured in the Written Examination and Interview (Viva Voce Test).
• Cut-off marks and individual marks will be declared on the OPSC website only after publication of the final result and select list.

Exam Date and Centre

The Written Examination will be held on 26/09/2026 (Saturday) at Kataka (Cuttack). It may also be held at Bhubaneswar depending on the number of candidates from respective zones. Candidates must mention their choice of Examination Zone at the appropriate place in the online application form. The detailed schedule and centre will be notified in due course.

OPSC Assistant Fisheries Officer Syllabus 2026

The written examination consists of two papers of 400 marks each. The broad topics covered are:

Paper-I Topics

• Fresh Water Aquaculture
• Aquaculture in Reservoirs
• Ornamental Fish Production and Management
• Genetics and Breeding
• Finfish Hatchery Management
• Fish Nutrition and Feed Technology
• Coastal Aquaculture and Mariculture
• Taxonomy of Finfish
• Anatomy and Biology of Finfish
• Inland Fisheries
• Physiology of Finfish and Shellfish
• Marine Fisheries
• Information and Communication Technology
• Fisheries Extension Education
• Fisheries Co-operatives and Marketing
• Fisheries Policy and Law

Paper-II Topics

• Fish and Shellfish Pathology
• Microbial and Parasitic Diseases of Fish and Shellfish
• Pharmacology
• Fish Toxicology
• Soil and Water Chemistry
• Limnology
• Marine Biology
• Aquatic Ecology, Biodiversity and Disaster Management
• Fish in Nutrition
• Fish Products and Value Addition
• Fish By-Products and Waste Utilization
• Aquaculture Engineering
• Fishing Craft Technology
• Fishing Gear Technology

The detailed syllabus for each topic is provided in Annexure-A of the official notification.

Documents Required

Candidates are advised to upload all the following original scanned documents/certificates on the e-Chayan portal of the Commission while submitting the online application:

• H.S.C. or equivalent certificate (in support of declaration of age)
• Intermediate/+2 Examination Certificate
• B.F.Sc. Degree Certificate issued from a recognized University
• Mark-lists for all the above examinations (H.S.C. to B.F.Sc.), including fail marks if any
• Fishery Registration Certificate
• Required Odia Test Pass Certificate
• Caste Certificate by birth in support of claim as ST/SC, whichever applicable
• Four recent passport size photographs (unsigned and unattested)
• Release Certificate for Ex-Servicemen (as per Orissa Ex-Servicemen Rules, 1985), along with an affidavit that they have not been appointed against any civil post after retirement from military service
• Permanent Disability Certificate (indicating 40% or more disability) for Persons with Disabilities, issued by the concerned Medical Board
• Proof of identity (Aadhaar/EPIC/Driving Licence/Passport/PAN Card)

Note: Candidates who have been awarded only grade marks (not percentage) must produce a conversion certificate from the concerned University indicating the actual equivalent percentage and conversion formula, failing which the application is liable to be rejected. Women candidates belonging to SC/ST categories must submit caste certificates by birth showing “daughter of ___”; certificates by virtue of marriage are not acceptable. All required certificates must be issued by the competent authority on or before the date of submission of the online application.

Candidates who qualify in the written examination will later be required to bring the hard copy of the online application along with copies and originals of the above documents for verification, on a date to be notified separately.

How to Apply for OPSC Assistant Fisheries Officer Recruitment 2026

1. Go through the complete details of the advertisement available on the OPSC website before filling up the online application form.
2. Apply online only through the official website: http://opsc.gov.in. Applications received through any other mode will be summarily rejected.
3. Upload self-attested copies of all documents listed above.
4. Fill in the automated, system-driven online application form carefully. Ensure accurate information is entered, as the edit option is limited and no further edit is possible after confirmation.
5. Upload a scanned passport size photograph, scanned image of full signature, and scanned image of Left Hand Thumb Impression (LTI) — all must be clearly visible, or the application may be rejected.
6. Keep at least four copies of the latest passport size photograph used in the application for future use.
7. On successful submission, a unique Permanent Public Service Account Number (PPSAN) will be assigned.
8. Take a printout of the finally submitted online Registration and Application forms and sign the declaration for submission to OPSC, along with copies of required certificates and documents as and when asked.
9. Submit the online application well in advance of the closing date to avoid last-hour rush.
10. Download the Certificate of Admission from the OPSC website before the written examination date and produce it at the examination centre.

Important Instructions

• Online applications found to be incomplete in any respect are liable to rejection without entertaining any correspondence with the applicant.
• Admission to the Written Examination/Viva Voce Test is provisional. If a candidate is found not to fulfil the eligibility conditions at any stage, the candidature will be rejected. The Commission’s decision on eligibility is final.
• Concessions meant for ST/SC by birth are admissible only to Scheduled Tribe/Scheduled Caste candidates of Odisha.
• Community/Caste status once mentioned by candidates in the online application form will be treated as final and cannot be changed under any circumstances.
• This advertisement should not be construed as binding on the Government to make an appointment.
• Any misrepresentation or suppression of information by the candidate will result in cancellation of candidature or a penalty as decided by the Commission.
• Mere inclusion of a candidate’s name in the list confers no right to appointment.
• Candidates submitting forged or manipulated documents will be debarred from appearing in examinations conducted by OPSC for 3 years.
• Any complaint on the conduct of the examination must be sent to the Grievance Wing of the Commission by email ([email protected]) within 7 days of completion of the examination.

Grounds for Rejection of Application

• Incomplete online application form
• Non-submission of hard copy of online application form at the time of verification of original documents
• Not within the age limit as mentioned in the notification (no overage relaxation for PwD candidates with less than 40% disability)
• Declaration not signed with full signature by the candidate in the hard copy of the online application form
• No required educational qualification
• Copies of required certificates/documents not furnished
• Odia Test pass evidence not furnished
• Submission of wrong or false information about qualification, age, Odia Test pass evidence, or category status
• Suppression of facts or information about eligibility
• Any other ground as per the decision of the Commission

The application or candidature of a candidate shall be rejected at any stage of the recruitment process whenever a discrepancy is noticed or detected.

OPSC Assistant Fisheries Officer Important Links

Candidates with a background in Fishery Science can also explore more B.F.Sc. Government Jobs and Odisha Government Jobs. Those preparing for OPSC exams can check the latest OPSC Recruitment notifications for upcoming vacancies.