The OSSSC syllabus for its combined recruitment exam starts with a preliminary test of 100 objective questions on arithmetic, general studies, English, Odia, logical reasoning and computer knowledge, answered in 90 minutes, followed for most posts by a practical computer skill test, with a main written exam added in some advertisements. Posts such as Revenue Inspector, Assistant Revenue Inspector, Amin, ICDS Supervisor and Statistical Field Surveyor have been filled this way.
Because the commission tunes the scheme for each advertisement, the safest way to read this page is as a map of what has been asked and how it is weighted, then to check the exact numbers in the advertisement you are applying under. Below are the stages, the latest reported subject split, topic lists, age and qualification by post and a study plan. Graduates aiming higher in the same state can also read the OSSC CGL syllabus.
Exam at a glance
Conducted by
Odisha Sub-ordinate Staff Selection Commission, BhubaneswarPosts
Group C posts such as RI, ARI, Amin, ICDS Supervisor and SFSPrelims
100 MCQs, 100 marks, 1 hour 30 minutesNegative marking
0.25 per wrong answer in the latest reported advertisement; 0.33 in some earlier onesSkill test
Basic computer skills, 50 marks in 30 minutes, qualifyingMode
OMR or computer based (CBRT), as notifiedOfficial website
Stages of OSSSC recruitment
OSSSC fills subordinate (Group C) posts for many Odisha departments. Its combined recruitment exam, usually called CRE, groups several posts into one advertisement, and the selection runs like this:
- Preliminary test: objective, on OMR sheets or computer based. In some advertisements this alone decides the merit; in others it only shortlists you.
- Main written exam: held when the advertisement says so, as a longer objective paper on the same subjects.
- Practical skill test in basic computer skills: qualifying only, for posts that need it.
- Document verification and final merit list.
OSSSC also runs separate exams for technical posts, forest and agriculture field staff and other cadres. Their papers follow the same general idea but have their own technical sections, so do not assume the CRE scheme applies to them.
OSSSC exam pattern: the preliminary test
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics (arithmetic) | 20 | 20 |
| General studies | 20 | 20 |
| English | 20 | 20 |
| Odia | 15 | 15 |
| Computer knowledge | 15 | 15 |
| Logical reasoning | 10 | 10 |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
You get 90 minutes for the full paper. A slightly different split has appeared in an earlier advertisement, with 20 marks each for maths, general studies, English, Odia and reasoning and a main exam of 180 marks that added a computer section, while every incorrect answer then cost 0.33 mark. That tells you the subjects stay stable while the weights move.
Detailed OSSSC syllabus by subject
Mathematics
- Whole numbers, fractions and decimals; factors, HCF and LCM; simplifying expressions
- Percentages and their uses, ratios, averages, buying and selling with discounts
- Interest of both kinds, work shared by people or pipes, speed with distance
- Areas and volumes, elementary algebra, heights and distances
- Reading values off tables, bar charts and pie charts
General studies
- News and events from Odisha, the country and abroad
- History, culture, geography and economy of Odisha alongside Indian history and geography
- How the Indian Constitution works, rights, the panchayat system and urban local bodies
- Everyday science and environment
English
- Grammar: tenses, articles, prepositions, voice, narration
- Word power: same and opposite meanings, idiomatic phrases, a word for a phrase
- Spotting the wrong segment in a line, filling blanks and a comprehension passage
Odia
- Grammar and usage, spelling correction, idioms and proverbs
- Translation between Odia and English and short composition skills
Logical reasoning
- Completing series of letters or digits, analogies, coded words, kinship puzzles, sense of direction
- Position in a queue or class, statement and conclusion, arranging people in rows or circles, figure puzzles
Computer knowledge
- Input, output and storage devices, software types, operating systems, saving and organising files
- Office tools for documents, worksheets and slides
- Using the web and mail, simple networks, staying safe online
The basic computer skill test
Shortlisted candidates for posts that need it sit a practical test in basic computer skills, reported as 50 marks in 30 minutes. It is qualifying, and the latest advertisement set the bar at 40%. The advertisement describes the tasks; they usually involve basic jobs such as typing and formatting a document, entering data in a spreadsheet with simple formulas and preparing a few slides.
Do not leave this to the last fortnight. If you do not use a computer daily, spend 20 minutes a day on an office suite from the start, because candidates who clear the written test still lose out here every cycle.
Age and qualification by post
| Post | Qualification | Age |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Inspector | Bachelor's degree, computer knowledge | 20 to 42 |
| Assistant Revenue Inspector | +2 or an engineering diploma, computer knowledge | 20 to 42 |
| Amin | Engineering qualification as listed, computer knowledge | 20 to 42 |
| ICDS Supervisor (women) | Bachelor's degree in arts, science or commerce | 21 to 42 |
| Statistical Field Surveyor | +2 pass | 21 to 42 |
Upper age relaxation of 5 years was given to SC, ST and SEBC candidates and to women for most posts, while candidates with disabilities got 10 years. Earlier advertisements used a lower upper limit of 38, so check the age in your own notice. For the field revenue posts in detail, see the OSSSC RI syllabus.
Where to spend your hours
In the latest split, three sections, maths, general studies and English, make up 60 marks, and they decide where you stand. Odia and computer knowledge add another 30, and both reward short daily practice. Reasoning is the smallest block but the quickest to score once you know the question types.
Since wrong answers cost you marks, aim for accuracy over attempts. In mock tests, track how many of your guesses turn out right; if fewer than one in three, skip such questions in the real paper.
Books and preparation material
Odisha board school books for social science and science cover most general studies questions, and books on Odisha's history and geography fill the state part. A practice book for arithmetic and another for reasoning will do, a school English grammar and an Odia grammar for the language papers. The commission's own past papers, where published on its website, show the level better than any guide.
Other Odisha recruitment pages on this site include the OPSC syllabus for officer posts and the OSSTET syllabus for high school teachers. More state options are collected under state exams.
Frequently asked questions
What does OSSSC stand for?
OSSSC is the Odisha Sub-ordinate Staff Selection Commission. It recruits for Group C posts across Odisha government departments.
How long is the OSSSC prelims paper?
The combined recruitment prelims has 100 objective questions worth 100 marks, with 90 minutes to answer. The subject split is set in each advertisement.
Is there negative marking in OSSSC exams?
Yes. The latest reported advertisement deducted 0.25 mark per wrong answer, while some earlier ones deducted 0.33. Check the rule printed in your notification.
Is Odia compulsory in the OSSSC syllabus?
Odia is a scored section of the combined recruitment prelims. Knowledge of Odia is also a usual condition for state posts, so prepare it seriously.
Does OSSSC have a main exam?
It depends on the advertisement. Some combined recruitments have used a main exam after the prelims, while others go straight from the prelims to the skill test.
What is the OSSSC age limit?
The latest combined recruitment reported a range of 20 or 21 to 42 years depending on the post, with relaxations for reserved categories, women and persons with disabilities.