What's in this article?
The Odisha Sub-ordinate Staff Selection Commission (OSSSC) has released an official notification for the Combined Recruitment Examination-2025 (II). This recruitment drive aims to fill 1518 vacancies for the posts of Forester, Forest Guard, and Excise Constable under the Forest, Environment & Climate Change Department and Excise Department. Eligible candidates can complete their OSSSC Online Registration starting from 7 January 2026 through the official portal.
OSSSC Recruitment 2025-26: Forester, Forest Guard & Excise Constable Overview
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| OSSSC Forester, Forest Guard and Excise Constable Recruitment 2025 Advertisement No.:- II-121/2025-3220/OSSSC | |
| Recruitment Authority | Odisha Sub-ordinate Staff Selection Commission (OSSSC) |
| Post Name | Forester, Forest Guard & Excise Constable |
| Total Vacancies | 1518 Posts |
| Job Location | Odisha (District/Circle/Division Cadre) |
| Start Date to Apply | 7 January 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 7 February 2026 |
| Qualification | 10th Pass / +2 Science / +2 Pass |
| Age Limit | 18-32 Years (Post-wise) |
| Selection Process | Written Test, Physical Test (PSM/PET), Document Verification |
| Salary | Rs. 19,900 to Rs. 81,100 (Level-4/Level-7) |
| Application Fees |
General/SEBC: Rs. 500 SC/ST/PwD: Exempted (Nil) Note: Fee Refundable to attendees |
| Application Mode | Online via www.osssc.gov.in |
| Official Notification | Download PDF |
| Official Website | www.osssc.gov.in |
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👉 Apply Online Now Link Activate On 07/01/2026 | |
Important Date
- Notification Released: 30 December 2025
- Online Registration Start: 07 January 2026
- Online Registration Last Date: 31 January 2026
- Submission of Online Application Start: 07 January 2026
- Last Date to Submit Application: 07 February 2026
- Exam Date: To be notified soon
- Admit Card: Before Examination
Age Limit
- Post (Forester & Forest Guard): 18 to 32 Years
- Post (Excise Constable): 21 to 32 Years
- Minimum Age: 18 Years
- Maximum Age: 32 Years
- Age Calculation Date: 01 January 2025
- Age Relaxation:
- SC/ST/SEBC/Women: 05 Years
- Persons with Disabilities (PwD): 10 Years
- Ex-Servicemen: Total period of service rendered in defence
- Note: Kindly Read Full Official Notification Before Apply.
Application Fees
- General / SEBC: Rs. 500/-
- SC / ST / PwD: Nil (Exempted)
- Payment Mode: Online (Net Banking/Credit/Debit Card/UPI)
- Fee Refund: Fees paid shall be refunded to candidates who actually appear for the examination.
Qualification
- Forester: Must have passed +2 Science with knowledge in basic computer skills.
- Forest Guard: Must have passed High School Certificate Examination (10+).
- Excise Constable: Must have passed +2 Examination or equivalent.
Full Eligibility
To be eligible for OSSSC CRE 2025 (II), candidates must be Citizens of India with good character. A mandatory requirement is the ability to read, write, and speak Odia. Applicants must have passed the Middle English School Examination with Odia as a language subject or equivalent.
| Feature | Eligibility Details |
|---|---|
| Citizenship | Must be a Citizen of India |
| Character | Must possess good character and sound health |
| Marital Status | If married, must not have more than one spouse living |
| Odia Language | Must have passed Odia as a subject in Class-VII or Matriculation |
| Disability Note | For Forester/Forest Guard, only Leprosy Cured & Acid Attack Victims are eligible |
Physical Test Criteria
The OSSSC Physical Test includes Physical Standard Measurement (PSM) and Physical Efficiency Test (PET). Candidates must meet specific Height, Weight, and Chest requirements. The PET consists of qualifying events like Walking for Foresters/Forest Guards and Running/Long Jump for Excise Constables.
| Post | Category | Gender | Height | Chest (Un/Exp) | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forester & Forest Guard | UR/SEBC/SC | Male | 168 cm | 81 cm / +5 cm | - |
| ST | Male | 158 cm | 81 cm / +5 cm | - | |
| All Categories | Female | 153 cm | - | - | |
| Excise Constable | UR/SEBC | Male | 168 cm | 79 cm / 84 cm | 55 kg |
| SC/ST | Male | 163 cm | 76 cm / 81 cm | 50 kg | |
| UR/SEBC | Female | 158 cm | - | 47.5 kg | |
| SC/ST | Female | 153 cm | - | 45 kg |
Salary Structure
The OSSSC Salary for Group C posts is based on the Odisha Pay Matrix. Selected candidates for Forester will receive pay under Level-7, while Forest Guard and Excise Constable fall under Level-4, including various government allowances.
| Name of the Post | Pay Matrix Level | Pay Scale (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Forester | Level-7, Cell-1 | Rs. 25,500 - 81,100 |
| Forest Guard | Level-4, Cell-01 | Rs. 19,900 - 63,200 |
| Excise Constable | Level-4, Cell-01 | Rs. 19,900 - 63,200 |
- The Forester post carries the highest Pay Matrix Level-7.
- Both Forest Guard and Excise Constable are placed in Pay Matrix Level-4.
- Selected candidates are eligible for Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), and other benefits as per Odisha Government Rules.
Selection Process
The Selection Process for OSSSC Combined Recruitment 2025 (II) is designed to test both mental and physical fitness. Candidates must clear a Written Examination followed by Physical Standards and Efficiency Tests to secure their position in the merit list.
- Stage I: Written Test – A 100-mark MCQ-based objective examination (OMR or CBRE mode).
- Stage II: Physical Test – Comprising Physical Standard Measurement (PSM) and Physical Efficiency Test (PET).
- Stage III: Document Verification – Original certificates will be verified at the district level.
- Stage IV: Counselling – Final allotment based on Merit-cum-Choice for post and district.
Exam Pattern
The OSSSC Exam Pattern involves a single-stage Written Test for 100 marks. The standard of the questions will be based on the High School Certificate Examination. There is a penalty of 0.25 negative marking for every wrong answer given by the candidate.
| Subject | No. of Questions | Total Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 20 | 20 | 2.5 Hours (150 Minutes) |
| General Studies | 25 | 25 | |
| English | 20 | 20 | |
| Odia | 15 | 15 | |
| Computer Knowledge | 20 | 20 | |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
- The examination will be of MCQ Type in OMR or CBRE mode.
- Negative Marking: 0.25 marks will be deducted for each wrong answer.
- Minimum Qualifying Marks: 30% for SC/ST/PwD/Ex-Servicemen and 35% for others.
- Bilingual Paper: Questions will appear in both English and Odia (except for language subjects).
Post / Category Wise Vacancy
There are total 1518 vacancies released for this recruitment. The vacancies are distributed across various District/Circle/Division Cadres of Odisha. Below is the summary of post-wise vacancy distribution as per the official notification.
| Name of the Post | UR | ST | SC | SEBC | Total Vacancies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forester | 34 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 47 |
| Forest Guard | 527 | 198 | 127 | 44 | 896 |
| Excise Constable | 294 | 129 | 101 | 51 | 575 |
| Grand Total | 855 | 332 | 233 | 98 | 1518 |
How To Apply
Candidates must submit their OSSSC Online Application through the official website. The process involves two main steps: Registration/Re-registration and the final submission of the application form before the last date of 7 February 2026.
- Visit the official website www.osssc.gov.in.
- Click on "Apply Online" on the home page.
- New users must click "New User" for fresh registration, while others should use "Registered User" for re-registration.
- Upload a scanned Passport size Photograph (20kb-100kb) and Full Signature (20kb-50kb) in JPG/PNG format.
- Fill in the Educational Details and select three preferred Exam Centre Districts.
- Pay the Application Fee of Rs. 500 (if applicable) through the online payment gateway.
- Submit the form and Download/Print the Confirmation Page for future reference.
Important Links
| Apply Online (Link starts 07.01.2026) | Click Here |
| Download Detailed Notification | Click Here |
| Official OSSSC Website | Click Here |
| Latest Govt Jobs 2026 | Click Here |
| All India Govt Jobs | Click Here |
| Odisha Govt Jobs | Click Here |
| Home Page | Click Here |
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What is the last date to apply for OSSSC Forest Guard 2025-26?
The last date for online registration is 31 January 2026, while the final submission of the online application must be completed by 7 February 2026.
Is the OSSSC application fee refundable?
Yes, as per the new 2025 rules, the examination fee of Rs. 500 will be refunded to candidates who actually appear for the written examination.
What is the age limit for the Excise Constable post?
For the post of Excise Constable, candidates must be between 21 and 32 years of age as of 1 January 2025, with applicable relaxations for reserved categories.
Can candidates from outside Odisha apply?
While Indian citizens can apply, candidates must be able to read, write, and speak Odia and have passed a relevant Odia language test in school.
What are the qualifying marks for the OSSSC written test?
The minimum qualifying marks are 30% for SC, ST, PwD, Ex-Servicemen, and Sportsperson categories, and 35% for all other candidates.
Is there negative marking in the OSSSC CRE 2025 (II) exam?
Yes, there is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for every incorrect answer given in the written examination.