The Odisha Civil Service (OCS) Main examination is going ahead as scheduled despite the floods caused by Cyclone Arnab. The state government has ruled out a postponement of the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) exam, which runs from October 31 to November 7, and has promised free transport for candidates from flood-hit areas so they can reach their centres and return home safely.
The decision was announced on Friday by Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, even as opposition parties and student groups pressed for the exam to be pushed back in the southern districts.
Why the government refused to postpone
Pujari said postponing the exam was not practical because "at least six months will be needed to reconduct the test." Instead, block development officers (BDOs) in rain- and flood-affected districts have been told to make sure candidates are picked up from home, taken to their exam centres and brought back.
About 325 candidates from Ganjam district and nearly 100 from Gajapati are expected to write the exam. These are the two districts worst hit by the overflowing Rushikulya river, where hundreds of villages have been flooded and many roads damaged.
Earlier reschedule of two papers
This is not the first change caused by the cyclone. Earlier in the week, OPSC had already shifted two papers. The Odia and English language papers, originally set for October 29, were moved to October 31, and the Essay paper was moved from October 30 to November 5. The General Studies and optional papers were left unchanged.
OCS Main exam 2026: revised schedule
| Paper | Date |
|---|---|
| Odia and English (language papers) | October 31 (shifted from October 29) |
| General Studies Papers I and II | November 2 |
| General Studies Papers III and IV | November 4 |
| Essay | November 5 (shifted from October 30) |
| Optional subject papers | November 7 |
Candidates should cross-check the latest schedule and centre details on the official OPSC website and their admit card, since further changes, if any, will be notified there.
Opposition and student groups object
The Congress has demanded that the exam be postponed in the southern districts because of the cyclone's impact. Congress MP Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka asked OPSC to reschedule the exam for candidates allotted the Jeypore centre in Koraput district.
The opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) called the decision "unjust" and "inhumane". Biju Chhatra Janata Dal president Ipsita Sahu said going ahead with the exam while hundreds of candidates are stranded was "unacceptable".
What candidates in flood-hit areas should do
- Contact your BDO office early: If you live in an affected block of Ganjam, Gajapati or a nearby district, get in touch with the BDO office a day before each paper to confirm pick-up time and place.
- Keep documents dry: Carry your admit card and a valid photo ID in a waterproof pouch or plastic folder.
- Plan for delays: Some roads and bridges are damaged and several trains have been cancelled or short-terminated, so leave much earlier than usual.
- Check updates daily: Watch the OPSC website and official notices for any change in centre or timing.
- Stay safe: Do not wade through fast-flowing water to reach a centre. Inform the district administration if you are stranded.
What it means for aspirants
The OCS Main is a high-stakes exam for Group A and B posts in the Odisha government, and many candidates spend years preparing for it. For most aspirants across the state, the decision means the long-awaited exam stays on track and results are not delayed by months. For the few hundred candidates from the worst-hit areas, however, the free transport arrangement will be the deciding factor, and how smoothly it works over the next week will be closely watched.
What happens next
With the language papers under way on October 31, the next big day is November 2, when General Studies Papers I and II will be held. If flood conditions worsen in any district, pressure for a special arrangement or separate exam for affected candidates may grow, but for now the government has made clear the schedule stands.
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