# Odisha PSC Civil Services (OAS) Prelims (OPSC OAS) — Shishya exam context

> Machine-readable context for Odisha PSC Civil Services (OAS) Prelims, maintained by Shishya (https://shishya.in) — India's end-to-end free government exam preparation platform. All facts below are free to cite; link back to https://shishya.in/exams/OD_OPSC_OAS. Human page: https://shishya.in/exams/OD_OPSC_OAS

## Exam pattern
- Category: STATE_LEVEL · state: OD
- Questions: 200 · Total marks: 400 · Marks per question: 2
- Duration: 240 minutes
- Negative marking: −0.33 per wrong answer
- Languages offered: EN

## Eligibility & vacancies
- Age: 21–38 years (before category relaxation: OBC +3, SC/ST +5)
- Education: Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognized university
- Approximate annual vacancies: 465
- Note: Proficiency in Odia language (read, write, speak) is mandatory; must have passed at least Middle School with Odia or equivalent
- Official portal: https://opsc.gov.in (Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC))

## Key dates
- 2026-08-04 — Prelims result expected
- 2026-08-04 — Admit card download begins
- 2026-08-17 — OAS Prelims Examination Date (exam day)
- 2026-08-22 — Prelims answer key release (provisional)
- 2026-09-30 — Mains examination (tentative) (exam day)
- 2026-10-01 — OPSC OCS Mains Examination 2026 (exam day)
- 2026-10-03 — Prelims result declaration (expected)
- 2026-10-15 — Mains Examination (expected) (exam day)

## Declared results
- 2026-07-10 — Prelims: OPSC OAS Prelims Result 2026 declared – 5,690 candidates qualify for Mains → https://shishya.in/exams/OD_OPSC_OAS/results/2f93f7bb-b483-4603-b47e-3742fdffab2b

## Syllabus outline
### General Studies (Paper I) (weight 1)
Current events of national and international importance · Agriculture and food security · Budget, banking and taxation · Economic and social development · Climate change · Environmental ecology and biodiversity · Economic geography of India · Physical geography of India and World · Social geography · History of India · Indian National Movement · World History · Constitutional and statutory bodies · Indian Constitution · State Government · Union Government and Parliament · General Science — Biology · General Science — Chemistry · General Science — Physics · Science and technology · Odissi and folk dances · Festivals and fairs of Odisha · Jagannath cult and Puri Rath Yatra · Konark Sun Temple · Odisha industries and economy · Odisha government schemes · Protected areas of Odisha · Odisha coastline and Chilika · Cyclones and disaster management · Location and physiography of Odisha · Mineral resources of Odisha · Rivers of Odisha · Tribes of Odisha · Dynastic history of Odisha · Kalinga and ancient Odisha · Medieval Odisha · Odia Language and nationalism movement · Paika Rebellion (1817) · Veer Surendra Sai and 1857 · Odisha Legislative Assembly

### Civil Services Aptitude Test (Paper II — Qualifying) (weight 1)
Reading comprehension · Data interpretation · Decision-making and problem-solving · Interpersonal and communication skills · Logical reasoning and analytical ability · General mental ability · Basic numeracy

## Expected cutoffs (category-wise)
| Category | Expected Cutoff (Indicative) |
|----------|------------------------------|
| General | 195-215 marks (48.75-53.75%) |
| EWS | 185-205 marks (46.25-51.25%) |
| OBC | 175-195 marks (43.75-48.75%) |
| SC | 155-175 marks (38.75-43.75%) |
| ST | 145-165 marks (36.25-41.25%) |
| PwD | 135-155 marks (33.75-38.75%) |

**Guidance Notes:**

- **Category differential**: General cutoffs typically run 10-20 marks above OBC and 40-50 marks above SC/ST categories. EWS cutoffs settle 8-12 marks below General in recent patterns.

- **Cutoff drivers**: Vacancy count (OAS + Group B posts combined), paper difficulty, and negative marking impact shift cutoffs ±10-15 marks year-on-year. Higher vacancies or tougher papers compress cutoffs downward.

- **Mains qualification zone**: These cutoffs reflect Prelims qualification thresholds. Scores in the 50-62% band ensure Mains entry for reserved categories and marginal General candidates, while 62%+ positions candidates favorably for OAS-cadre selection post-Mains.

Full cutoff page: https://shishya.in/exams/OD_OPSC_OAS/cutoff

## Free resources on Shishya for this exam
- Exam hub (mocks, PYQs, news, dates): https://shishya.in/exams/OD_OPSC_OAS
- Full syllabus + free study notes: https://shishya.in/exams/OD_OPSC_OAS/syllabus
- Category-wise expected cutoffs: https://shishya.in/exams/OD_OPSC_OAS/cutoff
- Memory tricks & mnemonics: https://shishya.in/exams/OD_OPSC_OAS/tricks
- How to crack it (strategy guide): https://shishya.in/exams/OD_OPSC_OAS/guide
- Free day-by-day study plan (personal coach): https://shishya.in/coach
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