OSSC CTSRE 2025 Prelims Exam Date: 26 October 2026 — Latest Update
Update (28 September 2026): OSSC has fixed the CTSRE-2025 Preliminary Examination for 26 October 2026 (Monday), to be held in CBRE (computer-based) mode across Odisha (Notice No. IIE-92/2025-3626/OSSC dated 28.09.2026). The paper carries 150 questions for 150 marks in 150 minutes, with negative marking of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer. Reporting time and gate closure time will be given in the Admission Letter, and PwD candidates get compensatory time of 20 minutes per hour on submission of the Disability Certificate.
Admission Letter: download it from the OSSC official website from 16 October 2026 onwards by logging in with your User Id and Password.
PwD scribe requests: PwD candidates who opted for a scribe in the online application must send the prescribed formats (Appendix-I and Appendix-II, attached to the notice) with the required documents and the Admission Letter only by e-mail to ossc.od@nic.in by 20 October 2026. No other mode will be entertained, requests received after 20 October 2026 will not be considered, and no PwD candidate will be allowed to use a scribe without the Commission’s permission. Under the Appendix-II undertaking, if the scribe’s qualification is later found not as declared and beyond the candidate’s own, the candidate forfeits the right to the post and related claims.
Download OSSC CTSRE 2025 Prelims Exam Date Notice (28.09.2026) | OSSC What’s New — CTSRE 2025 Prelims Notice
OSSC CTSRE 2025 Notification: 646 Technical Posts, Diploma Eligible, Group-B & C Vacancies Under Government of Odisha
Good news for diploma holders in Odisha — the Odisha Staff Selection Commission (OSSC) is filling 646 vacancies across 11 technical posts through the Combined Technical Services Recruitment Examination (CTSRE) 2025 (Advertisement No. 5925/OSSC dated 30.12.2025, read with Corrigendum & Addendum Notice No. 1810/OSSC dated 30.05.2026). Posts include Junior Engineer (Civil), Architectural Assistant, Cameraman, Photographer, Sound Recordist, Video Film Editor, Junior Draughtsman and Tracer, with most at Group-B Pay Level-9, Cell-1 of ORSP, 2017.
Online applications ran from 30 May 2026 to 02 July 2026, and the window is now closed. The Preliminary Examination is scheduled for 26 October 2026 (Monday). If you applied with a Diploma in Civil Engineering, Architectural Assistantship, Cinematography, Sound Recording, Video Editing or HSC + NTC, use the coming weeks to prepare for your place in the Odisha state government job family.
What are the Key Highlights of OSSC CTSRE 2025 Recruitment?
OSSC, the recruiting body for Group-B and Group-C posts under the Government of Odisha, is running this single-window recruitment for diploma-level government jobs across six departments. The key facts are below.
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Odisha Staff Selection Commission (OSSC), Bhubaneswar |
| Departments | Water Resources, Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water, Municipal Administration, Chief Architect Office, Information & Public Relations, Rural Works |
| Post Names | Junior Engineer (Civil), Architectural Assistant, Cameraman, Photographer, Sound Recordist, Mechanic, Video Film Editor, Junior Draughtsman (Civil), Tracer |
| Total Vacancies | 646 posts (reservation for Women, SC, ST, SEBC, PwD, Ex-Servicemen) |
| Salary / Pay Level | Group-B Level-9, Cell-1 (ORSP, 2017); Group-C Level-8 and Level-5 for Draughtsman and Tracer |
| Job Location | Across the State of Odisha |
| Application Window | 30 May 2026 to 02 July 2026 (Closed) |
| Preliminary Exam Date | 26 October 2026 (Monday) — Admission Letter from 16 October 2026 |
| Carry to Exam Centre | Printout of the Admission Letter, two recent passport-size colour photos and one original valid photo ID (plus original DOB proof if the ID lacks DOB); candidates without them will not be allowed to appear |
How Many Vacancies are in OSSC CTSRE 2025? Post-wise Details
Junior Engineer (Civil) alone accounts for 606 posts across three departments:
| Post Name | Department | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| Junior Engineer (Civil) | Engineer-in-Chief, Water Resources | 24 |
| Junior Engineer (Civil) | Director, Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water | 450 |
| Junior Engineer (Civil) | Director, Municipal Administration | 132 |
| Architectural Assistant | Chief Architect, Odisha | 23 |
| Cameraman | Information & Public Relations | 02 |
| Photographer | Information & Public Relations | 01 |
| Sound Recordist | Information & Public Relations | 01 |
| Mechanic | Information & Public Relations | 01 |
| Video Film Editor | Information & Public Relations | 02 |
| Junior Draughtsman (Civil) | EIC-I, Rural Works | 07 |
| Tracer (State Cadre Field) | EIC-I, Rural Works | 03 |
| Total | — | 646 |
212 posts are reserved for Women. PwD reservation covers Low Vision, Hard of Hearing, Locomotor Disability and Multiple Disability categories.
What is the Eligibility for OSSC CTSRE 2025?
You must be a citizen of India of good character and sound health, able to read, write and speak Odia fluently. You also need one of: Middle School pass with Odia as a language subject, HSC (or equivalent) with Odia as medium in a non-language subject, Odia as a language subject in Class VII or above, or an ME School standard Odia test by the School & Mass Education Department.
Educational Qualification
| Post | Qualification |
|---|---|
| Junior Engineer (Civil) | Diploma in Civil Engineering (or equivalent) recognised by the Odisha State Council of Technical Education & Vocational Training for Water Resources and Panchayati Raj; for Municipal Administration, Diploma recognised by the Directorate of Technical Education, Odisha plus computer literacy |
| Architectural Assistant | Diploma in Architectural Assistantship recognised by the Odisha State Council of Technical Education & Vocational Training |
| Cameraman | +2 and Diploma or Degree in Cinematography from a recognised University; multi-camera setup and AV production skills |
| Photographer | +2 and Diploma in Cinematography; digital photography, photo editing and image storage skills |
| Sound Recordist | +2 and Diploma or Degree in Sound Recording & TV Engineering or Sound Recording & Design; field and studio recording knowledge |
| Mechanic (I&PR) | +2 and Diploma in Electronics; skills in repairing audio-visual equipment |
| Video Film Editor | +2 and Diploma or Degree in Video Editing or Film Production; AV production and multimedia skills |
| Junior Draughtsman (Civil) | HSC + NTC in Draughtsman (Civil) from an NCVT-affiliated institution; Computer Application and AutoCAD knowledge |
| Tracer (State Cadre Field) | HSC (or equivalent) + NTC (Draughtsman Civil), Basic Computer Skill Certificate and AutoCAD Certificate |
All certificates had to be held by the closing date, 02 July 2026. This is a strong pick for engineering diploma holders.
Age Limit
Age is calculated as on 01 January 2025. A candidate in more than one category gets only one relaxation, whichever is most beneficial.
| Category | Age Limit / Relaxation |
|---|---|
| Minimum Age | 21 Years |
| Maximum Age (UR) | 42 Years |
| DOB Window (UR) | 02 Jan 1983 to 01 Jan 2004 |
| SEBC, SC, ST and all Women | +5 years |
| PwD | +10 years (SC/ST PwD get 10 years over and above their category relaxation) |
| Ex-Servicemen | Total period of defence service rendered |
What is the Salary for OSSC CTSRE 2025 Posts?
Pay follows the Odisha Revised Scales of Pay (ORSP) Rules, 2017. These are regular government appointments, not contractual.
| Post | Group | Pay Matrix (ORSP, 2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Junior Engineer (Civil), Architectural Assistant, Cameraman, Photographer, Sound Recordist, Mechanic, Video Film Editor | Group-B | Level-9, Cell-1 |
| Junior Draughtsman (Civil) | Group-C | Level-8, Cell-1 |
| Tracer | Group-C | Level-5, Cell-1 |
What is the Selection Process for OSSC CTSRE 2025?
OSSC follows a three-stage selection process; each stage is qualifying for the next. Papers are in both Odia and English, and a Normalisation Formula applies if an exam runs in multiple batches.
| Stage | Pattern | Who Moves Ahead |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Preliminary Exam | 150 MCQs, 150 marks, 150 minutes; | 5 times the vacancies (post-wise and category-wise); 10 times where a category has fewer than 10 vacancies |
| 2. Main Written Exam | Post-specific Technical Paper, 200 marks, 2 hours (Junior Draughtsman and Tracer share one paper) | 1.5 times the vacancies (3 times below 10 vacancies), on Main Written marks |
| 3. Certificate Verification | Original academic, caste, PwD (if any) certificates, NOC for government employees and other listed documents | Candidature of anyone absent at verification is cancelled |
The Prelims covers Arithmetic and Data Interpretation (10th standard), Logical Reasoning & Analytical Ability, General Mental Ability, Current Events and Computer / Internet Awareness. See the OSSC syllabus and exam pattern for preparation tips.
How to Apply for OSSC CTSRE 2025? (Application Window Closed)
The online window closed on 02 July 2026 (editing up to 05 July 2026). The steps are kept for reference:
- Visit the OSSC official website (link in Essential Links below) and open Online Recruitment Application for CTSRE-2025 (Post Code: CTS/302).
- Complete One-Time Registration (OTR) with a valid email ID and mobile number.
- Fill the form with personal, educational, category and bank details, and upload the photograph, signature and certificates (HSC, Diploma/NTC, caste, PwD/Ex-Servicemen).
- Pay the Rs 500 fee online through the Odisha Treasury portal (SC, ST and PwD exempt), submit and keep the print-out.
Keep your User Id and Password safe — you need them to download the Admission Letter from 16 October 2026.
What are the Important Dates for OSSC CTSRE 2025 Prelims?
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online Registration Start | 30 May 2026 |
| Online Registration & Fee Payment End | 29 June 2026 |
| Application Form Submission Last Date | 02 July 2026 |
| Application Form Editing Last Date | 05 July 2026 |
| Preliminary Exam Date | |
| Admission Letter Download | From 16 October 2026 |
| PwD Scribe Request (by e-mail) | By 20 October 2026 |
| Main Written Exam Date | To be announced |
| Certificate Verification | To be announced |
What is the Application Fee for OSSC CTSRE 2025?
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| UR (General), SEBC | Rs 500 (refundable to those who appear in exam) |
| SC, ST, PwD | No Fee |
| Women candidates (Non-SC/ST/PwD) | Rs 500 (refundable on appearance) |
The fee was paid online only via the Odisha Treasury portal. Under the Odisha Recruitment Examination Fees and Refund Rules 2025, it is refunded to the bank account given in the form for those who appear in the Preliminary Exam.
Essential Links — OSSC CTSRE 2025 Recruitment
- Download OSSC CTSRE 2025 Prelims Exam Date Notice PDF (28.09.2026)
- Check Exam Date for OSSC CTSRE 2025 Prelims — OSSC What’s New Notice Page
- Download Original CTSRE 2025 Advertisement PDF
- Download Admission Letter (from 16 October 2026, User Id & Password login)
- Visit OSSC Official Website
- Join WhatsApp Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Telegram Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Telegram for Odisha Govt Jobs
With 646 vacancies and full government benefits, CTSRE 2025 is a major opportunity for diploma and technical certificate holders in Odisha. Download your Admission Letter from 16 October 2026 and revise steadily for the 26 October 2026 Prelims. Keep visiting GovtJobsAlert.in for updates on Odisha government jobs.