Odisha Civil Service Exam to Proceed on Schedule Despite Floods, Transport Arranged for Candidates

The Odisha Civil Service main exam will be held as planned from Oct 31 to Nov 7, even though heavy rains from Cyclone Arnab have flooded parts of the state. Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said postponing the test would push the next attempt back by at least half a year and would let candidates who have already studied down. He added that about 325 aspirants from Ganjam district and roughly 100 from Gajapati district are expected to sit for the paper. To help them reach exam centres, the government has instructed block development officers in the affected districts to provide free transport both to and from the venues.

Reaction

The Congress party asked the authorities to delay the exam in the southern districts, citing the cyclone’s impact. Congress MP Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka specifically urged a shift for candidates assigned to the Jeypore centre in Koraput district. The Biju Janata Dal’s student wing, led by Ipsita Sahu, criticised the decision, calling it unacceptable while noting that the Rushikulya River’s overflow has left hundreds of candidates and many residents stranded.

Context

Holding the exam on time avoids a six‑month gap that would disrupt the recruitment cycle. Arranging transport aims to ensure that flood‑affected candidates can still appear, balancing administrative deadlines with on‑ground hardships.