The Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) has released Advertisement No. 06 of 2026-27 for direct recruitment to 22 posts of Assistant Horticulture Officer (Group-B) in Class-II of the Odisha Horticulture Service, under the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment. Candidates with a B.Sc. degree in Horticulture or Agriculture can apply online from 28 July 2026 to 28 August 2026 (5:00 PM) through the official website, www.opsc.gov.in. Selection is through a Written Examination (200 marks) followed by an Interview/Personality Test (25 marks), with the exam tentatively scheduled for 27 September 2026. Candidates are advised to read the complete official notification carefully before applying.
Important Note: Candidates need a B.Sc. degree specifically in Horticulture or Agriculture – no other equivalent qualification is accepted for this post. The examination fee is refunded only to candidates who actually appear in both papers of the Written Examination. Candidates must be able to read, write, and speak Odia, meeting one of the prescribed conditions. Community/Caste status once mentioned in the online application cannot be changed under any circumstances.
Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization | Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) |
| Post Name | Assistant Horticulture Officer (Group-B), Odisha Horticulture Service |
| Department | Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment, Govt. of Odisha |
| Advertisement No. | 06 of 2026-27 |
| Total Vacancies | 22 (07-W) |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Application Start Date | 28.07.2026 |
| Application End Date | 28.08.2026, 5:00 PM |
| Written Exam Date (Tentative) | 27.09.2026 (Sunday) |
| Pay Scale | Level-10, Cell-1 of Pay Matrix (ORSP Rules, 2017) – pre-revised PB-2 Rs. 9,300-34,800 + Grade Pay Rs. 4,600 |
| Selection Process | Written Examination (200 Marks) + Personality Test/Interview (25 Marks) |
| Official Website | www.opsc.gov.in |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Date | 18.07.2026 (Notice No. 4200/PSC) |
| Online Application Start Date | 28.07.2026 |
| Online Application Last Date | 28.08.2026, 5:00 PM |
| Written Examination Date (Tentative) | 27.09.2026 (Sunday) |
The detailed schedule and centre of examination will be notified separately by the Commission in due course.
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| UR / SEBC | Rs. 700/- |
| SC / ST / PwD | Nil (Exempted) |
Payment Mode: Online only – Credit Card, Debit Card, UPI, Net Banking, or Wallet. The fee is refunded only to candidates who actually appear in both papers of the Written Examination. Applications without payment (except SC/ST/PwD) are treated as incomplete and rejected outright.
Vacancy Details – Total 22 (07-W) Posts
| Sl. No. | Category | No. of Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | UR | 06 (02-W) |
| 2 | SEBC | 00 (00-W) |
| 3 | SC | 07 (02-W) |
| 4 | ST | 09 (03-W) |
| Total | 22 (07-W) |
Sub-Category Reservation (Included Within Total)
| Category | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Ex-Servicemen | 01 |
| Persons with Disabilities (Cat-I, Low Vision) | 01 |
Candidates belonging to Ex-Servicemen and PwD categories will be adjusted against the categories to which they belong. Vacancy numbers may increase or decrease by the Government without notice.
Eligibility – Educational Qualification
A candidate must possess a Bachelor of Science Degree in Horticulture [B.Sc. (Horticulture)] or Agriculture [B.Sc. (Agriculture)] from any University or Institution recognized by any State Government or the Government of India. No other equivalent qualification except a Degree in Horticulture or Agriculture will be accepted.
Other Eligibility Conditions
- The candidate must be a citizen of India.
- Must be able to read, write, and speak Odia, satisfying one of: passed Middle School Examination with Odia as a language subject; passed Matriculation or equivalent with Odia as medium of examination in a non-language subject; passed Odia as a language subject in the Class-VII final examination from a recognized school; or passed a test in Odia in Middle English School standard conducted by the School & Mass Education Department or the Board of Secondary Education, Odisha.
- Must be of sound mental and physical health, free from any physical defect likely to affect service efficiency (does not apply to PwD candidates).
- A candidate with more than one living spouse is not eligible unless exempted by the State Government.
- Government servants may apply, but must inform their Head of Office in writing and obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) in advance.
- Candidates debarred by OPSC, another State PSC, or UPSC are not eligible during the debarment period.
Age Limit (As on 01.01.2026)
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Minimum Age | 21 Years |
| Maximum Age | 42 Years |
| Date of Birth Range | Not earlier than 2 January 1984, not later than 1 January 2005 |
Age Relaxation
| Category | Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC / ST / Women / Ex-Servicemen | 5 Years |
| Persons with Disabilities (40% or more) | 10 Years |
| PwD belonging to SC/ST | Cumulative 15 Years |
A candidate falling under more than one relaxation category is eligible for only one benefit – whichever is most beneficial. Age relaxation cannot be availed beyond the limits prescribed above. Only the date of birth in the High School Certificate (or equivalent) will be accepted.
Salary / Pay Scale
Selected candidates will be placed at Level-10, Cell-1 of the Pay Matrix under ORSP Rules, 2017, corresponding to the pre-revised scale of PB-2, Rs. 9,300-34,800 with Grade Pay of Rs. 4,600/-, along with usual Dearness Allowance and other allowances as sanctioned by the Government of Odisha from time to time. The posts are temporary but likely to continue.
Selection Process
Selection is made through a competitive examination consisting of a Written Examination and a Personality Test (Interview).
Written Examination (200 Marks)
| Paper | Full Marks | No. of Questions | Duration | Subject |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | 100 | 100 (MCQ) | 2 hours | Horticulture |
| Paper II | 100 | 100 (MCQ) | 2 hours | Horticulture |
- Both papers are Objective Type MCQ with OMR evaluation.
- Each correct answer carries 1 mark.
- Negative marking: 25% of the marks awarded for a correct answer deducted for each wrong response.
- Unattempted questions carry zero marks.
- Questions are of Bachelor’s Degree standard.
Personality Test / Interview
The Interview carries 25 marks. Candidates who obtain the minimum qualifying marks fixed by the Commission for the Written Examination will be shortlisted for interview, in the ratio of about 1:2 of advertised vacancies per category, subject to a minimum of 5 candidates.
Final Select List
The Select List is prepared based on aggregate marks secured in the Written Examination and Interview, out of a total of 225 marks. Tie-breaker: higher marks in the Written Examination; if still tied, the older candidate is ranked higher.
Syllabus Overview
Paper I Topics
Agro Meteorology, Soil and Nutrition, Water Management, Weed Management, Dry Land Farming, Integrated Farming System, Seed Technology, Plant Protection, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Statistics, and related subjects (tillage, farm machinery, crop rotation, organic farming, protected cultivation, apiculture, mushroom cultivation, composting, digital initiatives of the State Government, etc.).
Paper II Topics
Plant Propagation and Nursery Management; Fruit Crops (Mango, Banana, Citrus, Pineapple, Guava, Papaya, Sapota, Ber, Pomegranate, Litchi, Custard Apple, and exotic crops like Passion Fruit, Avocado, Dragon Fruit, Strawberry); Plantation Crops (Coconut, Areca Nut, Cashew Nut, Oil Palm, Cocoa, Coffee, Tea); Vegetable Crops (Solanaceous, Cucurbits, Pod Vegetables, Cole Crops, Bulb Crops, Root Crops, Leafy Vegetables, Tuber Crops); Spices, Condiments, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants; Ornamental Horticulture (garden types, landscaping, flower crops, protected cultivation, lawn maintenance).
Required Documents
- HSC or equivalent certificate (proof of date of birth)
- Intermediate/+2 Examination Certificate
- B.Sc. Degree Certificate in Horticulture/Agriculture
- Mark-sheets of all qualifying examinations (HSC to Bachelor’s Degree)
- Four recent passport-size photographs (unsigned and unattested)
- Caste Certificate (for SC/ST claimants)
- Odia Test Pass Certificate
- Permanent Disability Certificate (for PwD, showing 40% or more disability)
- Release Certificate for Ex-Servicemen, along with a notarized Affidavit
- No Objection Certificate (for candidates already in Government service)
- Proof of Identity – Aadhaar/EPIC/Driving Licence/Passport/PAN Card
- Identity Certificate (for Third Gender/Transgender candidates, if applicable)
How to Apply for OPSC Assistant Horticulture Officer Recruitment 2026?
- Visit the official OPSC website: www.opsc.gov.in.
- Go through the detailed instructions on the OPSC portal before filling the application.
- Register and fill in the online application form with accurate details.
- Upload scanned photograph, full signature, and Left-Hand Thumb Impression (LTI) as specified.
- Pay the examination fee (Rs. 700/- for UR/SEBC) through the available online payment modes.
- Verify the submitted application copy after submission.
- On successful submission, a unique Permanent Public Service Account Number (PPSAN) is generated.
- Take a printout of the finally submitted Registration and Application form and keep it for future reference along with document copies.
Important Note: The last date is 28 August 2026, up to 5:00 PM. Apply well in advance, as applications received through any mode other than online will not be accepted.
Important Instructions
- Applications found incomplete in any respect are liable for rejection without further correspondence.
- Candidates who wish to modify submitted information must cancel and reapply before the closing date.
- Admission to the Written Examination/Interview is provisional; eligibility will be verified at subsequent stages.
- Candidates found guilty of malpractice or submitting forged documents will be debarred from OPSC examinations for 3 years.
- Marks secured by the Last Selected Candidate (LSC) and individual marks will be declared only on the OPSC website after the final result.
- Complaints regarding conduct of the examination must be sent to the Grievance Wing within 7 days of completion of the examination.
- Submission of an NPS application is mandatory for all recommended candidates at the time of joining Government service.
Facilitation Counter
| Purpose | Contact | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Technical Support (registration/application issues) | 0671-2304707 | 10:30 AM-1:30 PM & 2:00 PM-5:00 PM (working days) |
| General Facilitation Counter | 0671-2304141 / 2305611, Ext. 227 | 10:30 AM-1:30 PM & 2:00 PM-5:00 PM (working days) |
Important Links
| Action | Link |
|---|---|
| Apply Online | Click Here |
| Official OPSC Website | Click Here |
Note: Download the detailed official notification (Advertisement No. 06 of 2026-27) directly from the official OPSC website – only the official government source is referenced here.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. How many vacancies are there in OPSC Assistant Horticulture Officer Recruitment 2026?
✅ There are 22 (07-W) vacancies for the post of Assistant Horticulture Officer, across UR, SC, and ST categories.
Q2. What is the educational qualification required for OPSC Assistant Horticulture Officer?
✅ Candidates must have a B.Sc. Degree in Horticulture or Agriculture from a recognized university. No other equivalent qualification is accepted.
Q3. What is the last date to apply for OPSC Assistant Horticulture Officer Recruitment 2026?
✅ The last date to submit the online application is 28.08.2026 (5:00 PM).
Q4. What is the age limit for OPSC Assistant Horticulture Officer?
✅ Candidates must be between 21 and 42 years of age as on 01.01.2026, with age relaxation available for reserved categories.
Q5. What is the application fee for OPSC Assistant Horticulture Officer?
✅ The application fee is Rs. 700/- for UR/SEBC candidates. SC, ST, and PwD candidates are exempted.
Q6. What is the salary of an Assistant Horticulture Officer in Odisha?
✅ The post carries Level-10, Cell-1 of the Pay Matrix (pre-revised PB-2 Rs. 9,300-34,800 with Grade Pay Rs. 4,600), plus applicable allowances.
Q7. When is the OPSC Assistant Horticulture Officer written exam?
✅ The written examination is tentatively scheduled for 27.09.2026 (Sunday). The detailed schedule and centre will be notified separately.
Q8. Where will the OPSC Assistant Horticulture Officer exam be held?
✅ The written examination will be held at Kataka (Cuttack) and Bhubaneswar, depending on the number of candidates.
Q9. Is there negative marking in the OPSC Assistant Horticulture Officer exam?
✅ Yes. 25% of the marks awarded for a correct answer is deducted for each wrong response.
Q10. How can I apply for OPSC Assistant Horticulture Officer Recruitment 2026?
✅ Candidates can apply online through www.opsc.gov.in between 28.07.2026 and 28.08.2026.
Disclaimer: All information provided is for reference purposes only. Candidates are advised to verify all details including vacancy, eligibility, age limit, selection process, and application procedure from the official notification (Advertisement No. 06 of 2026-27) and the official OPSC website at opsc.gov.in before applying.
