OPSC Scientific Officer 2026: Apply Online for 89 Posts

Odisha Public Service Commission has invited online applications for 89 posts of Scientific Officer in the State Forensic Science Laboratory. Eligible postgraduates can apply at opsc.gov.in by 08 December 2026.

Forensic Investigation Modernization and OPSC Mandate

Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) conducts competitive selections for Group-A and Group-B gazetted positions across state departments. In criminal jurisprudence, scientific evidence plays an indispensable role in securing court convictions. Under the Home Department of Odisha, the State Forensic Science Laboratory (SFSL) in Bhubaneswar and regional laboratories in Sambalpur, Berhampur, and Balasore examine crime scene materials submitted by investigating police officers and judicial magistrates.

With the enactment of modern criminal procedure statutes mandating mandatory forensic examination in offenses punishable with seven years or more of imprisonment, forensic workload has expanded rapidly. Investigating agencies require expert scientific analysis across ballistics, toxicology, questioned documents, biological fluids, cyber forensics, and DNA profiling to submit tamper-proof chargesheets in criminal courts. To reinforce scientific capabilities, OPSC has issued Advertisement Number 14 OF 2026-27 to recruit 89 Scientific Officers in Group-B service.

Appointees will serve as scientific experts under Section 293 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, authorized to tender expert forensic evidence before Sessions and High Courts. These permanent state positions carry Level 10 gazetted pay scales, specialized laboratory allowances, and opportunities to work on sophisticated instrumentation like Gas Chromatography, Mass Spectrometry, and Genetic Analyzers. Don't miss this opportunity to build an impactful career in criminalistics and forensic science.

Cadre Details and Subject Discipline Roster

The 89 vacancies are distributed across eight specialized forensic laboratory divisions:

1. Physics Division: 7 vacancies. Officers examine soil samples, glass fractures, vehicular accident impacts, paint transfers, and toolmarks using comparison microscopy and density gradient techniques.

2. Ballistics Division: 6 vacancies. Experts analyze firearms, fired cartridges, bullet striations, country-made weapons, gunpowder residues, and shooting range trajectories.

3. Chemistry Division: 10 vacancies. Officers identify petroleum adulteration, inflammable residues in arson cases, acids used in chemical attacks, and commercial explosives.

4. Toxicology Division: 13 vacancies. Experts isolate and quantify agrochemical poisons, industrial toxins, heavy metals, medicinal overdoses, and stupefying drugs from post-mortem viscera samples.

5. Biology Division: 14 vacancies. Officers examine hairs, animal tissues, wildlife poaching contraband, plant parts, and botanical specimens from crime scenes.

6. Serology Division: 12 vacancies. Personnel detect bloodstains, determine human origin, conduct ABH blood grouping, and identify semen and saliva stains in sexual assault investigations.

7. Cyber Forensic Division: 15 vacancies. Experts recover encrypted files, examine compromised smartphones, extract CDR records, analyze malware, and perform memory forensics on seized digital media.

8. DNA Profiling Division: 12 vacancies. Officers isolate genomic DNA, amplify STR markers through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), and match electropherogram profiles in disputed paternity and violent crimes.

Central Summary Table

Comprehensive Eligibility Standards and Educational Norms

Prescribed Academic Qualifications by Discipline

Applicants must possess the specified postgraduate degree with at least 55 percent aggregate marks from a recognized university:

1. Physics: Master degree in Physics or Forensic Science (with Physics specialization).

2. Ballistics: Master degree in Physics, Applied Physics, or Forensic Science with Physics/Ballistics core.

3. Chemistry: Master degree in Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, or Forensic Science (Chemistry core).

4. Toxicology: Master degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, or Forensic Science.

5. Biology: Master degree in Botany, Zoology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, or Forensic Biology.

6. Serology: Master degree in Zoology, Biochemistry, Genetics, Immunology, or Forensic Serology.

7. Cyber Forensics: Master degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Cyber Security, or MCA or B.Tech in CSE/IT.

8. DNA Profiling: Master degree in Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, Genetics, or Forensic Science with DNA specialization.

Odia Language Requirement: Candidates must be able to read, write, and speak Odia, and must have passed the Middle School examination with Odia as a language subject or passed the High School Certificate (HSC) examination with Odia medium.

Age Criteria and Category Relaxations

Candidate age is determined with reference to the cutoff date of 01 January 2026:

1. Minimum Age Limit: Candidate must have attained 21 years of age as on 01 January 2026.

2. Maximum Age Limit: Candidate must not exceed 42 years of age (born not earlier than 02 January 1984 and not later than 01 January 2005).

3. Reserved Categories: The upper age limit is relaxed by 5 years for candidates belonging to SC, ST, Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC), and Women applicants of Odisha, permitting applications up to 47 years.

4. PwBD Candidates: A cumulative relaxation of 10 years in upper age is granted to Persons with Benchmark Disabilities.

5. In-service Candidates: Departmental laboratory technicians working under the Odisha Home Department receive age relaxations as prescribed in special service rules.

Pay Matrix Level, Financial Entitlements, and Salary

Remuneration Scale under ORSP Rules 2017

Scientific Officers are inducted into Group-B Gazetted service on Level 10 of the Pay Matrix:

1. Basic Pay: Initial basic pay is fixed at Rs. 44,900 per month (Cell 1 of Level 10).

2. Allowances: In addition to basic pay, officers receive Dearness Allowance (DA) at prevailing state rates, House Rent Allowance (HRA) ranging from 8 percent to 16 percent depending on city classification, and special technical laboratory allowances.

3. Monthly In-Hand Remuneration: Total gross salary at Bhubaneswar or Cuttack approximates Rs. 68,000 to Rs. 72,000 per month. Net in-hand pay after standard deductions for NPS and professional tax is approximately Rs. 61,000 per month.

4. Additional Benefits: Appointees receive official court appearance travel allowances, state health assurance scheme coverage, leave encashment, and government quarters allocation according to administrative entitlement.

Operational Duties and Forensic Expert Responsibilities

Scientific Officers perform high-responsibility scientific and evidentiary tasks:

1. Evidence Custody: Receiving and cataloging sealed crime scene exhibits from police couriers and ensuring strict chain of custody documentation.

2. Instrumental Analysis: Operating automated DNA sequencers, GC-MS machines, FTIR spectrometers, and comparison ballistic microscopes under ISO 17025 accreditation standards.

3. Report Generation: Authoring detailed forensic examination reports containing analytical methodologies, observations, and objective scientific opinions.

4. Court Deposition: Appearing as an expert witness in Sessions and District Courts to explain scientific findings, withstand defense cross-examination, and assist trial judges in evaluating physical evidence.

Selection Architecture and Examination Scheme

The selection process comprises two sequential stages: Written Examination and Viva-Voce Interview:

Stage 1: Written Examination (Objective Multiple-Choice)

1. Structure: The written test consists of two papers conducted in a single day:

2. Paper 1 (General Science and Research Aptitude): 100 objective questions for 100 marks. Duration is 2 hours. It evaluates basic scientific principles, instrumental methods of analysis, quality assurance, statistical data analysis, and legal provisions relating to forensic evidence.

3. Paper 2 (Subject Specialization): 100 questions for 100 marks. Duration is 2 hours. It evaluates advanced postgraduate syllabus in the candidate's specific applied forensic branch (such as Physics, Ballistics, Chemistry, or Cyber Forensics).

4. Negative Marking: A deduction of 0.25 marks applies for each wrong answer. Qualifying minimum marks are 40 percent for Unreserved and 35 percent for SC/ST/SEBC categories.

Stage 2: Viva-Voce Interview Test

Candidates scoring above the cutoff threshold in the written test will be called for an Interview carrying 30 marks at the OPSC Office in Cuttack. An expert panel comprising forensic laboratory directors and university professors evaluates candidate research aptitude, technical familiarity with analytical instruments, and communication skills. Final merit is prepared on the aggregate of 230 marks (200 from written papers and 30 from interview).

Important Recruitment Schedule

Notification Publication Date: 05 November 2026

Online Application Window Opens: 08 November 2026

Last Date to Submit Online Application: 08 December 2026 (11:59 PM)

Online Document Re-upload Window: 10 December to 15 December 2026

Written Examination Schedule: January 2027

Viva-Voce Interview Schedule: February 2027

Direct Official Action Links

1. Official Website: Visit opsc.gov.in for commission notifications, syllabi, and rejection lists.

2. Official Notification PDF: Download advertisement 14 OF 2026-27 from opsc.gov.in.

3. Online Application Portal: Register and apply online at opsc.gov.in.