Odisha Police SI (Combined/General) Eligibility Criteria 2026

The Odisha Police SI recruitment mandates specific educational qualifications to ensure that applicants possess the necessary intellectual capacity for the duties of a Sub-Inspector. The educational requirements are as follows:

• Primary Requirement: All applicants must possess a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized university.
• Recognition: The university or institution from which the candidate has graduated must be officially recognized by the relevant educational authorities in India.
• Documentation: During the document verification phase, candidates will be required to present their degree certificates or provisional degree mark sheets as proof of their educational qualification.

The academic criteria are designed to be inclusive, accepting graduates from any field, which allows a diverse group of individuals to apply for these competitive government positions.

The age criteria for the Odisha Police SI recruitment are set to ensure that candidates are in the prime of their career and capable of performing the duties required of a police officer. Candidates must ensure they meet these requirements on the designated cut-off date.

• Age Range: The basic age limit for candidates to apply is between 21 and 28 years.
• Cut-off Date: The eligibility for age is calculated as on 01.01.2024.
• Standard Limits: For the Unreserved (UR) category, the age limit is 21 to 28 years. For SEBC, SC, ST, and all women candidates, the upper age limit is relaxed to 33 years.

This age bracket is designed to attract active and dedicated individuals who can manage the physical and mental pressures of the role effectively. Candidates are advised to keep their proof of age documentation ready for verification.

The selection process for the Odisha Police SI Recruitment 2026 is a multi-stage, rigorous examination system designed to select only the most suitable candidates. The process is divided into the following key phases:

1. Written Examination: Candidates must appear for a written test consisting of two papers. Paper I, focusing on Odia and English, carries 100 marks. Paper II, focused on General Studies, carries 200 marks. Each incorrect answer leads to a negative marking of 0.25.
2. Physical Standard Test (PST): Candidates who clear the written exam are assessed on their physical dimensions (height, weight, and chest size). These standards vary by gender and category.
3. Physical Efficiency Test (PET): This involves testing the candidate’s stamina and physical readiness through activities like 1.6 km running, long jumps, cross-country runs, and a mandatory swimming test. Candidates must also complete an acrophobia test.
4. Document Verification: Following the successful completion of physical and written stages, the candidates' original certificates are checked to verify eligibility, educational qualifications, and category status.
5. Medical Examination: Final candidates are subjected to a medical check-up to ensure they meet the health and fitness standards required for the police force.

• General Relaxation: The Odisha High Court and the State Government have granted a 3-year relaxation in the age criteria for candidates across all categories.
• Category-wise Details: While the standard upper age limit for UR candidates is 28 years, the categories including SEBC, SC, ST, and all female candidates are granted a higher upper age limit of 33 years.
• Verification: Candidates seeking the benefits of age relaxation must produce valid category certificates issued by the competent authority during the documentation process.