The Odisha Sub-Ordinate Staff Selection Commission (OSSSC) has officially issued the notification for the 2026 Nursing Officer recruitment drive (Advertisement No. IIE-54/2026-1896). This significant government recruitment initiative aims to fill 5,989 vacancies for the position of Nursing Officer (District Cadre, Group-C) within the Health & Family Welfare Department of the Odisha state government. This recruitment drive offers a notable opportunity for qualified medical professionals to secure stable employment in the public sector, providing them with structured pay and benefits.
Interested candidates holding the requisite academic credentials—specifically a GNM (General Nursing and Midwifery) Diploma or a B.Sc. in Nursing—are encouraged to participate in this selection process. The application window is open from 13th June 2026, with the deadline for submission falling on 7th July 2026. Prospective applicants should carefully review the eligibility criteria, including educational requirements, registration status with the State Nursing Council, and language proficiency requirements in Odia. The entire selection process is merit-based, conducted through a written examination, followed by document verification to ensure all selected candidates meet the official standards set by the commission.
The role of a Nursing Officer is fundamental to the delivery of healthcare services across Odisha, and this mass recruitment effort highlights the state's focus on bolstering its medical infrastructure across all 30 districts. Candidates are advised to utilize all official resources, including the detailed recruitment notification, to understand the intricacies of the selection process. Preparation should focus on the prescribed syllabus, which covers both technical nursing subjects and general competencies. Successful candidates will be entitled to a salary based on Pay Level-8 of the state government’s salary matrix, further details of which are outlined in the official documentation.
The OSSSC Nursing Officer examination is conducted by the Odisha Sub-Ordinate Staff Selection Commission at the state level to recruit skilled personnel for Group-C Nursing Officer positions. This exam is a critical gateway for individuals aiming for careers in the state's public health system. As a competitive, merit-based selection, it is designed to evaluate both the academic knowledge and the practical skills of aspiring nursing professionals.
The entire recruitment process is streamlined to ensure transparency and efficiency. It is divided into two major stages: a written examination followed by a document verification stage. The written exam acts as the primary screening tool, consisting of objective-type questions that test the candidate's understanding of their specific nursing curriculum, as well as basic arithmetic and English language skills. Candidates must demonstrate proficiency in the core subject matter of GNM or B.Sc. Nursing to successfully qualify. Those who clear the written test are invited for document verification, where their educational certificates, registration documents, identity proofs, and other mandatory records are thoroughly audited.
The exam is conducted in an online-offline integrated manner, with the application process being exclusively online through the official OSSSC web portal. The commission emphasizes the importance of following the registration, admit card, and result notification timelines strictly. Candidates are required to maintain a high level of preparedness regarding the syllabus, which encompasses various technical domains including Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology, Fundamentals of Nursing, and specialized fields like Pediatric, Psychiatric, and Community Health Nursing. The examination environment is designed to ensure that only candidates with the most appropriate credentials and skills are recruited into the District Cadre, ensuring high standards of patient care and public service throughout the state of Odisha.
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Candidates preparing for or appearing in the OSSSC Nursing Officer examination must strictly follow the guidelines established by the Odisha Sub-Ordinate Staff Selection Commission to ensure a smooth recruitment process. A clear understanding of the rules and requirements is essential for a successful application and assessment phase.
Adhering to these instructions ensures that candidates are fully prepared for every phase of the recruitment, from initial application to final selection. Regularly visiting the official website is the only way to stay updated regarding changes in exam dates or procedural updates.
The Odisha Sub-Ordinate Staff Selection Commission (OSSSC) conducts the Nursing Officer recruitment under the Health and Family Welfare Department. Candidates must monitor the official portal osssc.gov.in for real-time notifications regarding application windows and exam schedules. Ensure your One-Time Registration (OTR) profile is updated with valid credentials. All recruitment processes are governed by the Odisha Nursing Services (Method of Recruitment and Conditions of Service) Rules. Only candidates with valid Odisha Nursing Council registration are eligible to participate in the selection process.
To download the official notification, follow these steps:
| Event | Timeline |
|---|---|
| Online Registration Start | As per official notification |
| Application Submission End | As per official notification |
| Exam Date | To be notified via admit card |
The total number of vacancies is determined by the Health and Family Welfare Department, Government of Odisha. Distribution is as follows:
| Exam Year | Total Vacancies |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 1433 |
| 2023 | 7483 |
| 2022 | 4070 |
| Designation | Department | Pay Level |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing Officer | Health & Family Welfare | Level-09 (Rs. 21,700 - 69,100) |
OSSSC has exempted examination fees for all categories of candidates as per the latest government notification. No payment is required for the application process.
Candidates must be between 21 and 38 years of age as of the 1st day of January of the recruitment year.
Candidates must have passed +2 in the 10+2 system or its equivalent with a Diploma in GNM/B.Sc Nursing from any Medical College and Hospital of the State or any other recognized private institutions duly approved by INC and must have registered with the Odisha Nursing Council.
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing Subjects | 80 | 80 |
| General Awareness/Maths | 20 | 20 |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
Note: Each correct answer carries 1 mark; 0.25 marks deducted for every wrong answer. Duration: 2 Hours.
The selected candidates receive a monthly remuneration in the Pay Matrix Level-09, starting from a basic pay of Rs. 21,700 plus admissible dearness allowance and other benefits as sanctioned by the Government of Odisha.
Admit cards are released on the OSSSC website. Candidates must download the document using their User ID and Password. On the exam day, carry a printed copy of the admit card and a valid original photo ID (Aadhar Card, PAN Card, or Voter ID).
Provisional answer keys are uploaded to the official portal post-exam. Candidates can submit objections within the stipulated window by logging into their dashboard. A nominal fee may be required per challenged question as specified in the notification.
Results are published as a merit list on the OSSSC portal. The final merit list is prepared based on the marks secured in the written examination. Normalization is applied if the exam is conducted in multiple shifts.
Focus primarily on core nursing subjects (GNM/B.Sc syllabus) as they carry 80% weightage. Practice previous year question papers to understand the pattern of the General Awareness section. Maintain a daily revision schedule for medical terminology and drug dosage calculations. Utilize standard nursing textbooks and attend to time management during mock tests.
The cut-off marks for the OSSSC Nursing Officer examination are determined by the commission based on several factors, including the total number of vacancies, the number of candidates who appeared, and the overall difficulty level of the written examination. These cut-off scores determine the minimum marks required for a candidate to qualify for the next stage of the recruitment process, which is document verification.
Since the cut-off can vary by category, the commission releases category-wise cut-off marks, ensuring that individuals from all backgrounds are evaluated fairly based on their respective group's performance. Official cut-off tables are published on the website following the release of the final results. Candidates can view these marks by logging into the candidate dashboard or checking the official notice board on the website.
Understanding the past trends and the anticipated difficulty of the current exam can help candidates gauge their target scores. While the official cut-off is only declared after the evaluation is complete, maintaining a study approach that aims to score significantly above the average historical cut-off is a prudent preparation strategy. Candidates should regularly check the commission's official portal for updates on cut-off declarations, as this information is pivotal for knowing one's status regarding the selection for document verification.
Applying for the OSSSC Nursing Officer position is a structured, online-only process. Candidates must adhere to the steps provided to ensure their application is successfully submitted and considered by the commission. It is recommended to have all necessary academic and personal documents ready before starting the application process.
| Step | Instruction |
|---|---|
| 1 | Visit the official OSSSC portal to access the active recruitment link. |
| 2 | Begin the registration process by providing basic information including your mobile number, email address, and legal name. |
| 3 | Upon successful registration, a unique Registration Number and Password will be sent to the email address provided during the enrollment phase. |
| 4 | Use these login credentials to access the application dashboard and complete the form by entering essential details such as date of birth, category, parent's name, and comprehensive educational history. |
| 5 | Attach all mandatory documentation, including SSC certificates, valid category certificates (if applicable), and professional qualification certificates. |
| 6 | Upload a recent, clear, passport-sized photograph according to the official specifications provided in the guidelines. |
| 7 | Review all entered data for accuracy before clicking the 'Submit' button to finalize the application. |
| 8 | Download and preserve a hard copy of the final submitted application form for future reference and verification purposes. |
It is important to note that any discrepancy in the information provided or failure to upload required documents correctly can lead to the rejection of the candidature. Candidates are also advised to check their emails regularly for any communications regarding the status of their application from the commission.
