OPSC shifts OCS Main papers of October 29, 30 over Cyclone Arnab
By Kabir SethiEducation Correspondent, Peepals Yuva
Representative image: ernestoeslava / Pixabay
OPSC moved the OCS Main 2025 language papers to October 31 and the Essay to November 5 because of Cyclone Arnab; November 2, 4 and 7 papers stay.
What Happened
The Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) has moved two days of the Odisha Civil Services (OCS) Main (Written) Examination 2025 because of Cyclone Arnab. In a notice dated Monday, October 26, 2026, the commission said the Odia and English language papers set for Thursday, October 29 will now be held on Saturday, October 31, and the Essay paper set for Friday, October 30 will be held on Thursday, November 5. The papers on November 2, November 4 and November 7 stay on their original dates.
Key Facts
- The change is made through OPSC Notice No. 5984/PSC dated October 26, 2026, which partly modifies the commission's earlier notification of August 29, 2026.
- October 29 (Odia and English language papers) moves to October 31, a Saturday.
- October 30 (Essay) moves to November 5, a Thursday.
- The examinations of November 2, 4 and 7 are unchanged.
- The commission described the step as a precaution in view of the approaching cyclonic storm Arnab.
- According to the preliminary result published in July 2026, 5,690 candidates, including 1,905 women, were provisionally shortlisted for the OCS Main 2025.
- The India Meteorological Department (IMD) expects the cyclone to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast on the morning of October 28.
Why It Matters
The OCS examination recruits officers for the Odisha government's Group A and Group B civil services. For many young graduates in the state it is the most important exam of the year, and the Main stage is where most of the competition is decided. A change of even two days affects travel, accommodation and revision plans, especially for candidates who live far from the examination centres.
The two shifted days fall exactly in the window when the cyclone is expected to bring its heaviest rain and wind. The IMD's Monday bulletin placed the system about 650 km east-southeast of Visakhapatnam, moving west at around 15 km an hour, with landfall expected along the Andhra Pradesh coast on October 28. Odisha has put its six southern districts on alert: Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Koraput and Nabarangpur. Schools and colleges in several of these districts have already been told to close on October 28 and 29. Holding a state-level written examination on those days would have forced thousands of candidates to travel through rain, possible flooding and disrupted transport.
The commission has handled storms this way before. In October 2024, it postponed the OCS preliminary examination when Cyclone Dana approached the Odisha coast. Moving the papers early, rather than cancelling them on the morning of the exam, gives candidates time to rebook travel and adjust their study plans.
For students, the practical point is simple: the order of the papers has changed. The language papers now come on October 31, two days later than planned. The Essay paper now sits between the November 4 and November 7 papers. Candidates should rework their revision timetable around the new sequence.
| Old date | Paper | New date |
|---|---|---|
| October 29 (Thursday) | Odia and English language | October 31 (Saturday) |
| October 30 (Friday) | Essay | November 5 (Thursday) |
| November 2, 4 and 7 | Other papers | Unchanged |
Impact
Short-term: Candidates get two extra days before the first paper and must plan travel for October 31 instead of October 29. Those in the southern districts on cyclone alert can stay home during the storm rather than travel to centres.
Long-term: If the rest of the schedule holds, the Main stage still ends on November 7, so the overall recruitment timeline for OCS 2025 should not slip by much. Any further change would depend on the damage the cyclone causes.
Who is affected: The roughly 5,690 shortlisted candidates, their families, the staff who run the examination centres, and the state departments waiting to fill posts through this cycle.
Key Takeaway
OPSC has shifted the OCS Main 2025 papers of October 29 and 30 to October 31 and November 5 because of Cyclone Arnab, while the November 2, 4 and 7 papers stay as planned.
Questions and Answers
When will the OCS Main 2025 language papers now be held?
The Odia and English language papers, first set for October 29, 2026, will now be held on Saturday, October 31, 2026, according to OPSC's notice of October 26.
Has the OCS Main Essay paper been postponed?
Yes. The Essay paper set for October 30 has been moved to Thursday, November 5, 2026.
Are the other OCS Main papers also changed?
No. The commission said the papers scheduled for November 2, November 4 and November 7 will be held as planned.
Why did OPSC change the OCS Main exam dates?
The commission said it was a precaution because Cyclone Arnab is expected to hit the coast around October 28, bringing heavy rain and strong winds to southern Odisha. Candidates should check the official notice on the OPSC website for any further changes.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
By Kabir Sethi, Education CorrespondentCovers Education and more for Peepals Yuva. All stories by Kabir Sethi
Kabir Sethi is a pen name of the Peepals Global Editorial Team, which researches, fact-checks and publishes every story. The portrait is an illustration.
