The Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) has released Advertisement No. 04 of 2026-27, inviting online applications for 436 backlog posts of Veterinary Assistant Surgeon (VAS)/Additional VAS, Group-A (Junior Branch-II), Odisha Veterinary Service, under the Fisheries & Animal Resources Development (ARD) Department.
Important — read this first: This is a backlog vacancy recruitment reserved entirely for SEBC, SC, and ST category candidates of Odisha. There are no Unreserved (General)/EWS vacancies in this drive — if you don’t belong to one of these three categories, this recruitment is not open to you.
Quick Overview
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Organization | Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) |
| Advertisement No. | 04 of 2026-27 (Notice No. 4195/PSC, dt. 18.07.2026) |
| Post Name | Veterinary Assistant Surgeon / Additional VAS, Group-A (Junior Branch-II) |
| Department | Fisheries & Animal Resources Development Dept, Govt. of Odisha |
| Total Posts | 436 (144-W) — all backlog vacancies |
| Eligible Categories | SEBC, SC, ST only (no UR/EWS posts) |
| Pay Scale | ₹56,100 (Level 12, Cell-1, ORSP Rules 2017) |
| Mode of Application | Online at opsc.gov.in |
| Application Fee | ₹700 (SC/ST/PwD exempt — no fee) |
| Registration & Fee Window | 24.07.2026 – 24.08.2026 (5:00 PM) |
| Written Exam Date | 26.09.2026 (Saturday) |
| Exam Venue | Cuttack / Bhubaneswar |
| Official Website | www.opsc.gov.in |
Category-wise Vacancy
| Category | Total Vacancies (Women) |
|---|---|
| SEBC | 62 (20-W) |
| SC | 141 (47-W) |
| ST | 233 (77-W) |
| Total | 436 (144-W) |
Within these totals: 18 (06-W) posts are reserved for Persons with Disabilities (40% or more permanent disability), and 4 (01-W) posts for Sports Persons — both adjusted against the category (SEBC/SC/ST) the candidate belongs to.
Eligibility Criteria
Age: 21 to 47 years as on 1st January 2026 (born between 2 January 1979 and 1 January 2005). PwD candidates from SEBC/SC/ST with 40%+ permanent disability get an additional 10 years’ relaxation over 47. Only one relaxation ground can be claimed even if you qualify under more than one.
Educational Qualification:
- Bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry (B.V.Sc. & A.H.) or an equivalent degree from a recognized University/College/Institution in India or abroad.
- Foreign degree holders need conversion certificates recognized by the Veterinary Council of India (VCI).
- A valid Registration Certificate under the Odisha Veterinary Practitioners Act, 1970 (Section 21) — candidates must register under this Act on or before the closing date of the online application.
Odia Language Requirement: Candidates must be able to speak, read, and write Odia — satisfied by having passed Matriculation/ME School with Odia as a subject or medium, Class VII Odia, or the prescribed Odia test conducted by the School & Mass Education Dept/Board of Secondary Education, Odisha.
Other conditions: Indian citizenship; sound health with no physical defect that would interfere with service duties (subject to medical examination before appointment); monogamy declaration (with an exemption route under applicable personal law); government servants may apply but must inform their employer and produce a No Objection Certificate at document verification — obtain this well in advance.
Reservation restriction: SC/ST/SEBC reservation and relaxation benefits apply only to candidates who are SC/ST by birth or SEBC of Odisha — not to SC/ST/SEBC candidates from other states.
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| SC / ST / PwD | Exempt — no fee |
| All other eligible categories (SEBC) | ₹700 |
Fee is refunded, but only to candidates who actually appear in the written examination. Applications submitted without fee payment (where applicable) are treated as incomplete and rejected outright.
Selection Process: Written Examination
Selection is based purely on a written, objective-type (MCQ) exam — there is no interview stage mentioned in this notification.
| Paper | Subject | Duration | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | Veterinary Science | 2½ hours | 200 | 400 |
| Paper II | Animal Science | 2½ hours | 200 | 400 |
| Total | 400 | 800 |
Syllabus highlights:
- Paper I (Veterinary Science): Veterinary Medicine, Gynaecology & Obstetrics, Pharmacology & Toxicology, Parasitology, Anatomy, Public Health, Surgery & Radiology, Pathology, Microbiology.
- Paper II (Animal Science): Veterinary Physiology, Biochemistry, Extension, Animal Nutrition, Livestock Products Technology, Livestock Production Management, Animal Genetics & Breeding.
(Full detailed topic-wise syllabus is in Annexure-A of the official advertisement.)
Document Verification shortlisting: where a category has up to 2 vacancies, 5 candidates will be called for DV; where vacancies exceed 2, twice the number of vacancies will be called, based on merit in the written exam.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Advertisement Notice | 18.07.2026 |
| Registration & Fee Payment Window Opens | 24.07.2026 |
| Registration & Fee Payment / Application Closing | 24.08.2026 (5:00 PM) |
| Written Examination | 26.09.2026 (Saturday) |
| Provisional Answer Key | Within 10 days of the exam |
Documents Required (at Document Verification stage)
HSC/equivalent certificate (age proof), B.V.Sc. & A.H. degree certificate, all mark-lists (HSC through degree, including any fail marks), VCI conversion certificate (if foreign degree), Registration Certificate under the Odisha Veterinary Practitioners Act 1970, four recent passport photographs, Caste Certificate by birth (SEBC/SC/ST), Odia Test pass certificate (if applicable), Permanent Disability Certificate (if applicable, 40%+ only — temporary disability certificates are not accepted), Sports Certificate/ID from Director of Sports, Odisha (if applicable — participation certificates and other credentials are not accepted), Ex-Servicemen release certificate (if applicable), NOC (for government servants), valid photo ID proof.
How to Apply
- Visit www.opsc.gov.in and go through the full advertisement details before starting.
- Register on the OPSC portal and fill the online Proforma application.
- Upload scanned photograph, full signature, and Left Thumb Impression (LTI) as specified — a Permanent Public Service Account Number (PPSAN) is generated on successful submission.
- Pay the ₹700 exam fee online if you don’t belong to SC/ST/PwD.
- Submit well before 24.08.2026 (5:00 PM) — note that once submitted, you cannot edit the application; you’d need to cancel and reapply within the window to make corrections.
- Download and keep your Admission Certificate once released ahead of the exam.
Important Links
- Official Advertisement & Apply Online: www.opsc.gov.in
- OPSC Technical Support: 0671-2304707 (10:30 AM–1:30 PM & 2:00 PM–5:30 PM, working days)
- OPSC Facilitation Counter: 0671-2304141 / 2305611, Ext. 205
- Download Notification – Click here
FAQs
Q1: Can General/UR or EWS category candidates apply for this recruitment? No. This is a backlog-vacancy drive open only to SEBC, SC, and ST candidates of Odisha. There are no UR/EWS posts in this advertisement.
Q2: How many total posts are there? 436 posts (144 reserved for women), split as SEBC 62, SC 141, and ST 233.
Q3: What is the qualification required? A B.V.Sc. & A.H. degree (or recognized equivalent) plus valid registration under the Odisha Veterinary Practitioners Act, 1970.
Q4: What is the age limit? 21 to 47 years as on 1 January 2026, with a further 10-year relaxation for PwD candidates (40%+ disability) within the eligible categories.
Q5: What is the application fee? ₹700 for SEBC candidates; SC, ST, and PwD candidates are fully exempt from the fee.
Q6: When is the written exam? 26 September 2026 (Saturday), at centres in Cuttack/Bhubaneswar.
Q7: Is there an interview after the written exam? The notification specifies selection is based on the written examination and document verification/medical examination — no interview stage is mentioned.
Q8: Do I need to know Odia to apply? Yes — candidates must be able to speak, read, and write Odia, demonstrated via qualifying exams passed with Odia or a prescribed Odia test.
This post is based on OPSC Advertisement No. 04 of 2026-27 (Notice No. 4195/PSC dated 18.07.2026) for Veterinary Assistant Surgeon/Additional VAS recruitment. Always verify details on www.opsc.gov.in before applying. — LearnOdisha
