OPSC Assistant Horticulture Officer Recruitment 2026 Notification Out for 22 Posts | Apply Online @ opsc.gov.in
Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) has released the official notification for the recruitment of Assistant Horticulture Officer posts in Class-II (Group-B) of Odisha Horticulture Service under the Department of Agriculture & Farmers' Empowerment. A total of 22 vacancies have been announced for eligible candidates. The online application process will commence from 28 July 2026 and will close on 28 August 2026 up to 5:00 PM.
Eligible and interested candidates can apply online through the official OPSC website https://opsc.gov.in. The selection will be based on Written Examination (MCQ Pattern) and Personality Test (Interview). The written examination is tentatively scheduled for 27 September 2026 (Sunday).
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About Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC)
Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) is the state agency authorized to conduct examinations for recruitment to various civil services and posts under the Government of Odisha. The Commission is responsible for selecting suitable candidates through a transparent and competitive selection process. OPSC ensures that the recruitment process is conducted fairly and in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Government of Odisha.
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Recruitment Highlights
| Particulars | Details |
| Organization | Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) |
| Advertisement No. | 06 of 2026-27 |
| Post Name | Assistant Horticulture Officer |
| Service | Class-II (Group-B) of Odisha Horticulture Service |
| Total Vacancies | 22 |
| Pay Scale | Level-10, Cell-1 of ORSP Rules, 2017 (Pre-revised PB-2: Rs.9,300-34,800 + Grade Pay Rs.4,600) |
| Application Mode | Online Only |
| Selection Process | Written Examination (MCQ) + Personality Test (Interview) |
| Official Website | https://opsc.gov.in |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
| Online Application Start Date | 28 July 2026 |
| Online Application Closing Date | 28 August 2026 (up to 5:00 PM) |
| Tentative Written Examination Date | 27 September 2026 (Sunday) |
Vacancy Details
| Category | Total Vacancies | Women Vacancies |
| UR | 06 | 02 |
| SEBC | 00 | 00 |
| SC | 07 | 02 |
| ST | 09 | 03 |
| Total | 22 | 07 |
- Ex-Servicemen: 01 Post
- Persons with Disabilities (PwD) - Category I (LV): 01 Post (40% or more permanent disability)
- Candidates belonging to Ex-Servicemen and PwD categories shall be adjusted against the categories to which they belong.
- In case of non-availability of eligible/suitable women candidates belonging to the respective categories, the unfilled vacancies of that category shall be filled up by eligible or suitable male candidate(s) of the same category.
- Exchange of reservation between Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe will not be considered in the event of non-availability of eligible and suitable SC/ST candidates.
- The number of vacancies is subject to change by the Government without notice.
Age Limit (As on 01 January 2026)
- Minimum Age: 21 Years
- Maximum Age: 42 Years
- Born not earlier than 02 January 1984 and not later than 01 January 2005
- SC/ST Candidates: 05 Years
- Women Candidates: 05 Years
- Ex-Servicemen: 05 Years
- PwD Candidates (40% or more permanent disability): 10 Years
- PwD Candidates belonging to SC/ST: 15 Years (cumulative)
- Note: Candidates eligible for more than one category shall receive only one benefit of upper age relaxation, whichever is most beneficial.
Educational Qualification
- Bachelor of Science Degree in Horticulture [B.Sc. (Horticulture)] OR
- Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture [B.Sc. (Agriculture)]
- Degree must be from any University or Institution recognized by any State Government or the Government of India.
- No other equivalent qualification except Degree in Horticulture or Agriculture will be accepted.
Odia Language Requirement
Candidates must be able to read, write and speak Odia and must fulfill any one of the following:
- Passed Middle School Examination with Odia as a language subject; OR
- Passed Matriculation or equivalent examination with Odia as medium of examination in non-language subject; OR
- Passed in Odia as language subject in the final examination of Class-VII from a School or Educational Institution recognized by the Government of Odisha or the Central Government; OR
- Passed a test in Odia in Middle English School standard conducted by the School & Mass Education Department of the Government of Odisha / Board of Secondary Education, Odisha.
Examination Fee
| Category | Fee Amount |
| General / OBC / Other Candidates | ₹700/- |
| SC / ST / PwD Candidates | Exempted |
- Payment through online mode only (Credit Card, Debit Card, UPI, Net Banking, Wallet, etc.)
- Examination fee shall be refunded only to those candidates who actually appear in both the papers of Written Examination.
- Refund shall be issued in due course after completion of the Written Examination.
- Refunds will be processed to the original mode of payment used at the time of transaction.
- Applications without payment of examination fees (except SC/ST/PwD candidates) will be rejected.
- Candidates must furnish bank account details in the online application form for refund processing.
Salary & Benefits
- Pay Scale: Level-10, Cell-1 of ORSP Rules, 2017
- Pre-revised Scale: PB-2 - Rs.9,300 - 34,800/- with Grade Pay of Rs.4,600/-
- Usual Dearness Allowance and other allowances as sanctioned by the Government of Odisha from time to time.
- Posts are temporary and likely to continue.
Selection Process
Stage 1: Written Examination (200 Marks)
- Two Papers of 100 marks each
- 100 Objective Type Multiple Choice Questions in each paper
- Each question carries 1 mark
- Negative Marking: 25% marks deducted for each wrong answer
- Zero marks for un-attempted questions
- Duration: 2 hours for each paper
- Both Papers will be of Horticulture subjects
- Qualifying marks will be fixed for each Paper and/or aggregate for each category
| Paper | Full Marks | Questions | Duration | Marking Scheme |
| Paper - I | 100 | 100 | 2 Hours | +1 for correct, -0.25 for wrong, 0 for un-attempted |
| Paper - II | 100 | 100 | 2 Hours | +1 for correct, -0.25 for wrong, 0 for un-attempted |
- Candidates shortlisted based on Written Examination marks in ratio of about 1:2 of advertised vacancies (minimum 5)
- Select List prepared based on Aggregate Marks (Written + Interview) out of 225 Marks
- Tie-breaker: Higher marks in Written Examination; if still equal, older candidate placed higher
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Syllabus Highlights
Paper - I Syllabus Topics:
- Agro meteorology: Agro climate zones of India & Odisha, Crop-Weather relationship, Climate change, Climate resilience
- Soil and nutrition: Soils of Odisha, Essential plant nutrients, Manures and fertilizers, Integrated nutrient management
- Water management: Water resources of Odisha, Micro-irrigation (Drip and Sprinkler), Water use efficiency
- Weed management: Weed classification, Integrated weed management, Herbicides
- Dry land farming: Rainfed horticulture, Drought management, Water harvesting
- Integrated Farming System: Farming system models
- Seed Technology: Seed quality, seed production, certification
- Plant Protection: Pest and disease management, Integrated Pest Management
- Agricultural Economics: Cost of cultivation, Agri-business Management, Marketing
- Agricultural Statistics: Basic statistical principles, Data analysis
- Related Subjects: Farm machinery, Crop rotation, Organic farming, Protected cultivation, Apiculture, Mushroom cultivation
- Plant propagation and nursery management: Sexual & asexual propagation, Cutting, budding, grafting, tissue culture, Nursery management
- Fruit crops: Mango, Banana, Citrus, Pineapple, Guava, Papaya, Sapota, Ber, Pomegranate, Litchi, Custard apple, Aonla, Jamun, Jackfruit, Passion fruit, Avocado, Dragon fruit, Strawberry
- Plantation crops: Coconut, Areca nut, Cashew nut, Oil palm, Date palm, Cocoa, Coffee & Tea
- Vegetable crops: Potato, Tomato, Brinjal, Chilli, Capsicum, Cucurbits, Pea, French bean, Okra, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Onion, Garlic, Root crops, Leafy vegetables, Tree vegetables, Tropical tuber crops
- Spices, Condiments, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Cultivation practices of important crops
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How to Apply
- Visit the official OPSC website: https://opsc.gov.in
- Read the detailed advertisement and instructions carefully.
- Click on the online application link for Advertisement No. 06 of 2026-27.
- Fill the online application form with accurate personal, educational, and other details.
- Upload scanned images of:
- Latest Passport Size Photograph
- Full Signature
- Left-hand Thumb Impression (LTI)
- Pay the examination fee online (if applicable) through Credit Card/Debit Card/UPI/Net Banking/Wallet.
- Submit the application form before the closing date (28 August 2026 up to 5:00 PM).
- On successful submission, a unique "Permanent Public Service Account Number (PPSAN)" will be assigned.
- Take a printout of the finally submitted online application form for future reference.
- Keep at least four copies of the uploaded photograph for future use.
Documents Required
- H.S.C. or equivalent certificate (Age proof)
- Intermediate / +2 Examination Certificate
- Bachelor of Science Degree in Horticulture/Agriculture Certificate
- Mark-sheets from HSC to Bachelor's Degree (including fail marks, if any)
- Grade to Percentage Conversion Certificate (if marks awarded in grades)
- Four recent passport size photographs (within six months, unsigned and unattested)
- Caste Certificate (SC/ST) - Odisha candidates only
- Odia Language Test Pass Certificate
- Permanent Disability Certificate (PwD candidates - 40% or more disability)
- Release Certificate (Ex-Servicemen candidates) + Affidavit (format at Appendix-B)
- No Objection Certificate (NOC) - for Government employees
- Proof of Identity (Aadhar / EPIC / DL / Passport / PAN Card)
- Third Gender / Transgender Identity Certificate (if applicable)
- All certificates must be issued on or before the date of submission of the online application form.
- Women candidates belonging to SC/ST must submit caste certificate showing "daughter of......" (not "wife of......").
- Caste status once mentioned in the online application form shall not be changed.
Important Instructions
- Only Indian Citizens are eligible to apply.
- Candidates must be of sound mental and physical health.
- Candidates with more than one spouse living will not be eligible (unless exempted by State Government).
- Government servants must inform their Heads of Office and furnish NOC during document verification.
- Candidates debarred by OPSC/UPSC from examinations are not eligible for the specified period.
- Applications found incomplete in any respect are liable to be rejected without correspondence.
- Admission to Written Examination/Interview will be provisional pending verification.
- The advertisement does not bind the Government to make appointment.
- Reservation and relaxation for SC/ST by Birth are admissible only to SC/ST of Odisha.
- All persons appointed on or after 01.01.2005 shall be covered by the Contributory Pension Scheme (NPS).
- Any misrepresentation or suppression of information will result in cancellation of candidature.
- Mere empanelment in the select list does not confer any right for appointment.
- Candidates submitting forged/manipulated documents will be debarred from OPSC examinations for 03 years.
Grounds of Rejection of Applications
- Incomplete online application form
- Not passing Odia Test/not furnishing Odia Test pass evidence
- Not coming within the age limit
- Not having prescribed requisite qualification by the closing date
- Not furnishing copies of certificates/documents as required
- Non-payment of examination fee (wherever applicable)
- Submission of wrong/false/forged information
- Suppression of facts
- Any other ground as per the decision of the Commission
Important Links
| Description | Link |
| Official Website | Click Here |
| Detailed Advertisement | Download PDF |
| Apply Online | Available from 28.07.2026 |
| Syllabus (Appendix-A) | Download PDF |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How many vacancies are announced for OPSC Assistant Horticulture Officer Recruitment 2026?
- A total of 22 vacancies have been announced under the Department of Agriculture & Farmers' Empowerment. The category-wise breakup is: UR-06, SC-07, ST-09.
- The online application will close on 28 August 2026 up to 5:00 PM. Candidates must submit their applications before the closing date.
- The selection consists of Written Examination (200 marks - two papers of 100 marks each) followed by Personality Test/Interview (25 marks). Final selection is based on aggregate marks out of 225.
- The application fee is ₹700/- for General/OBC and other candidates. SC/ST/PwD candidates are exempted from payment of fee. The fee will be refunded to candidates who appear in both papers of the Written Examination.
- The age limit is 21-42 years as on 01 January 2026. Age relaxation is available for SC/ST (5 years), Women (5 years), Ex-Servicemen (5 years), and PwD (10 years) candidates.
- Yes, there is a negative marking of 25% marks (0.25 marks) for each wrong answer. Zero marks are awarded for un-attempted questions.
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Contact Details
- Organization: Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC)
- Address: 19, Dr. P.K. Parija Road, Kataka - 753001, Odisha
- Website: https://opsc.gov.in
- Technical Support: 0671-2304707 (10:30 AM to 1:30 PM & 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM)
- Facilitation Counter: 0671-2304141 / 2305611 Extn.- 227
- Email: opsc@od.gov.in (for grievances)
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Disclaimer: This article has been prepared for informational purposes based on the official OPSC Assistant Horticulture Officer Recruitment 2026 Notification (Advertisement No. 06 of 2026-27). Candidates are advised to read the official notification carefully before applying. All information including vacancies, eligibility criteria, selection process, and important dates is based on the official advertisement. In case of any discrepancy, the official notification issued by OPSC shall prevail. Keep visiting the official OPSC website for the latest recruitment updates.