OSSSC Ophthalmic Officer Recruitment 2026: 238 Vacancies, Eligibility, Salary, Exam Pattern and Apply Online
The Odisha Sub-ordinate Staff Selection Commission (OSSSC) has invited online applications for 238 District Cadre Group-C Ophthalmic Officer posts in 29 district establishments under the Health & Family Welfare Department, Government of Odisha. The detailed advertisement is dated 5 November 2026.
- Recruitment overview and important dates
- District-wise and category-wise vacancies
- Educational qualification and eligibility
- Age limit and relaxation
- Salary and application fee
- Written examination pattern and marking
- Selection process and document verification
- How to apply online
- Optometry MCQ eBook for preparation
- Frequently asked questions
1. OSSSC Ophthalmic Officer Recruitment 2026 – Overview
| Recruiting organisation | Odisha Sub-ordinate Staff Selection Commission (OSSSC) |
|---|---|
| Department | Health & Family Welfare Department, Government of Odisha |
| Advertisement number | IIE-103/2026-3282/OSSSC |
| Advertisement date | 05 November 2026 |
| Post | Ophthalmic Officer |
| Post type | District Cadre Group-C |
| Total vacancies | 238 |
| Job location | 29 district establishments in Odisha |
| Application mode | Online only |
| Age reference date | 05 November 2026 |
| Selection stages | Written Test, Document Verification and district allocation |
| Official website | osssc.gov.in |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Detailed advertisement | 05 November 2026 |
| Online registration / re-registration begins | 05 November 2026 |
| Last date for registration / re-registration | 29 November 2026 |
| Online application submission begins | 05 November 2026 |
| Last date for final online application submission | 05 December 2026 |
| Written examination date | To be notified by OSSSC |
| Admit card / document verification | To be notified by OSSSC |
2. OSSSC Ophthalmic Officer Vacancy 2026 – District-wise Details
The notification provides 238 vacancies across 29 district establishments. The district-wise totals from Annexure-I are given below.
| S. No. | District | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Angul | 6 |
| 2 | Bargarh | 11 |
| 3 | Bhadrak | 4 |
| 4 | Balasore (Baleshwar) | 10 |
| 5 | Balangir | 13 |
| 6 | Boudh | 4 |
| 7 | Cuttack (Kataka) | 8 |
| 8 | Deogarh (Debagarh) | 2 |
| 9 | Dhenkanal | 8 |
| 10 | Gajapati | 7 |
| 11 | Ganjam | 15 |
| 12 | Jagatsinghpur | 7 |
| 13 | Jajpur | 3 |
| 14 | Jharsuguda | 4 |
| 15 | Kalahandi | 13 |
| 16 | Kandhamal | 12 |
| 17 | Kendrapara | 3 |
| 18 | Keonjhar (Kendujhar) | 13 |
| 19 | Khordha | 3 |
| 20 | Koraput | 10 |
| 21 | Malkangiri | 5 |
| 22 | Mayurbhanj | 18 |
| 23 | Nuapada | 2 |
| 24 | Nabarangpur | 7 |
| 25 | Nayagarh | 4 |
| 26 | Puri | 11 |
| 27 | Rayagada | 8 |
| 28 | Sambalpur | 11 |
| 29 | Sundargarh | 16 |
| Total | 238 | |
District names are written using commonly used English spellings; the official Annexure-I should be consulted for the exact district establishment entry.
Category-wise Vacancies
| Category | Other vacancies | Women-earmarked vacancies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unreserved (UR) | 84 | 39 | 123 |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 44 | 23 | 67 |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 16 | 6 | 22 |
| SEBC | 21 | 5 | 26 |
| Total | 165 | 73 | 238 |
Special Category / Horizontal Reservation
| Special category shown in Annexure-I | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Ex-Servicemen | 1 |
| Hearing Impaired (HI) | 5 (including 1 women-earmarked vacancy) |
| Orthopaedically Impaired (OI) | 5 |
| Total special-category entries shown | 11 |
District cadre information: The selected candidate will be posted and transferred within the allotted district. Candidates must submit district preferences in the online application. A preferred district is not guaranteed; allocation is subject to merit, reservation and available vacancies.
Test-centre preference: The notification separately allows candidates to indicate a preference for a maximum of three districts for the written-test centre, in priority order. OSSSC may allot a test centre outside the candidate's preferred districts.
3. Educational Qualification and Eligibility Criteria
For this recruitment, passing +2 Science alone is not sufficient. The advertisement prescribes both academic and professional qualifications, along with Odisha professional registration and Odia language requirements.
Educational and Professional Qualification
- Candidate must have passed +2 Science or its equivalent.
- Candidate must have completed a two-year Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) Training Course or a Certified Ophthalmic Surgical Assistant (COSA) Course.
- The training course must be from a Government or Government-recognised institution of the state.
- The candidate must be registered with the Ophthalmic Officers' Council in the State of Odisha.
- The registration certificate must be valid on the date of submission of the online application and must be uploaded.
Odia Language Requirement
The candidate must be able to read, write and speak Odia and must satisfy at least one of the following conditions specified in the advertisement:
- Passed the Middle School Examination with Odia as a language subject; or
- Passed Matriculation or an equivalent examination with Odia as the medium of examination in non-language subjects; or
- Passed Odia as a language subject in the final examination of Class VII from a recognised school or educational institution; or
- Passed an Odia language test at M.E. School Standard conducted by the School & Mass Education Department.
Other Eligibility Conditions
- The candidate must be a citizen of India.
- The candidate must be of good character.
- A married candidate must not have more than one spouse living, subject to the exception described in the advertisement under applicable personal law or other permitted grounds.
- All eligibility conditions must be fulfilled by the date of advertisement, except the specified registration-certificate condition, which must be met on the date of online application submission.
Persons with Disabilities (PwD)
- Applicants claiming PwD reservation must possess a permanent disability certificate of not less than 40%, with the required category/sub-category and functional classification.
- Temporary disability certificates are not accepted for claiming PwD reservation under this advertisement.
- Applicants must upload the prescribed UDID card/disability certificate issued by the competent authority.
- Compensatory time is provided at 20 minutes per hour as per the rules stated in the notification.
- A candidate seeking a scribe must obtain written permission from the concerned ADM-cum-District Superintendent at least three days before the written test, following the prescribed procedure.
4. Age Limit and Age Relaxation
The age is calculated as on the advertisement date, 05 November 2026.
| Age criteria | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum age | 21 years |
| Maximum age | 42 years |
| Age reference date | 05 November 2026 |
Upper Age Relaxation
- SC / ST / SEBC / Women candidates: 5 years.
- Persons with Disabilities: 10 years. The notification also provides a cumulative disability-related relaxation for PwD candidates belonging to SC/ST/SEBC categories over and above the normal relaxation available to them, subject to the applicable rule.
- Ex-Servicemen: Relaxation by the total period of service rendered in Defence Service, subject to the conditions in the advertisement.
- Contractual Ophthalmic Assistants: Eligible contractual Ophthalmic Assistants under the OSH&FW Society or Scheme may have an upper age limit of 45 years as on the advertisement date, subject to the prescribed service and document conditions.
Candidates claiming age relaxation should calculate their eligibility strictly from the detailed advertisement and keep supporting certificates/appointment documents ready.
5. Salary / Pay Scale
Pay Matrix Level-7, Cell-01, as per the Odisha Revised Scales of Pay Rules, 2017.
The above is the pay scale stated in the notification. Actual monthly salary will depend on applicable allowances and deductions under the relevant service rules.
OSSSC Ophthalmic Officer Application Fee
| Category | Examination fee |
|---|---|
| Applicants other than SC, ST and PwD categories | ₹500 |
| SC candidates | Exempted |
| ST candidates | Exempted |
| PwD candidates | Exempted |
Payment is to be made online through Net Banking, Credit Card, Debit Card or UPI. The notification states that the ₹500 examination fee paid by candidates who actually appear for the examination will be refunded. Candidates who do not appear are not eligible for a refund. Use your own bank account/payment method so that any refund can be credited correctly.
6. OSSSC Ophthalmic Officer Written Exam Pattern 2026
The Commission has prescribed a single written paper of 100 marks. The test will be objective (MCQ type) and conducted in OMR/CBRE mode. The exact mode will be notified later.
| Subject / Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Questions from the syllabus of Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) and Certified Ophthalmic Surgical Assistant (COSA) | 60 | 60 |
| Questions based on practical skills | 25 | 25 |
| Arithmetic – High School Certificate Standard | 10 | 10 |
| English – High School Certificate Standard | 5 | 5 |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
Negative Marking
- There will be negative marking in the written test.
- 0.25 marks will be deducted for every incorrect answer.
- If more than one option is marked, it will be treated as a wrong answer and the penalty will apply.
- No marks will be deducted for an unanswered question.
Minimum Qualifying Marks
| Candidate category | Minimum qualifying marks / normalized score |
|---|---|
| ST, SC, PwD, Ex-Servicemen and Sportsperson categories | 30% |
| Other candidates | 35% |
These are minimum qualifying marks stated in the advertisement. Meeting the minimum does not by itself guarantee selection; shortlisting will depend on merit, category and vacancy availability.
Tie-Breaking Rules
If candidates obtain equal marks in the written test, the notification provides the following sequence:
- Higher percentage of marks in the professional COA/COSA qualification.
- If still tied, the older candidate will be placed higher.
- If the date of birth is also identical, higher marks in +2 or equivalent examination will be considered.
- The Commission may decide other criteria in an unresolved case.
7. Selection Process and Document Verification
The detailed advertisement describes the following broad stages:
- Written Test: One objective paper for 100 marks.
- Provisional merit list: Prepared on the basis of marks/normalised scores obtained in the written test.
- Screening for Document Verification: Candidates securing the minimum qualifying marks will be screened category-wise. The notification states that the screening list for DV will not be less than 1.25 times the number of advertised vacancies, category/special-category wise, subject to merit and availability.
- Document Verification: Original certificates and supporting documents will be checked.
- District allocation / provisional select list: Allocation will be based on merit, availability, reservation and district preferences. Physical counselling may be conducted if the Commission decides.
Important Documents to Keep Ready
- HSC / Matriculation certificate or other accepted proof of date of birth.
- +2 Science certificate and mark sheet.
- Two-year COA or COSA training certificate and relevant mark sheets.
- Valid registration certificate from the Ophthalmic Officers' Council, Odisha.
- Odia language qualification certificate / proof as prescribed.
- SC/ST/SEBC caste certificate, if applicable.
- Original UDID card / permanent disability certificate, if claiming PwD reservation.
- Ex-Servicemen identity/discharge and service documents, if applicable.
- Appointment letter and supporting service documents for eligible contractual Ophthalmic Assistants.
- Recent passport-size photograph, specimen signature and the personal email/mobile number used for the application.
The Commission will issue the written-test date, time and venue through a later notice/admission letter. Admission letters are to be downloaded from the OSSSC portal; they will not be sent as printed letters by post.
8. How to Apply Online for OSSSC Ophthalmic Officer 2026
Applications are accepted online through the official OSSSC website only. Follow the steps below:
- Visit the official OSSSC website.
- Open the Apply Online section and select the Ophthalmic Officer-2026 recruitment.
- New User: Candidates who have never registered for an OSSSC recruitment should complete fresh registration.
- Registered User: Candidates who already have an OSSSC User ID must log in and complete re-registration for this post.
- After registration/re-registration, log in and fill the separate online application form. Registration alone is not a completed application.
- Enter personal, educational, professional registration, category and district-preference details carefully.
- Upload the required photograph and full specimen signature in the prescribed JPG/JPEG/PNG format and file-size limits shown in the notification/portal.
- Pay the applicable examination fee online, if required.
- Submit the completed form and download/print the confirmation page for future reference.
Photo, Signature and Contact Details
- Keep a recent passport-size coloured photograph ready (JPG/JPEG/PNG, 20 KB to 100 KB as stated in the advertisement).
- Keep a full specimen signature ready (JPG/JPEG/PNG, 20 KB to 50 KB).
- Use your own personal email ID and mobile/cell phone number and keep them active during the recruitment process.
- Keep certificates and mark sheets ready while completing the educational qualification details.
On the OSSSC website, open Recruitment News and look for: Advertisement No. IIE-103/2026-3282/OSSSC dated 05.11.2026.
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9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many Ophthalmic Officer vacancies are announced by OSSSC in 2026?
A total of 238 District Cadre Group-C Ophthalmic Officer vacancies have been notified across 29 district establishments in Odisha.
What is the last date to register for OSSSC Ophthalmic Officer 2026?
The last date for online registration/re-registration is 29 November 2026.
What is the final date to submit the online application?
The final online application must be submitted by 5 December 2026. Registration and application submission are separate steps.
Is +2 Science alone enough to apply?
No. The advertisement also requires a two-year certified Ophthalmic Assistant Training Course or Certified Ophthalmic Surgical Assistant Course from a Government or Government-recognised institution of the state, along with valid Odisha Ophthalmic Officers' Council registration.
Is registration with the Ophthalmic Officers' Council, Odisha mandatory?
Yes. A valid Registration Certificate must be held on the date of submission of the online application and uploaded as required.
What is the age limit?
The age limit is 21 to 42 years as on 5 November 2026, with relaxations specified in the advertisement.
What is the salary of an OSSSC Ophthalmic Officer?
The notified pay scale is ₹25,500–₹81,100, Pay Matrix Level-7, Cell-01.
What is the exam pattern?
The written test is for 100 marks and 2 hours: 60 marks from the COA/COSA syllabus, 25 marks on practical skills, 10 marks in High School-standard Arithmetic and 5 marks in High School-standard English. Negative marking is 0.25 for each incorrect answer.
Has the written examination date been announced?
The detailed advertisement says that the exact date, time and venue will be notified later through the Commission's notice/admission letter.
Will choosing a district guarantee posting there?
No. District preference does not create a right to appointment in that district. Allocation depends on merit, reservation, availability and the prescribed allocation process.
