Did the Odisha Cabinet Approve Key Proposals for Government Jobs?

Synopsis
The Odisha Cabinet's recent decisions have reshaped the state's job landscape by raising the upper age limit for government job applicants to 42 years. This change aims to provide opportunities for older aspirants while also introducing a groundbreaking AI policy to boost innovation and economic growth.
Key Takeaways
- The upper age limit for government jobs in Odisha has been increased to 42 years.
- Relaxations are available for specific categories such as ST, SC, and PwDs.
- The Odisha AI Policy aims to foster innovation and economic development.
- A dedicated Odisha AI Mission will oversee the implementation of AI initiatives.
- The policy emphasizes responsible AI adoption across sectors.
Bhubaneswar, May 29 (NationPress) In a significant move, the Odisha Cabinet convened on Wednesday to endorse several pivotal proposals, notably the increase of the upper age limit for entry into state government positions.
During a meeting presided over by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, the Cabinet approved a proposal to elevate the upper age limit from 32 to 42 years for aspiring government job candidates.
The upper age limit for government service is regulated by the Odisha Civil Service (Fixation of Upper Age Limit) Rules, 1989. According to Rule 2 of these regulations, the previous maximum age for government job entry was set at 32 years.
“Numerous requests have been received from various sectors advocating for an increase in the upper age limit, allowing older candidates to participate in upcoming recruitment processes. After thorough consideration, the government has resolved to raise the upper age limit to 42 years,” stated the official announcement released on Wednesday.
It is important to note that this revised age limit will not apply where a higher age threshold has been established for specific services or posts.
Additionally, this change will not pertain to uniform services such as Police, Fire Services, Forest, or Excise services, and where a Physical Efficiency Test is mandated by recruitment guidelines.
The state government also indicated that the upper age limit will be further relaxed for candidates from the ST, SC, SEBC, Women, Ex-Servicemen, and PwDs categories.
In another noteworthy decision, the Odisha Cabinet approved the Odisha Artificial Intelligence Policy (2025), aimed at positioning the state as a premier hub for AI-driven public innovation, AI startups, and export-ready AI solutions.
This policy marks a vital leap in Odisha's journey to leverage the transformative capabilities of Artificial Intelligence to enhance governance, spur innovation, improve data-driven policy-making, and foster inclusive socio-economic development.
The initiative is part of a broader digital transformation strategy, promoting the responsible and scalable integration of AI technologies across diverse sectors.
The policy outlines a roadmap based on four essential pillars: AI infrastructure, skills, energy, and regulatory frameworks. It aims to facilitate advanced computational capacity, enhance access to expansive datasets, encourage collaboration between industry and academia, and support sustainable AI deployment.
A notable feature of the policy is the establishment of an Odisha AI Mission, which will function as the central body for implementing AI initiatives across various departments, developing use cases, coordinating pilot projects, and assisting public agencies, startups, and academic institutions. The Mission will consist of a two-tier governance structure comprising a high-level AI Taskforce and an AI Cell located at the Odisha Computer Application Centre (OCAC), to propel cross-sectoral AI adoption and expedite use-case development.