OSSSC Village Agriculture Worker Eligibility Criteria 2026, Check Qualifications and Age Limit

The Odisha Sub-Ordinate Staff Selection Commission (OSSSC) conducts recruitment for the post of Village Agriculture Worker (VAW) to strengthen agricultural extension services at the grassroots level. Before applying, candidates must clearly understand the OSSSC Village Agriculture Worker eligibility criteria, as applications that do not meet the prescribed requirements are rejected at later stages of the selection process.

OSSSC Village Agriculture Worker Eligibility Criteria 2026

The Village Agriculture Worker post is designed for candidates with an academic background in agriculture and allied fields. OSSSC VAW Eligibility Criteria is a well-defined eligibility framework covering educational qualification, age limit, age relaxation, language proficiency, and other statutory conditions. Candidates must fulfil all eligibility conditions of Odisha Village Agriculture Worker Recruitment 2026 on or before the last date of online application submission.

Overview of OSSSC Village Agriculture Worker Eligibility Criteria 2026

The OSSSC Village Agriculture Worker eligibility criteria are framed to ensure that only suitably qualified and capable candidates enter the selection process. These conditions mainly revolve around educational background, age requirements, relaxation rules, and essential qualifications such as Odia language proficiency. A brief overview of the OSSSC VAW eligibility is provided below for quick reference.

OSSSC Village Agriculture Worker Eligibility Criteria 2026

Candidates must carefully go through each component of the OSSSC Village Agriculture Worker eligibility criteria explained below. Meeting only one or two conditions is not sufficient; all requirements must be fulfilled collectively.

Educational Qualification for OSSSC VAW 2026

The educational qualification is the most crucial eligibility condition for the Village Agriculture Worker post. OSSSC has clearly specified agriculture-focused academic requirements to ensure technical competence.

To be eligible, a candidate must have:

• Passed +2 Science or +2 Vocational Course in Agriculture-related subjects
• Accepted subject streams include:
  • Crop Production (CP)
  • Horticulture (HORT)
  • Repair and Maintenance of Power-Driven Farm Machinery (PDFM)
• The qualification must be obtained from a recognised Board, Council, or Institution

Desirable Qualification

Apart from the minimum qualification, OSSSC has specified a desirable qualification that offers an advantage during evaluation.

• Candidates holding a Diploma in Agriculture (Polytechnic) under the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) are given preference
• Such candidates are awarded 5% extra marks based on the marks secured in the Written Examination

This incentive encourages candidates with advanced agricultural training and practical exposure.

OSSSC VAW Age Limit

Age eligibility ensures that candidates are physically and professionally suitable for field-level responsibilities associated with the VAW role.

As per the official norms:

• Minimum Age: 21 years
• Maximum Age: 42 years

The age is calculated as on 1st January 2025.

Candidates falling outside this age range will not be considered eligible unless they qualify for age relaxation under reserved categories.

OSSSC Village Agriculture Worker Age Relaxation

OSSSC provides upper age relaxation to candidates belonging to reserved and special categories in accordance with government rules. These relaxations help maintain social equity in recruitment.

Important Note:
Candidates eligible for more than one category of age relaxation can avail only one relaxation, whichever is most beneficial.

Odia Language Proficiency Requirement

Since the Village Agriculture Worker post involves regular interaction with local farmers and field officials, proficiency in Odia is mandatory.

A candidate must be able to read, write, and speak Odia, and should have fulfilled any one of the following conditions:

• Passed Middle English School Examination with Odia as a subject
• Passed Matriculation or equivalent examination with Odia as the medium of instruction
• Passed Odia as a language subject in Class VII or above from a government-recognised institution
• Passed a special Odia test conducted by the School & Mass Education Department

Other Mandatory Eligibility Conditions

In addition to qualification and age, candidates must also satisfy certain general conditions laid down by OSSSC.

• Must be a citizen of India
• Must possess good moral character
• If married, the candidate must not have more than one spouse living, unless permitted under personal law
• PwD candidates must have:
  • Permanent Disability Certificate
  • Minimum 40% benchmark disability
  • Valid UDID / Disability Certificate issued by a competent authority
• Candidates with temporary disability are not eligible
• All eligibility conditions must be fulfilled by the last date of online application submission