What is the minimum age required for OSSSC Nursing Officer Recruitment 2026?

The minimum age required is 21 years as on the date of advertisement.

What is the maximum age limit for OSSSC Nursing Officer 2026?

The maximum age limit is 42 years, subject to applicable category-wise age relaxations.

Can GNM candidates apply for OSSSC Nursing Officer Recruitment 2026?

Yes, candidates possessing a GNM qualification are eligible to apply.

Is Nursing Council registration mandatory for OSSSC Nursing Officer?

Yes, candidates must possess a valid Nursing Council Registration Certificate or Renewal Certificate.

Is Odia language proficiency compulsory for OSSSC Nursing Officer Recruitment?

Yes, candidates must be able to read, write, and speak Odia and satisfy at least one of the prescribed language qualification criteria.

OSSSC Nursing Officer Eligibility Criteria 2026, Check Age Limit and Educational Qualification

The Odisha Sub-Ordinate Staff Selection Commission (OSSSC) has released the OSSSC Nursing Officer Recruitment 2026 notification for 5,989 Nursing Officer (District Cadre Group-C) vacancies under the Health & Family Welfare Department, Government of Odisha. Candidates interested in applying for these positions must fulfill all eligibility requirements prescribed by the commission before submitting their applications.

The OSSSC Nursing Officer Eligibility Criteria 2026 include age limit, educational qualification, nursing council registration, Odia language proficiency, citizenship, and other statutory conditions. Candidates should carefully review all eligibility requirements to ensure they are qualified for the recruitment process.

OSSSC Nursing Officer Eligibility Criteria 2026

To be eligible for the OSSSC Nursing Officer Recruitment 2026, candidates must satisfy certain eligibility conditions prescribed by the commission. These criteria are based on age, educational qualification, professional registration, language proficiency, nationality, and category-specific requirements.

Educational Qualification

Candidates must possess the prescribed academic and professional qualifications to apply for the Nursing Officer post. Along with educational qualifications, valid registration with the Nursing Council is also mandatory. The detailed educational qualification requirements are provided below.

Requirement	Details
Higher Secondary Qualification	Must have passed +2 under the 10+2 system or its equivalent
Nursing Qualification	Must have completed GNM (General Nursing and Midwifery) or B.Sc. Nursing
Institution Recognition	Qualification must be obtained from a Medical College & Hospital of Odisha or any institution recognized by the Indian Nursing Council (INC)
Professional Eligibility	Must be registered with the Nursing Council of the State
Registration Status	Must possess a valid Registration Certificate or Renewal Certificate on the date of online application submission
Document Requirement	Valid registration/renewal certificate must be uploaded during online application

Age Limit

Candidates applying for OSSSC Nursing Officer Recruitment must satisfy the prescribed age criteria as on the date of advertisement. Applications of candidates who do not meet the age requirements will not be considered. The OSSSC Nursing Officer age limit is given below.

Criteria	Age Requirement
Minimum Age	21 Years
Maximum Age	42 Years

Acceptable Proof of Age

The accepted proof of age is mentioned below.

HSC Certificate issued by the Board of Secondary Education, Odisha
Equivalent certificate issued by any recognized Board, Council, or Indian University

Age Relaxation

The commission provides relaxation in the upper age limit for candidates belonging to reserved and special categories. Candidates claiming relaxation must possess valid supporting documents and fulfill the prescribed conditions. The category-wise age relaxation is provided below.

Category	Age Relaxation
SC	5 Years
ST	5 Years
SEBC	5 Years
Women	5 Years
Persons with Disabilities (PwD)	10 Years
Contractual Nursing Officers	Up to 45 Years of Age
ASHAs	Up to 45 Years of Age
Ex-Servicemen	Relaxation equal to total period of defence service rendered

Additional Relaxation for PwD Candidates

Category	Total Age Relaxation
PwD + SC	15 Years
PwD + ST	15 Years
PwD + SEBC	15 Years

Odia Language Eligibility

Knowledge of the Odia language is mandatory for all applicants. Candidates must be able to read, write, and speak Odia and fulfill at least one of the prescribed language criteria. The acceptable Odia language qualifications are provided below.

Option	Eligibility Requirement
Option A	Passed Middle School (M.E.) Examination with Odia as a language subject
Option B	Passed HSC/Matriculation or equivalent examination with Odia as the medium of examination in all non-language subjects
Option C	Passed Odia as a language subject in Class VII or above from a recognized school/institution
Option D	Passed a test in Odia of Middle School Standard conducted by the School & Mass Education Department, Odisha

Nationality

Applicants are required to be citizens of India. Candidates who do not meet this criterion will not be considered eligible to apply for the recruitment process.

Other General & Statutory Eligibility Criteria

Character: Must be of good character.
Marital Status: If married, the candidate must not have more than one spouse living.
Exception: The Government may exempt a person from this rule if it is satisfied that such a marriage is permissible under their applicable personal law or if there are other valid grounds to do so.
Debarment Clause: If a candidate has been debarred from recruitment examinations for a specific period by the OSSSC, they remain ineligible to appear for this recruitment during that specified timeframe.

Document and Status Rules for Special Categories

Sportspersons

Must possess a valid Sportsperson ID Card issued by the Sports & Youth Services Department, Government of Odisha.
They must upload a scanned copy of the original card (photocopies are not accepted).
Persons with Disabilities (PwDs)
Minimum Benchmark: Must possess a Permanent Disability Certificate verifying a minimum of 40% disability.
Limb Requirements: Must fall under the approved category and sub-category of disability, possessing the required physical and functional classifications detailed for the post.
Temporary Disability Disqualification: Applicants holding a temporary disability certificate are completely ineligible to apply under the PwD quota. Such applications will be summarily rejected.
Document Upload: Must upload a scanned copy of the original Unique Disability Identity (UDID) Card or Disability Certificate issued by the Competent Authority.
Scribe Policy: Candidates with benchmark disabilities requiring a scribe for the Written Test must obtain written permission from the concerned ADM-cum-District Superintendent at least 3 days prior to the examination date.

Ex-Servicemen

Must possess a valid Identity Card, Discharge Certificate, or service documents showing the exact duration of defense service.
Must provide a signed undertaking stating that they have not previously accepted any regular re-employment under the Government of Odisha by utilizing the Ex-Servicemen quota.