OPSC Assistant Fisheries Officer Recruitment 2026: Apply Online for 44 Posts

📅 Posted: 18/07/2026 📝 Updated: 18/07/2026

Total Vacancy44

SalaryLevel-10 (₹44,900 Basic Pay) + DA & other allowances

LocationOdisha

Last Date24/08/2026

Short Information: The Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) has invited online applications under Advertisement No. 05 of 2026-27 for a special recruitment drive to fill 44 posts of Assistant Fisheries Officer (Group-B) of Odisha Fisheries Service Cadre under the Fisheries & Animal Resources Development Department. This Group-B position carries a starting basic pay of ₹44,900 under Level-10 of the Pay Matrix (ORSP Rules, 2017), along with usual Dearness and other Allowances, making it a stable entry point into Odisha's state fisheries administration for BFSc graduates. What makes this recruitment especially accessible is that there is no examination fee for any category of applicant. Being a special recruitment drive, all 44 posts are reserved exclusively for Scheduled Caste (1 post) and Scheduled Tribe (43 posts) candidates, with additional horizontal reservation of 1 post for Ex-Servicemen and 2 posts for Persons with Disabilities, adjusted against their respective categories. Candidates must hold a Bachelor's Degree in Fishery Science (B.F.Sc.) from a recognized university. Online applications can be submitted from 24 July 2026 to 24 August 2026 (5:00 PM), and selection will be through a written examination (800 marks, two papers) followed by a Viva Voce Test worth 100 marks, with the written exam scheduled for 26 September 2026 (Saturday) at Cuttack, and possibly Bhubaneswar depending on candidate numbers.

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📅 Dates & Fees 📦 Vacancy 💰 Salary 🎯 Selection 📝 Pattern 📖 Syllabus ❓ FAQs 🔗 Important Links

OPSC Assistant Fisheries Officer 2026 2026Important Dates

Notification Released	18/07/2026
Online Application Begin	24/07/2026
Last Date to Apply Online	24/08/2026 (05:00 PM)
Written Examination	26/09/2026 (Saturday)

OPSC Assistant Fisheries Officer 2026 2026Application Fee

All Candidates

₹0

Payment: N/A (No Examination Fee)

OPSC Assistant Fisheries Officer Recruitment 2026: Apply Online for 44 PostsVacancy Details & Age Limit

Age Limit: 21-47 Years (as on 01/01/2026, born not earlier than 02/01/1979 and not later than 01/01/2005)

(Persons with Disabilities (40% or more permanent disability) belonging to SC/ST categories: 10 Years over and above 47 years)

Post Name	Total Post	Eligibility
Assistant Fisheries Officer (Group-B)	44	Bachelor's Degree in Fishery Science (B.F.Sc.) from a recognized University in India or abroad.
Total Vacancy	44
Note: This is a special recruitment drive, and all vacancies are reserved exclusively for SC and ST categories.

Recruitment Table: Category Wise Vacancy

Category	Total Vacancy
Scheduled Caste (SC)	01
Scheduled Tribe (ST)	43 (13-W)
Note:This is a special recruitment drive open only to SC and ST categories.

Recruitment Table: Horizontal Reservation (Ex-Servicemen / Persons with Disabilities)

Category	Sub- Category	Vacancy
Ex-Servicemen	--	01
Persons with Disabilities	Cat-I (Visually Impaired)	01
Persons with Disabilities	Cat-II (Hearing Impaired)	01
Note:PwD reservation is limited to Cat-I (Visually Impaired) and Cat-II (Hearing Impaired) only.

OPSC Assistant Fisheries Officer 2026Eligibility Criteria

Candidate must have a Bachelor's Degree in Fishery Science (B.F.Sc.) from a recognized University in India or abroad.
This recruitment is being conducted only for SC and ST categories under this special recruitment drive.
Candidate must be a citizen of India and must be able to read, write and speak Odia, along with having passed a prescribed Odia language test.
Government servants applying must inform their Head of Office in writing and obtain a No Objection Certificate.
A candidate who has more than one spouse living will not be eligible for appointment unless exempted by the State Government.

OPSC Assistant Fisheries Officer 2026Pay Scale / Salary Structure

Post Name	Salary Level
Assistant Fisheries Officer (Group-B)	Level-10 of Pay Matrix (₹44,900 Basic Pay) under ORSP Rules, 2017, plus usual DA and other allowances

OPSC Assistant Fisheries Officer 2026Selection Process Steps

Written Examination (MCQ, Objective Type) - 800 Marks
Viva Voce Test (Interview) - 100 Marks
Document Verification
Merit List Preparation based on combined Written Examination and Interview marks

OPSC Assistant Fisheries Officer 2026Detailed Exam Pattern

Recruitment Details: Exam Overview

Mode: Written Examination (Objective Type, MCQ) followed by Viva Voce Test.
Total Marks: 800 for Written Examination (Paper-I: 400 + Paper-II: 400) + 100 for Interview.
Duration: 2½ Hours for each paper.
No negative marking for wrong response or answer.
Candidates securing minimum qualifying marks fixed by the Commission in each paper shall be called for Viva Voce Test at about twice the advertised vacancies (subject to minimum 5) per category.

Recruitment Table: Written Examination Pattern

Subject	Sitting	Duration	No. of Questions	Total Marks
Paper-I	1st	2½ Hours	200	400
Paper-II	2nd	2½ Hours	200	400

OPSC Assistant Fisheries Officer 2026Subject-wise Syllabus Topics

The written examination consists of two papers of 400 marks each — Paper-I and Paper-II — with questions of Objective and Subject-specific type, as detailed in Annexure-A of the official advertisement.

📚 Paper-I

Fresh Water Aquaculture
Aquaculture in Reservoirs
Ornamental Fish Production and Management
Genetics and Breeding
Finfish Hatchery Management
Fish Nutrition and Feed Technology
Coastal Aquaculture and Mariculture
Taxonomy of Finfish
Anatomy and Biology of Finfish
Inland Fisheries
Physiology of Finfish and Shellfish
Marine Fisheries
Information and Communication Technology
Fisheries Extension Education
Fisheries Co-operatives and Marketing
Fisheries Policy and Law

📚 Paper-II

Fish and Shellfish Pathology
Microbial and Parasitic Diseases of Fish and Shellfish
Pharmacology
Fish Toxicology
Soil and Water Chemistry
Limnology
Marine Biology
Aquatic Ecology, Biodiversity and Disaster Management
Fish in Nutrition
Fish Products and Value Addition
Fish By-Products and Waste Utilization
Aquaculture Engineering
Fishing Craft Technology
Fishing Gear Technology

OPSC Assistant Fisheries Officer 2026How to Apply

Visit the official OPSC website at https://www.opsc.gov.in.
Carefully go through the detailed advertisement before filling the online application.
Fill the Proforma Application online between 24/07/2026 and 24/08/2026 (5:00 PM).
Upload self-attested scanned copies of required documents (H.S.C. certificate, +2 certificate, B.F.Sc. degree certificate, mark-lists, caste certificate by birth, Fishery Registration Certificate, Odia Test Pass Certificate, etc.) as per Para-11 of the advertisement.
Upload scanned photograph, full signature, and Left-Hand Thumb Impression (LTI) as per specified format.
Note the Permanent Public Service Account Number (PPSAN) generated on successful registration and take a printout of the finally submitted application.
Download the Admission Certificate from the OPSC website before the date of written examination and carry it to the exam centre.

Recruitment Note: About Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC)

The Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC), headquartered at Cuttack (Kataka), is the constitutional body responsible for conducting recruitment examinations for various Group-A, B, and C posts under the Government of Odisha. Celebrating its 75th anniversary, OPSC has been instrumental in recruiting officers across administrative, technical, medical, veterinary, fisheries, and educational services in the state. This special recruitment, conducted on requisition from the Fisheries & Animal Resources Development Department, is aimed at filling long-pending SC/ST reserved vacancies of Assistant Fisheries Officer through a transparent, merit-based examination and interview process, contributing to the state's fisheries administration and development goals.

Recruitment Note: Job Profile — Assistant Fisheries Officer

Selected candidates will serve as Assistant Fisheries Officer (Group-B) under the Fisheries & Animal Resources Development Department, Government of Odisha, within the Odisha Fisheries Service Cadre. Core responsibilities include implementation and monitoring of aquaculture and fisheries development schemes, technical guidance to fish farmers on pond management and fish seed production, promotion of coastal and inland aquaculture practices, extension services and farmer training, enforcement of fisheries policy and regulations, and coordination with fisheries co-operatives at the block and district level. The role also involves data collection related to fish production, disease surveillance in aquaculture, and supporting the state's marine and inland fisheries development programmes.

Recruitment Note: Important Conditions

Admission to the Written Examination and Viva Voce Test is purely provisional and subject to detailed scrutiny of eligibility at any stage; candidates found ineligible at any point will have their candidature rejected, and the Commission's decision on eligibility shall be final. Concessions meant for SC/ST by birth are admissible only to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes of Odisha. Community/caste status once declared in the online application form cannot be changed under any circumstances. Mere inclusion of a candidate's name in the select list shall confer no right to appointment unless the Government is satisfied after due enquiry that the candidate is suitable in all respects for appointment to the service.

OPSC Assistant Fisheries Officer 2026Important Official Links

Apply Online Application Window: 24/07/2026 to 24/08/2026	Click Here ↗
Download Notification Advt No. 05 of 2026-27	Click Here ↗
Official Website	Click Here ↗

Disclaimer Information provided here is for quick reference. Verify all details on the official website before taking action.

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Quick Overview

🚀 Recruitment Overview

Quick Summary of the Notification

Organization	OPSC
Post Name	Assistant Fisheries Officer
Total Vacancy	44
Salary	Level-10 (₹44,900 Basic Pay) + DA & other allowances
Job Location	Odisha
Apply Mode	Online
Last Date	24/08/2026
Official Website	Visit Website ↗

💡 Expert Tip

Since this recruitment carries zero examination fee for all categories, there's no financial barrier to applying — but the eligibility filter is strict, so don't apply unless you genuinely belong to SC or ST category of Odisha by birth, as exchange of reservation between SC and ST is explicitly not permitted if suitable candidates aren't found. There's no negative marking in the written exam, so attempt every question in both papers rather than leaving any blank. Women candidates from SC/ST categories must submit caste certificates showing 'daughter of...' — certificates obtained through marriage showing 'wife of...' will be rejected outright. Also note that reservation for PwD under this recruitment is specifically limited to Cat-I (Visually Impaired) and Cat-II (Hearing Impaired) only, as requisitioned by the government — even though age relaxation is available more broadly, actual post reservation is restricted to these two categories, so check this carefully before banking on a PwD reservation benefit.

Common Questions (FAQs)

Q.1 What is the in-hand salary for Assistant Fisheries Officer? ▼

Ans: The post falls under Level-10 of the Pay Matrix with a Basic Pay of ₹44,900. After adding Dearness Allowance and other applicable allowances as sanctioned by the Government of Odisha, the actual in-hand salary will be higher, though the notification does not specify an exact gross figure.

Q.2 What is the last date to apply online for OPSC AFO Recruitment 2026? ▼

Ans: The link for online application and submission will be available from 24 July 2026 to 24 August 2026 (5:00 PM), which is the final closing date for submission of the registered online application.

Q.3 Is there any negative marking in the exam? ▼

Ans: No, there is no negative marking for wrong response or answer in the written examination, as explicitly stated in the official notification.

Q.4 What is the age limit for Assistant Fisheries Officer? ▼

Ans: Candidates must have attained 21 years and must not be above 47 years as on 1st January 2026, i.e., born not earlier than 2nd January 1979 and not later than 1st January 2005. Persons with Disabilities (40% or more) belonging to SC/ST get a 10-year relaxation over 47 years.

Q.5 How to download the OPSC AFO Notification PDF? ▼

Ans: The official long advertisement (Advt No. 05 of 2026-27) along with the syllabus (Annexure-A) can be downloaded from the OPSC official website at https://www.opsc.gov.in.

Q.6 What is the educational qualification required for Assistant Fisheries Officer? ▼

Ans: Candidates must have a Bachelor's Degree in Fishery Science (B.F.Sc.) from a recognized University in India or abroad.

Q.7 What is the selection process for Assistant Fisheries Officer? ▼

Ans: Selection is a two-stage process: a Written Examination comprising two objective-type papers of 400 marks each (800 marks total), followed by a Viva Voce Test worth 100 marks for candidates who clear the minimum qualifying marks. The final merit list is based on the combined total of written examination and interview marks.

Q.8 Can General category candidates apply for this recruitment? ▼

Ans: No, this is a special recruitment drive conducted exclusively for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) category candidates of Odisha. General category candidates are not eligible to apply against these 44 posts.