Latest OPSC OAS Syllabus for Odisha Civil Services (OAS) Examination 2025

The OPSC OAS syllabus is designed to assess candidates thoroughly across multiple subjects in both Prelims and Mains. The Prelims consist of two objective-type papers—General Studies I and II, carrying 200 marks each, with negative marking for wrong answers. The Mains exam includes nine papers covering languages, essay writing, general studies, and optional subjects, each paper carrying 250 marks. Understanding the detailed structure of the OPSC OAS syllabus is essential for focused preparation. It helps aspirants plan their study strategy effectively and ensures they cover all critical topics required to succeed in the Odisha Civil Services Examination.

Overview of the OPSC Odisha Civil Services (OAS) Examination Syllabus

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📝 OPSC Prelims Exam Pattern

Paper	Marks	Marks per Question	Negative Marking
Paper I (General Studies-I)	200 (No. of Questions 100)	2	⅓ mark deducted per wrong answer
Paper II (General Studies-II)	200 (No. of Questions 80)	2.5	⅓ mark deducted per wrong answer

📚 OPSC Mains Exam Pattern

Paper	Subject	Marks
Paper I	Odia Language	250
Paper II	English Language	250
Paper III	English Essay	250
Paper IV	General Studies-I	250
Paper V	General Studies-II	250
Paper VI	General Studies-III	250
Paper VII	General Studies-IV	250
Paper VIII	Optional Subject Paper-I	250
Paper IX	Optional Subject Paper-II	250

OAS Prelims Syllabus – Complete Guide for OPSC Aspirants

The OAS Prelims Syllabus as prescribed by the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) consists of two papers – Paper I and Paper II. Each paper carries 200 marks and has a duration of 2 hours. This stage acts as a screening test for the OAS (Odisha Administrative Service) Main Examination. Let’s break down the syllabus and exam pattern for better clarity.

OAS Prelims Syllabus: Overview

Paper	Subject	Marks	Time
Paper I	General Studies I	200	2 hours
Paper II	General Studies II	200	2 hours

OAS Prelims Syllabus – Paper I (General Studies I)

This paper is designed to test a candidate’s knowledge and understanding of various general studies topics.

Detailed Topics:

1. Current Events of National and International Importance
2. History of India and Indian National Movement
3. Geography – Physical, Economic, and Social Geography of India and the World
4. Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System, Public Policy, Panchayati Raj, and Rights Issues
5. Economic and Social Development – Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, and Social Sector Initiatives
6. General Issues on Environmental Ecology, Climate Change, and Biodiversity (No subject specialization required)
7. General Science

Recommended Study Material for Paper I:

To prepare well for Paper I of the OAS Prelims syllabus, it is advisable to study from standard NCERT books and reliable notes:

• Ancient Indian History Notes
• Medieval Indian History Notes
• Modern Indian History Notes
• Art and Culture Notes
• Geography Notes

Daily Reading:

• Read The Hindu newspaper daily to stay updated on current affairs.

OAS Prelims Syllabus – Paper II (General Studies II / CSAT)

This paper tests your aptitude, reasoning, comprehension, and basic numeracy skills.

Detailed Topics:

1. Comprehension
2. Interpersonal Skills including Communication Skills
3. Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability
4. Decision-making and Problem-solving
5. General Mental Ability
6. Basic Numeracy (up to Class X level)
7. Data Interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, etc.)
8. English Language Comprehension Skills (up to Class X level)

Important Guidelines for OAS Preliminary Exam:

• The Prelims exam is only qualifying in nature, and its marks will not be counted in the final merit list.
• Each correct answer gives 2 marks, and there is a negative marking of 0.5 marks (1/4th) for each incorrect answer.
• You must score a minimum of 33% in Paper II (CSAT) to qualify.
• Only candidates who meet the qualifying criteria in both Paper I and Paper II will be shortlisted for the OAS Mains Examination.

OAS Mains Syllabus 2024 – Complete Breakdown for OPSC Aspirants

After successfully clearing the preliminary exam, candidates must appear for the OPSC OAS Main Examination. To succeed, a clear understanding of the OAS Mains syllabus is essential.

Each paper in the main exam is of 3 hours duration. The syllabus is designed to assess your depth of knowledge, analytical ability, expression, and understanding of various topics relevant to administration and governance.

Structure of the OPSC OAS Mains Examination Syllabus

Paper	Subject	Type
Paper I	Odia Language	Qualifying Paper
Paper II	English	Qualifying Paper
Paper III	English Essay	Essay Writing
Paper IV	General Studies I	Compulsory Paper
Paper V	General Studies II	Compulsory Paper
Paper VI	General Studies III	Compulsory Paper
Paper VII	General Studies IV	Compulsory Paper
Paper VIII & IX	Optional Subject (Paper I & II)	Optional Papers

📘 OAS Mains Syllabus – Detailed Paper-Wise Breakdown | OPSC OAS Syllabus

Paper I – Odia Language (Qualifying)

This paper tests your proficiency in the Odia language, focusing on your ability to understand and express ideas clearly in Odisha’s native language.

Paper II – English (Qualifying)

Designed to evaluate your comprehension and written communication skills in English.

Paper III – English Essay

You must write an essay on a specific topic from the given choices. Credit is given for effective expression, clarity of thought, and correct usage of language.

Paper IV – General Studies I(Compulsory)

• Indian Heritage and Culture
• Odisha Heritage and Culture
• History and Geography of the World and Society

Paper V – General Studies II(Compulsory)

• Indian Constitution
• Governance and Polity
• Social Justice
• Inter-State Relations

Paper VI – General Studies III(Compulsory)

• Technology
• Economic Development
• Biodiversity
• Environment
• Security Issues
• Disaster Management

Paper VII – General Studies IV(Compulsory)

• Ethics
• Integrity
• Aptitude

These GS papers are designed to test your awareness and understanding of issues relevant to civil services and public administration.

🎯 OAS Mains Syllabus – OPSC Optional Subject (Paper VIII & IX)

You must choose one optional subject, which will include two papers (Paper I & Paper II). No change in the selected optional subject is allowed after submission.

✅ List of Optional Subjects:

• Agriculture
• Agricultural Engineering
• Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science
• Anthropology
• Botany
• Chemistry
• Civil Engineering
• Commerce & Accountancy
• Economics
• Electrical Engineering
• Education
• Fisheries Science
• Forestry
• Geography
• Geology
• Home Science
• History
• Law
• Management
• Mathematics
• Mechanical Engineering
• Medical Science

Indian Language & Literature (Choose one):

• Odia
• Hindi
• Sanskrit
• English
• Persian
• Urdu

Other Optional Subjects:

• Philosophy
• Physics
• Political Science & International Relations (PSIR)
• Public Administration
• Psychology
• Sociology
• Statistics
• Zoology

📌 Important Notes on the OAS Mains Syllabus:

• Papers I & II (Odia & English) are qualifying in nature. However, they must be cleared to evaluate the remaining papers.
• Marks obtained in Essay, General Studies, and Optional Papers will be counted for the final merit.
• Choose an optional subject based on your background, interest, and available resources.

OPSC OAS Personality Test | OPSC OAS Syllabus

After clearing the OPSC OAS Prelims and Mains exams, you will be called for the final Personality Test (Interview), which carries 250 marks.

To prepare better, you can connect with SRIRAM Academy of Civil Service, one of the best OAS coaching institutes in Odisha. The academy will guide you through the OPSC OAS syllabus, provide detailed study material, and give you useful preparation tips. With proper topic-wise preparation and clear targets, you can succeed in this exam.

What the Interview Tests

The personality test is not about checking your academic knowledge alone. It mainly looks at:

• Your mental ability and alertness – how quickly and logically you can think.
• Awareness of current affairs and social qualities – whether you stay updated and understand social issues.
• Range of interests and depth of knowledge – how well you know your areas of interest.
• Moral and intellectual integrity – your honesty, values, and fairness in thinking.
• Critical and social adaptability – how well you can understand and adjust to different cultures and social situations.