OPSC · Detailed Syllabus

OPSC Paper-wise Syllabus

OPSC - OCS is a three-stage exam (Prelims, Mains, Interview) conducted by the Odisha Public Service Commission for OAS and allied services. Candidates need a bachelor's degree, must be 21-38 years old (general category), and benefit most from strong Odisha GK alongside standard GS preparation.

130 subtopics across 2 papers

Paper 1General Studies (GS-I)

103 topics
01

Current Affairs - National

3 topics
  • Recent national politics and major legislative changes
  • High-impact Supreme Court / High Court judgments
  • Major national events (last 12-18 months)
02

Current Affairs - International

3 topics
  • Major international summits and treaties (G-20, COP, UN, etc.)
  • Major global conflicts or diplomatic developments
  • India's foreign-policy-related events / bilateral visits
03

Government Schemes - Central

8 topics
  • PM-KISAN
  • PM-AYUSHMAN / PM-JAY
  • MGNREGA
  • Jal Jeevan Mission
  • PM-AYUSHMAN-Ghar/Swasthya scheme
  • PM-UJJWALA
  • PM-GatiShakti / infrastructure mission
  • Digital India / e-governance-linked schemes
04

Government Schemes - Odisha

6 topics
  • KALIA (Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation)
  • Odisha-specific health-insurance schemes
  • Education-linked scholarship and mid-day-meal schemes
  • Women-empowerment and social-security schemes
  • Housing / shelter-linked schemes (PMAY-Odisha type)
  • Labour / worker-welfare schemes
05

Awards, Sports, Science & Tech

4 topics
Trending down
  • Major national awards (Padma, sports, cultural)
  • Olympic / Asian Games / Commonwealth Games performances
  • ISRO milestones and major space missions
  • Defence-tech and digital-India-related breakthroughs
06

Environment & Disasters

3 topics
  • Major floods, cyclones, heat-waves in India
  • Major disasters in Odisha (recent cyclones, floods, etc.)
  • Climate-related COP decisions and global agreements
07

History - Ancient India

6 topics
Trending up
  • Indus Valley Civilization
  • Vedic period - early vs later Vedic
  • Mahajanapadas and rise of Magadha
  • Mauryan Empire
  • Gupta Empire
  • Major regional kingdoms (Pallava, Chola, Chalukya, etc.)
08

History - Medieval India

3 topics
Trending up
  • Delhi Sultanate - major dynasties
  • Mughal Empire - main phases and rulers
  • Major regional kingdoms (Vijayanagara, Deccan states, Ahom, etc.)
09

History - Modern India (1757-1947)

9 topics
Trending up
  • Colonial expansion and key battles
  • Social & religious reform movements
  • 1857 Revolt - causes, leaders, impact
  • Early Congress - Moderates vs Extremists
  • Swadeshi Movement
  • Non-Cooperation Movement
  • Civil Disobedience Movement
  • Quit India Movement
  • INA, Naval Mutiny, Partition
10

History - India & Odisha

3 topics
Trending up
  • Odisha's role in the freedom struggle (Praja-mandal, movements)
  • Forest-worker-peasant-student-labour-linked movements in Odisha
  • Post-independence political and social developments in Odisha
11

Geography - India (Physical)

6 topics
  • Latitudes / longitudes / time zones
  • Major landforms (mountains, plateaus, plains, deserts)
  • Rivers and drainage systems
  • Climate and monsoon
  • Soils of India
  • Natural vegetation and wildlife
12

Geography - India (Economic & Social)

5 topics
  • Agriculture - major crops and patterns
  • Industries - major regions and types
  • Population - density, growth, migration
  • Urbanization and major cities
  • Transport - major rail/road/air/ports
13

Geography - Odisha-Specific

6 topics
  • Location and neighbouring states
  • Relief - coastal plains, plateaus, hills
  • River systems (Mahanadi, Brahmani, Baitarani, etc.)
  • Minerals and mining areas
  • Forests and wildlife
  • Coastal-zone features and ports
14

Polity - Constitution Basics

4 topics
Trending down
  • Preamble - key words and concepts
  • Fundamental Rights - categories and writs
  • DPSP - basic idea and relationship with FR
  • Fundamental Duties
15

Polity - Union Government

4 topics
Trending down
  • President - powers, election, impeachment
  • Prime Minister & Council of Ministers
  • Parliament - Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha
  • Judiciary - Supreme Court basics, writs, basic structure
16

Polity - State Government

3 topics
Trending down
  • Governor - powers and role
  • State Legislature - Vidhan Sabha & Vidhan Parishad
  • State Executive - CM & Council of Ministers
17

Polity - Local Government & Governance

5 topics
Trending down
  • Panchayati Raj - 3-tier structure
  • Municipalities - urban bodies
  • 73rd & 74th Amendments
  • RTI and e-governance basics
  • Key governance institutions (EC, CVC, CAG, etc.)
18

Economy - Basic Concepts

5 topics
  • GDP, GNI, GDP growth
  • Inflation - types and impact
  • Unemployment - types
  • Budget basics - revenue vs capital expenditure
  • Fiscal deficit and basic monetary policy
19

Economy - Planning & Institutions

2 topics
  • Five-Year Plans - objectives and impact
  • NITI Aayog - role and objectives
20

Economy - Sectors

3 topics
  • Agriculture - Green Revolution, MSP, PDS
  • Industry - MSMEs, manufacturing, Make in India
  • Services - IT, banking, tourism
21

Economy - Odisha-Specific

4 topics
  • Agriculture - major crops and constraints
  • Industrial structure - mining, power, manufacturing
  • Poverty and unemployment indicators
  • Social-sector indicators (education, health)
22

Science & Technology - General Science

3 topics
Trending down
  • Physics basics - motion, force, energy, light, sound, electricity, magnetism
  • Chemistry basics - matter, atoms, elements, acids-bases, metals-non-metals
  • Biology basics - cell, human systems, health & diseases, environment
23

Science & Technology - Tech in Daily Life

5 topics
Trending down
  • ICT - internet, email, search, cybersecurity basics
  • Biotechnology - GM crops, vaccines, basic ideas
  • Space & defence tech - ISRO, satellites, missiles
  • Renewable energy - solar, wind, biomass
  • Digital India - Aadhaar, UPI, e-governance portals

Paper 2CSAT (General Studies-II / Aptitude - Qualifying)

27 topics
01

Quantitative Aptitude - Arithmetic

6 topics
  • Percentages
  • Ratios & proportions
  • Averages
  • Profit & loss
  • Simple interest
  • Basic time-speed-distance
02

Quantitative Aptitude - Data Interpretation

4 topics
  • Tables - reading and simple calculations
  • Bar-charts - interpretation
  • Line-graphs - trends and values
  • Pie-charts - percentage-based calculations
03

Logical Reasoning

5 topics
  • Number series
  • Alphabet series
  • Analogy
  • Classification
  • Coding-decoding
04

Analytical Reasoning

5 topics
  • Blood relations
  • Direction sense
  • Basic seating-type puzzles
  • Syllogism
  • Venn-diagram-based reasoning
05

Comprehension (Short English Passages)

4 topics
  • Main idea of passage
  • Inference-based questions
  • Vocabulary-based questions
  • Tone / attitude of author
06

Language & Grammar (Basic)

3 topics
  • Error-spotting in sentences
  • Sentence-improvement
  • Vocabulary (synonyms / antonyms / one-word substitution)

Mains papers

Essay

  • Society, governance, economy, and development themes
  • State-focused essay themes for Odisha (OPSC - OCS)
  • Balanced argumentation, examples, and policy-oriented conclusion

General Studies Paper I

  • Indian heritage, culture, and modern history
  • Socio-cultural history and movements relevant to Odisha (OPSC - OCS)
  • World and Indian geography with map-linked clarity

General Studies Paper II

  • Constitution, polity, governance, and public administration
  • Welfare schemes, institutions, and accountability frameworks
  • State administration and local governance priorities in Odisha (OPSC - OCS)

General Studies Paper III

  • Economy, agriculture, infrastructure, and technology
  • Environment, disaster management, and internal security basics
  • State economy, resources, and development challenges in Odisha (OPSC - OCS)

General Studies Paper IV (Ethics)

  • Ethics, integrity, and aptitude in public life
  • Case studies on governance dilemmas and decision-making
  • Probity, emotional intelligence, and leadership in administration

Interview focus areas

  • Current affairs articulation with balanced viewpoints
  • State-specific governance awareness for Odisha (OPSC - OCS)
  • Situational judgment, communication, and administrative temperament

Ready to start preparing?

Turn this syllabus into a study plan with subtopic-level practice, PYQ analysis, and adaptive revision milestones.