Bhubaneswar, Sept 11: In a move aimed at improving the recruitment process, the Odisha Cabinet has decided to introduce an examination fee for recruitment exams, with the goal of ensuring that only genuinely interested and qualified candidates apply.

Under the newly introduced Odisha Payment of Recruitment Examination Fees and Refund Rules, 2025, candidates except for those from Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) categories will be required to pay a fee, the amount of which will be determined by the respective recruiting agencies.

However, the fee will be fully refunded to candidates who appear for the examination, making it a no-loss proposition for those who follow through with the process. The primary objective behind this initiative is to reduce the number of non-serious applicants and improve the overall quality of applications, while also minimizing absenteeism and administrative workload.

The decision comes in response to the current scenario, where the absence of an exam fee has led to an overwhelming number of applications and a significant rate of absenteeism. This has increased costs and wasted public resources. With the new rules in place, the government hopes to create a more efficient and effective recruitment process in the state.