The Odisha State cabinet has decided to temporarily raise the age limit for application of State government jobs to 38, valid until 2023. Presently, the maximum age limit to apply for State government services is 32 years.
Announcing the decision, Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra said the aim is to encourage the youth who could not appear in recruitment exams due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
βIt has come to the notice of the government that the recruitment process has been delayed due to unavoidable reasons and as a result, the age of the applicant gets over and they do not get ample chance to participate in the recruitment examination,β read the official statement.
As per the statement, this increase applies only to the job advertisements already made or to be made during the calendar years 2021, 2022, and 2023. Relaxations for the reserved categories have also been made. The age limit of women, Schedule Tribes, Scheduled castes, socially and economically backward class, and physically challenged persons for such jobs was raised by five more years to 43.
Additionally, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has inaugurated two new industrial projects and performed groundbreaking ceremony for 11 others, all of which taken together entails an investment of Rs 2,360 crores. These projects are estimated to create employment opportunities for at least 3,200 people.
Meanwhile, the State has also extended maternity leave benefits from 90 days to 180 days for women employees of aided colleges under the Higher Education Department.