OPSC OAS Subjects

Candidates who aspire to be in the police or revenue department of Odisha have to first pass the OAS exam. The Public Service Commission of Odisha conducts this exam. These exams are generally highly competitive and are difficult papers. To boost preparations, candidates need to know the essential OPSC OAS subject. This article will discuss the same.

Candidates can also visit the linked article and get details about the upcoming
government exams that comprise current affairs and general awareness as an important topic in the syllabus.

OPSC OAS Subjects 2023

Candidates have to appear for three exams – the preliminary exam, mains exam and interview round. However, candidates must pass their preliminary exam to qualify for their mains. Similarly, candidates who pass preliminary and mains are eligible for the interview round. Here are the important OPSC OAS subject details.

To know more about OPSC Syllabus in detail, check the linked article.

OPSC OAS Preliminary Exam Subjects

Candidates have to appear for two papers in their prelims. These are:

• Paper I – General Studies (200 Marks)
• Paper II – General Studies (200 Marks)

This paper consists of 100 questions carrying 2 marks each. For each wrong answer, the candidate will lose 0.5 marks. Its syllabus mainly includes:

Paper I – General Studies

1. General science
2. Current affairs of Odisha (both national and international importance)
3. Environment Studies which include subjects like ecology, biodiversity and climate change
4. Indian politics
5. Economic and social development
6. Indian history and freedom movement
7. Odisha, Indian and World geography

Paper II – General Studies

This is a qualifying paper, and its marks do not make it to the merit list. Its passing mark is 33%. Here too, the total marks are 200, and for every wrong answer, the candidate loses 0.5 marks. Its subjects are:

1. English comprehension
2. Communicative skills
3. Logical reasoning
4. Basic numerical calculations
5. General mental ability

OPSC OAS Mains Exam Subjects

Only when the candidate passes the OPSC OAS prelims paper, the candidate gets qualified for the OPS mains paper. These papers are generally descriptive and essay-based. OPSC OPS subjects for the mains exam are:

The Main Examination shall consist of the following papers, and each paper shall be of three hours duration.

Compulsory papers – 1400 marks

Paper – I Odia Language (300 Marks)

Paper – II English (300 Marks)

Paper – III English Essay (200 Marks)

Paper – IV General Studies-I (300 Marks)

Paper – V General Studies-II (300 Marks)

Optional Papers – (Paper VI, VII, VIII & IX) – 1200 marks

Two subjects are to be selected from the list of Optional subjects set out below. Each subject will have two papers and each paper carrying 300 marks.

Paper – I Odia Language (300 Marks)

This is a qualifying paper, and the Commission does not add its marks to the merit list. Its syllabus is as follows.

1. Comprehension of a given passage
2. Precis writing with a passage of around 1000 words
3. Translation
4. Grammar, usage and vocabulary
5. Short Essay of around 1000 words
6. Expansion of an idea

Paper – II English (300 Marks)

This, too, is a qualifying paper, and its marks are not added as well.

1. Comprehension of a given passage
2. Precis writing with a passage of around 1000 words
3. Translation
4. Grammar, usage and vocabulary
5. Short Essay of around 1000 words
6. Expansion of an idea

Paper – III English Essay (200 Marks)

Candidates will be required to write an essay on a specific topic. The choice of subjects will be given. They will be expected to keep closely to the subject of the essay to arrange their ideas in orderly fashion and to write concisely. Credit will be given for effective and exact expression.

Paper – IV General Studies-I (300 Marks)

• History of Modern India and Indian Culture
• Geography of India
• Indian Polity
• Current National issues and topics of social relevance
• Legal and environmental issues

Paper – V General Studies-II (300 Marks)

• India and the World
• Indian Economy
• International Affairs & Institutions
• Developments in the field of science & technology, communications and space
• Statistical Analysis, Graphs & Diagrams

To cover broad topics from the subjects mentioned above, candidates can take help of the following links:

Get OPSC Exam related details from the links provided below:

List of Optional Subjects for OPSC Mains Examination

The candidates must opt for two optional subjects for Main Examination. Each subject will have two papers and each paper carrying 300 marks. Request for change of Optional Subjects will not be entertained.

1. Agriculture
2. Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science
3. Anthropology
4. Agricultural Engineering
5. Botany
6. Chemistry
7. Civil Engineering
8. Commerce & Accountancy
9. Economics
10. Electrical Engineering
11. Education
12. Fisheries Science
13. Forestry
14. Geography
15. Geology
16. Home Science
17. History
18. Indian Language & Literature (any 1) – Odia, Hindi, Sanskrit, English, Persian, Urdu.
19. Law
20. Management
21. Mathematics
22. Mechanical Engineering
23. Philosophy
24. Physics
25. Political Science & International Relations
26. Public Administration
27. Psychology
28. Sociology
29. Statistics
30. Zoology

Candidates shall not be allowed to opt for the following combinations of optional subjects.

1. Odia, Hindi, Persian, Sanskrit, Urdu, English
2. Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Agricultural Engineering.
3. Mathematics & Statistics
4. Anthropology & Sociology
5. Political Science & International Relations and Public Administration.
6. Commerce & Accountancy and Management.
7. Agriculture and Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science.
8. Management and Public Administration
9. Education and Psychology
10. Agriculture and Agricultural Engineering.

This is all for OPSC OAS subjects. Candidates should start preparing themselves as early as possible.

For the Best preparation strategy for competitive exams, candidates can visit the linked article and get detailed study material and preparation tips to excel in the examination.

Aspirants who shall be appearing for the exam for the first time and are willing to get some preparation tips and study material for the competitive exams can turn to BYJU’S for assistance.

To get details of other PSC Examinations, candidates can check the table below: