The OSSSC CRE 2026 selection process runs in three stages. Stage 1 was a 100-mark written test. Stage 2 is the physical test, on since October 12. Medical rules decide the last cut.
Advertisement 3220/OSSSC sets the rules. The Odisha Sub-ordinate Staff Selection Commission issued it on December 30, 2025. It hires Group C staff for the state.
A high written score alone wins nothing. Forest Guard men must reach 168 cm. Shorter men are out, whatever they scored.
Forest Guard men walk 25 km in 4 hours. Women walk 16 km in the same 4 hours. Excise Constable men run 1.6 km in 7 minutes.
In This Guide
- What is the OSSSC CRE 2026 selection process?
- What was the written test pattern and marks split?
- What height and chest do Forester and Forest Guard need?
- What are the Excise Constable physical standards?
- What does the physical efficiency test ask you to do?
- Which medical rules end a claim?
- What happens after the physical test?
- What are the key dates for CRE-2025(II)?
What is the OSSSC CRE 2026 selection process?
The OSSSC CRE 2026 selection process starts with a written test. The physical test comes next, and medical rules close it. CRE means Combined Recruitment Examination.
This cycle is CRE-2025(II), and it fills 1,518 Group C posts.
- Stage 1, written test. 100 marks, computer based. Held from April 16 to May 5.
- Stage 2, physical test. Height, chest and weight first, then the walk or the run.
- Stage 3, medical rules. Listed conditions end a claim.
- Then the paperwork. Merit list, document checks, counselling, then the select list.
Forester and Forest Guard sit under the Forest, Environment and Climate Change department. Excise Constable sits under Excise.
What was the written test pattern and marks split?
The written test carried 100 marks. It ran for 1 hour 30 minutes. The mode was computer based, called CBRE.
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Studies | 25 | 25 |
| Maths | 20 | 20 |
| English | 20 | 20 |
| Computer | 20 | 20 |
| Odia | 15 | 15 |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
General Studies held the biggest block at 25 marks. Odia held the smallest at 15.
Each wrong answer cost 0.25 marks. Blanks cost nothing, but two marks on one question counted as wrong.
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SC, ST, PwD, ex-servicemen and sportspersons needed 30%, while others needed 35%.
Rs 500 fee wapas milegi kya, agar written test chhod diya?
No. The fee comes back only to those who sat the written test. SC, ST and PwD paid nothing at the start.
Pay, then stay away, and you lose all Rs 500.
What height and chest do Forester and Forest Guard need?
Forester and Forest Guard men need 168 cm. ST men need 158 cm. Women need 153 cm in every group.
| Group | Men, height | Women, height | Men, chest |
|---|---|---|---|
| UR, SEBC, SC | 168 cm | 153 cm | 81 cm, 5 cm growth |
| ST | 158 cm | 153 cm | 81 cm, 5 cm growth |
The ST bar sits 10 cm below the general bar for men. That is the widest group gap in the notice.
Height 166 cm hai, kya Forest Guard ban sakta hoon?
Not in the UR, SEBC or SC groups. Those men need 168 cm, so at 166 cm you fall 2 cm short.
ST men need 158 cm, so 166 cm clears it. No other height relief is listed.
What are the Excise Constable physical standards?
Excise Constable men in UR and SEBC need 168 cm. They also need 55 kg and a 79 cm chest.
SC and ST men need 163 cm, 50 kg and a 76 cm chest.
| Group | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| UR, SEBC | 168 cm, 55 kg, chest 79-84 cm | 158 cm, 47.5 kg |
| SC, ST | 163 cm, 50 kg, chest 76-81 cm | 153 cm, 45 kg |
Chest must widen by at least 5 cm, and women have no chest rule here.
Age ran 21 to 32 years on January 1, 2025. Forester and Forest Guard started at 18.
What does the physical efficiency test ask you to do?
The physical efficiency test changes by post. Forest posts set a long walk, while Excise Constable sets a run and a jump.
| Post | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Forester, Forest Guard | 25 km walk in 4 hours | 16 km walk in 4 hours |
| Excise Constable | 1.6 km run in 7 minutes, long jump 3.66 m | 1.6 km run in 9 minutes, long jump 2.75 m |
You get three tries at the long jump, but the run allows none.
Which medical rules end a claim?
Colour blindness rules out Forester and Forest Guard. The Excise Constable list runs longer.
Excise Constable rules out knock knee, bow legs, flat feet and varicose veins. Squint and weak sight also end it.
Finger bending problems block a claim too, and so do speech and hearing problems.
Persons with disabilities cannot take Forester or Forest Guard. Leprosy cured persons and acid attack victims are the two exceptions.
No medical exam date or venue is out yet. CampusFeed checked osssc.gov.in on October 26 and found no notice.
What happens after the physical test?
A merit list follows the physical test. Document checks come next, then counselling.
A select list follows, and appointment comes from that list.
Notice IIE-30/2026-2499/OSSSC gave the screening list on August 10. Admit cards for the physical test went out on October 1.
What are the key dates for CRE-2025(II)?
Advertisement 3220/OSSSC opened this cycle on December 30, 2025.
| What | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Online form window | January 7 to February 15, 2026 | Closed |
| Written test, CBRE mode | April 16 to May 5, 2026 | Closed |
| Screening list | August 10, 2026 | Closed |
| Physical test admit card | October 1, 2026 | Closed |
| Physical test | From October 12, 2026 | Open |
| Medical exam | Not announced | Awaited |
The October 12 row is the live one, and every row above it has closed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many marks is the OSSSC CRE 2026 written test?
The OSSSC CRE 2026 written test carries 100 marks. General Studies holds 25 marks, Maths 20, English 20, Computer 20 and Odia 15. The paper runs 1 hour 30 minutes. The mode is computer based.
What height do Forest Guard men need?
Forest Guard men need 168 cm in the UR, SEBC and SC groups. ST men need 158 cm. Women need 153 cm in every group. Chest for men is 81 cm, with 5 cm growth.
How far do Forest Guard women have to walk?
Forest Guard women walk 16 km in 4 hours. Men walk 25 km in the same 4 hours. The Forester post sets the same two marks. Both walks sit inside the physical test.
Is there negative marking in the OSSSC written test?
Yes. The OSSSC written test cuts 0.25 marks for each wrong answer. Blanks carry no penalty. Two marks on one question count as wrong, so a double mark costs 0.25 marks. The paper is out of 100.
Does colour blindness stop an Excise Constable candidate?
Yes. Colour blindness rules out Excise Constable, Forester and Forest Guard. The Excise Constable list also bars knock knee, bow legs, flat feet, varicose veins, squint and weak sight. Speech and hearing problems bar a claim too.
What is the minimum pass mark for SC and ST candidates?
SC and ST candidates need 30% in the OSSSC written test. PwD, ex-servicemen and sportsperson candidates also need 30%. Every other candidate needs 35%. The paper is marked out of 100, so 35 marks is the general bar.
When did the OSSSC physical test start?
The OSSSC physical test for CRE-2025(II) started on October 12, 2026. Admit cards went out on October 1. The test runs in each candidate’s own district. The venue is printed on the admit card.
Last verified: October 26, 2026
Disclaimer: Dates, fees, cutoffs and eligibility can change without notice. Check with OSSSC before you act.
