OPSC AHO Recruitment 2026: 22 Assistant Horticulture Officer Posts, Online Applications From 28 July
Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) Recruitment for Assistant Horticulture Officer (2026)
The Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) has released the recruitment notification for 22 Assistant Horticulture Officer (Group-B) posts under the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment. The detailed notification has been published, and eligible candidates can apply online through the official website: https://opsc.gov.in.
OPSC Assistant Horticulture Officer Recruitment 2026 Overview
OPSC has announced 22 vacancies for the post of Assistant Horticulture Officer in Class-II (Group-B) of the Odisha Horticulture Service. The online application process will begin on 28th July 2026, along with the release of the detailed notification (Advertisement No. 06 of 2026-27). Recruitment will be based on a Written Examination and a Personality Test (Interview). The posts are temporary and are likely to continue.
Notification Details
The detailed OPSC Notification 2026 for Assistant Horticulture Officer posts has been released at https://opsc.gov.in. The notification number is No. 4200/PSC, Dt. 18.07.2026.
OPSC AHO Notification 2026 PDF: Click to Download
Key Highlights
Candidates with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Horticulture or Agriculture and an age between 21 to 42 years can apply online. Selected candidates will receive salary in Level-10 of Pay Matrix, corresponding to the pre-revised scale of PB-2 Rs. 9,300-34,800/- with Grade Pay Rs. 4,600/-.
| Organization | Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) |
|---|---|
| Advt. No. | 06 of 2026-27 |
| Post Name | Assistant Horticulture Officer (Group-B) |
| Vacancies | 22 (07-W) |
| Mode of Application | Online |
| Registration Starts | 28th July 2026 |
| Educational Qualification | B.Sc. (Horticulture) or B.Sc. (Agriculture) |
| Application Fee | General – Rs. 700/-; SC/ST/PwD – Exempted |
| Selection Process | Written Examination (MCQ) and Personality Test (Interview) |
| Job Location | Odisha |
| Salary | Level-10 of Pay Matrix |
| Official Website | https://opsc.gov.in |
Important Dates
The online application will start on 28th July 2026 and the last date to apply online is 28th August 2026.
| Events | Dates |
|---|---|
| OPSC Notification | 18th July 2026 |
| Apply Online Starts | 28th July 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 28th August 2026 (5:00 P.M.) |
| OPSC AHO Written Exam Date | 27th September 2026 (Sunday), Tentative |
Written Examination Schedule
The Written Examination is tentatively scheduled for 27th September 2026 (Sunday) for all candidates successfully registered for the exam. The examination will include two papers of Horticulture subjects, each carrying 100 marks. The exam will be in MCQ pattern with OMR evaluation.
Vacancy Distribution
OPSC plans to fill a total of 22 vacancies. The highest number of posts are announced for ST (09), followed by SC (07) and UR (06).
| Category | No. of Vacancies |
|---|---|
| UR | 06 (02-W) |
| SEBC | 00 (00-W) |
| SC | 07 (02-W) |
| ST | 09 (03-W) |
| Total | 22 (07-W) |
Eligibility Criteria
Candidates who meet the required eligibility conditions in terms of educational qualification and age limit can apply online for the OPSC exam.
Educational Qualification
Candidates must possess a Bachelor of Science Degree in Horticulture [B.Sc. (Horticulture)] or Agriculture [B.Sc. (Ag.)] from any University or Institution recognized by any State Government or the Government of India. No other equivalent qualification, except a degree in Horticulture or Agriculture, will be accepted.
Age Limit
Candidates must have attained 21 years and must not be above 42 years, meaning they should be born not earlier than 2nd January 1984 and not later than 1st January 2005. The upper age limit is relaxable by:
- 5 years for SC, ST, Women & Ex-servicemen categories
- 10 years for Persons with Disabilities whose permanent disability is 40% or more
- 15 years (cumulative) for Persons with Disabilities belonging to SC/ST categories
Online Application Link and Dates
The online application portal for accepting forms will remain available on the official website https://opsc.gov.in from 28.07.2026 to 28.08.2026 (5:00 P.M.). Candidates are advised to complete the application in advance to avoid last-minute technical issues.
OPSC AHO Apply Online Link (Active from 28th July): Click to Apply
Application Fee
The application fee must be paid by candidates while submitting the application form. Candidates other than SC, ST, and PwD categories shall have to pay the examination fee.
| Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| General/Other Categories | Rs. 700/- |
| SC/ST/PwD | Exempted |
How to Apply Online
Candidates can follow these steps to apply online for the OPSC AHO recruitment:
- Visit the official website of OPSC: https://opsc.gov.in.
- Read the detailed instructions available on the OPSC portal before filling out the online application form.
- Fill in the Proforma Application with the required personal, educational, and category details.
- Upload a scanned image of the latest passport-size photograph, full signature, and Left-Hand Thumb Impression (LTI) as required in the online application form.
- Pay the applicable application fee online (except for SC/ST/PwD candidates).
- After successful submission, a unique “Permanent Public Service Account Number (PPSAN)” will be assigned.
- Download/print the finally submitted online application form and keep it along with copies of the required certificates/documents for future reference.
Salary Details
Selected candidates will be paid a monthly salary as per the following pay structure, along with usual Dearness and other allowances sanctioned by the Government of Odisha.
| Post Name | Pay Scale |
|---|---|
| Assistant Horticulture Officer | Level-10, Cell-1 of ORSP Rules, 2017 (Pre-revised scale: PB-2 Rs. 9,300-34,800/- with Grade Pay of Rs. 4,600/-) |
Selection Process and Exam Pattern
The selection process includes:
- Written Examination (MCQ pattern)
- Personality Test (Interview)
Written Examination marks: 200 marks.
Interview marks: 25 marks.
Negative marking: Yes, 25% of the marks awarded for a correct answer will be deducted for each wrong response. Unattempted questions carry zero marks.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
When will the detailed OPSC AHO Recruitment 2026 Notification release?
The detailed notification (Advertisement No. 06 of 2026-27) has been released on 18th July 2026.
From when will OPSC Assistant Horticulture Officer Recruitment 2026 application process start?
The online application process starts on 28th July 2026 and continues till 28th August 2026 (5:00 P.M.).
How many vacancies are released under OPSC AHO Recruitment 2026?
A total of 22 (07-W) vacancies have been released under OPSC AHO Recruitment 2026 across UR, SC, and ST categories.
Is there an application fee for OPSC AHO Recruitment 2026?
Yes. Candidates other than SC/ST/PwD category have to pay Rs. 700/- as examination fee; SC/ST/PwD candidates are exempted.
When is the OPSC AHO Written Examination scheduled?
The Written Examination is tentatively scheduled to be held on 27th September 2026 (Sunday).
Is there negative marking in the OPSC AHO Written Examination?
Yes. 25% of the marks awarded for a correct answer will be deducted for each wrong response; unattempted questions carry zero marks.
Source: The post OPSC AHO Recruitment 2026 Notification Out for 22 Assistant Horticulture Officer Posts, Online Form from 28th July first appeared on nqe.