Bhubaneswar| 16-01-2026: In a major relief for government employees, the Government of Odisha has issued a standing permission allowing employees under the General Administration and Public Grievance (GA & PG) Department to apply for jobs elsewhere and appear in recruitment examinations without seeking individual No Objection Certificates (NOC).
According to an official order issued on January 15, 2026, employees will no longer be required to apply separately for NOCs to appear in examinations conducted by bodies such as UPSC, OPSC, SSB, OSSC, OSSSC, or for applying to other state or central government jobs.
Why the decision was taken
The GA & PG Department noted that it receives a large number of NOC applications every year, even though most are approved routinely. This process often caused unnecessary delays, increased paperwork, and inconvenience to employees, while also burdening departmental offices.
To streamline procedures and save time, the state government decided to grant a standing permission and blanket NOC to all officers and employees under its administrative control.
Conditions still apply
While the standing NOC removes the need for individual permissions, employees must follow certain conditions:
Official duties must not be neglected due to exam appearances or job applications.
Prior approval for leave and headquarters departure must still be obtained wherever required.
The standing NOC does not automatically allow an employee to be relieved from service if selected for another post.
If an employee is selected for a new job, formal approval through proper channels will still be mandatory. The department also retains the right to refuse relieving an employee in public interest or for other justified reasons.
Old rules withdrawn
The order clearly states that no fresh or pending applications for individual NOCs will be processed anymore. All previous orders, guidelines, or circulars on this matter have been officially withdrawn.
The standing order will now serve as a valid NOC document, which employees can present to recruiting agencies or future employers whenever required.
Officials say the move is expected to significantly reduce administrative workload and provide smoother career mobility for government employees.
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