Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has introduced a ‘Third Gender’ category in the Odisha Civil Services (OCS) Examination-2025 application form, marking a significant move towards promoting inclusivity.
This decision follows directives from the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) and aims to provide equal opportunities to transgenders.
To facilitate participation, the registration and application deadlines have been extended for eligible candidates to apply under the updated format. The Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) has incorporated this provision in the revised notification for the OCS-2025 examination.
Candidates who have changed their names after obtaining official recognition as a third gender person must submit supporting documents during the application process.
It is pertinent to mention that this development is a response to a petition filed by Soni Sil, a transgender aspirant who alleged discrimination due to the lack of a suitable gender option in the OCS examination form.
The OHRC had earlier directed the state government to include a separate gender option for transgenders, citing the Supreme Court’s 2014 ruling and the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019.
Based on Soni’s petition, theCommission, led by Justice Satrughna Pujahari, had also instructed the government to reserve at least 1% of jobs for transgenders and extend the application deadline for the upcoming OPSC exam by 15 days to ensure transgenders can apply.
“This Commission recommends the Government of Odisha in the General Administration Department to consider the same as a at the earliest by making a request to OPSC to allow such ‘Third Gender/Transgender’ gender option and extend the date for at least 15(fifteen) days more for them”, the Commission’s order maintained.
