Law and Order / Odisha Bandh to Coincide with OSSTET Exam, Govt Issues Advisory

Bhubaneswar, Sep 29: The Odisha government has issued an advisory to district administrations ahead of the 12-hour statewide bandh called by the Nava Nirman Krushak Sangathan (NNKS) and Nava Nirman Yuva Chhatra Sangathan on Wednesday, which coincides with the conduct of the Odisha Secondary School Teacher Eligibility Test (OSSTET)-2026, officials said on Tuesday.

Authorities have been directed to ensure law and order, facilitate the smooth movement of examinees and keep essential services operational.

The bandh, scheduled from 6 AM to 6 PM, has received support from major Opposition parties, including the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Congress and Left parties. The protest has been called over various demands raised by the organisations.

Advisory Issued

Anticipating possible disruptions, the Home (Special) Department has asked all District Collectors and District Magistrates to remain vigilant and take necessary preventive measures to maintain law and order.

In a letter to district administrations, Joint Secretary of the Home Department Sarat Chandra Marandi directed officials to adopt adequate precautionary and security arrangements to prevent any untoward incidents during the bandh.

Likely Impact

The administration has expressed concerns over possible road blockades, traffic disruptions, tyre-burning incidents and restrictions on vehicular movement during the 12-hour shutdown.

District authorities have been instructed to ensure the smooth functioning of Central and State government offices and closely monitor the situation so that emergency and essential services remain uninterrupted.

Security personnel are expected to be deployed at key locations across the State to prevent disturbances and facilitate public movement.

OSSTET Amid Shutdown

The bandh coincides with the OSSTET-2026 examination, to be conducted by the Board of Secondary Education (BSE), Odisha.

According to the examination schedule, the test will commence at 9 AM and conclude at 11.30 AM, while candidates must report to their respective centres by 7.45 AM.

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In view of the bandh, BSE President Srikant Tarai appealed to the organisers and supporters of the shutdown not to obstruct the movement of candidates travelling to examination centres.

He urged all stakeholders to cooperate in ensuring that examinees do not face inconvenience during their journey. With thousands of aspirants expected to appear for the examination, district administrations have been asked to prioritise transportation, security and traffic management around examination venues.

The State government has maintained that while democratic protests are permitted, public services and academic activities should continue without disruption.