Argus News - Odisha Government Unveils New Transfer Policy for OAS, ORS Officers

Bhubaneswar, April 16: The Odisha Government has introduced a new transfer and posting policy for Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) Group-A (Junior Branch) and Odisha Revenue Service (ORS) officers.

The directive was issued by Dr Arabinda Padhee, Additional Chief Secretary of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department.

Under the revised rules, all officers must serve in field postings during the first six years of their career to gain grassroots administrative experience.

Priority will be given to filling vacancies in KBK districts, Gajapati, Kandhamal, and other scheduled areas during counselling and initial postings.

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The policy mandates that routine transfers will be carried out annually between April 15 and June 15. Transfers outside this window will require higher authority approval.

Officers must serve a minimum of two years and a maximum of three years in a particular post, though exceptions may be made in public interest.

To prevent prolonged tenure in one district, the guidelines specify that no officer can serve continuously for more than six years in a single district or more than 10 years in total across their career.

Posting in one’s home district is prohibited, except under special circumstances before retirement.

The policy also provides special consideration for officers with 40% or more disability, whose transfer requests will be reviewed sympathetically.

In cases involving spouses, efforts will be made to post them in nearby locations, though this will not be treated as a right.

Service in KBK districts has been emphasized, with officers required to complete at least three years there before being considered for transfer elsewhere.

Importantly, the government has banned any direct or indirect recommendations for transfers, reinforcing its commitment to merit-based postings.

All transfer-related requests will be examined by a committee within the Revenue and Disaster Management Department. The government clarified that no officer can claim a posting as a right, and compliance with official directives is mandatory.

The new policy overrides all previous related instructions and will be effective immediately.