The Odisha government has appointed retired IPS officer Rashmi Ranjan Swain, former Director General of Police (DGP) of Jammu & Kashmir, as the first Chairman of the Odisha Uniformed Services Staff Selection Commission (OUSSSC).
This newly established body aims to streamline and ensure transparent recruitment for various ranks in the state’s uniformed services, including police, excise, and related departments.
Swain, an Odisha native from Rourkela and a 1991-batch AGMUT cadre IPS officer, brings extensive experience in law enforcement and administration. He served as in-charge DGP of Jammu & Kashmir starting in late 2023, with his appointment later confirmed, and handled critical responsibilities amid challenging security scenarios before retiring.
The OUSSSC was recently approved by the Odisha Cabinet in November 2025, following concerns over delays, irregularities, and past recruitment issues (such as the sub-inspector recruitment scam). The commission replaces fragmented departmental boards with a centralised, merit-based, technology-driven process to conduct fair and timely examinations and selections.
This appointment is seen as a strategic move to leverage Swain’s proven track record in high-stakes policing and integrity to build public trust in uniformed services recruitment.
