In a decisive push to make Odisha’s administration more transparent, accountable, and people-centric, the state government has unveiled a comprehensive new transfer and posting policy for Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) Group-A (Junior Grade) and Odisha Revenue Service (ORS) officers.
Issued by the Revenue and Disaster Management Department under Additional Chief Secretary Dr Arbinda Kumar Padhee, the policy sends a clear message: officers are public servants first, and administrative convenience or personal requests will no longer influence postings.
Key Highlights of the New Policy
- Mandatory Field Experience: Every officer must serve in field postings for the first six years of their service to gain a ground-level understanding of governance challenges.
- Priority to Backward Regions: During counselling and first posting, preference will be given to KBK districts, Gajapati, Kandhamal, and other Scheduled Areas to strengthen administration in the most needy regions.
- No Recommendations Allowed: A complete ban has been imposed on direct or indirect recommendations for transfers. Any such attempt will be strictly dealt with.
- Fixed Annual Transfer Window: General transfers will be carried out only between April 15 and June 15 every year. Any transfer outside this period will require approval from higher authorities.
- Tenure Rules: Officers will normally serve a minimum of 2 years and a maximum of 3 years at one place, subject to administrative exigencies and public interest.
- District Posting Limits: No officer can remain in the same district for more than 6 continuous years or more than 10 years in their entire career.
- No Home District Posting: Officers are barred from being posted in their home district, except in special cases just before retirement.
- Relief & Joining Timeline: Officers must be relieved within 7 days of the transfer order; failing which they will be deemed relieved on the 8th day. They must join the new posting within 7 days.
- Special Provisions:
- Officers with 40% or more disability will have their requests considered sympathetically.
- In case of married couples, nearby postings will be considered wherever possible, though this is not a right.
- Officers who complete at least 3 years in KBK or similar difficult areas will be given preference for transfer to other districts.
- Request Processing:
- All transfer requests will be examined by a dedicated committee in the Revenue and Disaster Management Department.
- No officer can claim a specific posting as a matter of right.
The new policy explicitly supersedes all previous orders and guidelines related to OAS and ORS transfers. It aims to eliminate favouritism, ensure uniform field exposure, and strengthen grassroots governance across the state.
Dr Padhee stated that the move is part of the government’s larger vision to create a more efficient, impartial, and responsive administrative machinery.
