Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday felicitated Bubun Sahoo, who secured the first position in the Odisha Civil Services (OCS) Examination 2024, at Lok Seva Bhawan here.
Congratulating the young officer from Tolankapada village under Anandapur block in Keonjhar district, the Chief Minister lauded his achievement and extended his best wishes for a successful career in public service.
Chief Minister Majhi further said that public service is the core objective of administration. He urged the young officer to prioritise people’s welfare, good governance, and ensuring government services reach the last mile. He also emphasised the need to work dedicatedly for the upliftment of children, women, and socially and educationally backward sections of society.“Along with being a good administrator, you must also strive to become a good human being,” he advised.
A geology graduate from Ravenshaw University, who later completed his MSc from IIT(ISM) Dhanbad, Sahoo achieved this on his second attempt. In OCS-2023, he had secured selection into the Odisha Police Service (OPS) with a rank of 40 and was undergoing DSP training when the 2024 results were announced.
Also Read: First-Time Aspirants Shine Bright Alongside Topper Bubun Sahoo In Odisha Civil Services 2024
This year’s results showed stronger female representation, with four women securing top-10 ranks—Sovna Mohanty (Rank 2), Kanak Jain (Rank 4), Sheetal Patra (Rank 9), and Itishree Jena (Rank 10)—compared to just one in the previous year. The rest of the top-10 included Jitamitra Sahu (3rd), Sangram Pradhan (5th), Aman Goyal (6th), Santanu Kumar Satpathy (7th), and Nitesh Kumar Barik (8th).
Nearly 30,000 candidates had appeared for the prelims for 200 posts, with 2,405 qualifying for the mains.
Other success stories
Kanhu Charan Behera (Rank 56), son of a fisherman from Sorada in Ganjam district, and Krushna Chandra Hembram (Rank 185), a visually impaired tribal youth from Panchugochhia village in Keonjhar, have cleared the Odisha Civil Services Examination.
Their success highlights that talent, focus, and perseverance can overcome financial hardship, social barriers, and personal challenges.
Kanhu, from a humble fishing family, cracked the exam on his fourth attempt. Despite limited resources, he stayed persistent and never gave up. “Never give up, no matter how many times you fail,” he said, also stressing the vital role of parental support. He now gives free tuition to local students and was aiming for a top-200 rank.
Krushna, orphaned young and visually impaired, completed his schooling at Eklavya Model Residential School and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, and later earned an Integrated BEd. Financial difficulties nearly ended his studies after Class 12, but district administration support helped him continue. While working as a teacher in an Ekalavya school, he prepared for the exam. He credits his success to God, teachers, family, and villagers, and has set his next target on the UPSC Civil Services Exam.
Similarly, Shibani Shankar Ray, a 31-year-old IIM-Indore MBA graduate and only child of Late Kanhei Charan Rout and Ranjita Nayak, has secured 138th rank in the Odisha Civil Services (OCS) Examination 2024.Two years ago, Ray had aspired for a Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA ticket from Soro constituency in Balasore district but was denied despite strong local connections. He then moved to New Delhi and joined the National Defence College as a faculty member.Motivated by his desire to serve the public, he appeared for the OCS exam, clearing it among around 30,000 candidates competing for 200 posts. “I always dreamed of working for the common people,” Ray said, adding that he will now serve with sincerity and integrity.
