Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has officially abolished the requirement for individual No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for employees of the General Administration and Public Grievance (GA & PG) Department seeking career advancement opportunities.
The GA & PG Department has issued a sweeping order granting a Standing Permission/NOC to all officers and employees under its administrative control. This landmark administrative reform means that staff members can now apply for jobs or appear in recruitment examinations, including those conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC), State Selection Board (SSB), Odisha Staff Selection Commission (OSSC) and Odisha Sub-ordinate Staff Selection Commission (OSSSC), without the need to seek fresh departmental approval for each application.
The order applies universally to officers and staff under GA & PG Department. “This Standing Order shall henceforth be treated as the Standing Permission/NOC issued by GA & PG Department in favour of all officers/employees working under its administrative control, which can be produced by the officer/employee concerned to various recruitment organisations/future employers when necessary,” the official notification issued on January 15 read.
However, the NOC is subject to conditions that the employee shall not neglect their official duties and staff must take prior permission of competent authority for appearing in examination and interview. It also adds that the NOC cannot be construed as permission to relieve employee from its administrative control and relieving orders shall be granted only after reviewing applications through proper channel.
Previously, employees were required to obtain an individual NOC from the department each time they applied for a new position or sat for a recruitment examination.
By introducing a blanket standing permission, the Odisha government has effectively streamlined career mobility for thousands of employees. Officials note that this reform is expected to encourage greater participation in national and state-level recruitment processes.
Civil service aspirants within the GA & PG Department have also welcomed the decision, calling it a progressive step that recognises the aspirations of government employees. Administrative experts suggest that the move could serve as a model for other departments and states, reducing red tape and fostering a more merit-based system of career advancement.
The order is expected to have immediate impact, as several major recruitment examinations, including those by UPSC and OPSC, are scheduled in the coming months.
