The Odisha government has included a "Third Gender" category to the Odisha Civil Services (OCS) Examination-2025 application form, marking a major step towards inclusive hiring. The action is in accordance with directives from the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC).
The clause, which guarantees equal opportunity for candidates of the third gender, has been included in the updated notification for the Odisha Public Service Commission's (OPSC) OCS-2025 test.

Extended Deadlines
To allow qualified applicants to apply using the revised format, authorities have extended the registration and application deadlines in light of the new category's inclusion.

Candidates whose names have changed after receiving official recognition as a third gender person are need to provide pertinent supporting documentation throughout the application procedure, officials have stated.

The petition resulted in a directive.
The change follows the filing of a petition by Soni Sil, a third-gender candidate, who claimed that the OCS exam form's lack of a suitable gender choice constituted discrimination.
In response to the complaint, the OHRC ordered the state government's General Administration and Public Grievance Department to modify the application procedure as needed.
Ordered Wider Implementation
The Department of Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities has also been directed by the Commission to make sure that all government agencies and state-owned businesses include a third gender option in their hiring practices.The state administration has been directed by the OHRC to provide a compliance report on the execution of its orders within sixty days.
The action is viewed as a step toward advancing nondiscrimination and equitable access in public jobs in Odisha.