Bhubaneswar: In a major administrative reform aimed at reducing procedural delays and improving efficiency, the Government of Odisha has officially abolished the requirement for individual No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for officers and employees working under the administrative control of the General Administration and Public Grievance (GA & PG) Department who wish to apply for jobs or appear in recruitment examinations.
The GA & PG Department has issued a Standing Permission and Standing NOC in favour of all officers and employees under its control. With this move, eligible employees can now directly apply for posts or appear in recruitment examinations conducted by agencies such as the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC), Staff Selection Board (SSB), Odisha Staff Selection Commission (OSSC), Odisha Sub-ordinate Staff Selection Commission (OSSSC), and other recruitment bodies under the Central or Odisha Government—without seeking fresh departmental approval each time.
Routine NOC Process Declared Inefficient
According to the department, a large number of NOC applications were being received throughout the year from employees seeking permission to participate in various recruitment processes. Since granting such permission was largely routine in nature, the system was found to be time-consuming and administratively inefficient.
Officials noted that the existing process led to unnecessary delays and inconvenience for employees, who were often compelled to make repeated visits to departmental offices or Heads of Department to follow up on their applications. Recognising that government employees have a legitimate right to explore better career opportunities, the State Government decided to streamline the process through a standing arrangement.
Conditions Linked to Standing Permission
While the new Standing Permission simplifies the process, it comes with clearly defined conditions to ensure administrative discipline. Employees are required to continue performing their official duties diligently and must not allow exam preparation or job applications to interfere with their responsibilities.
Additionally, prior approval from the competent authority remains mandatory for availing leave or obtaining headquarters-leaving permission, wherever applicable. Such requests must be supported by relevant documents, such as admit cards or official examination notifications.
Crucially, the Standing Permission does not automatically permit an employee to be relieved from service. In the event of selection to another post, the employee must apply through the proper channel for formal relieving orders. The department reserves the right to refuse such relief in public interest or for any other justifiable administrative reason.
Earlier Instructions Withdrawn
The Standing Order will now serve as the official and valid NOC for all GA & PG Department employees and can be produced before recruitment agencies or prospective employers as required. The department has made it clear that no individual NOC applications will be entertained going forward, and all pending NOC requests will stand cancelled.
With this order, all previous instructions issued by the GA & PG Department regarding NOCs have been superseded, marking a decisive shift towards administrative simplification and employee-friendly governance.
This reform is expected to significantly reduce bureaucratic workload while empowering employees to pursue professional growth without procedural hurdles.
