Odisha Police Constable Cut Off 2026: How Merit Works and What to Target

The Odisha Police Constable cut off is the lowest score at which candidates in a category are shortlisted or finally selected. For the 2026 cycle, recruitment is run by the Odisha Uniformed Services Staff Selection Commission (OUSSSC) through the Combined Uniformed Services (Below Graduate Level) Examination 2026, so there are two cut-offs that matter: the written score needed to be called for the physical stage, and the final merit score needed for selection.

This is the first cycle under OUSSSC, so no cut-off for this exam has been published yet. This page explains how the cut-off will be formed, what earlier cycles tell us, what pushes the cut-off up or down, and how to set a target score that gives you a safe margin.

Table of Contents

How the Cut-off Works in 2026

Constable (Civil) vacancies are district-wise, so the final cut-off can differ between districts and categories. Because there is no waiting list, the final cut-off is simply the score of the last selected candidate in each list.

Previous Cut-off Information

We could not find an official category-wise cut-off table for earlier Odisha Police Constable cycles. Figures shown on some websites are not traceable to an official release, so treat them with caution. When OUSSSC publishes results or cut-off marks, they will appear on its website, and this page will be updated.

What Affects the Cut-off

• Paper difficulty: A harder arithmetic or GK section lowers scores across the board, and the cut-off falls with them.

• Vacancies in your category and district: Fewer posts mean a smaller shortlist and a higher cut-off. SEBC has far fewer Constable (Civil) posts than UR, SC or ST in 2026.

• Number of applicants: A combined exam for several posts can draw a large field, which tends to push scores up.

• Negative marking: The 0.25 deduction pulls down scores of candidates who guess heavily, which rewards accurate candidates.

• Bonus marks: NCC and driving licence bonuses add up to a few marks for some candidates and can raise the final cut-off slightly.

How to Set Your Target Score

Cut-offs change every year with difficulty, vacancies and the number of applicants. Without an official benchmark for this exam, aim for a clear margin above a pass rather than a bare qualifying score.

1. Use your mock average, not your best score: Track your average across the last five full-length mocks. That is a truer picture than a single good day.

2. Protect accuracy: Aim for 85 to 90 percent accuracy. A candidate with 75 correct and 5 wrong scores 73.75, while one with 80 correct and 20 wrong scores only 75 after attempting 20 more questions.

3. Avoid a weak section: There is no sectional cut-off reported, but a very low score in one area drags the total down. Keep every subject at a reasonable level.

4. Count your bonus: If you hold an NCC certificate or an eligible licence, claim it in the application. Those marks can decide close ranks.

5. Do not neglect the physical stage: A high written score is wasted if you fail PET. Train for the 1.6 km run alongside your studies.

Official OUSSSC website: https://ousssc.odisha.gov.in/