BHUBANESWAR: The state govt on Friday appointed Rashmi Ranjan Swain, a retired IPS officer and former director general of police (Jammu & Kashmir), as the first chairman of the newlyconstituted Odisha uniformed services staff selection commission (OUSSSC). The state cabinet approved the formation of OUSSSC on Nov 21, 2025, in the wake of a recruitment scam involving the Odisha police sub-inspector (SI) examinations, currently under CBI investigation. Investigations revealed that an organised crime syndicate had allegedly leaked exam papers, with middlemen demanding payments of up to Rs 25 lakh from candidates. The SI exams, scheduled for Oct 5 to 6, 2025, were cancelled abruptly on Sept 30 after allegations of a paper leak. Following widespread public and political outrage, the govt transferred the probe to the CBI on Oct 22, citing inter-state links. The CBI formally took charge on Nov 12 and filed a preliminary chargesheet against 16 accused on Dec 26. According to the govt, the new commission will oversee recruitment for various ranks in uniformed services, including police and excise, ensuring transparency and accountability. Earlier, recruitment was conducted through multiple departmental boards, often leading to delays and irregularities. To streamline the process, the govt established OUSSSC under the administrative control of the general administration and public grievance department.
