Odisha Police inducts 336 new Sub-Inspectors amid recruitment controversy

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi presided over the passing-out parade of the 13th batch of Sub-Inspectors at the Biju Patnaik State Police Academy in Odisha. A total of 336 newly appointed officers, including 70 women, have formally joined the force following two years of training. During the ceremony, Majhi emphasized the importance of ‘smart policing’ to combat cyber fraud and modern crime, while reiterating a goal to make Odisha a drug-free state by 2029. He noted that 17,794 new police posts have been created over the last two years.

Opposition leader Naveen Patnaik, president of the Biju Janata Dal, used the occasion to criticize the current government regarding a cancelled recruitment exam. Patnaik highlighted that the Combined Police Service Examination was cancelled in 2025 following a question-paper leak, leaving thousands of aspirants in uncertainty. He questioned when the cancelled exam would be rescheduled and demanded strict punishment for those involved in the leak, accusing the BJP government of seeking undue credit for police advancements while failing to resolve the recruitment crisis.