OCS Main 2025 exam rescheduled due to Cyclone Arnab; schools shut in 6 Odisha districts

The Odisha government has ordered the closure of schools and Anganwadi centres in six districts, including Khordha, Puri, Ganjam, Koraput, Rayagada, and Nabarangpur, starting October 27, 2026, due to the anticipated impact of Cyclone Arnab. Concurrently, the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) has rescheduled two days of the Odisha Civil Services (OCS) Main (Written) Examination-2025.

These measures are part of extensive preparedness undertaken by the state government, particularly in five southern districts identified as vulnerable, to minimise potential damage and ensure zero casualties from the cyclonic storm. Cyclone Arnab is expected to bring heavy rainfall and strong winds across the region.

School and Anganwadi Centre Closures

Schools and Anganwadi centres in Rayagada, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Ganjam, and Puri districts were ordered to remain closed from Tuesday, October 27, 2026. In Khordha district, all government, government-aided, and private schools, from kindergarten to Class XII, will remain closed from 1 PM on October 27, 2026, and throughout October 28, 2026.

Teachers and school staff in Khordha have been directed to remain present on school premises, with headmasters and principals instructed to put in place roster-based duties to ensure school buildings are accessible round the clock. Also, schools, colleges, and Anganwadi centres in Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, and Malkangiri will remain closed on October 28 and 29, 2026.

OCS Main Examination-2025 Rescheduled Papers

The Odisha Public Service Commission has announced the rescheduling of two papers for the Odisha Civil Services (OCS) Main (Written) Examination-2025. This decision was made in light of the potential disruption caused by Cyclone Arnab.

The revised schedule for the affected papers is as follows:

Candidates appearing for the OCS Main Examination-2025 are advised to check the official OPSC website for further updates and the revised examination schedule.

Weather Alerts and Government Preparedness

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for October 28 and 29, 2026, for some places over Gajapati, Ganjam, Rayagada, Koraput, and Malkangiri. During this period, extremely heavy rain is expected at one or two places in these districts, accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds of 60-70 kmph, gusting to 80 kmph.

An orange alert has been issued for Puri, Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, and Malkangiri districts, indicating heavy rainfall, including extremely heavy showers at isolated places, and winds of 40-50 kmph, gusting up to 60 kmph. A yellow alert has been issued for 16 other districts. The Odisha government has cancelled leave for all district-level officers and employees in the five vulnerable districts (Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, and Malkangiri) and directed them to remain at their headquarters. Twenty-four ODRAF teams and six NDRF teams have been deployed across these five districts, with Ganjam receiving 11 teams (including two NDRF units), Gajapati seven teams, and Rayagada, Koraput, and Malkangiri four teams each. Fishing in the sea has been prohibited, and entry of tourists to hills, waterfalls, dams, and other tourist destinations in the five vulnerable districts has been restricted. The agriculture department has advised farmers to harvest and safely store paddy, maize, ragi, and other crops that are 80-85% mature.

Further reading

• Andhra University postpones October 2026 exams; revised dates to be announced
• GSEB SSC, HSC exam dates 2027 announced: board exams from February 25 to March 17
• GSEB SSC, HSC exam dates 2027 announced: Class 10 theory exams expected in late February
• West Bengal HS semester 3 exam 2027 dates revised: check new schedule

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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