BHUBANESWAR: Women candidates secured the top three positions of the Odisha Civil Services (OCS) Examination 2017, the results of which were declared by the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) in Cuttack Wednesday.
While Ayushi Mahapatra has topped the OCS Examination, Sanjita Mohapatra and Poonam Mahapatra have secured the second and third rank respectively, officials said.
A mechanical engineer by profession, Ayushi, is employed in a private company, said her desire for social service encouraged her to appear for the OCS examination.
Ayushi Mohapatra said, “I used to study 10 – 12 hours every day. I was expecting a good rank. However, I never dreamt of topping the prestigious exam. I want to work in the education and health sector when I complete my training. I would focus on promoting education.”
“I would like to work in education sector. In a state like Odisha, education is a crucial factor for development,” she said.
Sanjita Mohapatra said, “This is my first ever attempt at cracking this exam. I want to thank my husband and family for encouraging me continuously after marriage.”
Pravati Jhodia, the first woman from Jhodia community, also secured 76th rank in the examination. A total of 106 candidates – 64 men and 42 women – cleared the OCS examination. Of the 42 female successful candidates, four were differently-abled candidates, the officials said.
The Preliminary examination of the OCS was held February 18 while the Main examination was conducted from June 25 to July 18. The viva-voce of the examination was held between December 3 and 10.