Odisha's Teacher Recruitment Board in Crisis: What's Going Wrong?

The State Selection Board (SSB) in Odisha is currently facing a significant administrative crisis, with over half of its positions vacant and no permanent leadership for more than three years. This interim arrangement raises concerns about the integrity of the recruitment process for teachers and lecturers. With critical decisions regarding exams and recruitment being delayed, calls for appointing a qualified academic to lead the board are growing. The reliance on officials from other departments has further complicated the situation, potentially impacting the quality of education in the state. Read on to learn more about the challenges facing Odisha's education system.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 9, 2026, 10:01 IST

Administrative Turmoil at the State Selection Board

SUCHISMITA SAHU, OP

Bhubaneswar: The State Selection Board (SSB) in Odisha, responsible for hiring teachers and lecturers, is currently grappling with a significant administrative crisis. Over 50% of its authorized positions remain unfilled, and the board has been operating without a permanent structure for more than three years.

This interim setup has raised serious questions regarding the effectiveness and integrity of the recruitment process for the state's educational institutions.

Professor Daksha Prasad Nanda, the last permanent chairman, retired in March 2023, and since then, no official appointment has been made to fill the position. Professor Gangadhar Nayak acted as chairman until July 2024, after which Kaliprasanna Mahapatra, the Director of Higher Education, took on the additional responsibilities from August 2024.

While two additional secretary-level officers have been designated as vice-chairman and member alongside the acting chairman, this arrangement is not viewed as a viable replacement for a fully functional board. The day-to-day operations have increasingly relied on a single secretary.

The SSB is tasked with making critical decisions regarding recruitment exams, such as setting examination fees, determining the format of tests (online or offline), selecting exam centers, ensuring security, and managing sensitive issues related to question papers.

There are calls for appointing a qualified academic to lead the SSB, similar to past practices where professors were chosen for their expertise in curriculum development, exam management, and upholding recruitment standards.

Currently, officials from other departments are temporarily assigned to the SSB, which limits their ability to focus entirely on its operations. This situation has sparked concerns about the potential negative effects on exam management and the overall recruitment process.