B.Tech, MBA graduates queue up for Home Guard jobs in Odisha

In a striking display of the employment crisis, thousands of highly educated candidates, including B.Tech, MBA, and MCA graduates, appeared for an exam on Monday to secure a home guard position in Rourkela city of Sundargarh district. The job requires only a Class 5 pass qualification.

Also Read: For Home Guard post in Odisha, youths with B.Tech, M.Tech, MCA degrees apply

9,061 candidates for 107 posts

According to sources, astonishing scenes unfolded in Rourkela City as over 9,000 candidates, many of them with professional degrees such as B.Tech, MBA, MCA, and Diplomas, appeared for the home guard recruitment exam conducted for just 107 posts that remain vacant in the Rourkela Police District.

While the minimum educational qualification for the role is only Class 5 pass, the turnout included a large number of overqualified aspirants, reflecting growing desperation among educated youth in the face of limited job opportunities.

The daily remuneration for the home guard post is Rs 612, a modest amount for individuals with high-level qualifications. However, the lack of alternative employment has driven thousands to seek even these low-paying roles.

The overwhelming response and academic credentials of the applicants have sparked discussions and concerns about underemployment and the State’s employment ecosystem. The incident paints a broader picture of the challenges faced by Odisha’s educated workforce.

This stark mismatch between qualifications and job requirements has triggered debate among social observers, policymakers, and citizens, raising pressing questions about economic planning and job creation.

“Written exams were held today in two sittings for recruitment to home guard posts in Rourkela Police District for the year 2025. The qualifying sittings were Odia Essay Writing and GK (General Knowledge). A total of around 9,061 candidates appeared for the exam,” Rourkela Additional SP (ASP) Ramakanta Sahoo said.

“The exam was conducted smoothly. As many as three ASPs, eight DSPs, 17 Inspectors, 96 SIs (sub-inspectors) and ASIs, and 10 platoons of force, including around 100 home guards, were deployed for the task,” ASP Sahoo expressed.