Bhubaneswar, 10 April (H.S.): The Odisha Cabinet on Friday approved key amendments to the Odisha Labour Service Rules 2019, offering significant relief to Assistant Labour Officers (ALOs) and Rural Labour Inspectors (RLIs) appointed before the rules came into force.

Under the revised provisions, these officers will be exempted from the requirement of clearing departmental examinations. The decision is expected to facilitate the regularisation of their services within the Odisha Labour Service and make them eligible for promotions to higher posts.

As part of the amendment, the state government has also updated references to central criminal laws in the departmental examination syllabus, aligning it with current legal frameworks.

In a separate decision, the Cabinet approved the framing of the Odisha Employees’ State Insurance Scheme Ministerial Service Rules 2026. The new rules will govern recruitment, promotion and service conditions of ministerial staff working in ESI hospitals and dispensaries across the state.

Officials stated that the introduction of these cadre norms is aimed at strengthening administrative efficiency and improving service delivery under the Employees' State Insurance Scheme, thereby enhancing the overall functioning of the state’s health insurance system.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda