Kataka: Amid the statewide Odisha bandh called by the Congress-led INDIA bloc on October 8 over several demands, the Board of Secondary Education (BSE), Odisha, on Tuesday clarified the D.El.Ed Examination-2026 will be held as scheduled.

The clarification has allayed apprehensions among candidates about the examination paper scheduled for October 8 in view of the strike call.

In a notification, the Board stated the paper scheduled for October 8, 2026, will be conducted as usual.
Already, three sessions/papers of the examination have been completed. The D.El.Ed Examination-2026 commenced on October 3 and will continue till October 16, 2026.

The Board further stated that the FC-1 (CIE) paper will be conducted from 9 a.m. to 12 noon in a single sitting on October 8.

Candidates have been advised to reach their respective examination centres by the reporting time of 8 a.m. on October 8 to ensure hassle-free entry.

Meanwhile, the Congress-led INDIA bloc has called a 12-hour statewide bandh on October 8, demanding the repeal of the MMDR Amendment Act, 2026, and the resignation of Odisha School and Mass Education Minister Nityanand Gond over alleged errors in textbooks.

The bloc has also demanded action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

In addition, the Opposition alliance has sought immediate assistance and relief for people affected by floods across the state.