Bhubaneswar, Feb. 16: The students of Utkal University, aspiring to join various government services, have threatened agitation if the state government delays raising of the upper age limit for various competitive exams, including the civil services examinations.

The students rued that despite the mention of it in the Odisha State Youth Policy, thegovernment has delayed its promise of raising the age bar from 32 to 40 years for the applicants.

A student said many qualified youth had been left in the lurch due to lack of employment opportunities and strongly pleaded for raising the upper age limit for entry into the state government services.

Besides, the squeeze in the job market due to economic slowdown has caused further unemployment. The situation is becoming explosive, cautioned the students adding that it had become imperative to enhance the upper age limit for entry into government services to provide an opportunity to the unemployed youth to take the competitive tests.

Competitive exams such as the Odisha Administrative Services (OAS), sub-inspector (SI) and assistant section officer (ASO) are not being held at regular intervals, because of which the poor meritorious students, who are not able to afford professional and technical education, have been left disappointed.

"The last ASO exam was held in 2012, the last SI exam was held in 2013 and the last OAS exam was held in 2011," said Govind, a PhD student.

Many states, including Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Harayana, Punjab, Rajasthana and Bengal,which are economically more advanced than Odisha, have enhanced the upper age limit for entry into their government services. The students, therefore, requested the state government to take a considered view on the issue.

The students threatened to take out a peaceful dharna during the last week of this month. A large number of students across the state are expected to take part in the event.

Besides, another group pf students have announced a rally pressing for similar demands on February 19.

Several postgraduate and PhD students of the university had recently submitted a memorandum to chief secretary Gokul Chandra Pati, following which the issue was raised in the Assembly. However, it was put down during a voice vote.