Odisha’s Chief Secretary Anu Garg today chaired a secretary-level meeting at Kharavela Bhavan.
The meeting reviewed the state’s economic performance, expenditure trends, revenue realisation for the financial year 2025-26, strategies to elevate Odisha’s tourism to global standards, and directives for employee capacity building during Sadhana Saptah-2026.
The Finance Department presented a detailed overview of the state’s financial position up to March 31, 2026. Overall expenditure under the 2025-26 budget showed an 8.8% increase compared to the corresponding period last year, while expenditure on schemes and programmes rose by 10%. Notable growth was recorded in key sectors: agriculture and allied activities (including fisheries and animal resources) witnessed a 13% rise, alongside significant increases in infrastructure, social sectors, handlooms, tourism, and skill development.
Revenue realization, including the state’s own revenue, non-tax revenue, share of central taxes, and grants, reached 83.42% of the target. The meeting appreciated the collective efforts of the Revenue, Steel & Mines, and Finance Departments, along with all other departments, for sustained progress in both expenditure and revenue mobilization.
Senior officials emphasized the need for regular monitoring of infrastructure projects under the upcoming 2026-27 budget. Departments were advised to consolidate similar schemes into an integrated framework for better tracking and implementation. Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary Deoranjan Kumar Singh was directed to review this at the departmental level and submit proposals.
A dedicated presentation on tourism development was made by Tourism Commissioner-cum-Secretary Balwant Singh. The discussion aligned with the long-term goals of **Developed Odisha by 2036** and **Developed India by 2047**. Key highlights included tourism’s potential to generate direct and indirect employment, promote inclusive growth in rural and remote areas, upgrade skills of local communities, and protect the state’s rich heritage, culture, and natural resources.
Chief Secretary Anu Garg stressed the importance of making Odisha a preferred global tourism destination. She called for coordinated efforts among departments including Water Resources, Railways, National Highways, Works, Rural Development, and Revenue. Under the theme **“Think India, Think Odisha”**, she urged all stakeholders to collaborate so that international visitors to India choose Odisha as their top destination.
During the meeting, officials also reviewed power transmission infrastructure presented by OPTCL Chairman-cum-Managing Director Bhaskar Jyoti Sharma. Progress in grid substations and network strengthening, especially in the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack region, was appreciated for supporting industrial growth and meeting future demand.
On the capacity-building front, mandatory training under **Sadhana Saptah-2026** (April 2–8) was highlighted. All officers and employees must complete at least one AI (Artificial Intelligence) course and one iGOT-approved marketplace course, dedicating a minimum of 4 hours during the week. Participants were encouraged to share their learning on social media with the hashtag **#igotitOdisha** to promote wider adoption. Additional Chief Secretary Chitra Arumugam provided details on coordination through the Gopabandhu Administrative Academy.
Chief Secretary Garg directed all departments and district-level offices to ensure 100% registration on the iGOT platform and actively increase the number of active users.
The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretaries Hemant Sharma, Dr. Arabinda K Kumar Padhee, Vishal Kumar Dev, Usha Padhee, and other senior officers, including Principal Secretaries, Commissioners, and Secretaries of various departments.
