In a significant move to overhaul bureaucratic accountability, the Odisha government has announced that promotions for revenue officers will now be strictly linked to measurable performance and public satisfaction—eliminating lobbying, favoritism, and influence from the process.
Addressing a gathering of registration officers on Saturday, Additional Chief Secretary of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Deoranjan Kumar Singh, emphasized that artificial intelligence (AI) will now play a central role in officer evaluations.
“Your work will be assessed using AI, translated into clear performance metrics, and rated on a scale of 1 to 5. These ratings will directly influence your career progression,” Singh stated firmly.
Performance Over Patronage
Under the new system, officers will be evaluated not just through traditional Confidential Character Reports (CCRs), but also via AI-analyzed performance data and citizen feedback. The aim is to create a transparent, data-backed framework for promotions and postings.
Officers consistently receiving low ratings may face stalled career progression, officials confirmed.
Feedback-Driven Governance
Singh voiced concern over the gap between perceived and actual performance among officers:
“Many officers believe they are doing well. But public feedback often tells a different story—complaints about unresponsiveness, delays, and negligence are far too common,” he noted.
He took a hard stance against persistent malpractices in registration offices, citing complaints that the public often must chase officials or pay bribes just to get their work done.
“In some offices, citizens feel unless they beg or bribe, work won’t move. That mindset must end.”
Discipline and Ethics Called For
Singh urged officers to:
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Report to work on time
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Address public grievances sincerely
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Uphold institutional ethics
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Shift their attitude from gatekeepers of bureaucracy to public service facilitators
The announcement marks a significant step in the Odisha government’s push for digitization, transparency, and citizen-centric governance—aligning state administration with modern performance standards.
