In a landmark session chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, the 24th Cabinet Meeting of the Odisha Government convened at Lok Seva Bhawan today, approving seven major proposals across six departments.
Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja briefed the media on the outcomes, emphasising the government’s commitment to inclusive development and administrative reform.
✅ Highlights of Cabinet Decisions:
-
Museum Governance in Odisha Gets a Boost with New Directorate:
To improve the management of museums in Odisha, the State Cabinet approved the establishment of a separate Directorate of Museums on October 19, 2023. This initiative aims to enhance operations, curatorial standards, and cultural heritage preservation. The Odisha Museum Curatorial Services Rules, vetted by the relevant departments and supported by the Odisha Public Service Commission, were also presented for approval. This new framework will promote professional museum services and better coordination among museums in the state.
✅ Key Highlights
-
- 🏛️ New Initiative: Creation of a separate Directorate of Museums in Odisha
- 📜 Purpose: To ensure better management, coordination, and curatorial services across state museums
- 🧾 Regulatory Framework:
- Odisha Museum Curatorial Services Rules proposed
- Vetted by GA & PG, Finance, and Law Departments
- Approved by Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC)
- 🤝 Leadership Approval: Proposal placed before Cabinet after Hon’ble Chief Minister’s directive
- 🎯 Expected Outcome:
- Enhanced professionalism in museum operations
- Improved coordination among state and regional museums
- Strengthened cultural preservation and public engagement
- Ministerial Services Rules for CT & GST Offices:The Odisha Cabinet has approved the establishment of a world-class Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility at Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA), Bhubaneswar. This initiative marks a strategic leap in transforming Odisha into a regional aviation hub under the B-MAAN (Building and Management of Aviation Assets and Network) scheme.
Key Highlights:
- 📌 Cabinet Approval for Incentives: A special package of additional incentives—beyond the Industrial Policy Resolution (IPR) 2022—has been sanctioned to attract private investment in the capital-intensive MRO sector.
- 🛠️ Anchor Investor Finalised: M/s Air Works India (Engineering) Pvt. Ltd., the country’s oldest and largest third-party MRO provider, has been selected to establish and operate the facility.
- 🌍 Global Market Potential: According to a NITI Aayog report, the global MRO market is projected to reach USD 117 billion by 2031, up from USD 68.5 billion in 2021—a 70% surge.
- India’s Aviation Boom: With India poised to become the third-largest aviation market globally, domestic airlines are expanding their fleet from 713 aircraft to over 1,700 in the next 5–10 years. Maintenance costs currently account for 12–15% of airline revenues, second only to fuel.
- 📈 Indian MRO Growth Forecast: The Indian MRO industry is expected to grow to USD 4.0 billion by 2031, at a CAGR of 8.9%, driven by increased regional connectivity and cargo movement.
- 📍 Strategic Location Advantage: Odisha’s proximity to major air routes positions it ideally to serve both domestic and international carriers, making Bhubaneswar a natural choice for MRO development.
- 🏗️ Governance & Oversight: The Commerce & Transport Department will lead implementation, while the High Power Committee on Aviation will monitor project rollout.
- 🚀 Visionary Infrastructure Push: This move aligns with Odisha’s broader agenda of infrastructure-led, employment-driven growth and positions the state as a frontrunner in civil aviation services in Eastern India.
- 24×7 Drinking Water Supply for Sambalpur:The Government of Odisha’s Housing and Urban Development Department has approved the “Improvement of Drinking Water Supply with 24×7 Water Supply System to Sambalpur Town” project. Executed on an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) basis, it includes five years of operation and maintenance. As Sambalpur’s population is projected to grow from 4.75 lakhs to 7 lakhs by 2043, this initiative aims to provide continuous tap-quality water to Sambalpur, Hirakud, and Burla.
Key Components of the Project:
- 🏗️ Construction of a 110 MLD capacity intake well in Sambalpur Distributary at Hirakud Dam for Sambalpur and Hirakud towns.
- 🚰 Installation of 3 vertical turbine pump sets (185 HP each) with Variable Frequency Drives (VFD).
- 🧪 Establishment of a 65 MLD conventional Water Treatment Plant (WTP) at Tipupada for Sambalpur and Hirakud.
- 💧 Construction of a 35 MLD conventional WTP at Burla.
- ♻️ Provision of wastewater recycling and sludge treatment units for each WTP.
- 🔄 Installation of 6 centrifugal pump sets (160 HP each) with VFD at Tipupada for clear water pumping to Sambalpur and Hirakud.
The project, with a capital expenditure of Rs 382.40 crore (excluding GST), aligns with the Viksit Odisha vision and meets CPHEEO guidelines and IS 10500 standards. Eagle Infra India Ltd., Thane, Maharashtra, is the selected executing agency, with work starting on 1st September 2025 and concluding by 31st August 2027.
- Smart LED Street Lighting in 110 ULBs:The Government of Odisha, through its Housing & Urban Development Department (H&UDD), has sanctioned funding for the implementation of the “LED Public Street Lighting Project” across 110 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). This initiative aims to enhance public safety and urban infrastructure by installing smart, energy-efficient LED luminaires in both newly developed (Greenfield) and existing (Retrofitting) road stretches.
Key Highlights of the Project:
- ✅ Scope of Implementation: The project covers installation, operation, and maintenance (O&M) of LED streetlights in Greenfield stretches and retrofitting of existing infrastructure across 110 ULBs.
- 💡 Rationale: With the expansion of urban areas and the addition of new zones, the demand for public street lighting has significantly increased. ULBs have submitted proposals for additional LED points and supporting infrastructure.
- 🔧 Retrofitting Needs: Existing streetlight systems require replacement of defective components and regular O&M to ensure continued functionality and safety.
- 🏛️ Cabinet Approval: In its 69th meeting held on 30.12.2023, the Odisha Cabinet approved the project, recognising its importance for urban safety and energy efficiency.
- 💰 Funding Structure:
- Greenfield Areas: Capital costs to be covered through a combination of OUIDF Loan, OUIDF Grant, and ULB contributions.
- Retrofitting Stretches: Funding and execution details are aligned with the approved cabinet framework, focusing on upgrading existing infrastructure.
- Framing of Odisha Ministerial Services (Commercial Taxes & GST Range and Sub-ordinate Offices) Rules, 2025:
📌 Organisational Structure
- The Commercial Taxes & GST Organisation functions under the Finance Department.
- It comprises:
- Commissionerate of CT&GST (apex level)
- 12 Territorial Ranges (middle level)
- 50 Territorial Circles (grassroots level)
- These 12 Ranges span across all 30 districts of Odisha.
- A total of 358 sanctioned Junior Assistant posts exist at the district level under the Commissionerate.
🧾 Policy Background
- The GA & PG Department, via Resolution No. 8898/Gen. dated 15.03.2024, introduced a uniform pay structuring model for district ministerial cadres across departments.
- Key directives from the resolution:
- No common cadre across departments.
- Each department must frame separate recruitment rules for its own district ministerial cadre.
- These rules will govern recruitment methods and conditions of service.
📜 New Rules Framed
- In line with the above resolution, the Odisha Ministerial Services (Commercial Taxes & GST Range and Sub-ordinate Offices) Rules, 2025 have been formulated.
- These rules regulate recruitment and service conditions for ministerial staff under offices subordinate to the CT&GST Commissionerate.
👥 Cadre Composition
The newly defined cadre includes:
- Junior Assistants – Level 4
- Senior Assistants – Level 8
- Assistant Section Officers – Level 9
- Section Officers – Level 10
- Establishment Officers – Level 11
📊 Recruitment Method
- 80% of Junior Assistant posts will be filled through direct recruitment.
- 20% will be filled through promotion from eligible Group-D employees.
- Nursing Education Service Rules, 2025:
- The Odisha Cabinet has approved the proposal to frame the “Odisha Nursing Education Service (Method of Recruitment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 2025.”
🏫 Current Infrastructure
- There are 8 Government Colleges of Nursing operating in the state.
- 21 ANM Training Centres are currently functional.
- 7 new Colleges of Nursing are being established under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme, co-located with Medical Colleges & Hospitals.
📋 Need for New Rules
- No specific recruitment rules currently exist for faculty appointments in Nursing Colleges and ANM Training Centres.
- The absence of structured guidelines has hindered systematic recruitment and career progression.
📘 Provisions of the New Rules
- The rules define the method of recruitment for the base-level post of Tutor.
- They also outline the promotion process to higher teaching positions.
🎯 Expected Outcomes
- Facilitate filling up of vacant teaching posts at the base level.
- Enable promotion of eligible faculty members.
- Significantly strengthen nursing education across Odisha.
- Model Mandis for Agricultural Reform:The Government of Odisha is implementing reforms in agricultural marketing to improve farmers’ market access, reduce post-harvest losses, and ensure fair pricing. Through the Cooperation Department, it is procuring paddy via Paddy Procurement Centres (PPCs) to guarantee Minimum Support Price (MSP). A new State Plan Scheme has been approved to establish “Model Mandis” across the State, which will provide integrated hubs for farmers and traders with upgraded infrastructure and digital systems for efficient agri-trade operations.
Key Highlights of the Model Mandi Scheme:
- ✅ Objective: To build a transparent, tech-enabled agri-marketing ecosystem that boosts farmer incomes through direct market linkages and modern infrastructure.
- 🏗️ Infrastructure Features:
- Modern storage facilities
- Raised concrete drying platforms
- Covered sheds and cooling chambers
- Quality testing kiosks
- Farmers’ rest sheds and clean toilets (with separate facilities for women and men)
- Eateries, vending zones, bank branches, ATMs
- Vehicle parking, electronic weighbridges, retail outlets, and waste disposal units
- 📍 Implementation Strategy:
- Existing Mandis have been reassessed for infrastructure needs
- Officers deployed across districts to identify suitable locations
- First phase: 38 Mandis selected across all 30 districts
- Total of 325 Mandis planned: 14 large, 17 medium, and 7 small in initial rollout
- Second phase: 62 additional Mandis under identification
- 🏢 Execution & Oversight:
- Odisha Bridge & Construction Corporation Ltd. (OBCC) to develop infrastructure
- Odisha State Agricultural Marketing Board (OSAM Board) to monitor progress via a Project Monitoring Cell (PMC)
- 💰 Financial Outlay:
- Estimated cost: ₹300 crore for 2025–26 and 2026–27
- ₹150 crore from Regulated Market Committees (RMCs)
- ₹150 crore from the State Plan Scheme
- ₹50 crore already provisioned in the current financial year
