The Odisha Government today appointed nine IAS probationers of the 2014 batch of Odisha Cadre as Block Development Officers (BDOs) across various blocks in the state.
Issued under Section 15-A of the Odisha Panchayat Samiti Act-1959, this decision aims to strengthen administrative and financial oversight at the grassroots level.
The appointments, effective from November 3, 2025, to November 29, 2025, include a four-week Block Level Training period during which the probationers will take independent charge as BDOs.
The list of appointed IAS probationers and their respective postings are as follows:
- Animesh Pradhan (Lanjigarh/Kalahandi),
- Prajnanandan Giri (Lakhanpur/Jharsuguda),
- Kashish Bakshi (Ms.) (Baripada/Mayurbhanj),
- Fabi Rasheed (Ms.) (Sundargarh/Sundargarh),
- Mrinalika Rathore (Ms.) (Kukudakhandi/Ganjam),
- Shubhra Panda (Ms.) (Naktideul/Sambalpur),
- Pawan Kumar (Telkoi/Keonjhar),
- Bhagat Shyamlal Kalyanrao (Ms.) (Hindol/Dhenkanal), and
- Santosh Kumar Patra (Narayanpatna/Koraput).
These probationers will exercise both administrative and financial powers as stipulated under Rule-13 of the Odisha Panchayat Samiti (Administration of Affairs) Rules, 1987. During their tenure, the existing BDOs working in the mentioned blocks will be deputed to respective district headquarters to work in Zilla Parishads.
The move is seen as a strategic step to provide hands-on experience to the new IAS officers while ensuring efficient governance at the block level.
