In a landmark move to transform governance, the Government of Odisha signed a non-financial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Centre for Effective Governance of Indian States (CEGIS) today, launching a Decision Support System (DSS) to drive data-driven, evidence-based public service delivery.
The signing took place at the Chief Minister’s Conference Hall in Lok Seva Bhawan, Bhubaneswar, marking a significant step toward realising the vision of *Viksit Odisha* by 2036 and 2047.
The five-year partnership aims to institutionalise capacity building, optimise expenditure, and enhance service delivery across key sectors like health, education, disaster management, livelihoods, and digital infrastructure. The MoU was formalised by Vineet Bharadwaj, Executive Director of the Centre for Modernising Government Initiative (CMGI), on behalf of the Odisha Government, and Dr. Vijay Pinage, CEO of CEGIS, in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo.
Deputy Chief Minister Singh Deo addressed the gathering, welcoming the CEGIS team and emphasising Odisha’s rich heritage, as well as the government’s commitment to serving its people. “This MoU with CEGIS is a transformative step toward governance reforms. By placing data, evidence, and outcomes at the core of public service delivery, we aim to make our solutions smarter, targeted, and responsive,” he said. He highlighted the government’s efforts over the past year and expressed confidence that the partnership would strengthen institutional systems to achieve long-term goals.
Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja underscored Odisha’s dedication to seamless public services, stating, “Our investment in technology and training aims to eliminate bureaucratic hurdles and ensure every citizen experiences convenience and efficiency at the last mile.” Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary Anu Garg echoed this sentiment, noting that the collaboration with CEGIS would bolster capacity building to meet the state’s ambitious objectives.
CEGIS, a non-profit organisation with over 150 professionals, is already working with key Government of India institutions like NITI Aayog, MoSPI, and the Capacity Building Commission. Prof. Kartik Muralidharan, Co-Founder and Scientific Director of CEGIS, introduced the DSS as a tool to enable data-driven governance, serving as the Chief Minister’s Office’s first point of reference for informed decision-making. Dr. Pinage elaborated on CEGIS’s focus areas, including social sector analytics, financial optimisation, and institutional strengthening.
Vineet Bharadwaj described the MoU as a “benchmark in good governance” for Odisha. The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Additional Secretary, GA & PG Department, Debabrata Mallick, and was coordinated by Under Secretary to the Chief Secretary, Ansuman Rath and OSD, CMGI, Samarendra Sarangi.
This collaboration is poised to redefine governance in Odisha, aligning cutting-edge analytics with the state’s vision for a prosperous and inclusive future.
