The Odisha government has transferred and posted 10 Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) officers as Block Development Officers (BDOs) across various districts, while reverting three others to the Revenue and Disaster Management (R&DM) department.
The notification, issued on November 29, 2025, by the Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water (PR&DW) Department, emphasises bolstering block-level administration in line with the state’s Panchayati Raj framework.
Among the fresh appointments, seven officers have been elevated or shifted to new BDO roles:
- Akash Ranjan Sahoo, currently Tahasildar in Kolnara, Rayagada, has been posted as BDO of Naktideul Block in Sambalpur district.
- Tilottama Prusty, Deputy Sub-Collector (DSR) in Jajpur, will now head Rajnagar Block in Kendrapara.
- Pritibala Rana, Tahasildar in Gania, Nayagarh, is transferred to Odagaon Block in the same district.
- Sarat Kumar Bag, Special Land Acquisition Officer (LAO) at the Rengali Irrigation Project in Sukinda, Jajpur, takes charge as BDO of Binika Block in Sonepur.
- Sunil Kumar Tudu, Tahasildar in Kashipur, Rayagada, moves to Simulia Block in Balasore.
- Pratik Kar, Tahasildar in Bangiriposhi, Mayurbhanj, is appointed BDO of Sonepur Block in Sonepur district.
- Sanjib Kumar Sahu, the incumbent BDO of Sonepur Block, has been reassigned as BDO of Mahakalpada Block in Kendrapada.
In a parallel move, three officers are being relieved from their PR&DW duties and sent back to the R&DM department to address broader revenue and disaster management needs:
- Soumyashree Panigrahi, current BDO of Mahakalpada Block in Kendrapada.
- Arjuni Kujur, who was on deputation as Collector of Deogarh.
- Jayajagat Sahu, BDO of Belaguntha Block.
