Odisha Targets Top-5 Developed State Status By 2036

Bhubaneswar : On the first day of 2026, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi issued a comprehensive 15-point directive aimed at energising the state administration, expediting decision-making and steering the state towards becoming one of India’s top five developed states by 2036.

Official sources said the directives were formally communicated to the newly appointed Chief Secretary, Anu Garg, with the Chief Minister instructing the administrative machinery to operate in mission mode and focus on clearly defined, time-bound targets.

The roadmap outlines the government’s vision of building a “prosperous Odisha” by 2036 through a mixed-economy approach, with strong emphasis on industrial growth, investment facilitation and efficient public service delivery. The directives call for faster clearances at the district level and the removal of procedural bottlenecks that often delay development projects. 

As part of the agenda, district collectors have been instructed to fast-track key administrative and development-related processes, particularly those linked to investment proposals. The Chief Minister underscored the need for strict adherence to timelines in implementing government decisions to improve governance outcomes. 

Human resource management forms another major component of the directive. The administration has been asked to take concrete steps to fill vacant government posts within the next two years, a move aimed at strengthening service delivery and administrative capacity. 

The directives assume added significance as they come soon after Anu Garg took charge as Odisha’s first woman Chief Secretary, succeeding Manoj Ahuja at Lok Seva Bhawan. CM Majhi emphasised that the Chief Secretary’s role in inter-departmental coordination and monitoring priority sectors would be crucial in translating policy intent into measurable results. 

Earlier, the new Chief Secretary had highlighted the importance of the ‘Odisha Vision 2036–2047’ document, noting that coordinated executive action would be vital to achieving the benchmarks outlined for the coming decades, in line with the Chief Minister’s vision.