Session Held in Two Phases for 22 Days
The Odisha Legislative Assembly’s Budget Session concluded today, earlier than scheduled. The session, which began on February 17 and was originally slated to continue until April 8, saw a total of 22 sitting days across two phases.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi presented the state Budget for the financial year 2026–27 on February 20.

Frequent Disruptions and Opposition Protests
The proceedings were marked by repeated disruptions. In the first phase, opposition members protested over alleged irregularities in paddy procurement, leading to several days of stalled House proceedings.

In the second phase, opposition parties continued protests for nine consecutive days, demanding the resignation of the Health Minister over the SCB Medical College fire incident. As a result, much of the legislative business could not function normally.

Despite the disruptions, opposition members participated in discussions on the Appropriation Bill.

Key Legislative Business Completed
On the final day, the Assembly witnessed nearly four hours of discussions before passing the Odisha Government Universities Cadre Reservation Bill, 2026. The bill aims to ensure reservation policies in teaching appointments by treating each state-run university as a single unit.

However, the bill related to salary hikes for ministers and MLAs, as well as pensions for former legislators, was withdrawn after several members demanded a review. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Mahaling stated that the decision was taken following calls for reconsideration.

Discussion on Reservation and Vacancy Concerns
Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj highlighted that while central institutions follow a unified reservation system, Odisha lacked such a framework for its state universities.

He also pointed out that out of 2,086 sanctioned teaching posts in state universities, only 659 are currently filled, emphasizing the need for legislation to address vacancies and ensure representation of SC, ST, SEBC, and other categories.

Opposition Demands and Debate
Opposition leaders, including Ranendra Pratap Swain, Arun Kumar Sahoo, Ashok Das, Dhruva Charan Sahu, and Ganeshwar Behera, demanded that the bill be referred to a Select Committee for further review. However, the government argued for its immediate implementation due to its importance.

The Speaker later allowed discussions, but the opposition strongly opposed the bill.

Tributes and Adjournment
The House also witnessed discussions on Biju Babu in the morning session, followed by extensive debates on the budget and the reservation bill.

In his closing remarks, Chief Minister Majhi thanked all members for their participation. Opposition Chief Whip Pramila Mallik and Congress MLA Ashok Das also expressed gratitude on behalf of their respective parties.

At 12:41 AM, the Speaker adjourned the House sine die, marking the end of the Budget Session after a turbulent yet productive legislative period.

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Government Rejects Thousands of Rural Settlement Applications

In a major announcement in the Odisha Assembly today, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari declared that there will be no creation of new gram panchayats or blocks in the state for the foreseeable future. The decision is a setback for thousands of rural settlements aspiring for independent administrative identity.

Statistics: Applications, Rejections, and Pending Proposals

While answering a starred question, Pujari revealed that the Revenue Department received 5,566 applications for the formation of new “pada gaons” (revenue villages). Out of these, 2,501 proposals were outright rejected, while 1,177 applications remain under consideration. The rest have already been processed and decided.

Tribal Districts Hit Hardest

The tribal-dominated districts faced the most significant impact from the rejections. Rayagada led with 256 rejected applications, followed by Malkangiri (235), Gajapati (233), and Ganjam (200). Many of these settlements had hoped for separate panchayats, better funding, and accelerated development.

Reasons Cited for Rejection

The Minister explained that the rejections were based on strict adherence to existing guidelines, including population, area, revenue generation capacity, and distance from parent villages. Despite this, some political analysts argue the move could be aimed at preventing new delimitation exercises ahead of the 2027 panchayat elections.

Implications for Rural Development

Millions of villagers in these “padas” will continue to remain under larger revenue villages, limiting their voice in gram sabhas and delaying the implementation of development schemes. Opposition parties protested in the Assembly, but the message was clear: Odisha’s rural administrative map will remain unchanged for now.

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Worrying Vacancies in Elite Services

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi revealed in the State Assembly that Odisha is facing a severe shortage of highly qualified administrators. A total of 182 vacancies have been identified across the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Forest Service (IFS), raising concerns about governance and law enforcement efficiency.

Assembly Question Sparks Revelation

The issue came to light after BJD MLA Arun Kumar Sahoo sought details on the sanctioned strength and current vacancies in Odisha’s elite services. Majhi’s written reply highlighted the gravity of the situation:

• IAS: 45 out of 248 posts unfilled

• IPS: 66 out of 195 posts vacant

• IFS: contributing to the total of 182 vacant posts

In addition, the Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) has 342 vacancies, and the Odisha Police Service (OPS) has 141 posts unoccupied, putting further strain on the state’s bureaucratic framework.

Implications for Governance and Development

The staffing shortage comes at a time when Odisha is pushing for rapid development and enhanced law enforcement. Experts warn that:

• IPS vacancies could hamper efforts to control crime

• IAS gaps might slow the implementation of critical policies

• Rural and tribal areas may experience a decline in public service delivery

Government Response

While Chief Minister Majhi assured the Assembly that measures are underway to address these vacancies, specific details remain unclear. The lack of senior officers raises concerns over administrative efficiency, particularly as Odisha aims to become a manufacturing hub and create 1.5 lakh government jobs over the next five years. The government faces the dual challenge of strengthening the bureaucracy while advancing ambitious reform plans.

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