Odisha Cabinet approves Odisha Global Capabilities Centre Policy 2025

Bhubaneswar (By Abhishek Mohanty): In a significant move to strengthen Odisha's position in the global business landscape, the State Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday approved the Odisha Global Capability Centre (GCC) Policy 2025. The policy aims to attract leading multinational corporations (MNCs) to establish and expand their GCCs in Odisha by offering a robust ecosystem of world-class infrastructure, skilled talent, and progressive incentives.

Over the last decade, Odisha has steadily evolved into a promising hub for information Technology (IT) and IT-enabled Services (ITES), supported by a forward-looking 11 Policy and a growing pool of skilled professionals. This transformation aligns with the broader trend of GCCs expanding into Tier-ll cities to leverage cost advantages and regional talent. Odisha, with its strategic location, improving urban infrastructure, and proactive governance, is well-positioned to become a preferred destination for global capability centres.

Aligned with the State's long-term development roadmap under Viksit Odisha 2036 and 2047, the policy envisions facilitating Rs 1,000 crore+ investment, establishing at least 5 state-of-the-art GCC hubs, starting Bhubaneswar Cuttack-Puri-Paradip and Bargarh-Jharsuguda-Sambalpur economic regions, and generating over 50,000 direct and indirect employment uppurtunities across the state. The policy also promotes balanced regional development by encouraging investments not only in Bhubaneswar but also in emerging Tier-II cities across the state.

The Odisha GCC Policy is designed to position the state as a preferred destination for Global Capability Centres by offering a comprehensive set of incentives. Serving as a top-up to the recently announced Odisha IT Policy 2025, it allows eligible GCC units to avail benefits related to land rates, Icase rentals, human capital upskilling, power tariffs, interest subsidies, marketing. SGST reimbursement, R&D, and PF/ESI contributions as per the newly unveiled Odisha IT Policy 2025 in addition, the GCC Policy introduces exclusive incentives tailored to the sector's needs, including capital and infrastructure support, relocation assistance for domestic and international firms, co-working space rental subsidies, intenship and recruitment support, and customized packages for mega GCCs.

These measures reflect the state government's commitment to realizing the Prime Minister's vision of Viksit Bharat through accelerated infrastructure development, high-value investments, and inclusive employment generation, positioning Odisha as a driving force in India's growth story.

A Policy Advocacy & Vision Group (PAVG) comprising experts from academia, industry, and policy will guide implementation, while the Odisha Computer Application Centre (OCAC) will act as the Nodal Agency. The Electronics & Information Technology (E&IT) Department will periodically review progress and make policy refinements to maintain Odisha's competitive edge.

The policy aligns with Odisha's broader digital transformation vision under the Viksit Odisha 2036 and 2047 initiatives and complements the Odisha IT Policy 2025. The Odisha GCC Policy 2025 is expected to act as a catalyst for global Investment, accelerating the state's transition into a premier hub for global capability centres, driving innovation, generating employment, and contributing significantly to Odisha's economic growth and technological leadership.

The Cabinet approved establishment of Odisha Uniformed Services Staff Selection Commission (OUSSSC).

Recruitment for various ranks in the Odisha Police and other uniformed services is currently being conducted through different departmental boards which has resulted in abnormal delays and irregularities in examinations. Hence, in order to streamline the recruitment process, it has been proposed to constitute a dedicated recruiting agency namely the Odisha Uniformed Services Staff Selection Commission (OUSSSC) under the administrative control of General Administration & Public Grievance Department for selecting officers and personnel of different ranks in the Odisha Police and other uniformed services under Home Departmeal, Excise Department, Forest, Environment & Climate Change Department and Commerce & Transport Department.

The main objective of creating this Commission is to ensure timely. transparent, efficient, and merit-based recruitment across all uniformed services in Odisha through a standardized, technology-driven and accountable process.

Therefore, it has been approved to frame Odisha Uniformed Services Staff Selection Commission Rules, 2023.

The State Cabinet has approved the proposal for restructuring the Odisha Subordinate Statistical Surveyors (OSSS) cadre under the Planning & Convergence Department to strengthen the state's statistical system and ensure generation of reliable, high-quality data. The restructuring aims to modernize the cadre by revising its pay structure, cadre strength, and promotional avenues to attract and retain skilled professionals capable of meeting the growing demand for digital data collection, and for establishment of Block Statistical Offices for effective decentralized supervision of census and survey works under Directorate of Economics & Statistics.

The major changes include 231 posts of Statistical Field Surveyor (SFS) have been abolished, reducing the sanctioned strength of SFS from 1185 to 954.

The post of Statistical Field Inspector (SHI) has been re-designated as Statistical Supervisor (SS), with pay enhancement from Level-4 (pre-revised pay: PB-1, Rs.5200-20200 with GP Rs.1900) to Level-7 (pre-revised pay: PB-1, Rs.5200-20,200 with GP Ks. 2400) under ORSP Rules, 2017.

The sanctioned strength of re-designated Statistical Supervisor(55) has been increased from existing 145 to 334, corresponding to the abolition of base level 189 SFS posts.

The residency period for promotion from Statistical Field Surveyor (SFS) to Statistical Supervisor(SS) has been revised from 10 years to 6 years of service as SFS.
Senior Statistical Field Inspector (SSFI) has been re-designated as Block Statistical Officer (BSO), with an enhancement of pay scale from Level-7 (pre-revised pay: PB-1, Rs.5200 20200 with GP Rs.2400) to Level-9 (pre-revised pay: P8-2, Rs.9300-34800 with GP-R 4200) under ORSP Rules, 2017.

The sanctioned strength of re-designated Block Statistical Officer (BSO) has been increased from 84 to 126 in lieu of abolition of base level 42 SFS posts.

As per decision taken during the meeting, the General Administration (GA) & Public Grievance (PG) Department is authorised for all post allotment activities of the land allotted to the eligible occupants of Labour tenements under Low Income Group Housing Scheme earlier allotted by erstwhile Labour Employment & Housing Department and all such incidental matters connected thereto.

The Housing & Urban Development Department shall transfer all the lease records to GA & PG Department in respect of these tenements for taking up the post allotment activities.

Another decision taken at the meeting include the enhancement of pre-matric scholarship & post matric scholarship rates provided to scheduled tribes/ scheduled castes students under "Mukhya Mantri Medhabi Chatra Protsahan Yojana".

Considering, rise is food and non-food items in the state, the governement has decided to enhance the pre-matric scholarship rates provided to boarders residing in hostels under the Administrative Control of ST & SC Development, M & BCW Department and School & Mass Education Department under Mukhya Mantri Medhahi Chatra Protsahan Yojana (for ST/SC) boarder students. Pre-MS rates are enhanced from Rs.10500 to Rs.16000 for a boy boarder and from Rs.11000 to Rs.17000 for a girl boarder per annum (for 10 months) respectively. These rates are extended from Shishu Vatika to Class X ST/SC boarders residing in hostels under the Administrative Control of ST & SU Development, M & BCW Department and School & Mass Education Depertment as well as special ST/SC hostels. For all hoarders residing in ANWESHA hostels, the Pre-MS rates has been entanced from Rs.11,000 to Rs.17,000 per annum (for 10 months). Similarly, Post Matric Scholarship, that is Mess Managernent cost provided to ST/SC boarder students of ST & SC Development, M & BCW Department run Higher Secondary Schools only (XI-XII) is also enhanced from Rs.11,000 Rs.16,000 for a boy boarder and Rs.17,000 for a girl boarder per anntun (maxinyum 10 more). Such enhancement of Pre-MS & Post MS shall ensure better quality & quantity of food to ST/SC boarder students residing in the said hostels. The revised rates for bath Pre-MS & Post-MS shall he applicable from December 1, 2025 onwards.

Besides, the state government has decided to write off losses on account of inadmissible Special Diet allowance amounting to 64.94 lakh paid to 2495 Police personnel, working in 03 Police Establishments (a.1 OSAP Battalion, Dhenkanal b.6th OSAP Battalion, Cuttack and c.7th OSAP Battalion, Bhubaneswar), during the period from 19-04-1993 to 31-03-1996.

This is being done as all of them have either retired or expired.

The Government of Odisha has decided to amend the Rule 17 of the Odisha Finance Service (Recruitment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 2011. The key objective of this amendment is to empower the government to prescribe or revise the duration of institutional and induction training for Odisha Finance Service (OFS) officers from time to time based on administrative needs.

Currently, the rule mandates a fixed duration of one year for induction training for direct recruits and four months for institutional training for promoted officers.