Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government will soon establish the State Institute for Transformative Initiatives – Odisha (SITI-Odisha) as a high-level policy think tank and strategic advisory body aimed at steering the state’s long-term development vision aligned with ‘Samruddha Odisha 2036’ and ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’.
According to a resolution issued by the Planning & Convergence Department, SITI-Odisha will replace conventional planning mechanisms, following the dissolution of the State Planning Board on July 18, 2024. The new institution is intended to provide a forward-looking framework based on strategic policy planning, innovation, cooperative federalism, and measurable outcomes.
SITI-Odisha will function across six key thematic areas—Economy & Finance, Rural Economy & Livelihoods, Employment & Urban Development, Ideation & Innovation, Energy Transition, Environment & Forests, and Mining & Natural Resources—each aligned with the state’s core development priorities.
The institution will be headed by a Governing Council chaired by the Chief Minister. The council will include a Vice-Chairperson, four full-time members, nine ex-officio members, and two special invitees. It will be responsible for monitoring and guiding the functioning of SITI-Odisha and will meet at least once a year, or as required.
Under the proposed structure, the Vice-Chairperson will hold Cabinet Minister rank and be appointed by the Chief Minister. Four eminent experts will serve as full-time members in the rank of Minister of State. The Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary will act as Member Secretary, while a Chief Executive Officer in the rank of Principal Secretary or Commissioner-cum-Secretary will also be appointed for a fixed tenure.
The framework will further include a Programme Director, a multidisciplinary Project Implementation Unit (PIU), and an administrative wing. In addition, a State Monitoring & Evaluation Office (SMEO) will function as an attached office under SITI-Odisha to support evidence-based governance.
SITI-Odisha will operate under the administrative control of the Planning & Convergence Department, marking a shift towards more outcome-oriented and evidence-driven policy planning in the state.
