The year 2025 emerged as a defining period for Odisha's governance under Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, marking his administration's concerted push to accelerate development, create employment, and solidify its political standing. The government's strategy blended a focus on continuity with fresh, ambitious targets centered on industrial expansion and infrastructure-led growth.
A Year of Employment and Industrial Momentum
At the heart of the administration's agenda was a drive to generate employment. In a significant move to strengthen public services, the government filled approximately 28,000 long-pending vacancies across various departments. This was complemented by a major industrial push initiated at the start of the year.
The Utkarsh Odisha–Make in Odisha Conclave in January 2025 proved to be a landmark event, attracting investment intents worth a staggering Rs 16 lakh crore. These commitments are projected to create up to 12.88 lakh jobs in the state, setting a robust foundation for future economic activity.
Port-Led Growth and Tech Diversification
A clear strategic shift towards harnessing Odisha's coastline became evident in 2025. The government actively advanced plans for a greenfield port at Bahuda in Ganjam district. Simultaneously, it threw its weight behind a proposal to establish a major ship-building complex at Paradip, aiming to transform the state into a logistics powerhouse.
Adding a high-tech dimension to the industrial portfolio, the Union government approved two semiconductor projects for Odisha, valued at over Rs 4,000 crore. This move is seen as a critical step in diversifying the state's economy beyond traditional sectors.
Political Consolidation and Course-Correction
Political observers noted a gradual but visible consolidation of the Majhi government. Professor Gyana Ranjan Swain of GM University remarked that the Chief Minister's key achievement was establishing an "administrative rhythm" that was "noticeably firmer" than at the start, though he cautioned against assessing an administration within a year or two.
The year was not without its challenges. A proposal to increase MLAs' salaries three-fold faced intense public backlash, forcing the government to pause and review the decision. A senior IAS officer noted that while missteps occurred, the administration's willingness to course-correct was significant.
On the ground, experts like retired professor R K Satapathy pointed out that the real test lies ahead. "Signing MoUs is the easy part; the real test now is implementation and ensuring that the benefits reach local people," he stated.
Politically, 2025 reshaped Odisha's landscape. The BJP's emphatic victory in the Nuapada bypoll bolstered CM Majhi's leadership, while the BJD's slide to third place signaled deepening concerns for the opposition. The Congress, under Bhakta Charan Das, managed to reclaim some opposition space despite internal disagreements.
Overall, CM Mohan Charan Majhi's first full year in office was characterized by a determined effort to put Odisha on a faster track of development, balancing ambitious projects with responsive governance, while navigating the complex realities of political and public expectations.
