Odisha takes the NITI path, forms SITI think tank

BHUBANESWAR: Odisha has taken a NITI turn by deciding to set up a new apex think tank, the State Institute for Transformative Initiative (SITI) Odisha, replacing the nearly eight-decade-old State Planning Board.

The Planning and Convergence department in a resolution to this effect stated it will shift the planning structure to a more dynamic, strategy driven framework aligned with the state’s long-term vision of Samrudha Odisha-2036 and Viksit Bharat-2047.

Soon after coming to power, the Mohan Charan Majhi government had dissolved the State Planning Bodissolved the State Planning Board on July 18, 2024, citing the growing irrelevance of the traditional planning mechanism in a rapidly evolving economic and governance landscape. In its place, SITI Odisha will function as a high-level policy research and strategic advisory body, providing forward-looking insights and evidence-based recommendations to guide the state’s development trajectory, the government said.The institute will focus on key priority areas including economy and finance, rural livelihood, employment and urban development, ideation and innovation, energy transition, environment, forest and natural resources. Each thematic area will be aligned with measurable outcomes to enhance governance efficiency and accountability.The development commissioner will serve as member secretary while a chief executive officer at the level of principal secretary or secretary will oversee its functioning, supported by domain experts, a programme director and a multidisciplinary project implementation unit. In addition, a dedicated state monitoring and evaluation office (SMEO) will function under SITI Odisha as the nodal agency for data-driven governance and performance tracking.

SITI Odisha will operate under the administrative control of the Planning and Convergence department. The chief minister will head the governing council as chairperson.