Category: State Governance & Bureaucracy | For: OPSC Odisha Civil Services Examination
By: Brajabandhu Mahanta
In a major administrative reshuffle, the Odisha Government on Friday promoted 29 senior officers of the Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) to the rank of Special Secretary (Level-17 in the Pay Matrix). This move comes amid efforts to enhance bureaucratic efficiency and governance delivery across departments.
The promotions have been made on an ad hoc basis, pending final selection list approval by the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC), and will remain valid for a period not exceeding one year, or until the OPSC recommendation or retirement of the officers—whichever is earlier.
Official Notification and Key Conditions
A notification issued by the General Administration & Public Grievance (GA&PG) Department stated that the promotions are made “without prejudice to the claim of others” and are subject to final orders of the Apex Court in connection with SLP(C) No. 35608-35610 (Gahadu Mirdha vs. State of Odisha and others) and other related cases.
Highlights of the Promotion List
Among the 29 promoted officers, one officer—Jyoti Ranjan Mishra—has been promoted and transferred as Special Secretary to the Government, Industries Department, while the remaining 28 officers will continue in their current postings.
Some of the Promoted Officers Include:
- Jyotirmayee Pradhan – Additional Secretary, Forest, Environment & Climate Change Dept.
- Madhumita Nayak – Additional Secretary, Labour & ESI Dept. and Director, ESI
- Kahnu Charan Dhir – Private Secretary to Deputy CM and Minister, WCD & Mission Shakti
- Ambar Kumar Kar – MD, Odisha State Beverages Corp. Ltd.
- Babita Mohanty – Additional Secretary, Rural Development Dept.
- Prasanta Kishore Mohapatra – Additional Secretary, Higher Education Dept.
- Sk. Jamiruddin – CEO, Odisha Waqf Board and Executive Officer, State Haj Committee
- Subhra Mohanty, Sanghamitra Satapathy, Manoj Kumar Padhy, Rajashree Singh, and others serving across key departments including Education, Co-operation, Health, Revenue, Panchayati Raj, and Commerce & Transport.
Why This Development Matters for OPSC Aspirants
For aspirants of the Odisha Civil Services Examination, this promotion round highlights:
- The career progression in the Odisha Administrative Service (OAS).
- The functioning of cadre management, which is a vital part of Public Administration and Personnel Policies—a key topic in General Studies and OAS Mains Papers.
- The ongoing role of judicial oversight in service-related matters, as seen in the linkage to ongoing Supreme Court proceedings.
Understanding such administrative structures and reforms can offer critical insights into governance, service delivery, and interdepartmental coordination.
Conclusion
This mass promotion of senior OAS officers to the Special Secretary rank marks a significant milestone in Odisha’s administrative framework. It reinforces the state government’s commitment to bureaucratic efficiency, governance modernization, and leadership elevation within the civil service.