Odisha Holds Ideas Forum on Data Exchange for Smarter Governance

Bhubaneswar : A forum on “Unlocking the Power of Data Exchange for Smart Governance” was held today at the State Convention Hall in Lok Seva Bhavan. The event was organized by the Data, Policy and Innovation Centre (DPIC) in collaboration with the Electronics and Information Technology Department, Government of Odisha. Odisha’s Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja attended as the Chief Guest.

The forum brought together experts from the Centre of Data for Public Good (CDPG), Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore, and senior officials from various state government departments, including Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, and Commissioner-cum-Secretaries.

State’s New Data Policy to Strengthen Governance

Speaking at the event, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja highlighted Odisha’s efforts to enhance data governance. He shared that the state is preparing a new State Data Policy, which aims to improve data interoperability, accessibility, and evidence-based decision-making. He emphasized that building a resilient and scalable data ecosystem would empower government departments and policymakers to use data effectively while ensuring long-term sustainability.

CDPG Chairman Professor Inder Gopal stressed the importance of an open-source data exchange platform to support evidence-based decision-making. CDPG’s Principal Scientist Jyotirmoy Dutta and Applications Manager Akshat Sharma also spoke about their work in this field. The IISc team showcased the capabilities of the Open-Source Data Exchange Platform, which has been successfully implemented in multiple domains, including the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Government of India, the Government of Telangana, and the Survey of India.

Odisha Strengthens Partnership in Data Science

Principal Secretary of the Electronics and Information Technology Department, Vishal Kumar Dev, stated that the department is committed to leveraging advanced data science tools and research to promote evidence-based governance. He acknowledged the support of the University of Chicago Trust through DPIC and expressed gratitude to IISc for its participation in the forum.

The event concluded with a vote of thanks by DPIC Executive Director Urmila Chatterjee. The Electronics and Information Technology Department, Odisha Computer Application Centre, and DPIC coordinated the program.