Bhubaneswar: The Department of School and Mass Education, Government of Odisha, in collaboration with the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL), Ministry of Education, Government of India, on Thursday co-hosted a two-day National Conference on UDISE+ in Bhubaneswar. The conference, which commenced on February 27, 2026, brought together senior officials from Samagra Shiksha, various education boards across the country, and key central and state education departments to deliberate on strengthening data-driven educational governance.
Inaugurating the conference, Dheeraj Sahu, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Education, Government of India, emphasised the critical role of reliable and timely educational data in ensuring transparency, accountability, and effective policy implementation. He underscored that robust data systems such as UDISE+ are indispensable for informed decision-making at all levels of governance and for driving meaningful reforms in the education sector.
Delivering the welcome address, Dr. Pankaj K.P. Shreyaskar, Deputy Director General, DoSEL, highlighted the strategic importance of UDISE+ in supporting major national initiatives, including the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. He noted that accurate, comprehensive, and validated data form the backbone of effective educational planning, monitoring, and evaluation, enabling policymakers to respond to evolving needs with precision.
The conference witnessed the participation of several senior officials, including Vikash Gupta, Commissioner, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan; A. Srija, Economic Advisor, DoSEL; Dr. N. Thirumala Naik, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, School and Mass Education Department, Government of Odisha; and Ananya Das, State Project Director, OSEPA, along with representatives from various central and state education bodies.
Key discussions during the sessions focused on enhancing data quality, strengthening validation mechanisms, improving system integration, and promoting the effective utilisation of UDISE+ data for planning, monitoring, and policy formulation at different administrative levels. Participants also shared best practices and innovative approaches to leverage data for improving educational outcomes.
