Odisha Trains Senior Officers in AI to Boost Tech-Driven, Citizen-Centric Governance

Bhubaneswar: Reinforcing its commitment to modern, technology-led governance, the Electronics & Information Technology (E&IT) Department, Government of Odisha, through the Odisha Computer Application Centre (OCAC), on Monday conducted a specialised capacity-strengthening programme on Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Director-level officers from all government departments.

The high-level workshop focused on the practical application of AI in government functioning, aimed at improving efficiency, transparency and the quality of citizen service delivery.

The programme was inaugurated by Principal Secretary, E&IT Department, Vishal Dev, who underlined Odisha’s proactive approach towards emerging technologies. Addressing the officers, he said that AI is no longer a futuristic concept but a present-day necessity for effective governance, adding that the coming decades will be defined by intelligence-driven systems.

“By equipping our officers with the right tools, we are ensuring that the Odisha AI Mission translates into faster, more transparent and citizen-centric governance,” Dev said.

Designed as an intensive, hands-on session, the workshop sought to demystify AI concepts and familiarise senior officers with real-world use cases relevant to administration. The agenda covered applications such as drafting and official communication, intelligent search, chat with PDFs, deep research, and data analysis, highlighting how AI tools can support daily decision-making and policy implementation.

Beyond theoretical inputs, participants took part in practical breakout sessions, where they tested identified AI use cases and explored ways to integrate them into departmental workflows.

A key component of the programme was a dedicated session on “Responsible AI”, which outlined essential do’s and don’ts to ensure data privacy, ethical use, and accountability while deploying AI-based tools in government processes.

The capacity-building initiative is part of the broader Odisha AI Mission, a flagship programme of the State Government aimed at positioning Odisha as a leader in the AI revolution. By fostering innovation and digital capability within the bureaucracy, the mission seeks to enhance the “Ease of Living” for citizens through efficient, technology-enabled governance.

Officials said such training programmes will continue as the state scales up AI adoption across departments, ensuring that public administration remains agile, responsive and future-ready.