Odisha Government Revamps Cabinet Meetings: Ministers Take Center Stage

The Odisha government has introduced significant changes to its cabinet meetings, allowing ministers to take a leading role in discussions while minimizing bureaucratic involvement. Senior minister Suresh Pujari announced that departmental secretaries will now have limited access, only participating when specifically requested. This shift aims to enhance ministerial engagement and streamline decision-making processes. The new guidelines also stipulate advance notice for meetings and require the chief minister's approval for all proposals. Read on to learn more about these pivotal changes in governance.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 20, 2025, 23:07 IST

Significant Changes in Cabinet Meeting Structure

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha administration has announced a new approach to conducting cabinet meetings, allowing ministers to take a more active role in discussions while reducing bureaucratic influence, as stated by senior minister Suresh Pujari on Tuesday.

Under the new structure, ministers will now lead discussions, a shift from the previous practice where departmental secretaries dominated the meetings, according to Pujari.

He explained, "In the past, secretaries presented topics for cabinet discussions. Now, ministers will spearhead these discussions, with secretaries providing support as needed."

Pujari emphasized that this method is not entirely new, noting that it was the norm before the last BJD government took office.

A recent circular from the Parliamentary Affairs Department specifies that secretaries will no longer have unrestricted access to cabinet meetings. Instead, they will wait in a designated area and will only join when called upon.

The cabinet room will now primarily host the chief minister, cabinet ministers, and state ministers relevant to the agenda, along with the chief secretary.

The circular, released on May 9, also outlines that notices for cabinet meetings should be distributed at least five days prior, with all proposals finalized three days in advance.

Ministers will receive proposals two days ahead of the meetings, and no proposal will be discussed without the chief minister's consent.

During meetings, the presiding authority will invite the relevant minister to share their insights, after which other ministers may contribute. Secretaries are strictly barred from participating unless their input is specifically requested.