Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, outlined his government's education agenda on the occasion of two years in office, citing advances in smart learning, AI literacy, ITI modernisation, and apprenticeship-linked higher education as cornerstones of the state's development drive.

Context

The post marks the second anniversary of the BJP-led government in Odisha, celebrated under the hashtag #2YearsofLokankaSarakar ('Two Years of People's Government'). CM Majhi used the occasion to enumerate education and skill-development milestones, framing them under the twin themes of #BikasharaDharaOdishaSara ('Development for all of Odisha') and #2YearsOfShikshaSanskara ('Two Years of Education Reform').

In the post, Majhi stated: 'Investing in our youth is investing in the future of Odisha. We are transforming our educational landscape by bringing smart learning to schools, expanding AI literacy, and linking higher education with real-world apprenticeships.'

Policy Backdrop

The initiatives referenced by CM Majhi align with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which replaced the 1986 framework and mandated technology integration, multidisciplinary learning, and stronger industry linkages across school and higher education. The Skill India Mission, launched in 2015, and the revised National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (2016) together provide the central architecture within which state-level ITI upgrades and apprenticeship programmes operate.

Odisha's BJP government, in office since 2024, has consistently framed education reform as part of a broader 'Bikash' (development) narrative that ties schooling and vocational training directly to employment and industrialisation goals. The emphasis on AI literacy in schools and modernised ITIs reflects a pattern visible across several BJP-governed states implementing NEP 2020 at scale.

Stakeholders and Impact

The groups identified as primary beneficiaries in the Chief Minister's statement are school students, higher education enrollees, ITI trainees, and women seeking advanced skill certification. By explicitly naming women alongside youth, the government signals an intent to close gender gaps in vocational and technical training — a persistent challenge in eastern Indian states.

Industry linkages through apprenticeships are positioned as the bridge between classroom learning and employment, a model that requires active participation from private sector employers across Odisha's growing industrial corridors.

What's Next

Observers will watch for concrete budget allocations toward ITI upgrades, the rollout of AI curriculum modules in government schools, and annual apprenticeship placement data that would validate the claims made in the anniversary statement. School enrollment metrics under the new smart-learning infrastructure will also serve as key indicators of on-ground progress.

As Odisha positions itself as a skills-economy destination, the government's ability to publish transparent outcome data — placement rates, certification numbers, and gender-disaggregated enrolment figures — will determine how the education reform narrative translates into measurable public benefit.