Uday India Conclave Showcases Odisha’s Future Blueprint

•    “Uday India Conclave Ignites Collective Mission for a Developed Odisha”
•    “Leaders, Thinkers, Citizens Unite for Odisha 2036 at Uday India National Conclave”

Bhubaneswar, January 18, 2026: Odisha’s capital witnessed a landmark gathering of ideas, leadership, and civil society participation as the Uday India National Conclave 2026 unfolded at Swosti Premium on Sunday. The day-long event brought together ministers, legislators, academics, industry leaders, doctors, journalists, entrepreneurs, and thought-leaders united by a single aspiration—to help shape a Developed Odisha by 2036 and support the State’s larger vision for 2047.

With the State committing itself to joining India’s top five developed states and achieving a $1 trillion economy by 2036, the conclave emerged as a significant national platform linking citizens, experts, and policymakers into one coherent developmental dialogue.

A Sacred, Symbolic Beginning
The conclave began on an auspicious note with the Lighting of the Lamp accompanied by Vedic chants, invoking clarity, learning, and the spirit of collective purpose. In a gesture deeply rooted in Odisha’s cultural and ecological ethos, all guests were welcomed with Tulsi plants, symbolising purity, healing, botanical wisdom, and the State’s reverence for nature.

The inaugural session set the stage for a reflective and forward-looking day.

Hon’ble Speaker Sets the Vision
Smt. Surama Padhy, Hon’ble Speaker of the Odisha Legislative Assembly, inaugurated the conclave and called for an era of cooperation between citizens and the State:

“Odisha’s journey to 2036 must be rooted in collaboration. When citizens, institutions and policymakers come together, development becomes a shared destiny and not a distant aspiration,” she noted, emphasising participatory governance as the bedrock of Odisha’s future reforms.

Keynote by Deputy CM: A New Odisha Rising

Delivering the keynote address, Shri Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Odisha, asserted that the State is poised for a decade of unprecedented transformation.

“Odisha is ready for its finest decade. With clear vision, strong governance and people’s participation, we can transform Odisha into a trillion-dollar powerhouse by 2036,” he said, highlighting reforms in infrastructure, industrial growth, social development, and governance efficiency.

He also emphasised the importance of aligning Odisha’s civilisational identity, its temples, traditions, and arts, with a modern development framework built on innovation, technology, and inclusive growth.

Sessions that Mapped Odisha’s Emerging Future
The conclave featured four major thematic discussions, each offering insights into the pillars of a developed Odisha; Health, Education, Infrastructure & Development, and Tourism & Culture.
1. Health: Strengthening Odisha’s Care Ecosystem
Moderated by Dr. Pawan Gupta, the panel brought together leading healthcare professionals who discussed cancer care, public health systems, AIIMS-linked research, palliative innovation, and women-led community health initiatives.
The session reflected Odisha’s ambition to be a healthcare leader in eastern India.
2. Education: Building the Knowledge State
Moderated by Dr. Dindayal Swain, education leaders emphasised future-ready universities, research ecosystems, NEP 2020 alignment, and employability-driven programmes. The panel called for deeper academia-industry-government synergies.
3. Infrastructure & Development: Odisha’s Growth Engine
Veteran journalist Dr. Prakash Nanda moderated a wide-ranging discussion covering digital infrastructure, agriculture innovation, rural-urban connectivity, tech-driven governance, logistics, media ecosystems, and entrepreneurship. Speakers stressed the need for resilient, climate-conscious infrastructure.
4. Tourism & Culture: Heritage as an Economic Asset
Led by Prof. Sarat Das, the session celebrated Odisha’s classical arts, temple architecture, eco-tourism circuits, sculpture traditions, and emerging cultural diplomacy. The emphasis was on transforming Odisha’s cultural wealth into a sustainable global offering.

The Valedictory Session of the Uday India National Conclave on Developed Odisha 2036 concluded on an inspiring note, bringing together senior leaders of the State, policymakers, thinkers, and citizens in a shared commitment to Odisha’s long-term development. The evening reaffirmed that Odisha stands at a decisive point in its history, with the State’s Vision 2036 and Vision 2047 documents offering a clear framework for inclusive and participatory growth. The session opened with a warm welcome and the ceremonial presentation of Tulsi plants to dignitaries, symbolising Odisha’s ecological ethos and the spiritual connection between tradition and modern development. This was followed by a comprehensive Rapporteur’s Report presented by Prof. KK Dash, who summarised the insights and recommendations emerging from the day’s discussions and emphasised the need for deeper civic involvement across sectors.

In his address, Shri Deepak Rath, Founder and Group Editor of Uday India, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to taking this initiative beyond Bhubaneswar—to blocks, villages, and every corner of Odisha—so that citizens become active participants in shaping the State’s developmental agenda. He called for a people’s movement that aligns community aspirations with the vision of the Government of Odisha.

The session witnessed the presence of prominent leaders, including Smt. Sangita Kumari Singh Deo, Member of Parliament; Shri Pratap Chandra Nayak, MLA from Kabisuryanagar; Shri Gokula Nanda Mallik, Minister of Fisheries, Animal Resources Development & MSME; Shri Prithiviraj Harichandan, Minister of Law, Works & Excise; and Shri Suresh Pujari, Minister of Revenue & Disaster Management. Each speaker appreciated Uday India’s initiative and underscored the importance of taking the developmental discourse to the grassroots.

Addressing the gathering, Shri Prithiviraj Harichandan highlighted that Odisha has entered a phase of accelerated development, guided by a comprehensive vision document. He noted that economic progress will rise with improved per capita income, while accessibility to healthcare services continues to strengthen. He further stated that the State is working toward major expansions in rail and road connectivity, including a target of 15,000 kilometres of climate-friendly roads in the next five years. Calling the conclave one of Uday India’s most meaningful contributions, he urged the organisation to take similar discussions to southern, northern, and western Odisha so that people everywhere can voice their dreams for the future. He also encouraged Uday India to prepare a detailed report for both the State and Central governments.

Shri Gokula Nanda Mallik praised the conclave for bringing together experts from diverse fields and emphasised the importance of fisheries, MSMEs, and rural enterprise in achieving equitable growth. Smt. Sangita Kumari Singh Deo described the initiative as timely, necessary, and aligned with the aspirations of a rising Odisha, while Shri Pratap Chandra Nayak urged Uday India to expand such dialogues into remote regions to capture local perspectives.

Shri Suresh Pujari reiterated the State’s long-term development strategy and encouraged the creation of more platforms—“Dharmas” of Odisha’s vision—to deepen dialogue and collective understanding.

The Valedictory Session also recognised outstanding individuals for their contributions to society and community development. Among those felicitated were social activist Alee Padhi, music director Premanand, entrepreneurs Manoj Pradhan and Prashant Kar, along with MP Smt. Sangita Singh Deo and MLA Shri Pratap Chandra Nayak. The honours celebrated excellence across public service, entrepreneurship, culture, and leadership.

In his concluding message, Shri Deepak Rath assured that Uday India will carry this mission across the length and breadth of the State—including Koraput, Balangir, Balasore, Sundargarh, Mayurbhanj, Ganjam, and Kalahandi—transforming the developmental dialogue into a statewide movement. He confirmed that Uday India would compile the recommendations from the conclave and formally present them to the Government of Odisha.

The Valedictory Session ended with a shared pledge to work together towards a confident, empowered, and globally recognised Odisha by 2036.