Odisha is set to witness a high-tech overhaul of its vocational training landscape. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, on Friday, announced that dedicated Artificial Intelligence (AI) laboratories are being established across nine Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in the state.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Odisha Skill Competition 2025-26, the Chief Minister unveiled a broader roadmap to modernise the state’s technical education.
A total of 47 ITIs have been earmarked for transformation into “Centres of Excellence,” designed to bridge the gap between traditional vocational training and the demands of Industry 4.0.
Noting that the process of large-scale industrialisation has begun in Odisha, the chief minister called upon students to get themselves skilled and secure employment in the state.
“This is because our goal is to achieve excellence in all levels,” he said while honouring the winners of the skill competition. He presented gold medals to 54 students, silver to 53, and bronze to 50 for their performance in the skill competition.
The accolades included cash incentives – Rs 25,000 for gold winners, Rs 20,000 for silver, and Rs 15,000 for bronze medalists.
ଓଡ଼ିଶା ଦକ୍ଷତା ପ୍ରତିଯୋଗିତାର ସମାପନୀ ସମାରୋହ
✅ଦକ୍ଷତା (Skill)ର ସମସ୍ତ ସ୍ତରରେ ଉତ୍କର୍ଷତା ହାସଲ କରିବା ହେଉଛି ସରକାରଙ୍କ ଲକ୍ଷ୍ୟ
✅୪୭ଟି ITI ହେବ ସେଣ୍ଟର ଅଫ୍ ଏକ୍ସେଲେନ୍ସ, ଓ ୯ଟି ITIରେ AI Lab
✅୫୪ ଜଣଙ୍କୁ ସ୍ବର୍ଣ୍ଣ, ୫୩ ଜଣଙ୍କୁ ରୌପ୍ୟ ଏବଂ ୫୦ ଜଣଙ୍କୁ ମିଳିଲା ବ୍ରୋଞ୍ଜ ପଦକ"ଓଡ଼ିଶାରେ ଏବେ ବ୍ୟାପକ ଶିଳ୍ପାୟନ… pic.twitter.com/VAkob6rh0M
— CMO Odisha (@CMO_Odisha) January 9, 2026
“Skills are essential for the long-term development and economic progress of the state. The person who is more skilled is more confident. The state needs skilled youths to realise its vision of a prosperous Odisha by 2036 and a developed India by 2047. If the future of the youth is bright, the future of Odisha will also be bright,” Majhi said.
The Chief Minister identified three fundamental pillars driving the state’s industrial growth: robust infrastructure, a business-friendly environment, and a highly skilled workforce.
Highlighting recent economic milestones, he noted that over the past 18 months, the government has cleared projects valued at Rs 6.15 lakh crore, which are projected to generate approximately 2.64 lakh employment opportunities for the local population.
