Odisha in 2025: Welfare push, investment claims and a political face-off

As 2025 draws to a close, Odisha’s first full year under the BJP government led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has been defined by large-scale welfare outreach, ambitious investment projections, and sustained political sparring with the Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD).

The BJP government’s pitch through 2025 has rested on visible welfare delivery and headline investment announcements, even as it faces questions over economic momentum, governance continuity and law and order.

Farmers & Women: Welfare at the Centre of Governance

Agriculture remained a core focus area for the BJP government in 2025. Farmers in Odisha received Rs 3,100 per quintal for paddy, despite the Minimum Support Price (MSP) being fixed at Rs 2,300.

The additional Rs 800 per quintal was extended by the state as input assistance, aimed at cushioning cultivation costs.

Government figures show that over 19 lakh farmers received direct transfers amounting to Rs 7,411 crore, while more than 51 lakh farmers benefited under the CM Kisan Yojana during the year.

Women-centric schemes also dominated the welfare narrative. Under the Subhadra Yojana, launched to promote women’s empowerment, nearly one crore women received financial assistance. The government further claimed that around 17 lakh women progressed towards financial independence as ‘Lakshapati Didis’, reflecting an emphasis on women-led livelihoods and entrepreneurship.

Investment & Employment: Big Numbers, Big Expectations

On the economic front, CM Majhi announced investment commitments worth Rs 5.6 lakh crore aimed at accelerating industrialisation in the state. According to the government, these investments are expected to generate around 3.6 lakh employment opportunities.

A significant policy push in 2025 was Odisha’s attempt to position itself as a semiconductor hub, with Rs 4,011 crore worth of investment initiated in the sector.

On unemployment issues, the Chief Minister has claimed that over 30,000 government jobs were created, while more than 1.64 lakh employment opportunities emerged in other sectors, including manufacturing and services.

Education: Focus on Grassroots Schooling

In the education sector, the government initiated the rollout of Godavarish Mishra Adarsh Primary Schools in every gram panchayat, with the stated objective of improving learning outcomes and strengthening the public education system at the village level.

Also Read: From Bhubaneswar to beyond - Crimes against women remain a serious challenge for Odisha

Health: Expanding Insurance Coverage

Healthcare delivery in 2025 continued to rely on insurance-led models. The state implemented Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana alongside the Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana, which the government said were ensuring health protection and inclusive development for vulnerable populations.

Summing up his government’s approach, CM Majhi said, “Fulfilling your hopes and aspirations is our first duty.”

Opposition’s Take: BJD’s Counter-Claims

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) offered a sharply critical assessment of the BJP government’s performance in 2025.

The party claimed that Odisha now ranks 8th nationally in crime, raising questions over law and order. It also alleged that central grants to the state declined by 18.19% in 2024–25 compared to 2023–24, impacting development spending.

According to the BJD, Odisha’s economic growth rate has slowed while the state’s debt burden has increased. The opposition further alleged that while special central grants were extended to Andhra Pradesh and Bihar, Odisha was entirely ignored.

The BJD also accused the BJP of bringing development activities to a standstill, claiming that the ruling party has largely repainted and renamed projects and schemes initiated during the tenure of former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik rather than launching new initiatives.

The Road Ahead

As Odisha moves towards 2026, the political debate remains sharply divided between the BJP’s welfare-and-investment narrative and the BJD’s claims of economic slowdown and governance stagnation. 

It remains to see whether the announced investments and welfare numbers translate into long-term growth and tangible change on the ground, and shape the state’s political and economic trajectory in the coming year.