2025, Vol. 7, Issue 12, Part D

Author(s): Susmita Patnaik

Abstract: This paper examines the role of bureaucracy in Odisha politics, highlighting its influence on governance quality, political outcomes, and development trajectories. Odisha presents a unique case in India, where bureaucratic leadership has historically operated with significant autonomy, particularly during the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) regime from 2000 to 2024. Through initiatives such as the 5T framework, Mission Shakti, digitized welfare delivery, and Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) programs, civil servants have enhanced administrative efficiency, disaster preparedness, and human development outcomes. The study situates Odisha’s bureaucracy within a hybrid theoretical framework, combining Weberian principles of hierarchy and rule-bound functioning, Administrative State Theory emphasizing policy continuity and institutional influence, and the Developmental State Perspective highlighting the proactive role of bureaucrats in planning and implementation. While bureaucratic leadership has contributed to poverty reduction, industrial growth, and human development, challenges remain, including limited local governance empowerment, potential overreach, and political-bureaucratic nexus concerns. The paper concludes that Odisha’s experience illustrates both the transformative potential and inherent trade-offs of a bureaucratically led governance model, offering insights for policymakers, scholars, and practitioners interested in effective, accountable, and inclusive administration. This research paper examines the evolving role of the bureaucracy in Odisha’s political landscape, with a particular focus on how administrative institutions shape political outcomes, governance quality, and long-term development trajectories. Odisha represents a unique case within India due to its administrative-led governance model, especially visible during the two-and-a-half-decade rule of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) under Naveen Patnaik. This study explores historical foundations, institutional dynamics, bureaucratic autonomy, welfare governance, disaster management excellence, and changing trends in the post-2024 political environment.

DOI: 10.33545/26646021.2025.v7.i12d.804

Pages: 292-308 | Views: 51 | Downloads: 8

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