TLDR: The Odisha government has introduced an AI-based evaluation system for its revenue officers, directly linking promotions to measurable performance and public satisfaction. This initiative, announced by Additional Chief Secretary Deoranjan Kumar Singh, aims to foster transparency, eliminate favoritism, and enhance accountability by rating officers on a 1-5 scale based on AI analysis and citizen feedback, with career progression directly tied to these scores.
Bhubaneswar, Odisha – In a landmark move to revolutionize bureaucratic accountability, the Odisha government has rolled out a new Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based evaluation system for its revenue officers. This significant reform, announced on July 19, 2025, by Deoranjan Kumar Singh, Additional Chief Secretary of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department, will strictly tie promotions to measurable performance and public satisfaction, aiming to eradicate lobbying, favoritism, and undue influence from the career progression process.
Addressing a gathering of registration officers, Mr. Singh emphasized the pivotal role AI will play in this new framework. “Your work will be assessed using AI, translated into clear performance metrics, and rated on a scale of 1 to 5. These ratings will directly influence your career progression,” Singh stated firmly, underscoring the shift towards a merit-based system.
Under the revamped system, officer evaluations will transcend traditional Confidential Character Reports (CCRs). Instead, they will incorporate AI-analyzed performance data alongside crucial citizen feedback, creating a transparent and data-backed mechanism for promotions and postings. Officials have confirmed that officers consistently receiving low ratings face the prospect of stalled career advancement, reinforcing the seriousness of performance expectations.
Mr. Singh also voiced concerns regarding the disconnect between officers’ self-perception of their performance and the public’s actual experience. “Many officers believe they are doing well. But public feedback often tells a different story—complaints about unresponsiveness, delays, and negligence are far too common,” he noted. He took a resolute stance against persistent malpractices, particularly in registration offices, where citizens often report having to chase officials or resort to bribes to get their work done. “In some offices, citizens feel unless they beg or bribe, work won’t move. That mindset must end,” Singh asserted, calling for a fundamental change in approach.
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To further instill discipline and ethical conduct, Mr. Singh urged officers to adhere to several key principles: reporting to work on time, sincerely addressing public grievances, upholding institutional ethics, and fundamentally shifting their attitude from being mere ‘gatekeepers of bureaucracy’ to proactive ‘public service facilitators’. This comprehensive reform is set to usher in a new era of efficiency, transparency, and public-centric governance within Odisha’s revenue department.
