In the News

The Data Officers’ Capacity Building Workshop, organised by the Data, Policy and Innovation Centre (DPIC) at the Odisha Computer Applications Centre (OCAC) Training Centre on 6–7 February 2026, focused on strengthening practical data management skills for government use. It brought together around 40 data officers from multiple departments to work hands-on in structuring administrative datasets, building data inventories, and developing metadata for analytics and applied AI. Senior Data Scientist Yashaswi Mohanty led the technical sessions, guiding officers and developing robust, AI-ready metadata for use within government systems.

In February 2026, Prof. Misra, Faculty Director of the Centre for Applied AI at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, addressed government officials, academics and researchers at second Ideas Forum organised by the Electronics and IT Department in collaboration with the Data, Policy and Innovation Centre (DPIC) of the University of Chicago Trust. He highlighted that AI’s real value for governments lies beyond automation—in enabling deeper understanding of citizen needs, early anticipation of challenges, and the design of targeted, inclusive public interventions.

In April 2025, Dr. Urmila Chatterjee, Executive Director of DPIC, presented the findings of the Data Capabilities Assessment at a high-level meeting chaired by Development Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary Anu Garg. The assessment focused on identifying data gaps and training needs across departments. The Development Commissioner praised DPIC’s efforts, calling for “transforming data and using data for transformation.”

The inaugural DPIC Ideas Forum, held in collaboration with the Electronics & IT Department, focused on “Unlocking the Power of Data Exchange for Smart Governance”. It brought together senior bureaucrats from the Government of Odisha and experts from Centre of Data for Public Good, IISc Bangalore to explore open-source, decentralized frameworks for data-driven governance. Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja shared Odisha’s plans for secure data sharing and institutional coordination through the upcoming State Data Policy.

In December 2024, the DPIC team was honoured to welcome Nobel Laureate Professor Michael Kremer to the newly inaugurated office at the Odisha Computer Applications Centre (OCAC). DPIC also supported a public lecture delivered by Professor Kremer on experimental methods, innovation, and economics—an event hosted by the Development Commissioner and chaired by the Chief Secretary, drawing over 500 participants including senior officials, district collectors, and scholars. The visit highlighted the growing importance of data partnerships in driving transformative policy outcomes in Odisha.

In January 2023, the Government of Odisha signed an MoU with the University of Chicago Trust to establish the Data, Policy, and Innovation Centre (DPIC) in Bhubaneswar. The signing took place in the presence of IT Minister Tusharkanti Behera, OCAC CEO Manoj Kumar Pattnaik, and UChicago Center India Executive Director Leni Chaudhari, marking the start of a five-year partnership for advancing data-driven governance through research, pilots, and capacity building.