Bhubaneswar, October 13: The State Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday approved 16 proposals across 11 departments, including "Supply of Free Textbooks” scheme to provide free textbooks to the students studying in Government and Government-aided Secondary schools (other than SC&ST) in the State.

The scheme is intended to be implemented for a period of five years - from 2025¬26 to 2029-30 - with a total estimated outlay of Rs 284.07 crore covering a tentative beneficiary of 28.7 lakh.

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Key decisions include:

✅ Amendment to the Industrial Policy Resolution 2022 to support industrial restructuring and revival.

✅ Reforms in education service rules to improve cadre management, seniority and promotion opportunities.

✅ Free textbooks for students of Classes IX and X.

✅ A Rs 450 crore Dakshyata Vikas Yojana to strengthen youth skilling and employment opportunities.

✅ A Rs 1,360 crore corpus fund to ensure timely availability of fertilisers and quality seeds.

✅ Stage-II development of Astaranga Fishing Harbour to strengthen fisheries infrastructure and livelihoods.

✅ Approval of the Tustapalli In-Stream Storage Project to improve water security in drought-vulnerable areas.

✅ A Rs 500 crore urban storm-water drainage programme to reduce waterlogging and localised flooding.

✅ A disaster recovery-cum-data centre at Kendujhar to strengthen continuity of critical government digital services.

✅ Approval of land for postal infrastructure in Rairangpur to improve access to essential services.

✅ Rs 133.72 crore approved for Mahanadi Waterfront Development at kataka.

✅ New Secondary Education Rules, 2026, to strengthen teachers’ service conditions and promotion opportunities.

✅ Fisheries cadre strength increased from 445 to 774 posts.

✅ Junior Engineer–Assistant Engineer ratio revised to improve promotion prospects.