Anuj Kumar Das Pattnaik Appointed Director of Information & Public Relations
Key changes in Odisha’s administrative structure include new leadership in I\&PR and PM Poshan programmes
In a significant administrative reshuffle at the Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) level, Anuj Kumar Das Pattnaik has been appointed as the new Director of the Information and Public Relations (I\&PR) Department. The change was officially notified by the state government as part of ongoing departmental reassignments across key roles.
Anuj Kumar Das Pattnaik, a senior OAS officer, takes over the I\&PR Department after previously serving as the State Nodal Officer for the PM Poshan and MM Poshan schemes. He had assumed this role only last month, and before that, he held key administrative positions, including Additional Secretary in the Steel & Mines and Women & Child Development departments.
Pattnaik replaces Deb Prasad Dash, who was previously managing the I\&PR Department under additional charge. Dash has now been promoted as the Independent Secretary of the Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department. His promotion last month also included temporary oversight of the I\&PR Department, a role now handed over to Pattnaik with full responsibility.
Further changes in the state’s bureaucratic setup include the reassignment of Surendra Kumar Panda, a senior OAS officer currently serving as Secretary in the Health and Family Welfare Department. He will now take on the additional responsibility of State Nodal Officer for the PM Poshan scheme, succeeding Pattnaik.
The leadership change at the I\&PR Department fills a long-standing vacancy. The position had been unoccupied since the retirement of former Director Saroj Samal on February 28 this year. The department plays a crucial role in disseminating government initiatives, policies, and information to the public and media, making this appointment particularly significant.
These reshuffles reflect the Odisha government’s ongoing focus on streamlining administrative functions and reinforcing leadership in departments critical to public welfare, communication, and outreach.
With Anuj Kumar Das Pattnaik’s experience in key state-level programmes and his background in development sectors, the government anticipates improved efficiency and stronger public engagement through the I\&PR Department.
The changes also underline the importance the government places on integrated policy execution — from media communication to nutrition programmes — all aimed at better governance and public service delivery.
