Odisha Leads India in Data Revolution with Advanced NADA Training
Bhubaneswar, November 22, 2025 — Odisha has taken a pioneering step in strengthening India’s data ecosystem by successfully completing Phase II of its advanced training program on the National Data Archive (NADA) platform.
Organised by the Directorate of Economics & Statistics (DE&S) under the Planning & Convergence Department, the five-day program was held at the Nabakrushna Choudhury Centre for Development Studies (NCDS) from November 17 to 21.
Led by international expert Mr Somnath Sambhudas, participants engaged in hands-on sessions to enhance their skills in documenting datasets, describing survey methodologies, and preparing metadata for publishing microdata from key surveys such as the National Sample Survey (NSS), Price Statistics, Annual Survey of Industries, Minor Irrigation Census, and Census of Water Bodies.
The program was inaugurated by Mr Prakash Chandra Mohanty, Additional Secretary of the Planning & Convergence Department, who emphasised the importance of making data accessible and understandable for all users.
Dr B.B. Nanda further highlighted the critical role of transparent data dissemination in fostering research and citizen participation.
Supported by the World Bank-backed Odisha State Capacity and Resilience Growth Programme (OSCRGP), this initiative underscores Odisha’s commitment to modernising statistical infrastructure.
Notably, Odisha is the first Indian state to operationalise the NADA platform for publishing government datasets, setting a benchmark for transparency, efficiency, and evidence-based planning.
With the State Data Dissemination Policy already in place, this milestone reinforces Odisha’s leadership in building a robust and accessible data ecosystem for governance and public utilisation.
