Odisha, formerly known as Orissa, is a state in eastern India, renowned for its rich history, cultural heritage, and economic potential. It is the eighth-largest state by area and the eleventh-most populous. Geographically, Odisha lies along the eastern coast of India, between latitudes 17°49’N and 22°34’N and longitudes 81°27’E and 87°29’E. Covering approximately 155,707 square kilometers, as per the 2011 Census, the state is home to diverse landscapes, from coastal plains to rolling hills and forested regions.
Odisha shares its borders with West Bengal and Jharkhand to the north, Chhattisgarh to the west, Andhra Pradesh to the south, and Telangana to the southwest. It also boasts a 485-kilometer-long coastline along the Bay of Bengal, making it a crucial hub for maritime trade and fisheries. Historically known as Utkala, the region finds mention in India’s national anthem, Jana Gana Mana. The official language, Odia, holds the status of a Classical Language of India.
Odisha’s history is deeply intertwined with the ancient kingdom of Kalinga, which was famously invaded by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka in 261 BCE. The devastation of the Kalinga War led Ashoka to embrace Buddhism, marking a significant turning point in Indian history. The region later witnessed the resurgence of local power under King Kharavela.
The modern boundaries of Odisha were established on 1 April 1936 when the British carved out Orissa Province from the Odia-speaking regions of Bihar and Orissa Province. This day is now celebrated as Utkala Dibasa (Odisha Day). Historically, Cuttack served as the capital of Odisha for centuries, having been established by Anantavarman Chodaganga in 1135 CE. However, in 1948, Bhubaneswar was declared the state capital.
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Etymology
The name “Odisha” traces its origins to the ancient Prakrit term Odda Visaya (also Udra Bibhasha or Odra Bibhasha), mentioned in a 1025 CE inscription of Rajendra Chola I at Tirumalai. The 15th-century poet Sarala Das, who translated the Mahabharata into Odia, referred to the region as Odra Rashtra. Inscriptions from the reign of Kapilendra Deva of the Gajapati dynasty (1435–67) also mention the region as Odisha Rajya.
The English spelling was officially changed from “Orissa” to “Odisha” in 2011 through the Orissa (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2010, and the Constitution (113th Amendment) Bill, 2010. The Lok Sabha passed the bill on 9 November 2010, and the Rajya Sabha approved it on 24 March 2011, aligning the English and Hindi names with the Odia pronunciation.
History of Odisha
The history of Odisha is as ancient as its civilization, deeply intertwined with India’s cultural and political evolution. The region was historically known as Kalinga, Utkala, and Odra, with territorial boundaries that extended far beyond its present-day borders. By the time of the Mahabharata, these powerful kingdoms had integrated into the Aryan polity. The epic frequently mentions Kalinga, while Utkala and Odra also find references. The Kalinga-Utkal region, located along the eastern coast of India, gained significant recognition during the time of Mahavira and Buddha.
Early Political History
Odisha’s political history begins with the Nanda dynasty of Magadha. The Hathigumpha inscription at Udayagiri, attributed to Emperor Kharavela, mentions a Nanda king twice. When Chandragupta Maurya ascended the throne of Magadha, Kalinga was independent and did not form part of his empire. However, in 261 BCE, Emperor Ashoka waged the infamous Kalinga War, recorded in his Thirteenth Rock Edict:
“One hundred and fifty thousand men were carried away captive from that country, as many as one hundred thousand were killed there in action, and many times that number perished.”
Though victorious, Ashoka was deeply moved by the devastation, leading to his transformation into a patron of Buddhism. This shift not only altered the course of Indian history but also had far-reaching consequences across Asia.
Kharavela, who ruled in the first half of the 2nd century BCE, was another pivotal figure in Odisha’s history. A devout Jain, he greatly contributed to Odisha’s flourishing cave architecture, as evidenced by the intricate carvings in the Khandagiri and Udayagiri caves. His reign marked a period of artistic and architectural excellence.
Medieval Odisha: Dynastic Rule and Cultural Flourishing
Following Kharavela’s rule, Odisha’s history remained obscure for several centuries. However, Hiuen Tsang’s accounts indicate that Odisha came under the influence of Harsha Siladitya. Ptolemy, the 2nd-century Greek geographer, also attested to Odisha’s thriving trade along its coastline. By the 8th century CE, Odisha had reached the peak of its overseas trade, particularly with the Sailendra Empire in present-day Malaysia.
From the 8th to 10th centuries CE, the Bhauma-Kara dynasty ruled Utkala, a period during which the Odia language began to take shape. They were succeeded by the Somavamsis and the Kesharis, with King Yajati Keshari commissioning the grand Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar, later completed by his successors.
The 11th century marked the rise of the Ganga dynasty, an era of socio-cultural transformation in Odisha. Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva (1078–1191 CE) expanded his empire from the Ganges to the Godavari and relocated his capital from Kalinganagar (Parlakhemundi) to Cuttack. Under his rule, Vaishnavism flourished, and temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu were constructed at Mukhlingam, Shrikurmam, Simhachalam, and Puri. The iconic Jagannath Temple at Puri, a masterpiece of temple architecture, was completed during the reign of Anangabhima Deva.
The 13th century was a defining moment in Odisha’s architectural heritage. While North India suffered from invasions and temple destruction, Odisha’s architecture reached its zenith with the construction of the Konark Sun Temple by Narasimhadeva I (1238–1264 CE), regarded as the pinnacle of Hindu temple architecture.
Late Medieval and Early Modern Period
In the early 15th century, the Suryavamsi dynasty restored Odisha’s glory. The first Surya King, Gajapati Kapilendra Deva (1435–1466 CE), defeated rulers from Bengal, Vijayanagar, Kanchi, and the Bahamani Sultanate. His successors, including Prataprudra Deva, continued this legacy, bringing prosperity to Odisha. However, the kingdom’s independence ended in 1568 when Mukunda Deva, its last independent ruler, was killed while fighting Afghan forces from Bengal. This marked the beginning of Muslim rule in Odisha.
The subsequent centuries witnessed political instability, with the Bhoi dynasty and the Afghans ruling the coastal regions. Odisha eventually came under Mughal control, lasting for over a century. The most destructive phase occurred under Aurangzeb, whose reign saw large-scale temple destruction. However, during Shah Jahan’s rule, the British East India Company entered Odisha, receiving trading rights (Parwana) from Mughal authorities.
With the decline of the Mughal Empire after Aurangzeb’s death, Odisha passed under the control of the independent Nawabs of Bengal. In 1741, the Bhonsle rulers of Nagpur, led by Bhaskar Ram (Bhaskar Pandit), invaded Odisha. Alivardi Khan, the Nawab of Bengal, was forced to cede Odisha to the Marathas, who ruled until the British conquest in 1803.
Colonial Odisha and the Freedom Struggle
By the early 17th century, European traders—Portuguese, Dutch, Danes, French, and British—established trade settlements in Odisha, notably at Pipili, Balasore, and Hariharpur. After the Battle of Plassey (1757), the legal control of Odisha passed to the British. In 1765, Emperor Shah Alam granted the British East India Company Dewani (revenue collection rights) over Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha, though only a small portion of Odisha was initially included. In 1803, following the Anglo-Maratha War, the British formally annexed the entire region.
Resistance to British rule was strong. In 1817, Bakshi Jagabandhu Bidyadhar led the Paika Rebellion, one of the earliest uprisings against British rule. Though suppressed, it laid the foundation for future resistance. In 1857, during the First War of Independence, Veer Surendra Sai led a fierce rebellion in Sambalpur against the British, inspiring countless freedom fighters.
The Na’Anka Famine (1865–66) was a catastrophic event under British rule, with over a million deaths due to starvation. The British administration’s failure to provide relief exposed its apathy toward Odisha’s people.
By the late 19th century, Odisha experienced a socio-cultural renaissance, spearheaded by intellectuals and reformers such as Gourishankar Ray, Fakir Mohan Senapati, Bhagaban Chandra Das, Radhanath Ray, Laxmikanta Mohapatra, and Madhusudan Das. Their efforts led to the restoration of the Odia language and the unification of Odia-speaking regions.
On April 1, 1936, Odisha was officially recognized as a separate province, carved out from Bengal, Madras, and the Central Provinces. This day is now celebrated as Utkala Dibasa (Odisha Day).
Post-Independence Odisha
Odisha actively participated in the Quit India Movement of 1942, with thousands imprisoned and around 100 killed. After India gained independence in 1947, princely states were integrated into the Indian Union in 1948, forming the modern state of Odisha.
An administrative reorganization led to the creation of new districts, including Mayurbhanj, Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Phulbani, Bolangir, and Kalahandi. However, Sareikela and Kharsuan were merged with Bihar. Today, Odisha comprises 30 districts, 58 subdivisions, 314 blocks, 317 tehsils, 6,234 gram panchayats, and 51,313 villages. The 2011 Census records Odisha’s population at 41.97 million.
Through centuries of political upheavals and cultural transformations, Odisha has emerged as a vibrant state, preserving its rich heritage while embracing modern development.
Administrative Divisions of Odisha
Odisha is administratively divided into 30 districts, which are further grouped into three revenue divisions, each under the control of a Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC). These divisions help in better governance, revenue management, and administrative convenience.
Revenue Divisions and Their Jurisdictions
1. Central Revenue Division (Headquarters: Cuttack)
Includes the districts:
- Cuttack
- Jagatsinghpur
- Kendrapara
- Jajpur
- Balasore
- Bhadrak
- Puri
- Khurda
- Nayagarh
- Mayurbhanj
2. Northern Revenue Division (Headquarters: Sambalpur)
Includes the districts:
- Sambalpur
- Deogarh
- Jharsuguda
- Bargarh
- Balangir
- Subarnapur
- Sundargarh
- Dhenkanal
- Angul
- Keonjhar
3. Southern Revenue Division (Headquarters: Berhampur)
Includes the districts:
- Ganjam
- Gajapati
- Koraput
- Nabarangpur
- Rayagada
- Malkangiri
- Kalahandi
- Kandhamal
- Nuapada
- Boudh
Each district is headed by a District Collector, while a Sub-Division is managed by a Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO). At the block level, administration is overseen by a Block Development Officer (BDO).
Detailed Administrative Structure of Odisha
| District | Sub- Divisions | Municipalities | NACs | Tehsils | Blocks | Gram Panchayats (GPs) | Villages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angul | 4 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 209 | 1,922 |
| Balasore | 2 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 12 | 289 | 2,971 |
| Bargarh | 2 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 12 | 248 | 1,208 |
| Bhadrak | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 193 | 1,307 |
| Balangir | 3 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 14 | 285 | 1,794 |
| Boudh | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 63 | 1,156 |
| Cuttack | 3 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 14 | 342 | 1,865 |
| Deogarh | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 60 | 867 |
| Dhenkanal | 3 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 199 | 1,221 |
| Gajapati | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 129 | 1,576 |
| Ganjam | 3 | 1 | 17 | 23 | 22 | 475 | 3,171 |
| Jagatsinghpur | 1 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 194 | 1,391 |
| Jajpur | 1 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 280 | 1,781 |
| Jharsuguda | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 78 | 356 |
| Kalahandi | 2 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 13 | 273 | 2,205 |
| Kandhamal | 2 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 12 | 153 | 2,515 |
| Kendrapara | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 9 | 230 | 1,532 |
| Keonjhar | 3 | 4 | 0 | 13 | 13 | 286 | 2,127 |
| Khurda | 2 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 10 | 168 | 1,567 |
| Koraput | 2 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 14 | 226 | 1,997 |
| Malkangiri | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 108 | 928 |
| Mayurbhanj | 4 | 1 | 3 | 26 | 26 | 382 | 3,945 |
| Nabarangpur | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 10 | 169 | 897 |
| Nayagarh | 1 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 179 | 1,694 |
| Nuapada | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 109 | 659 |
| Puri | 1 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 11 | 230 | 1,714 |
| Rayagada | 2 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 11 | 171 | 2,667 |
| Sambalpur | 3 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 9 | 148 | 1,325 |
| Subarnapur | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 96 | 959 |
| Sundargarh | 3 | 4 | 1 | 18 | 17 | 262 | 1,744 |
| Total | 58 | 37 | 66 | 317 | 314 | 6,234 | 51,061 |
Key Observations
✔ Odisha has 30 districts grouped into three revenue divisions for better administrative control.
✔ The districts are further divided into 58 sub-divisions, 317 tehsils, 314 blocks, and 6,234 Gram Panchayats (GPs).
✔ There are 37 municipalities and 66 Notified Area Councils (NACs) managing urban administration.
✔ The state comprises 51,061 villages, playing a crucial role in rural governance.
Reorganization of Districts in Odisha
Following the recommendations of the State Reorganisation Commission (SRC) in 1956, Odisha’s just and reasonable claims over Sareikela and Kharsuan were rejected. This led to a strong movement in Odisha, known as the SRC Movement of 1956, which resulted in casualties. Consequently, Nabakrushna Chaudhury voluntarily stepped down as Chief Minister, and his vision for the reorganization of districts remained unfulfilled. Due to persistent political instability in the subsequent years, district reorganization could not be carried out.
In 1973, a District Reorganisation Committee was appointed under the chairmanship of Justice Raj Kishore Das, which submitted its report in 1975. However, the government could not implement its recommendations due to resource constraints and a lack of political will.
Biju Patnaik’s Initiative for Reorganization (1990-1994)
During Biju Patnaik’s tenure as Chief Minister in 1990, the long-awaited district reorganization process was initiated for administrative convenience. A cabinet sub-committee was formed to oversee the reorganization.
Odisha’s districts were reorganized in three phases, making them smaller to enhance administrative efficiency and bring governance closer to the people.
- First Phase (October 2, 1992)
- Two districts, Koraput and Ganjam, were reorganized.
- The new districts were formed based on 1981 Census data, using sub-divisions as the primary unit.
- Second Phase (April 1993)
- Out of 11 districts, seven were reorganized.
- Four districts (Sundargarh, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj, and Phulbani) remained unchanged.
- Final Phase (January 1, 1994)
- Phulbani District was reorganized.
This reorganization process led to the creation of 30 districts, making governance more accessible to citizens.
| Old District | New District | Headquarters | Area (km²) | Population | % of Total Population | Density (per km²) | Literacy Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ganjam | Gajapati | Parlakhemundi | 4,325 | 577,817 | 1.38 | 133 | 54.29 |
| Ganjam | Chatrapur | 8,206 | 3,529,031 | 8.41 | 429 | 71.88 | |
| Koraput | Koraput | Koraput | 8,807 | 1,379,647 | 3.29 | 156 | 49.87 |
| Malkangiri | Malkangiri | 5,791 | 613,192 | 1.46 | 106 | 49.49 | |
| Nabarangpur | Nabarangpur | 5,291 | 1,220,946 | 2.91 | 230 | 48.20 | |
| Rayagada | Rayagada | 7,073 | 967,911 | 2.31 | 136 | 50.88 | |
| Baleshwar | Baleshwar | Baleshwar | 3,806 | 2,320,529 | 5.53 | 609 | 80.66 |
| Bhadrak | Bhadrak | 2,505 | 1,506,337 | 3.59 | 601 | 83.25 | |
| Cuttack | Cuttack | Cuttack | 3,932 | 2,624,470 | 6.25 | 666 | 84.20 |
| Jajpur | Jajpur | 2,899 | 1,827,192 | 4.35 | 630 | 80.44 | |
| Kendrapara | Kendrapara | 2,495 | 1,440,361 | 3.43 | 545 | 85.93 | |
| Jagatsinghpur | Jagatsinghpur | 1,668 | 1,136,971 | 2.71 | 681 | 87.13 | |
| Puri | Puri | Puri | 3,479 | 1,698,730 | 4.05 | 488 | 85.37 |
| Khurda | Khurda | 2,813 | 2,251,673 | 5.36 | 799 | 87.51 | |
| Nayagarh | Nayagarh | 3,890 | 962,789 | 2.29 | 247 | 79.17 | |
| Dhenkanal | Dhenkanal | Dhenkanal | 4,452 | 1,192,811 | 2.84 | 268 | 79.41 |
| Angul | Angul | 6,375 | 1,273,821 | 3.03 | 199 | 78.96 | |
| Sambalpur | Sambalpur | Sambalpur | 6,624 | 1,041,099 | 2.48 | 158 | 76.91 |
| Bargarh | Bargarh | 5,837 | 1,481,255 | 3.53 | 253 | 75.16 | |
| Deogarh | Deogarh | 2,940 | 312,164 | 0.74 | 106 | 73.07 | |
| Jharsuguda | Jharsuguda | 2,114 | 579,499 | 1.38 | 274 | 78.36 | |
| Balangir | Subarnapur | Subarnapur | 2,337 | 652,107 | 1.45 | 279 | 74.42 |
| Balangir | Balangir | 6,575 | 1,648,574 | 3.93 | 251 | 65.50 | |
| Kalahandi | Kalahandi | Bhawanipatna | 7,920 | 1,573,054 | 3.76 | 199 | 64.22 |
| Nuapada | Nuapada | 3,852 | 606,490 | 1.48 | 157 | 58.20 | |
| Boudh-Phulbani | Boudh | Boudh | 3,098 | 439,917 | 1.05 | 142 | 72.51 |
| Kandhamal | Phulbani | 8,021 | 731,952 | 1.75 | 91 | 65.12 | |
| Districts Not Reorganized | Sundargarh | Sundargarh | 9,712 | 2,080,664 | 4.99 | 214 | 74.13 |
| Kendujhar | Kendujhar | 8,303 | 1,802,777 | 4.29 | 217 | 69.00 | |
| Mayurbhanj | Baripada | 10,418 | 2,513,895 | 6.00 | 241 | 63.98 | |
| Total Odisha | Bhubaneswar | 1,55,707 | 41,987,675 | 100.00 | 269 | 73.45 |