Retired IAS Officer Manoj Kumar Parida Appointed as Chief Information Commissioner of Odisha

Bhubaneswar, April 9 — In a significant move to strengthen the transparency framework in the state, the Odisha government has appointed retired IAS officer Manoj Kumar Parida as the new Chief Information Commissioner of the Odisha Right to Information (RTI) Commission.

Parida, a seasoned bureaucrat from the AGMUT cadre, brings with him a wealth of administrative experience spanning several decades. His appointment is expected to further reinforce the effective implementation of the RTI Act in the state.

Alongside Parida, the state government has also appointed three new Information Commissioners to the RTI Commission. These include:

• Pranabindu Acharya, a retired IPS officer,
• Kalpana Pattnaik, a practicing advocate at the High Court, and
• Pabitra Mandal, a retired IAS officer.

The appointments are seen as part of the government’s ongoing efforts to promote transparency, accountability, and access to information in governance.

Official sources stated that the new team of Commissioners is expected to bring diverse perspectives and professional experience to the functioning of the RTI Commission, thereby enhancing its role in ensuring citizens’ right to information.