Odisha Government Withdraws Salary Hike Bills Amidst Public Outrage

The Odisha government retracted Bills proposing a three-fold hike in MLAs' salaries and pensions after public backlash. The Bills, passed in December 2025 but pending governor approval, faced criticism from both ruling and opposition parties. The Odisha State Public Universities Bill 2026 and Appropriation Bill 2026 were also addressed.

The Odisha government faced significant public backlash over proposed legislation that would have tripled the salaries and pensions of its MLAs, leading to the withdrawal of four Bills. This decision was made before the budget session was adjourned early.

Passed unanimously in December 2025, the Bills were still awaiting gubernatorial assent. Lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties urged Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to reconsider the substantial salary hikes following public discontent.

Amidst these developments, the Odisha State Public Universities (Reservation in Teachers' Cadre) Bill 2026 was also debated and enacted, aiming to streamline the recruitment process. Additionally, the state's budget worth Rs 3.10 lakh crore was approved despite recent disruptions in proceedings.

(With inputs from agencies.)