Latest news with #OdishaComputerApplicationCentre
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
State cabinet approves policy for implementing AI across different sectors
Bhubaneswar: The state cabinet on Wednesday approved a comprehensive Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy-2025, establishing the state as one of the pioneers in AI-driven governance and innovation in India. The landmark policy introduces the 'Odisha AI Mission' as its cornerstone initiative. Briefing media persons after the cabinet meeting, chief secretary Manoj Ahuja said efforts will be made to create infrastructure needed for promoting AI, besides skilling manpower. "Improvement of administration using AI and promoting AI startups will be among the govt's initiatives under the new policy," he said. The policy framework rests on four key pillars — AI infrastructure, skills development, energy sustainability, and regulatory mechanisms. It aims to accelerate the state's digital transformation while promoting responsible AI adoption across sectors. "The Odisha AI Mission will serve as the apex body for implementing AI initiatives across departments," said a statement issued by the electronics and IT department. The mission will operate through a two-tiered structure, comprising a high-level AI taskforce and an AI cell at the Odisha Computer Application Centre (OCAC). The policy identifies several priority sectors for AI implementation, including healthcare (AI-assisted disease prediction and screening), agriculture (smart irrigation and crop diagnostics), education (multilingual AI tools for personalised learning), disaster management (predictive response systems), and governance (intelligent citizen engagement platforms). Emphasising ethical AI deployment, the policy establishes robust data governance frameworks to prevent misuse and bias. It aligns with national and international standards for secure AI implementation. "This policy positions Odisha as a potential hub for AI-led public innovation and startups," a govt officer said, adding that it complements the objectives of the India AI Mission. State govt expects the policy to catalyse growth in the AI ecosystem, attracting investments and fostering industry-academia collaboration while promoting sustainable and inclusive technological development.
New Indian Express
28-05-2025
- Science
- New Indian Express
Odisha to train school, college students on emerging technologies, cybersecurity
BHUBANESWAR: The state government has planned to organise special camps for students on emerging technologies and cybersecurity to help them explore career opportunities in advanced fields and sensitise them on safe online practices and data protection. Sources said Odisha Computer Application Centre (OCAC), the technical directorate of the Electronics and IT department, will collaborate with the School and Mass Education (SME) and Higher Education departments for the purpose. OCAC will also rope in an expert agency to organise the training camps at school and college level. An official from OCAC said though emerging fields like artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, virtual reality (VR), data science, and cybersecurity are redefining career landscape and creating new employment opportunities, a considerable gap pertaining to awareness and preparedness among students regarding these advancements and their career prospects still exists in the state.
New Indian Express
26-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Government to raze old OCAC building, set up modern tech business tower
BHUBANESWAR : The state government is planning to demolish the old Odisha Computer Application Centre (OCAC) building and construct a new state-of-the-art Technology Business Tower in its place. Set to be built at a cost of around Rs 100 crore to Rs 200 crore, the mega structure will be equipped with adequate infrastructure and opportunities for collaboration and networking essential for fostering growth of technology-related companies in the city. Apart from the old building OCAC also has a seven-storey building constructed by IDCO at a cost of around Rs 46 crore. Operational since 2014, the facility houses IT, ITeS and ESDM companies in Odisha. It has a total space of 1,57,206 sq ft of super built up area. Considered a major IT hub, it hosts various IT and ITeS companies and also has a dedicated floor for IT/ITeS/ESDM startups with incubatory facilities. OCAC, the technical directorate of Electronics and IT department of the state government, is also functioning from the same building.
Time of India
04-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Govt sets up exam centres in all 30 districts for CPET-2025
1 2 3 Bhubaneswar: State govt has arranged an exam centre in each district for the convenience of students appearing for the Common PG Entrance Test (CPET)-2025, starting from Monday. Last year, CPET was conducted at 21 centres across the state. Students who want to take admission in postgraduate (PG) courses offered by state public universities and autonomous colleges need to appear for CPET. More than 62,000 students applied for the test this year. Candidates need to answer objective-type questions worth 100 marks. CPET will be an OMR-based test conducted by State Selection Board (SSB) of the higher education department. "SSB has chosen major degree and autonomous colleges as examination centres in all 30 districts," said board secretary Rajesh Kumar Sahoo. The first exam will be conducted between 9 am and 10.20 am, while the second sitting will be from 11.30 am to 12.50 pm. The last sitting will be held between 3 pm and 4.20 pm. On the first day, exams will be conducted in commerce, economics, electronic science, environmental science, education, physics and microbiology in three sittings. On Tuesday, candidates will appear for English, geology, wildlife and biodiversity conservation, psychology, zoology and history papers. On Wednesday, the applicants will sit for exams on Odia, atmospheric science, marine science and marine biology, public health, marine science-oceanography, women studies and philosophy. SSB will hand over the test marks to the Odisha Computer Application Centre (OCAC) on May 26. The department will notify the dates for the publication of subject-wise and state-wide merit lists, official sources said. As many as 116 higher education institutes in the state have a total of 29,732 PG seats. Last year, 62,544 candidates registered for CPET-2024 compared to 28,926 PG seats.
