Bhubaneswar: Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Shrimati Pravati Parida met with Union Finance Minister Shrimati Nirmala Sitharaman on January 10, 2026, to present a memorandum ahead of the Union Budget for 2025-26. During the pre-budget consultation in New Delhi, the Odisha government made a strong case for expanding the state’s healthcare and educational infrastructure.
A major highlight of the proposal is the request to establish two new All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Sambalpur and Berhampur. The Deputy Chief Minister noted that while the existing AIIMS in Bhubaneswar serves coastal Odisha and neighboring states, there is an urgent need to cater to the western and southern regions. This demand follows a recent announcement by the state government to provide a dedicated second AIIMS for western Odisha.
In addition to the new AIIMS campuses, the state requested the central government to sanction five new medical colleges and ten nursing colleges. These institutions are seen as vital to managing the heavy daily patient load at existing hospitals and improving healthcare access in rural areas.
The memorandum also emphasized the need for a National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) in Odisha. Although the state is a recognized educational hub with institutions like IIT, NIT, and IIM, it lacks a premier facility for pharmacy education. The state government argued that a NIPER would support the growing pharmaceutical sector, create jobs, and enhance research capabilities.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman assured that the suggestions from the Odisha government would be carefully considered during the finalization of the upcoming Union Budget.