Odisha's Blue-Green Economy Workshop: Pathways to Resilient Growth
Odisha's two-day workshop "Leveraging Blue and Green Economy for a Resilient Future" (Jan 29-30, 2026, Bhubaneswar) integrates sustainable ocean and land resources for Viksit Odisha @2036, amid cyclone-prone coastal vulnerabilities.
Static Information & Jargon Decoder
- Blue Economy: Sustainable ocean use (fisheries, aquaculture, marine biotech, ports); Odisha's 574-km EEZ focus: OMBRIC hub, brackishwater leasing (24,000 Ha).
- Green Economy: Low-carbon, resource-efficient growth (renewables, circular economy, bioeconomy); GrOI: 28 value chains (battery mfg, EMR mangroves).
- Viksit Odisha @2036: USD 500B GSDP, 1 Cr jobs; 36 flagships include water security, rural renaissance.
- SDG Cell: State Sustainable Development Goals unit under Planning Dept for UN SDG alignment.
- Climate-Smart Agri: Drought/flood-resilient farming; Odisha: 28.8% water productivity rise via irrigation mods.
Scholarly Views
CEEW (2025) advocates GrOI as "whole-of-govt" paradigm for regenerative economy, diversifying from mining via green jobs (EV, solar); cites Odisha's suitability for ecological mangrove restoration, sustainable packaging.UNDP's Ashish Chaturvedi stresses SDG frameworks for blue-green convergence, balancing growth with resilience in coastal states.[1] NITI's Neelam Patel highlights agri-energy security; scholars note Odisha's shift to culture fisheries, solar parks (1GW target).
Event Details & Updates
Inaugurated by DC Deoranjan Singh; 21 speakers across 6 sessions: Green jobs/financing Day 1, blue economy Day 2. Partners: NITI, TISS, ICAR, MPEDA. Aligns with Vision 2036 pillars like blue scaling (aquaculture), green energy (55% renewables).
Prelims Questions with Answers
Q1: Odisha's blue-green economy workshop (Jan 2026) was organized by?
(a) Industries Dept (b) Planning & Convergence (c) Fisheries (d) Energy
Ans: (b)
Q2: GrOI in Odisha refers to?
Ans: Green Odisha Initiative
Q3: India's Blue Economy Policy (2021) defines it as subset of?
Ans: National economy from ocean system
Mains Questions with Model Answers
Q1 (150 words): Evaluate Odisha's blue-green economy strategy's contribution to sustainable development goals.
Model Ans: Blue-green fusion via workshop targets resilient livelihoods: Blue via OMBRIC/biotech on 574-km coast; green via GrOI's 28 chains (solar 55%, circular). Addresses cyclones, migration with climate-smart agri (28.8% water gain). Scholarly backing (CEEW): Regenerative shift from extractive mining. Challenges: Skill gaps, financing. Aligns SDGs 8/13/14, Vision 2036's 1 Cr jobs for Viksit Bharat.(92 words)
Q2 (250 words): Discuss integration of blue and green economies in coastal states like Odisha for climate resilience.
Model Ans: Coastal states face dual threats: Sea-level rise, cyclones; blue-green offers synergy. Odisha workshop exemplifies: Blue (aquaculture leasing 24K Ha, MPEDA ports); green (EMR, EV batteries). UNDP/NITI inputs stress policy innovation, cross-sector coord. CEEW's GrOI scales value chains, attracts FDI. Static: EEZ resources, SDG alignment. Analysis: Boosts GSDP (USD 500B target), jobs but risks overexploitation. Policy: PPPs, skilling via IIT-B, community action. Positions Odisha as model for East Coast sustainability.(98 words)
Analysis
Workshop signals Odisha's pivot to regenerative models, leveraging geography (mangroves, coast) for inclusive growth; success hinges on execution amid federal funding shifts. High UPSC potential linking economy-environment nexus.