Wed Dec 10 20:16:48 UTC 2025: Summary:

The Odisha Assembly has passed a bill, effective retroactively from June 5, 2024, that triples the salaries of the Chief Minister, Ministers, MLAs, and the pensions of former legislators. This move significantly increases the state’s pay and pension structure for elected representatives, potentially making it among the highest in India. The Chief Minister’s monthly salary will be ₹3.74 lakh, with similar increases for other officials and MLAs. The increase is justified by the State Parliamentary Affairs Minister, citing inflation and the need to align with salaries in other states, as well as the fact that salaries had remained unchanged for eight years.

News Article:

Odisha Legislators Approve Massive Salary Hike, Becoming Among Highest Paid in India

BHUBANESWAR – December 11, 2025: Odisha’s elected representatives are set to receive a significant pay raise after the State Assembly passed a bill tripling the salaries of the Chief Minister, Ministers, and Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs). The move also implements a threefold hike in the pensions of former legislators.

The legislation, passed on Tuesday evening, will be applied retroactively from June 5, 2024, and promises to place Odisha among the states with the highest compensation for its elected officials.

Under the new structure, the Chief Minister’s monthly salary will jump to ₹3.74 lakh, incorporating salary, car allowance, and sumptuary allowance. Cabinet Ministers will receive ₹3.62 lakh per month, while MLAs will now earn ₹3.45 lakh monthly, a significant increase from the ₹1.10 lakh they received in 2007. Former MLAs will now receive pensions of over ₹1.20 lakh.

The bill outlines significant increases across various allowances, including constituency, secretarial, conveyance, fixed, and communication allowances, reflecting a comprehensive overhaul of the compensation structure.

State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Mahaling defended the hike, citing inflation, the need to align with the salaries of MLAs in other states, and recommendations from the Odisha Legislative Assembly’s advisory committee. Mahaling also pointed out that salaries had remained unchanged for the past eight years.

“During past eight years, salary and pension of MLAs, Leader of the Opposition, Government Chief Whip, and Deputy Government Chief Whip remained unchanged. Taking into account inflation, salaries being paid to MLAs in different States, and the recommendation of the advisory committee of the Odisha Legislative Assembly, it is considered desirable to enhance the salary and allowance,” said Mahaling.

While MLAs from Telangana and Maharashtra are currently among the highest-paid in the country, this substantial increase in Odisha could potentially position the state’s elected officials among the best compensated nationwide. The decision has already sparked debate, with some questioning the timing and justification for such a large increase in compensation.

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