Bhubaneswar, 06 May (H.S.): The 2025 batch Odisha cadre Indian Administrative Service (IAS) probationers visited the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday as part of their administrative training programme.

The probationers were welcomed by Chief Electoral Officer R S Gopalan, who provided them with a detailed overview of the electoral management system in the state. He explained various aspects of election administration, including voter registration processes, electoral strategies, and the functioning of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) systems.

Gopalan also briefed the trainees on the measures taken to ensure free, fair, and transparent elections. He emphasised the importance of electoral integrity in strengthening democratic governance and encouraged the young officers to develop expertise in this critical area of public administration.

“The transparency of the electoral process is vital for a healthy democracy. It is essential for new officers to gain strong domain knowledge in this field,” he said during the interaction.

Other senior officials present at the session included Additional Chief Electoral Officer Sushanta Kumar Mishra, Joint Chief Electoral Officer Gopinath Kuanr, Financial Advisor Sanjay Kumar Lugu, Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Lakshmiprasad Sahu, and Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Anamika Singh.

The visit aimed to provide the probationers with practical exposure to electoral governance and administrative procedures essential for public service delivery.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda