Bhubaneswar 20.5.2026 (ADN): In a significant exercise to clean up the statute book, the Odisha Cabinet has decided to repeal as many as 358 number of Acts of State Legislature enacted during the year 1974 to 2025 were identified by the Law Department for their repeal as they have become redundant and obsolete. Most of the said Acts are amending Acts and after they have come into force, the amendments sought to be made by them get lodged in the respective Principal Acts. Hence, there is no necessity to retain these Acts anymore in the Statute Book. Simultaneously some Acts were enacted for a particular purpose as one time measure which after coming into force loses their necessity. The State Law Commission of Odisha vide its Report dated 30.04.2026 and dated 06.04.2026, inter alia, have recommended to repeal these 358 Acts on the ground that these laws have become either redundant or obsolete and thus, this exercise would serve the purpose of removing the burden from the Statute Book while removing confusion from the minds of public.
The decision follows recommendations made by the State Law Commission of Odisha in its reports dated 06.04.2026 and 30.04.2026. The Commission had strongly advocated for the repeal of these Acts to simplify the legal frame-work and remove outdated laws from the statute book. The Cabinet has accepted the Commission’s recommen-dations and directed the preparation of the Odisha Re-pealing Bill, 2026, which will formally repeal all 358 identified Acts once passed by the State Legislature. This major repealing exercise is expected to bring greater clar-ity to the state’s legal system, reduce administrative hassles, and help both citizens and government func-tionaries by eliminating redundant laws.
The State Government of Odisha had earlier notified “The Odisha High Speed Diesel (Dealers’ Licensing) Order, 1979” under the provisions of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 to regulate the sale and distribution of High-Speed Diesel (HSD) in the State.
The Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Government of India in the meantime has advised all States/UTs to abolish the requirement of Retail Sale License (RSL) for High-Speed Diesel to promote ease of doing business and remove regulatory barriers.
In pursuance of the said advisory, the State Cabinet has approved the repeal of “The Odisha High Speed Diesel (Dealers’ Licensing) Order, 1979” through a new Notification titled “The Odisha High Speed Diesel (Dealers’ Licensing) Repeal Order, 2026”.
This decision is expected to simplify regulatory procedures, facilitate ease of doing business, and promote a more liberalized regime in the petroleum sector.It may be noted that Retail outlets obtain necessary NOC from the Collector and District Magistrate for setting up of Retail Outlets. Collectors give NOC on the basis of clearance from Fire, Works, Revenue and PESO.
By the above decision, the Retail Outlets will not require to take these clearances again.However, the Essential Commodities Act shall continue to apply on sale of HSD as before.
The State Cabinet in their meeting dtd. 19.10.2023 had decided for setting up of a separate Directorate of Archaeology, restructuring of Archaeological Curator Service and formulation of a cadre rule for better management, protection and preservation of archaeological elements i.e. ancient temples and monuments discovered in the State with rich cultural heritage. The Archaeological elements of the State shall be properly protected and it will help in research activities and publicity of rich cultural heritage of the State after the Directorate of Archaeology is made functional.
Accordingly, for recruitment and promotion against different posts of the Odisha Archaeological Curator Service, concurrence of GA & PG, Finance and Law Department has been obtained for formulation of “Odisha Archaeological Curator Service (Method of Recruitment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 2026”. Also, the Odisha Public Service Commission have concurred in the proposal and approval of the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Odisha has been obtained.
The Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Department has placed the cabinet memorandum proposal in the cabinet for approval relating to the repeal of the Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1982, and the enactment of the Odisha Marine Fishing (Prohibition and Regulation) legislation, 2026. The cabinet has approved the memorandum of the Odisha Marine Fishing Regulation Bill, 2026, to establish a robust, modern, and inclusive legal framework for the Marine Fisheries Sector.
The earlier Act was limited in scope, not inclusive, and inadequate to address emerging challenges such as marine resource conservation, fishermen’s safety, coastal security, technological advancements, and the prevention of unauthorized entry of foreign fishing vessels.
The new legislation overcomes these limitations by expanding the scope to include the regulation of deep-sea fishing and the promotion of mariculture activities, such as marine cage culture, seaweed culture, deployment of artificial reef for rejuvenation of territorial waters and many other economically viable ventures for sustainable development. Furthermore, it paves the way for comprehensive smart green integrated infrastructure development, including the modernization and management of fishing harbours and fish landing centres along the coast of Odisha. Thus, this bill shall ensure livelihood support as well as employment generation.
A high priority has been given in the new bill to the safety of our coastal communities and coastal & national security. The legislation mandates the use of modern safety equipment and communication technologies, including Transponders, Very High Frequency (VHF) radios, and Vessel Tracking and Monitoring Systems (VTMS). These provisions, along with mandatory biometric/ QR coded
aadhar identification and enhanced insurance coverage, will significantly bolster fishermen’s security and coastal surveillance.
The enacted legislation also introduces stringent measures to curb Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing activities. It provides for the strict regulation of fishing vessels, fishermen, and related activities, along with provisions for licensing, fishing gear regulation, and the prohibition of destructive fishing practices. It ensures the protection of traditional fishers and strengthens the monitoring and enforcement mechanism, facilitating the conservation and management of marine resources in a sustainable way.
Strategically aligned with the “Viksit Odisha Vision 2036-2047” and the state’s Blue Economy initiatives including deep sea fishing mission, the legislation is expected to strengthen marine fisheries governance and drive immense economic benefits. By prioritizing socio-economic upliftment and sustainable practices, the Bill will serve as a catalyst to facilitate and scale Odisha’s seafood exports, scaling marine fisheries sector targeting a monumental milestone of ₹25,000 crore seafood export by 2036.
“The new legislation will ensure sustainable fisheries resource development clubbed with immense economic benefit while protecting the livelihood and safety of the fishermen in Odisha as well as conservation of marine ecosystem across the coast”
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