New Delhi, 30 January: Sasmit Patra, leader of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Rajya Sabha member, shared his views on several key issues including the Supreme Court’s stay on the new UGC regulations, the Economic Survey 2026, the Special Summary Revision (SSR) of voter lists, and the upcoming Global Impact AI Summit in Delhi.
Regarding the Supreme Court’s intervention on the UGC rules, Patra stated that the court has issued a notice and the matter is currently pending. “At this stage, there is no need for further comments. Once the Supreme Court delivers its final verdict, the situation will become clear and a resolution will emerge,” he said.
TrendingOn the Economic Survey 2026, Patra noted positive signals about the country’s GDP growth rate. “The figures appear promising and achieving them is possible, but a major contribution must come from two sectors. The foremost is agriculture,” he emphasized.
He highlighted the challenges faced by farmers today, pointing out that markets are not functioning properly, crop procurement is inadequate, and there is a shortage of fertilisers. “Until these problems are resolved, it will be difficult to meet economic growth targets,” he added.
Speaking about the SSR process related to voter lists, Patra mentioned that the Supreme Court has identified several procedural flaws that need correction. “The work at tehsil and block levels is not being done properly,” he observed.
Patra informed that Odisha is set to begin the SSR process in the next two to three months. He expressed concern that during this exercise, eligible voters’ names might be mistakenly removed from the voter list.
On the Global Impact AI Summit scheduled in Delhi from 16 to 20 February, Patra expressed enthusiasm. “Entrepreneurs, innovators, and key leaders from various countries will attend. This is a great opportunity for India to showcase its AI models, machine learning solutions, and deep technology on the world stage,” he said.
He added, “India has excellent entrepreneurs and innovators who can demonstrate how rapidly the country is advancing in the AI sector.”
– VKU/VC