Anubhav Patnaik is serving as the Advisor to E & IT Department, Government of Odisha in the rank of Minister of State from 2019 and again reappointed in 2022. Presently he is also serving as spokesperson for the ruling party of Odisha , Biju Janata Dal and secretary in charge of “Women Empowerment” for BJD. He was the sitting MLA from Khandapada constituency from 2014-2019 for the state assembly of Odisha.

EARLY LIFE

Anubhav Patnaik was born to Shri Arun Kumar Patnaik and Smt. Bijayalaxmi Patnaik on 15 Aug in the year 1980 in Cuttack, Odisha. His father was an erstwhile MLA to the state assembly, starting his political career in 1970s as president of Ravenshaw College, Cuttack and later first NSUI president of Odisha. To honour the sacrifices of Late Arun Kumar Patnaik, Khandapada celebrates his birth anniversary, 12 September as “Jagrat Khandapada Divas”. His mother Smt. Bijayalaxmi Patnaik, had also been the Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Khandapada Constituency in the year 2000 as a candidate of Biju Janata Dal, and again in the year 2004 as Independent candidate.

Patnaik was educated at DAV public school, Bhubaneswar in 1996 and later at BJB College, Bhubaneswar in 1998. He graduated from BJB College, Bhubaneswar in 2001 with Economics. He has done MBA with Marketing and HR from MICM, Bhubaneswar in 2003.

Patnaik has a corporate experience of 10 years. After MBA he started working with Godrej & Boyce Mfg. Co. Ltd. as Sales Executive in 2004, meanwhile also helping his mother Bijayalaxmi Patnaik for the welfare of his homeland. Later he got promoted to ASM in 2007 and then from 2011, as AGM to Godrej & Boyce Mfg. Co. Ltd., was handling Karnataka state in Bangalore.

CAREER
Patnaik was highly influenced by Late Biju Pattnaik, former Chief Minister of Odisha and also by his parents’ inspiring life journey of unconditional and consistent effort for the betterment of his people. Resulting that to carry forward his parents vision of developed Khandapada, he left his job and started his journey as MLA candidate to serve for the society and humanity. In 2014 defeating Shri Soumya Ranjan Patnaik, he was elected as an MLA of Biju Janata Dal from Khandapada assembly constituency.

He had been one of the four advisors to Biju Yuva Janata Dal, the Youth Wing of Biju Janata Dal. In 2019 he was given charge as party’s state spokesperson by BJD.

Child Friendly Constituency
Patnaik had taken lead in making his constituency Khandapada, the first Child-Friendly Constituency (CFC) in Odisha. He has collaborated with UNICEF and Kalinga Kusum Foundation in implementing the CFC. He has played an important role in shaping the CFC so that no child is left behind in his constituency. This CFC initiative have empowered the children of this constituency to participate in Gram sabha meetings as well as raise issues related to child rights, nutrition and welfare. He shared his experience in CFC at the International Association for Adolescent Health (IAAH).

Child-Friendly Constituency is an initiative that allows communities and children within the constituency to proactively engage with their elected representatives and service providers on issues that concern children.

OUTREACH
Patnaik was invited by NASSCOM to share his experience as an MLA in areas of agriculture and digital technology. He has also been invited by Tata Trusts to its School and Community Science Programme He has served as a member of the board of governors at Xavier University Bhubaneswar, IIIT Bhubaneswar and a member of Odisha State Housing Board. He has attended the roadshow held by Odisha Govt in the run up to the third Make in Odisha Conclave.

Patnaik has participated in the “Professional Fellows Program on Governance and Society, South and Central Asia” held in U.S. This was a project with the professionals and emerging leaders from India, Pakistan, Nepal and the U.S., which was sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and administered by World Learning. This exceptional program was designed for two way exchange of ideas, strategies, and best practices in legislative process and policymaking, while developing sustainable and enduring linkages with professional counterparts.

During this visit Patnaik was presented with Certificate of Achievement as Delegate from India, for the U.S. department of state’s ‘Legislative Fellows Program for South & Central Asia’. And also got recognized in the Ohio State Journal by Senator Yuko as a participant of this prestigious program.
Awards

Patnaik is the recipient of Aadarsh Yuva Vidhayak Puraskar (Ideal Youth MLA) from Bharatiya Chhatra Sansad.