Odisha, formerly Orissa (the official name until 2011),[20] is a state located in Eastern India. It is the eighth-largest state by area, and the eleventh-largest by population, with over 41 million inhabitants. The state also has the third-largest population of Scheduled Tribes in India.[21] It neighbours the states of Jharkhand and West Bengal to the north, Chhattisgarh to the west, and Andhra Pradesh to the south. Odisha has a coastline of 485 kilometres (301 mi) along the Bay of Bengal in the Indian Ocean.[22] The region is also known as Utkaḷa and is mentioned by this name in India's national anthem, Jana Gana Mana.[23] The language of Odisha is Odia, which is one of the Classical languages of India

The ancient kingdom of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka in 261 BCE resulting in the Kalinga War, coincides with the borders of modern-day Odisha.[25] The modern boundaries of Odisha were demarcated by the British Indian government, the Orissa Province was established on 1 April 1936, consisting of the Odia-speaking districts of Bihar and Orissa Province, Madras Presidency and Central Provinces.[25] Utkala Dibasa (lit. 'Odisha Day') is celebrated on 1 April.[26] Cuttack was made the capital of the region by Anantavarman Chodaganga in c. 1135,[27] after which the city was used as the capital by many rulers, through the British era until 1948. Thereafter, Bhubaneswar became the capital of Odisha.

The economy of Odisha is the 15th-largest state economy in India with ₹5.86 trillion (US$69 billion) in gross domestic product and a per capita GDP of ₹127,383 (US$1,500).[8] Odisha ranks 32nd among Indian states in Human Development Index.