President Droupadi Murmu is likely to visit Rourkela, Odisha, on April 21, 2026, for a series of programmes in the steel city, according to Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram. Oram, who is also the Lok Sabha MP for Sundergarh (which includes Rourkela), confirmed the visit after meeting with Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi at Lok Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar. Although the final schedule has not yet been confirmed, the visit is expected to focus on key issues in the region.

During the meeting, Oram discussed the progress of two major projects: the land acquisition for the expansion of Rourkela Steel Plant and the transfer of land from the plant to the Airports Authority of India for the expansion of Rourkela Airport. Both projects are reportedly making satisfactory progress, according to Oram.

Oram also praised the Odisha state cabinet's recent decision to extend reservation benefits in medical, engineering, and other professional education for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC/OBC) students. The reservation for ST students has been increased from 12% to 22.5%, for SC students from 8% to 16.25%, and an 11.25% reservation for SEBC/OBC students has been introduced in professional courses. These changes are expected to benefit marginalized communities in pursuing higher education.

Majhi shared an update on the visit in a post, expressing that the President's visit was a matter of pride for Odisha. He confirmed that the state government is fully cooperating to ensure the success of the programme. The visit of President Murmu is significant not only for the region's development but also for the socio-political landscape, as it underscores the government's commitment to enhancing opportunities for students from marginalized communities in Odisha.