Bhubaneswar: Amid growing concern over the alleged disappearance of merchant navy cadet Sarthak Mohapatra while on duty, Odisha Sports Minister Suryabanshi Suraj has assured full support from both the state and central governments to the family. Speaking on the matter, the minister said he had personally spoken to Sarthak’s mother three days ago and that…
Bhubaneswar: In a significant move to decolonise military traditions and honour India’s own heroes, the Indian Army has renamed 246 roads, buildings and facilities across the country, replacing British-era names with those of Indian war heroes and icons of valour. The newly renamed infrastructure now commemorates legendary soldiers such as Param Vir Chakra awardees Arun…
Bhubaneswar: The 13th edition of the India–Kyrgyzstan Joint Special Forces Exercise KHANJAR commenced on February 4 at Missamari, Assam, and will continue until February 17, 2026. Exercise KHANJAR is an annual bilateral training event, conducted alternately in India and Kyrgyzstan. The previous edition of the exercise was held in Kyrgyzstan in March 2025. The Indian…
Bhubaneswar: The Railway Ministry has proposed a 40-kilometre underground rail corridor between Tin Mile Haat and Rangapani stations to strengthen passenger, freight, and defence logistics in the strategically sensitive Siliguri Corridor, officials said. Under the proposal, railway tracks will be laid 22–24 metres underground, while existing surface infrastructure will be expanded to four lines, creating…
Bhubaneswar: The Calcutta High Court on January 27 directed the West Bengal government to hand over land already acquired for Indo-Bangladesh border fencing to the Border Security Force (BSF) by March 31, 2026, asserting that national security cannot be subordinated to electoral or administrative delays. The order was passed by a division bench headed by…
Bhubaneswar: President Droupadi Murmu has approved the conferment of gallantry and service awards on 70 personnel of the Indian Armed Forces ahead of India’s 77th Republic Day celebrations, recognising acts of exceptional bravery and distinguished service across the Army, Navy and Air Force. Among the honours, the Ashoka Chakra, India’s highest peacetime gallantry award, has…
Bhubaneswar: Footage circulating on social media from January 24 has shown Indian Army personnel attending a religious programme at Bageshwar Dham in Madhya Pradesh, where they were seen participating in a katha conducted by religious preacher Dhirendra Krishna Shastri. The visuals also show soldiers cutting cakes bearing the words “Sita Ram” and interacting with devotees…
Bhubaneswar: Assistant Commandant Simran Bala of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is set to create history at the Republic Day Parade on January 26, 2026, by becoming the first woman officer to lead an all-male CRPF contingent on Kartavya Path. At 26 years of age, Bala will command a contingent of over 140 male…
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has launched a special enrolment drive to significantly increase the number of civil defence volunteers across the state, following concerns over a sharp decline in active personnel. The initiative aims to raise the strength of the force to 10,000 volunteers by March, officials said. At present, Odisha has only about 1,071…
Bhubaneswar: Ahead of the Republic Day celebrations, authorities in the national capital have implemented an unconventional yet effective strategy to reduce the risk of bird strikes during aerial rehearsals and the main flypast on January 26. The Indian Air Force (IAF), in coordination with the Delhi Forest Department, is distributing more than 1,270 kilograms of…
