Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government has directed that ‘Vande Mataram’ be sung before the National Anthem, ‘Jana Gana Mana,’ at all government functions and in government as well as government-aided schools across the state. The directive follows guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs on July 9. The School and Mass Education Department has…
Bhubaneswar: BJP MP Kangana Ranaut on Monday accused the Opposition of deliberately disrupting Parliament and obstructing legislative business, alleging that it was unwilling to allow the House to function. Speaking to reporters on the Parliament premises, Ranaut claimed that Opposition parties continued to stall proceedings regardless of the significance of the issues being taken up…
Bhubaneswar: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from the Council of Ministers on July 25, 2026, marking a significant political development amid months of controversy surrounding alleged examination paper leaks and widespread student protests. The paper leak allegations, which initially sparked concern among students and parents, gradually evolved into a nationwide movement demanding greater accountability…
Bhubaneswar: The Supreme Court has observed that introducing a third language from Class 6, instead of Class 9, could help reduce academic pressure on students as they approach board examinations. The remarks were made by a Bench comprising Justice B. V. Nagarathna and Justice R. Mahadevan while hearing a petition concerning the establishment of Jawahar…
Bhubaneswar residents may soon have to pay ₹5 to use BMC-managed public toilets, as the civic body plans to introduce a user fee to improve cleanliness, maintenance and sanitation services. The proposal follows a directive from the Housing & Urban Development (H&UD) Department, asking urban local bodies to levy user charges for the operation and…
Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s political landscape is witnessing intense speculation following reports that former IAS officer Sujata Karthikeyan may soon join the Biju Janata Dal (BJD). The buzz gained momentum after a meeting between BJD president and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and senior party leaders at Naveen Niwas. Political observers believe the discussions may be linked…
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Cabinet has approved a series of significant proposals aimed at strengthening urban infrastructure, promoting industrial growth, supporting affordable housing and improving environmental sustainability across the state. One of the key decisions is the construction of a Working Women’s Hostel at the Kalibeti Industrial Estate in Khordha. The project, estimated at Rs 210…
Bhubaneswar: The decision to remove the word “Dham” from the Jagannath project in Digha and rename it as the Digha Jagannath Cultural Centre has been welcomed by many devotees and stakeholders who had expressed concerns over preserving the unique spiritual identity of Puri. For centuries, Jagannath Temple in Puri has been revered as Jagannath Dham,…
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government is set to launch a comprehensive skill development initiative for women beneficiaries of the Subhadra scheme, with the aim of enhancing employability, promoting entrepreneurship, and fostering long-term economic independence. Announcing the initiative, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida said the program will target women aged between 21 and 35 years who are…
Bhubaneswar: Bollywood actress and BJP MP visited Bhubaneswar on Friday to attend the premiere screening of her latest film,, and appealed to the Odisha government to grant the movie tax-free status in the state. The film is based on the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and aims to highlight the courage, sacrifice and resilience displayed by…