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: Experts say your smartphone habits could be shaping your child’s behaviour more than you realise. Here’s what every parent should know. A growing body of psychological research suggests that children’s behaviour is influenced not only by the amount of time they spend on screens but also by how often their parents use smartphones in…
Bhubaneswar: The rapid expansion of cloud kitchens in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack has created new opportunities for food entrepreneurs while also raising concerns over safety, regulation and the commercial use of residential areas. Driven by the growing popularity of app-based food delivery platforms, an increasing number of home-based and commercial cloud kitchens are now operating from…
Bhubaneswar: The Puri district administration has declared a 5-kilometre radius around Puri city as a No-Flying Zone from July 16 to July 27, 2026, in view of the annual Rath Yatra festival. The order prohibits the operation of all drones and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) within the designated area to ensure public safety, maintain law…
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Assembly of Small and Medium Enterprises (OASME), in collaboration with the Government of Odisha, is organising a Mega Loan Mela for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Bhubaneswar on July 10. The event will be held at the Institute of Engineers Campus and aims to facilitate access to finance for entrepreneurs…
Bhubaneswar: A proposal to establish a National Commission for Men has reached Parliament after Ashok Kumar Mittal introduced the National Commission for Men Bill in the Rajya Sabha. The proposal cites the recent Ketan Agarwal case as a reminder that men can also become victims of crime and may require dedicated institutional support. According to…
Bhubaneswar: A breach in an ash pond operated by NTPC Limited at Derang in Kaniha led to ash slurry flowing into nearby villages, agricultural fields, and a playground after heavy rainfall on Thursday night. According to reports, a portion of the ash pond embankment gave way under the impact of continuous rain, allowing ash-laden water…
Bhubaneswar: India’s gold market has witnessed a significant shift, with domestic gold demand reportedly falling by more than 70%, according to the India Bullion and Jewellers Association. The slowdown is being attributed to a combination of policy changes, declining prices, and changing consumer behaviour. One notable trend is that many Indian households are selling old…
Bhubaneswar: Health & Family Welfare Department, Government of Odisha has initiated stringent disciplinary action against medical professionals participating in the ongoing statewide health services boycott. In an official directive issued on July 2, 2026, the department ordered authorities to withhold the salaries of striking government medical officers and warned that contractual doctors who continue to…
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…