Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has issued a strict warning against forced ‘chanda’ collections during the festival season and directed police to take immediate action against those involved in extortion. The warning comes amid reports of alleged extortion incidents in different parts of the state. In Jajpur district, a contractor was allegedly assaulted…
Bhubaneswar: Union Minister for Jal Shakti C.R. Paatil said a long-pending interstate dispute over the sharing of Sone River water between Bihar and Jharkhand has been resolved through sustained dialogue, cooperation and technical coordination. Speaking on the resolution, Paatil said the issue had remained pending since 2000, following the formation of Jharkhand. He credited the…
Bhubaneswar: On the occasion of Local Self-Governance Day, the Odisha government inaugurated more than 590 infrastructure projects worth around ₹323 crore across 62 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in the state. Odisha Housing and Urban Development Secretary Usha Padhee said the projects include both small and major infrastructure works aimed at improving the quality of urban…
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Police conducted a major night enforcement drive across Cuttack and Bhubaneswar on August 26, targeting drunk driving, illegal liquor, drug-related activities, modified silencers and other offences. In Cuttack, police detected 90 drunk-driving cases and seized 90 vehicles, including 21 four-wheelers and 69 two-wheelers. During the operation, police also detected two Excise cases and…
Bhubaneswar: The opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has criticised the Odisha government’s proposal to introduce a biometric attendance system for college students, describing it as an unnecessary and intimidating measure. BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty questioned the proposal, pointing out that biometric attendance has not yet been implemented for teachers and other college staff. He termed…
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has advised principals of government-run and aided colleges to reduce the use of cooking oil in hostel and canteen food as part of efforts to promote healthier and more sustainable food practices. In a directive issued by Deputy Secretary Ramesh Chandra Behera, colleges have been asked to remove high-oil breakfast items…
Bhubaneswar: The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) has emerged as a cornerstone of India’s financial inclusion drive since its launch in 2014, significantly expanding access to formal banking and other financial services for underserved communities. According to the latest figures, the number of PMJDY accounts has increased from 14.72 crore in 2015 to 59.09…
Bhubaneswar: The historic Kataka Bali Jatra festival is scheduled to be held from November 24 to December 1, with preparations underway for the annual cultural and trade fair. The Cuttack district administration has proposed organizing the festival across both the upper and lower grounds of the Bali Jatra field, subject to approval from the state…
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Health and Family Welfare Department has been shifted from Lok Seva Bhawan to Kharavela Bhawan in Bhubaneswar. According to an official directive issued by the department, all departmental operations will now be conducted from the first floor of Kharavela Bhawan in Unit-V, Bhubaneswar. Earlier, the Health and Family Welfare Department was functioning…
Bhubaneswar: In a significant push towards digital and inclusive lending, the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH) to facilitate faster and data-driven access to credit for MSMEs through the Unified Lending Interface (ULI). The partnership will enable API-based data…