Bhubaneswar: In a major step towards improving child nutrition and early childhood development, the Odisha government has increased financial support for supplementary nutrition provided to severely underweight children and pre-schoolers under its Anganwadi services. Under the revised provisions, the daily nutrition support for severely underweight children aged 6 months to 6 years has been increased…
BHUBANESWAR: Odisha has recorded a growth rate of 5.3 per cent in its agricultural sector during the 2025–26 financial year, significantly higher than the national average growth rate of 3.1 per cent, reflecting the state’s continued focus on farmer welfare, climate resilience and agricultural modernisation. The state government has attributed the performance to a series…
BHUBANESWAR: Nabarangpur district has recorded the highest prevalence of child marriage in Odisha, highlighting the continued challenge of ending the practice despite sustained government interventions and awareness campaigns. Official data indicate that child marriage prevalence in the district stands at 39.4 per cent. Authorities have been actively working to prevent underage marriages, stopping hundreds of…
BHUBANESWAR: As the scorching summer gradually gives way to the monsoon, Odisha is preparing for two of its most cherished cultural celebrations—Raja Parba and Ratha Yatra—marking the beginning of what many consider the state’s most vibrant and festive period of the year. The season begins with the celebration of Raja Parba, a unique festival that…
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has launched two major rural development initiatives — the Model Village Mission and the Mahapurusha Adarsha Grama Yojana — aimed at transforming villages through improved infrastructure, better public services, and enhanced livelihood opportunities. The initiatives seek to bridge the rural-urban development gap by ensuring the availability of urban-level amenities and integrated…
Bhubaneswar: Odisha has recorded its highest-ever electricity demand as the ongoing severe heatwave pushed power consumption across the state to an unprecedented 6,739 megawatts (MW), surpassing last year’s peak demand of 6,447 MW. The sharp rise in electricity usage has been primarily driven by increased cooling requirements during extreme summer temperatures affecting large parts of…
Bhubaneswar: Fresh concerns have emerged over the future pace of Odisha’s widely recognised millet mission after the proposed budget allocation for the Shree Anna Abhiyan was reduced from ₹600 crore to ₹415 crore for 2026-27, marking a cut of nearly 31 percent. The reduction comes despite the programme reportedly achieving around 93 percent fund utilisation…
Bhubaneswar: Blossom Kochhar Aroma Magic, the premier aromatherapy company in India, proudly announced the relaunch of its iconic range of essential oils, now presented in an all-new, elegant avatar. Dr. Blossom Kochhar, Founder and Chairperson of Blossom Kochhar Group of Companies, while addressing a press conference in Guwahati, spoke about the essential oils and also…
Bhubaneswar: ORMAS has launched the “Summer Delight” watermelon fair in Bhubaneswar, bringing together farm-fresh watermelons and value-added products from 15 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) representing 10 districts of Odisha. The 11-day fair, being held from May 7 to May 17, is expected to facilitate the sale of nearly 150 tonnes of watermelon and generate business…
Bhubaneswar: A recent study by wildlife researchers Rajkishore Swain, Sandesh Behera, and Subhani Rath has highlighted growing threats to honeybee diversity in Odisha due to habitat loss, climate change, and excessive pesticide use. The study notes that honeybees contribute to over 70% of pollination in certain crops and ornamental plants in Bhubaneswar, underlining their critical…