Bhubaneswar: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday defended the resilience of the Indian economy amid the ongoing West Asia crisis, asserting that criticism surrounding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent appeal to conserve foreign exchange was being misrepresented by critics. Responding to concerns over rising global crude oil prices and economic uncertainty linked to geopolitical…
Bhubaneswar: The second BRICS Technical Meeting on Disaster Risk Reduction, hosted by India, will be held in Puri from June 3 to 5, 2026, bringing together disaster management experts and officials from BRICS nations and partner countries. The high-level meeting will focus on strengthening international cooperation in disaster preparedness, risk reduction, climate resilience, and emergency…
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has made it mandatory for all state government departments to purchase only electric vehicles (EVs) from June 1, in a major push toward clean mobility, fuel conservation, and sustainable transportation. Under the new directive, all government offices and departments will be required to procure only electric two-wheelers and four-wheelers for official…
Bhubaneswar: The Union Education Ministry has flagged off a delegation of 56 Indian students and four supervisors for the Sakura Science Programme 2026 in Japan, aimed at promoting scientific learning, innovation, and international exposure among school students. The programme, organised by the Japan Science and Technology Agency, will be held from May 24 to May…
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has intensified efforts to promote rural and experiential tourism through a large-scale curated homestay initiative aimed at generating local livelihoods and offering tourists authentic cultural immersion experiences across the state. Under the Odisha Homestay Establishment Scheme-2025, the Tourism Department has identified 61 gram panchayats across 19 districts for the development of…
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Limited (OPTCL) has cancelled the leave of all electricity department employees across the state in view of the sharp rise in power demand during the ongoing heat wave conditions. According to official instructions issued by OPTCL, all previously sanctioned leave has been withdrawn with immediate effect, except maternity leave…
Bhubaneswar: A landmark step towards preserving and showcasing the ecological and cultural legacy of the Sundarbans was witnessed on International Museum Day as the soft launch of the upcoming Sundarban Museum was successfully held at iLEAD on 18th May 2026. The event unveiled the vision, galleries and immersive experiences of the international-quality museum being developed…
Bhubaneswar: A Delhi-based startup offering on-demand assistants to carry shoppers’ bags through crowded marketplaces has triggered intense debate online, with opinions sharply divided over whether the idea represents smart urban innovation or the commercialisation of cheap labour. The startup, CarryMen, provides human assistants who accompany customers in busy shopping hubs and carry their purchases while…
Bhubaneswar: The Higher Education Department has clarified that employees working in Odisha’s public universities cannot be treated as government employees, stating that their service conditions are governed by individual university laws and regulations rather than general state government service rules. In an official clarification, the department stated that teaching and non-teaching staff of public universities…
Bhubaneswar: Vietnamese electric vehicle manufacturer VinFast is preparing to launch its Green SM electric cab service in India, marking the company’s entry into the country’s rapidly expanding EV mobility sector. The service is expected to begin operations in the Delhi-NCR region with fares starting at around ₹8 per kilometre, significantly lower than the average pricing…