Bhubaneswar: A publicity chariot was flagged off on Thursday to promote the 20th edition of the Toshali Swadeshi Mela, scheduled to be held from February 14 to 26 at Janata Maidan, Bhubaneswar. The mela aims to showcase indigenous handlooms, handicrafts and local products under the theme “Swadeshi and Atmanirbhar.” The promotional campaign was inaugurated at…
Bhubaneswar: The Supreme Court on Tuesday questioned the decision to drastically reduce NEET-PG qualifying cut-offs after thousands of postgraduate medical seats remained vacant following two rounds of counselling. A Bench comprising Justices P.S. Narasimha and Alok Aradhe expressed concern over the reduction of the cut-off to the 7th percentile (103 marks) for general category candidates…
Bhubaneswar: The Centre has intensified scrutiny of claims under the Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), rejecting ₹133 crore worth of suspicious claims and placing an additional ₹272 crore under investigation, officials said. As part of the exercise, around 4.63 lakh claims have been returned to states for re-verification, following the detection of irregularities…
Bhubaneswar: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday said that India aims to utilise 100 per cent of its solid waste in road construction by 2027, marking a major push towards sustainable and environmentally responsible infrastructure development. Speaking about ongoing initiatives, Gadkari said that around 80 lakh tonnes of waste have…
Bhubaneswar: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced the Divyangjan Kaushal Yojana, a new initiative aimed at expanding skill development and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities (divyangjan). The scheme will focus on targeted training programmes, workplace inclusion, and creation of dignified livelihood opportunities, enabling divyangjan to participate more actively in the workforce. The initiative seeks…
Bhubaneswar: Tourism development officers in Odisha have been directed to carry out regular inspections of wayside amenity centres and report any deficiencies within two weeks to ensure timely corrective action and quality upkeep. The directive was issued during a recent review meeting in Bhubaneswar, where it was decided that all 68 wayside amenity centres currently…
Bhubaneswar: The Union Budget 2026 has announced a significant expansion of government support for Ayurveda and India’s broader AYUSH ecosystem, signalling a renewed emphasis on traditional medicine systems alongside modern healthcare. As part of the initiative, the Centre has proposed the establishment of three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda, aimed at scaling up education,…
Bhubaneswar: Nandankanan Zoological Park in Odisha has reported a worrying spate of animal deaths, with eight animals dying within a span of just eight days, raising concerns among wildlife experts and animal welfare advocates. According to zoo authorities, the deaths include five crocodiles, two white peacocks, and one mouse deer. Preliminary assessments suggest that the…
Bhubaneswar: In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court has recognised menstrual health as an integral part of the fundamental right to life and dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution. The Court directed all schools—both government and private—to ensure adequate menstrual hygiene facilities for students. The apex court mandated the provision of separate and functional…
Bhubaneswar: The Economic Survey 2025–26, tabled in Parliament on January 29 by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, has raised serious concerns over rising digital addiction among children and recommended age-based restrictions on access to online platforms. Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) V. Anantha Nageswaran described digital platforms as “predatory by design,” arguing that their algorithms and features…