Bhubaneswar: The Union Cabinet has approved a proposal to alter the name of the State of “Kerala” to “Keralam”, setting in motion the constitutional process required for a formal name change. Following Cabinet approval, the President of India will refer the proposed legislation — the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 — to the Kerala…
Bhubaneswar: Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sinha has announced that the state government plans to ban the sale of meat and fish near educational and religious institutions, as well as in crowded public spaces. The proposal, he said, is driven by health concerns and an aim to curb violent tendencies among children. The move is…
Bhubaneswar: In India’s upcoming national Census, enumerators will collect detailed information on household facilities, family structure, and assets. The data will help the government design welfare schemes, infrastructure plans, and policy frameworks. Key Questions Likely to Be Asked 1. Family Details Name of the head of the household Number of family members 2. Housing Structure…
Bhubaneswar: Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) Mayor Subhash Chandra Singh has written to Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, seeking the renaming of Cuttack as ‘Katak’, citing it as the city’s original and historically authentic name. In his letter, the Mayor referred to archival records preserved at the Records Department of Ravenshaw College, which, he said,…
Bhubaneswar: An anganwadi centre in Nuagaon village of Kendrapada district has recorded near-zero attendance for three months after villagers boycotted the facility over the appointment of a Dalit helper-cum-cook, officials said. Sarmista Sethi (21), a graduate and the only applicant from the village, was appointed on November 20 with a monthly honorarium of ₹5,000. Following…
Bhubaneswar: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued a directive mandating that the complete six-stanza version of the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ be played or sung at official functions, laying down a standard protocol for its performance. According to the order dated February 6, 2026, the official version will run for 3 minutes…
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government will celebrate Odia Pakhya for the second consecutive year from April 1 to April 14, coinciding with Odisha Day (Utkal Dibas) and the Odia New Year (Pana Sankranti). The fortnight-long observance is aimed at promoting the Odia language, literature, culture, and traditions through a series of community-driven and government-supported activities across…
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has proposed changes to the English spellings of 24 place names across the state, including renaming Khurda as “Khoradha,” to more accurately reflect their original Odia pronunciation and historical forms. Officials said the initiative is aimed at preserving Odisha’s linguistic, cultural, and historical heritage by aligning official English spellings with authentic…
Bhubaneswar: A bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi has been stolen from the Australian Indian Community Centre in Rowville, a suburb of Melbourne, triggering concern among the Indian diaspora and authorities. The statue, which held significant cultural and symbolic value, was gifted by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), New Delhi, and was unveiled on…
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,…