New Odisha Age

Explosion During Illegal Bomb Assembly Kills Two in Bhubaneswar; NIA Probes Possible Terror Links

Bhubaneswar: A powerful explosion during the illegal assembly of a crude bomb in Sundarpada area of Bhubaneswar claimed the lives of Shahnawaz Malik (26) and his mother Lizatun Bibi (51), while three others sustained critical injuries, police said. Malik, described as a repeat offender with prior explosives-related charges, was allegedly assembling the device at his…

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Supreme Court Asks FSSAI to Examine Front-of-Pack Warning Labels on Junk Foods

Bhubaneswar: The Supreme Court has directed the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to examine the feasibility of front-of-pack warning labels on foods high in sugar, salt, and fat, calling it a globally accepted public health practice. A bench asked the food regulator to submit a status report within four weeks, signalling that…

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Odisha Police to Set Up 20 New Cyber Police Stations to Tackle Online Fraud

Bhubaneswar: In a major push to combat rising cybercrime and financial fraud, Odisha Police will establish 20 new cyber police stations across the state, officials said after a high-level review meeting chaired by Director General of Police (DGP) Yogesh Bahadur Khurania. The move comes amid a surge in cyber fraud, digital financial crimes, and online…

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Bharat Bandh Today: Key Services May Face Disruptions

Bhubaneswar: A nationwide Bharat Bandh on February 12 could lead to partial disruptions in banking, transport and local services, though essential services are expected to operate normally. Public sector bank unions have announced participation in the strike, which may affect branch-level banking operations, even as branches remain open. Public transport, including buses and taxis, could…

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Crime Against Women in Odisha: Beyond Numbers, Towards Structural Reform

Bhubaneswar: The latest annual report of the Odisha State Commission for Women, revealing 2,064 cases of crimes and grievances against women in 2024–25, is both a statistical snapshot and a moral indictment. That Bhubaneswar alone accounts for 298 cases, followed by Cuttack and Khordha, should compel policymakers and society to confront an uncomfortable truth: urban…

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MHA Mandates Full ‘Vande Mataram’ at Official Functions

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…

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Govt Mandates Prominent Labelling of AI-Generated Content on Social Media

Bhubaneswar: The government has directed social media platforms to prominently label all AI-generated or synthetic content and embed identifiers to ensure transparency and accountability, according to an official order issued on Tuesday. Under the new directive, platforms must ensure that AI labels or metadata cannot be removed, suppressed, or altered once applied, preventing users from…

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Odisha Govt Assures Support in Missing Merchant Navy Cadet Case

Bhubaneswar: Amid growing concern over the alleged disappearance of merchant navy cadet Sarthak Mohapatra while on duty, Odisha Sports Minister Suryabanshi Suraj has assured full support from both the state and central governments to the family. Speaking on the matter, the minister said he had personally spoken to Sarthak’s mother three days ago and that…

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Centre Launches Free Online Coaching Scheme for SC, OBC and Disadvantaged Students

Bhubaneswar: In a major step towards promoting inclusive and equitable access to competitive education, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has launched a new initiative to provide free online coaching for students from Scheduled Castes (SC), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and other disadvantaged sections across India. The programme, implemented in partnership with the Physics…

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Supreme Court Questions Sharp Cut in NEET-PG Cut-Offs Over Medical Standards

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…

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