Bhubaneswar: Three Indian seafarers have been confirmed dead following a US military strike on the Palau-flagged commercial vessel MT Settebello off the coast of Oman, prompting a strong diplomatic protest from India and renewed concerns over the safety of civilian shipping in the region. Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal described the…
Bhubaneswar: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has directed all food business operators across the country to immediately discontinue the use of newspapers for packing, wrapping, or serving food, citing significant health and safety concerns. In a fresh advisory, the food safety regulator warned that newspapers are not suitable for direct contact…
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 Police have stepped up surveillance and verification measures in border districts and coastal areas following a major crackdown on suspected illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators in neighbouring West Bengal. Authorities have placed several districts on high alert amid concerns that individuals leaving West Bengal during the ongoing enforcement drive could attempt to enter and settle…
BHUBANESWAR: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a notice to Wonderla Holidays Limited in connection with allegations of forest land encroachment and violations of environmental regulations linked to its amusement park project in Odisha. The tribunal has also served notices to several government departments and officials, including the Chief Secretary of Odisha, seeking responses…
Bhubaneswar: The Orissa High Court has held that NEET candidates cannot claim “dual educational privileges” by combining academic qualifications from different educational boards to obtain eligibility benefits for MBBS admissions under reserved categories. The court dismissed a petition filed by a candidate who sought to combine marks obtained from the Odisha State Board and the…
Bhubaneswar: The Orissa High Court has ruled that candidates appearing for NEET cannot claim “dual educational privileges” by combining academic credentials from different educational boards to secure eligibility benefits for MBBS admissions. The court dismissed a petition filed by a candidate who sought to combine marks obtained from the Odisha State Board and the National…
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: The Government of India has launched the National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment (NeSDA) 2025 portal aimed at strengthening digital governance and improving the delivery of online public services across the country. The National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment framework evaluates the depth, effectiveness and quality of online service delivery platforms operated by States, Union Territories…
Bhubaneswar: Hamza Burhan, one of the alleged masterminds linked to the 2019 Pulwama attack that killed more than 40 CRPF personnel, has reportedly been shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Burhan, also known by the alias “Doctor,” was designated as a terrorist by the Ministry of Home Affairs in 2022. His real name…