Bhubaneswar: The Lok Sabha on August 7, 2026, passed the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026, after the legislation was approved by the Rajya Sabha on August 3. The amendment comes as the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MSMED) Act, 2006, completes two decades. The government said rapid technological changes, the…
Bhubaneswar: The Government of India has clarified that UPI payments will remain free for ordinary users, amid growing debate over proposed amendments to the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 and the possibility of introducing a Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on certain transactions. The government categorically stated that consumers making payments through UPI will not…
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is considering a comprehensive census of the LGBT community and exploring the introduction of reservation for transgender individuals in educational institutions as part of a broader effort to strengthen welfare and social inclusion. The proposals were discussed during a meeting of the State Transgender Welfare Board, where officials reviewed a range…
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government has directed that ‘Vande Mataram’ be sung before the National Anthem, ‘Jana Gana Mana,’ at all government functions and in government as well as government-aided schools across the state. The directive follows guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs on July 9. The School and Mass Education Department has…
Bhubaneswar: India celebrated a landmark day in para athletics at the Commonwealth Games as Sharmila Dhankar clinched gold in the women’s shot put F57 event, while Shilpa Kanchugarakoppalu Shyla was later elevated to the bronze medal position, securing the country’s first-ever double podium finish in a para athletics event at the Games. Ending India’s 20-year…
Bhubaneswar: A new study by the World Health Organisation (WHO) has revealed that one in five adolescents spends more than four hours each day on mobile phones, gaming, social media and other digital activities outside of schoolwork, highlighting growing concerns over excessive screen time among children. The findings are based on the WHO’s Health Behaviour…
Bhubaneswar: The Supreme Court has observed that introducing a third language from Class 6, instead of Class 9, could help reduce academic pressure on students as they approach board examinations. The remarks were made by a Bench comprising Justice B. V. Nagarathna and Justice R. Mahadevan while hearing a petition concerning the establishment of Jawahar…
Building on a record-breaking inaugural edition – 638 proposals from 55 countries – the 2026 campaign’s new Top 20 Mentorship Program pairs finalists with industry experts to turn innovative concepts into practical, market-ready solutions, and invites even more innovators worldwide to apply. Bhubaneswar: : Following the global launch of the “Go Healthy with Taiwan 2026” campaign…
Bhubaneswar residents may soon have to pay ₹5 to use BMC-managed public toilets, as the civic body plans to introduce a user fee to improve cleanliness, maintenance and sanitation services. The proposal follows a directive from the Housing & Urban Development (H&UD) Department, asking urban local bodies to levy user charges for the operation and…
Bhubaneswar: Experts say your smartphone habits could be shaping your child’s behaviour more than you realise. Here’s what every parent should know. A growing body of psychological research suggests that children’s behaviour is influenced not only by the amount of time they spend on screens but also by how often their parents use smartphones in…