Bhubaneswar: The Gujarat government has placed IAS officer Rajendrakumar Patel under suspension after his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on January 2 under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), officials confirmed on Saturday. The suspension has been ordered in accordance with All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, which provide…
Bhubaneswar: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday said the National Education Policy (NEP) will help India’s new generation break free from the “Macaulay mentality” and reconnect with the country’s civilisational values, knowledge traditions, and cultural roots. Referring to the legacy of British-era education policies, Pradhan recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks on the lasting…
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Vigilance on Monday apprehended Sri Bijay Kumar Barik, Inspector-in-Charge (IIC) of CRRI Police Station, Cuttack, while allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹40,000 from a licensed liquor vendor. According to vigilance sources, the bribe was demanded and accepted to allow the liquor business to operate smoothly without interference. The IIC was caught red-handed during…
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has announced a major reform in the power distribution sector with the decision to install smart electricity meters across the state. Under the new initiative, consumers using up to 2 kilowatts (kW) of electricity will receive electricity bills free of cost, providing significant relief to small and domestic consumers. The state…
Bhubaneswar: Bhubaneswar witnessed an unprecedented surge in liquor sales during the final week of 2025, with New Year celebrations driving consumption to record levels. Official data from the Excise Department shows that alcohol sales in the Odisha capital crossed ₹32 crore in just one week, marking one of the highest festive turnovers in recent years….
Bhubaneswar: Bhubaneswar is all set to welcome the first Patha Utsav of the season this Sunday, January 4, 2026, transforming select city streets into vibrant, vehicle-free public spaces for citizens to enjoy. The initiative, which has become a popular urban engagement programme in the capital, aims to promote healthy living, environmental awareness, and community bonding….
Bhubaneswar: The Safa Bhubaneswar mobile application has witnessed encouraging public response, with more than 200 garbage pickup bookings recorded within just 10 days of its rollout. The initiative, led by the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), marks a significant step towards strengthening urban sanitation through citizen participation and digital governance. Officials said the app enables residents…
Bhubaneswar: Turning 60 is often a moment of quiet reflection. For this Bollywood icon, it became a statement—of relevance, responsibility and reinvention. On December 27, amid an intimate celebration at his Bandra residence with close friends including MS Dhoni, Sakshi and young Ziva, and thousands of fans lining the streets outside, the actor once again…
Bhubaneswar: In a move aimed at improving public access to green spaces, the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) has revised the operating hours of its parks, with the new schedule coming into effect from December 13. Under the revised arrangement, all BDA-managed parks will remain open continuously from 5 am to 8.30 pm on Saturdays and…
Bhubaneswar: Nearly 1,000 youth from all 30 districts of Odisha will converge at Kalinga Stadium here for the State Youth Festival 2025, scheduled from December 24 to 26. The three-day festival will feature state-level competitions across seven categories, with winners earning the opportunity to represent Odisha at the National Youth Festival, also known as the…