Bhubaneswar: The Government of India continues to strengthen financial support for small entrepreneurs through the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY), which provides collateral-free loans of up to ₹20 lakh to micro and small enterprises across the country. Launched in 2015, the scheme aims to promote entrepreneurship and self-employment by enabling easy access to institutional credit…
Bhubaneswar: Around 200 Indian nationals stranded in Jeddah were repatriated on a special flight that landed at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport late on Tuesday. Many of the passengers had travelled to Jeddah during the holy month of Ramadan and were unable to return after flight operations were disrupted amid escalating tensions in West Asia…
Bhubaneswar: The Union Cabinet’s approval of the proposal to rename Kerala as “Keralam” has triggered a broader political and cultural debate, with leaders across states renewing long-pending demands for similar changes. The move, which aligns the state’s official English nomenclature with its Malayalam identity, was initially viewed as an administrative correction. However, it has quickly…
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 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…
Bhubaneswar: India and the United States have reached a major trade agreement that ends a 25 per cent U.S. tariff linked to India’s purchases of Russian oil and immediately reduces a reciprocal tariff to 18 per cent, providing significant relief to Indian exporters. Under the deal, India has agreed to substantially lower trade barriers on…
Bhubaneswar: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday responded to Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of the Union Budget, saying she was unclear about the “course correction” he was referring to and asserting that the Indian economy remains fundamentally strong. “I don’t know what course correction he is referring to. The economy…
Bhubaneswar: India has announced the establishment of dedicated rare earth corridors across Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh, marking a major step towards strengthening domestic capabilities in critical minerals. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made the announcement as part of the government’s broader push for Atmanirbhar Bharat, aimed at reducing India’s dependence on imports in…
Bhubaneswar: The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) 2026 regulations on equity committees, observing that the provisions were vague and susceptible to misuse, with the potential to create social divisions. A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant put the regulations on hold after noting concerns over their narrow scope. The…
Bhubaneswar: The Budget Session of Parliament began on Monday with an address by President Droupadi Murmu to members of both Houses, setting the tone for the government’s policy priorities and legislative agenda for the months ahead. In keeping with parliamentary tradition, the President’s address laid out the broad policy direction and collective resolve guiding India’s…