Delhi Adds 500 Electric Buses, Launches First Inter-State E-Bus Service to Panipat

Bhubaneswar: Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday flagged off 500 new air-conditioned electric buses, taking the capital’s electric public transport fleet to 4,286 buses and making Delhi the largest electric bus city in India. The Chief Minister, accompanied by senior BJP leaders, also inaugurated Delhi’s first electric inter-state bus service connecting the capital to…

Read More

Shashi Tharoor Criticises Disruptions in Lok Sabha, Comments on No-Confidence Motion

Bhubaneswar: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Monday criticised the functioning of the Lok Sabha, alleging that the government and the Speaker were not interested in running the House. “I came to speak on the Budget, but it looks like the government and the Lok Sabha Speaker are not interested in running the House. I will…

Read More

Sharad Pawar Hospitalised in Pune After Health Issues

Bhubaneswar: Veteran politician and Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) supremo Sharad Pawar was admitted to a private hospital in Pune on Monday following health concerns, party sources said. The 85-year-old leader was taken from Baramati to Pune city by his daughter and NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule and son-in-law Sadanand Sule. He has been…

Read More

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…

Read More

NHRC Seeks Report from Odisha Government on 34 Unelectrified Villages in Koraput

Bhubaneswar: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought a detailed report from the Odisha government over allegations that 34 villages in Koraput district continue to live without access to electricity, raising serious concerns about basic human rights and dignity. Taking cognisance of a complaint, the Commission noted that the affected villages are located in…

Read More

Union Minister Urges Odisha Govt to Clear ₹28.54 Crore BSNL Dues

Bhubaneswar: Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya M. Scindia has urged the Odisha government to clear outstanding dues of ₹28.54 crore owed to Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) at the earliest. Emphasising BSNL’s critical role in delivering telecom connectivity, particularly in rural and remote areas, Scindia said the public sector telecom operator continues to support government…

Read More

India Announces Rare Earth Corridors to Strengthen Critical Mineral Supply Chain

Bhubaneswar: India has announced plans to establish dedicated Rare Earth Corridors across Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala, marking a significant step in strengthening the country’s position in the global critical minerals landscape. The corridor-based approach is aimed at building an integrated ecosystem for the exploration, processing, and downstream manufacturing of rare earth elements,…

Read More

India to Host Global ‘Women in Agriculture’ Conference in March

Bhubaneswar: India is set to host a global Women in Agriculture conference in March, bringing international attention to the often under-recognised role of women in farming and agri-food systems. Women constitute nearly half of India’s agricultural workforce, yet their contributions frequently remain invisible in policy, data, and decision-making. The conference will bring together over 500…

Read More

Union Budget 2026 Proposes Girls’ Hostels in Every District to Boost Women’s Education

Bhubaneswar: In a significant step towards strengthening women’s empowerment, the Union Budget 2026 has proposed the establishment of girls’ hostels in every district across the country, aimed at improving access to education and ensuring safe accommodation for female students. The initiative is intended to address one of the key barriers to girls’ education—lack of secure…

Read More

Centre Rejects ₹133 Crore in Suspect Ayushman Bharat Claims; ₹272 Crore Under Review

Bhubaneswar: The Centre has intensified scrutiny of claims under the Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), rejecting ₹133 crore worth of suspicious claims and placing an additional ₹272 crore under investigation, officials said. As part of the exercise, around 4.63 lakh claims have been returned to states for re-verification, following the detection of irregularities…

Read More