Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has initiated steps to convert vacant government buildings into affordable rental housing units as part of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana–Urban (PMAY-U) 2.0, aiming to address housing needs of the urban poor and migrant workforce. The Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) Department has directed various state departments to identify unused or…
Bhubaneswar: In Bisimatri village of Odisha’s Puri district, a group of nearly 50 rural women has transformed eco-friendly craftsmanship into a sustainable livelihood, building a successful jute-based enterprise that has brought financial independence and social empowerment to their community. The initiative began in 2015, when artisan mentor Amiya Poddar introduced local women—many of whom were…
Bhubaneswar: The Supreme Court on Tuesday questioned the decision to drastically reduce NEET-PG qualifying cut-offs after thousands of postgraduate medical seats remained vacant following two rounds of counselling. A Bench comprising Justices P.S. Narasimha and Alok Aradhe expressed concern over the reduction of the cut-off to the 7th percentile (103 marks) for general category candidates…
Bhubaneswar: In a significant move to decolonise military traditions and honour India’s own heroes, the Indian Army has renamed 246 roads, buildings and facilities across the country, replacing British-era names with those of Indian war heroes and icons of valour. The newly renamed infrastructure now commemorates legendary soldiers such as Param Vir Chakra awardees Arun…
Bhubaneswar: The 13th edition of the India–Kyrgyzstan Joint Special Forces Exercise KHANJAR commenced on February 4 at Missamari, Assam, and will continue until February 17, 2026. Exercise KHANJAR is an annual bilateral training event, conducted alternately in India and Kyrgyzstan. The previous edition of the exercise was held in Kyrgyzstan in March 2025. The Indian…
Bhubaneswar: In a significant policy overhaul aimed at curbing monopolies and controlling prices, the Odisha government has notified new rules for leasing minor minerals, including sand and stone, replacing the earlier auction-based system with a computerised e-lottery mechanism. Under the revised framework, mineral leases will now be allotted through an online, transparent e-lottery, a move…
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…
Bhubaneswar: In a major step towards transparent and citizen-centric governance, the Odisha Revenue Department is set to launch a 24-hour WhatsApp-based service to address land-related complaints and applications, significantly reducing the need for physical visits to tehsil offices. Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari announced that citizens will be able to submit grievances and applications directly through…
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has launched the second phase of its luxury caravan tourism initiative, aiming to offer travelers premium, hotel-like comfort on wheels while promoting experiential and destination-based tourism across the state. The new phase was flagged off from the Dhauli hills, with three luxury caravans introduced into service. Each caravan is equipped with…
Bhubaneswar: Public Sector Banks (PSBs) in India have collectively collected over ₹8,000 crore in penalties from customers for failing to maintain minimum balance requirements over the last three financial years, according to official data. Among the 12 PSBs, Punjab National Bank (PNB) accounted for the highest share, collecting more than ₹1,500 crore, nearly 20% of…