Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has issued a strict warning against forced ‘chanda’ collections during the festival season and directed police to take immediate action against those involved in extortion. The warning comes amid reports of alleged extortion incidents in different parts of the state. In Jajpur district, a contractor was allegedly assaulted…
Bhubaneswar: A fresh controversy has erupted in Odisha over the upcoming animated film ‘Mahaprabhu Jagannath’, with Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati calling for a ban on the movie ahead of its scheduled release on August 28. The Shankaracharya has raised objections to the animated depiction of Lord Jagannath and other deities, expressing concerns over how…
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has advised principals of government-run and aided colleges to reduce the use of cooking oil in hostel and canteen food as part of efforts to promote healthier and more sustainable food practices. In a directive issued by Deputy Secretary Ramesh Chandra Behera, colleges have been asked to remove high-oil breakfast items…
Bhubaneswar: The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) has emerged as a cornerstone of India’s financial inclusion drive since its launch in 2014, significantly expanding access to formal banking and other financial services for underserved communities. According to the latest figures, the number of PMJDY accounts has increased from 14.72 crore in 2015 to 59.09…
Bhubaneswar: The historic Kataka Bali Jatra festival is scheduled to be held from November 24 to December 1, with preparations underway for the annual cultural and trade fair. The Cuttack district administration has proposed organizing the festival across both the upper and lower grounds of the Bali Jatra field, subject to approval from the state…
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Health and Family Welfare Department has been shifted from Lok Seva Bhawan to Kharavela Bhawan in Bhubaneswar. According to an official directive issued by the department, all departmental operations will now be conducted from the first floor of Kharavela Bhawan in Unit-V, Bhubaneswar. Earlier, the Health and Family Welfare Department was functioning…
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) has advanced the Geographical Indication (GI) tag applications for three traditional Odisha food products — Sambalpur Sarpotia, Manikpatna Dahi and Dhenkanal Pala Baurali — in an effort to promote the state’s distinctive culinary heritage on national and international platforms. OUAT Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Pravat Kumar Roul…
Bhubaneswar: The Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) ‘School Thik Karo’ campaign, which involves visiting government schools to highlight infrastructure and other shortcomings, has run into legal trouble in Maharashtra and Rajasthan. In Latur, Maharashtra, police registered an FIR against CJP founder and convenor Abhijeet Dipke and others following a complaint by a teacher at a Zilla…
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling has highlighted the state’s move towards digital healthcare, including the use of digital prescriptions and secure online storage of medical records. Mahaling said the initiative is being pursued under the broader digital-health framework associated with Aarogya Setu 2.0, which includes a “Scan and Share” facility. The system allows patients…
Bhubaneswar: Former Odisha Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik has claimed that the state’s financial position was in poor shape when the BJD came to power in 2000, but the party left behind an additional revenue of ₹50,000 crore when it was voted out in 2024. Patnaik attributed the achievement to what he described…