Bhubaneswar: The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has partnered with the Physics Wallah Foundation to provide free competitive exam coaching to 5,000 students every year from Scheduled Castes (SCs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), and PM CARES for Children beneficiaries—children who lost one or both parents during the COVID-19 pandemic. The nationwide programme will cover…
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…
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has announced that Mission Shakti community support staff across the state will be provided with uniforms, identity cards, and smartphones starting April 1, in a move aimed at strengthening grassroots implementation of women-centric welfare programmes. The initiative will cover around 46,000 Mission Shakti workers, including Community Resource Persons (CRPs), who play…
Bhubaneswar: The Centre has announced targeted support for agarwood cultivation in Assam and other North Eastern states, aiming to diversify farm outputs, enhance productivity, increase farmers’ incomes, and generate new employment opportunities in the region. Making the announcement in her Union Budget speech on Sunday, February 1, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the government would…
Bhubaneswar: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday said that India aims to utilise 100 per cent of its solid waste in road construction by 2027, marking a major push towards sustainable and environmentally responsible infrastructure development. Speaking about ongoing initiatives, Gadkari said that around 80 lakh tonnes of waste have…
Bhubaneswar: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced the Divyangjan Kaushal Yojana, a new initiative aimed at expanding skill development and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities (divyangjan). The scheme will focus on targeted training programmes, workplace inclusion, and creation of dignified livelihood opportunities, enabling divyangjan to participate more actively in the workforce. The initiative seeks…
Bhubaneswar: Sports received a significant boost in the Union Budget, with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announcing a series of initiatives aimed at strengthening infrastructure, grassroots development, and domestic manufacturing in the sector. Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Sitharaman said India has the potential to emerge as a global hub for high-quality and affordable sports goods….
Bhubaneswar: Tourism development officers in Odisha have been directed to carry out regular inspections of wayside amenity centres and report any deficiencies within two weeks to ensure timely corrective action and quality upkeep. The directive was issued during a recent review meeting in Bhubaneswar, where it was decided that all 68 wayside amenity centres currently…
Bhubaneswar: The Union Budget 2026 has announced a significant expansion of government support for Ayurveda and India’s broader AYUSH ecosystem, signalling a renewed emphasis on traditional medicine systems alongside modern healthcare. As part of the initiative, the Centre has proposed the establishment of three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda, aimed at scaling up education,…
Bhubaneswar: Nandankanan Zoological Park in Odisha has reported a worrying spate of animal deaths, with eight animals dying within a span of just eight days, raising concerns among wildlife experts and animal welfare advocates. According to zoo authorities, the deaths include five crocodiles, two white peacocks, and one mouse deer. Preliminary assessments suggest that the…
