Bhubaneswar: A nationwide Bharat Bandh on February 12 could lead to partial disruptions in banking, transport and local services, though essential services are expected to operate normally. Public sector bank unions have announced participation in the strike, which may affect branch-level banking operations, even as branches remain open. Public transport, including buses and taxis, could…
Bhubaneswar: The latest annual report of the Odisha State Commission for Women, revealing 2,064 cases of crimes and grievances against women in 2024–25, is both a statistical snapshot and a moral indictment. That Bhubaneswar alone accounts for 298 cases, followed by Cuttack and Khordha, should compel policymakers and society to confront an uncomfortable truth: urban…
Bhubaneswar: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued a directive mandating that the complete six-stanza version of the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ be played or sung at official functions, laying down a standard protocol for its performance. According to the order dated February 6, 2026, the official version will run for 3 minutes…
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has approved a significant salary hike for contractual AYUSH doctors working under the National Health Mission (NHM), Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced on Tuesday. Under the revised structure, AYUSH doctors will receive monthly salary increments ranging from ₹20,000 to ₹40,000, depending on their years of service. The move is expected…
Bhubaneswar: The government has directed social media platforms to prominently label all AI-generated or synthetic content and embed identifiers to ensure transparency and accountability, according to an official order issued on Tuesday. Under the new directive, platforms must ensure that AI labels or metadata cannot be removed, suppressed, or altered once applied, preventing users from…
Bhubaneswar/Cuttack: Residents in several areas of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack are likely to face temporary power outages on February 11 as Tata Power Central Odisha Distribution Limited (TPCODL) undertakes scheduled mechanical upgrades, repair works, and electrical maintenance. According to TPCODL, electricity supply in Bhubaneswar will be disrupted at different time slots between 6:30 AM and 5:00…
Bhubaneswar: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued a directive mandating the playing of the complete three-minute-10-second version of “Vande Mataram” at official state functions, including flag-hoisting ceremonies, the arrival of the President, and Governors’ addresses. The directive also instructs audiences to stand at attention during the song and encourages mass participation in singing….
Bhubaneswar: The long-standing aspiration of integrating Odisha into India’s national high-speed rail (HSR) network is edging closer to reality, with projections suggesting a transformative Bhubaneswar–New Delhi travel time of just 8 to 9 hours. Currently, the journey takes 24 to 30 hours by conventional rail. The push is backed by a record ₹10,928 crore allocation…
Bhubaneswar: Several farmers’ organisations, including Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), its non-political breakaway faction, and the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), have criticised the interim India–US trade agreement framework and announced nationwide protests next week. In a statement issued on Saturday, the SKM alleged that the proposed deal amounted to a “total surrender” of Indian agriculture…
Bhubaneswar: A proposed inter-state economic corridor linking Ranchi, Rourkela and Raipur (RRR) is gaining momentum, with officials highlighting its potential to transform industrial connectivity and trade across Odisha, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. The corridor is anchored by two major road infrastructure projects — the under-construction Raipur–Ranchi–Dhanbad Expressway and the proposed 156-km Rourkela–Ranchi highway — designed to…