Bhubaneswar: Residents of Puri will soon be able to avail a special darshan facility at the revered Jagannath Temple (Srimandir) through a new Aadhaar-based entry system designed to provide a more convenient and streamlined temple visit experience. The initiative is being developed in collaboration with the Odisha Computer Application Centre (OCAC) and aims to enable…
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has clarified that it spent approximately Rs 21 crore on outsourcing the printing of newly revised textbooks for Classes I to VIII to private printing presses, amid growing controversy over numerous factual, grammatical and typographical errors found in the books. The clarification was issued by the Directorate of Textbook Production and…
Bhubaneswar: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued notices to eight food business operators for allegedly using misleading brand names, trade names and product claims that may violate provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and related regulations. The regulator announced the action through its official social media platforms,…
Bhubaneswar: In a significant move to promote Odisha’s culinary heritage and strengthen food-based tourism, the state government has issued detailed guidelines for Odia cuisine restaurants seeking incentives under the Odisha Tourism (Amendment) Policy, 2026. The new framework outlines eight key eligibility criteria that restaurants must fulfill to qualify for financial assistance and support from the…
Bhubaneswar: West Bengal is set to add a striking new landmark to its skyline with the installation of a 60-foot-tall statue of Maa Durga along the Hooghly riverfront at Ramkrishnapur Ghat in Howrah. The project forms part of an ambitious riverfront redevelopment initiative aimed at enhancing tourism, beautifying public spaces and celebrating the state’s rich…
Bhubaneswar: In a significant move aimed at strengthening drug safety and curbing self-medication, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has made it mandatory for consumers to obtain a doctor’s prescription before purchasing syrup-based medicines, including commonly used cough syrups. The decision follows an amendment to the Drugs Rules, 1945, through the Drugs (Fifth…
Bhubaneswar: In a significant step towards sustainable urban waste management, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) is set to establish a 50-tonne-per-day (TPD) charcoal production facility that will convert green waste into smokeless charcoal and other value-added products. The initiative addresses a growing challenge faced by the city. Every day, Bhubaneswar generates hundreds of tonnes of…
Bhubaneswar: Odisha has emerged as one of the most affordable states in India for hospital treatment, with patients incurring significantly lower out-of-pocket medical expenses compared to the national average, according to findings from the latest National Sample Survey (NSS). The survey, conducted under the 80th round of the National Sample Survey, covered 5,288 households across…
Bhubaneswar: A few weeks of monsoon rain can transform Odisha’s landscape, turning parched fields green and replenishing reservoirs across the state. But an important question is beginning to emerge: what happens when rivers, ponds and groundwater reserves start disappearing even before the monsoon arrives? While Odisha has recently received relief from intense summer heat, concerns…
Bhubaneswar: Raja is much more than a festival. It is a profound cultural tradition that carries a message society still struggles to embrace openly—that menstruation is natural, periods are not a taboo, and the power to create life deserves respect rather than stigma. Long before conversations about menstrual health, gender equality and bodily autonomy entered…