Bhubaneswar: The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) 2026 regulations on equity committees, observing that the provisions were vague and susceptible to misuse, with the potential to create social divisions. A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant put the regulations on hold after noting concerns over their narrow scope. The…
Bhubaneswar: The Calcutta High Court on January 27 directed the West Bengal government to hand over land already acquired for Indo-Bangladesh border fencing to the Border Security Force (BSF) by March 31, 2026, asserting that national security cannot be subordinated to electoral or administrative delays. The order was passed by a division bench headed by…
Bhubaneswar: The Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) has proposed restricting the entry of non-Hindus into the revered Badrinath and Kedarnath temples, along with other shrines under its jurisdiction, citing the need to protect religious traditions and sanctity. The proposal was discussed during a meeting of temple authorities held on Sunday. BKTC chairman Hemant Dwivedi said…
Bhubaneswar: India on Thursday observed Parakram Diwas to mark the 129th birth anniversary of legendary freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, remembering his pivotal role in India’s struggle for independence and his leadership of the Indian National Army (INA) against British colonial rule. Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Netaji, highlighting several initiatives undertaken…
Bhubaneswar: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has offered to host all of Bangladesh’s matches in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) raised security concerns about playing in India. According to a PCB source quoted by PTI, the Pakistan board conveyed through an email that Bangladesh’s concerns were justified and…
Bhubaneswar: Indian cricketer Mohammed Shami on Tuesday set a strong example of civic responsibility by appearing before the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) hearing and urging citizens to actively participate in the voter list verification process. After attending the hearing at Swarnamoyee Vidyalaya, Shami dismissed concerns surrounding the exercise and emphasized that voter list correction is…
Bhubaneswar: Bollywood actor Vicky Kaushal is set to reprise his popular role of Major Vihaan Shergill in Dhurandhar 2, appearing in an extended cameo that has already sparked excitement among fans. According to recent media reports, the film is set in the 2016 Uri timeline, allowing Kaushal’s character from the acclaimed war drama to be…
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has announced plans for a comprehensive redevelopment of the Mahima Temple at Joranda, the principal seat of Mahima Dharma, aimed at enhancing its spiritual, cultural and tourism significance. As part of the proposed makeover, a new grand temple will be constructed over the existing Shunya Mandir, while preserving the core philosophical…
Bhubaneswar: The Election Commission of India (ECI) is hosting the inaugural India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management from January 21 to 23 at Bharat Mandapam, marking a significant step in India’s efforts to strengthen global democratic processes. The three-day conference has brought together nearly 100 delegates from more than 70 countries, creating a…
Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik on Thursday suspended two party MLAs—Arvind Mohapatra from Patkura and Sanatan Mahakud from Champua—for attending BJP-led programmes without prior permission from the party. The decision was taken at the BJD headquarters in Bhubaneswar and is being seen as a strong signal to enforce organisational discipline in the…