Bhubaneswar: In a major step towards promoting cleaner mobility, the Odisha government has exempted battery-powered electric, methanol-fuelled and ethanol-fuelled transport vehicles operating in the state from permit fees. According to a notification issued by the Commerce and Transport Department, the move aims to encourage the use of environment-friendly vehicles and support the transition towards a…
Bhubaneswar: This Onam, Kelvinator, the trusted name synonymous with cooling comfort for generations, has turned one of Thiruvananthapuram’s busiest landmarks into a canvas of Kerala’s most cherished festival. Installed on MG Road, the brand’s new 3D anamorphic billboard reimagines the joy, colour and tradition of Onam through a striking sequence of hyper-realistic visuals, seamlessly weaving…
Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s capital has reported its first COVID-19 case of the year, with a 50-year-old man from the Baramunda area testing positive, according to reports. The patient is currently undergoing treatment in the isolation ward of a hospital. The development comes nearly a month after Odisha reported another COVID-19 case, when a 54-year-old woman from…
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Secretary Anu Garg on Monday reviewed the state’s preparedness following the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall across several districts. Garg said an upper-air cyclonic circulation has developed over the northwest Bay of Bengal and is likely to lead to the formation of a low-pressure area during…
Bhubaneswar: Prof. Gobardhan Das, Member, NITI Aayog, attended the 30th Convocation Ceremony of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri Campus, as the Chief Guest on August 8, 2026, celebrating the achievements of graduating students as they prepare to begin a new phase of their lives. Addressing the graduates, Prof. Das emphasised that a strong sense of responsibility…
Bhubaneswar: Amazon India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Directorate of Textiles, Odisha, to expand e-commerce opportunities for the state’s weavers and artisans. Under the partnership, more than 1.3 lakh weavers and artisans are expected to be onboarded onto Amazon Karigar, providing them with access to a wider national customer base and…
Bhubaneswar: The Lok Sabha on August 7, 2026, passed the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026, after the legislation was approved by the Rajya Sabha on August 3. The amendment comes as the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MSMED) Act, 2006, completes two decades. The government said rapid technological changes, the…
Bhubaneswar: The Government of India has clarified that UPI payments will remain free for ordinary users, amid growing debate over proposed amendments to the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 and the possibility of introducing a Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on certain transactions. The government categorically stated that consumers making payments through UPI will not…
Bhubaneswar: BDS Legal Services, a leading Intellectual Property (IP), business compliance and regulatory advisory firm, today strengthened its presence in Eastern India with the formal inauguration of its new office in Kolkata. The company marked the occasion by hosting a press conference at its newly established office in Sector V, Salt Lake, where it unveiled…
Bhubaneswar: India is preparing to introduce its first polymer (plastic) banknotes, with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) planning to roll out ₹10 and ₹20 polymer notes from April 2027, subject to the successful completion of nationwide field trials. For the pilot programme, the government has approved the printing of one billion ₹10 notes and…