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…
Bhubaneswar: The third edition of the Bhubaneswar Film Festival (BFF) is set to be held from June 25 to 28 at Jayadev Bhawan, bringing together a diverse selection of acclaimed films from various Indian languages as well as international cinema. The festival aims to celebrate the art of filmmaking, promote cultural exchange and provide a…
Bhubaneswar: Customs officials at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad have seized smuggled gold worth more than Rs 4.26 crore that was cleverly concealed inside a speaker box in an aircraft lavatory. The seizure was made on Friday aboard IndiGo flight 6E-1478, which had arrived from Dubai. Acting on specific intelligence, customs officers carried…
Bhubaneswar: In a landmark initiative aimed at expanding educational opportunities and promoting social equity, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced that the state government will provide free education from kindergarten (KG) to postgraduate (PG) level for students from economically weaker sections. The announcement reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring that financial hardship does not…
Bhubaneswar: After days of intense heat and oppressive humidity, the southwest monsoon has finally advanced into parts of northern and coastal Odisha, bringing welcome relief to residents, farmers and livestock across the state. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the monsoon has entered several districts, including Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapada and Jagatsinghpur. Meteorologists noted that…
Bhubaneswar: In a major step towards expanding educational access and promoting social equity, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has announced that the state government will provide free education from kindergarten (KG) to postgraduate (PG) level for students belonging to economically weaker sections of society. The initiative is aimed at ensuring that financial constraints do…