New Odisha Age

Four New Universities: Odisha’s Bid to Rebalance Higher Education

Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s announcement to establish four new universities in Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak, and Jharsuguda marks a significant intervention in the state’s higher education landscape. Unveiled during the 2026–27 budget presentation by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, the move signals an intent to decentralise academic opportunities and curb the long-standing migration of students to other states….

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Discipline vs Freedom: Utkal University’s Tightening Grip on Campus Life

Bhubaneswar: Universities are meant to be sanctuaries of learning, debate, and intellectual freedom. Yet, they are also institutions that must ensure safety, discipline, and order. Utkal University’s newly announced stringent campus guidelines reflect this delicate balancing act—tilting firmly toward control in the name of security and academic focus. The mandatory carrying of identity cards and…

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OSOU, Jamia Millia Islamia Partner to Strengthen Teacher Education in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: In a significant step to expand access to quality teacher education, Odisha State Open University (OSOU) has collaborated with Jamia Millia Islamia to establish a BEd and MA (Education) Learning Support Centre at its Sambalpur campus. Under the partnership, Jamia Millia Islamia has granted approval for OSOU to host the learning support centre, enabling…

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CBSE Advises Students to Reach Exam Centres by 10 AM Ahead of Board Exams

Bhubaneswar: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has advised students to reach their examination centres by 10 AM or earlier as the board examinations are scheduled to begin at 10:30 AM. Students have been urged to leave early from home, considering distance, traffic, and other unforeseen circumstances, to avoid last-minute delays. The CBSE Class…

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Odisha to Observe Odia Pakhya from April 1 to 14

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government will celebrate Odia Pakhya for the second consecutive year from April 1 to April 14, coinciding with Odisha Day (Utkal Dibas) and the Odia New Year (Pana Sankranti). The fortnight-long observance is aimed at promoting the Odia language, literature, culture, and traditions through a series of community-driven and government-supported activities across…

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Nathdwara’s Madan Paliwal Miraj Sports Centre Emerges as Landmark Cricket–Hospitality Project

Bhubaneswar: The Madan Paliwal Miraj Sports Centre in Nathdwara, Rajasthan, has emerged as one of India’s most ambitious sports infrastructure projects, combining a 35,000-seat international-standard cricket stadium with an integrated luxury hospitality complex. Developed by the Miraj Group, the venue features 234 Radisson Blu hotel rooms, around 75 per cent of which offer direct views…

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Economic Survey 2025–26 Flags Digital Addiction, Recommends Age-Based Curbs for Children

Bhubaneswar: The Economic Survey 2025–26, tabled in Parliament on January 29 by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, has raised serious concerns over rising digital addiction among children and recommended age-based restrictions on access to online platforms. Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) V. Anantha Nageswaran described digital platforms as “predatory by design,” arguing that their algorithms and features…

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Supreme Court Stays UGC’s 2026 Equity Regulations, Cites Risk of Misuse

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…

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UGC Likely to Be Merged Under Proposed Higher Education Reforms, Bill Under Parliamentary Review

Bhubaneswar: The University Grants Commission (UGC) may cease to exist in its current form as the Union government moves ahead with a sweeping overhaul of India’s higher education regulatory framework. The government has introduced the Developed India Education Foundation Bill, 2025 (also referred to as the VBEA Bill, 2025) in Parliament, proposing to replace existing…

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Odisha’s Anganwadi Uniform Hike Signals a Shift from Token Welfare to Quality-Centric Child Development

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government’s decision to increase expenditure on uniforms, shoes, and sweaters for Anganwadi children under the Malati Devi Prak Vidyalaya Paridhan Yojana reflects a subtle but important shift in early childhood welfare policy—from minimum compliance to quality assurance. At a fiscal level, the hike addresses a long-standing gap between sanctioned costs and market…

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