Bhubaneswar: Odisha is considering leveraging the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) to create new market opportunities for local producers, strengthen digital participation and expand the reach of small businesses and community-led enterprises beyond conventional e-commerce channels. The proposal came up during a review meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Anu Garg in Bhubaneswar on Thursday,…

Bhubaneswar: Signalling Odisha’s continued push to position itself as a major manufacturing and investment hub, the state government on Wednesday approved 20 industrial projects worth ₹76,611.86 crore that are projected to generate more than 50,500 employment opportunities across nine districts. The approvals were granted during the 45th meeting of the High-Level Clearance Authority (HLCA), chaired…

Bhubaneswar/Ganjam: A delegation from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) visited Odisha’s Ganjam district to review progress under the Enhancing Climate Resilience of India’s Coastal Communities (ECRICC) project and assess how ecosystem restoration and climate-resilient livelihood interventions are helping vulnerable coastal populations adapt to the growing impacts of climate change. The delegation, comprising Diane Jegam, Regional…

Bhubaneswar: Security forces recovered a cache of concealed arms, ammunition and explosive materials believed to belong to Maoist cadres during a coordinated search operation in Kandhamal district, police said on Tuesday. The operation was launched on June 16 based on specific intelligence inputs regarding hidden Maoist materials in forested areas spanning Sitagurha, Ganjugurha, Kutibarhi, Gudrikya…

Bhubaneswar: Odisha has initiated efforts to position its tourism destinations on the global map, with the State Government beginning preparations to develop world-class tourism hubs under the “One State – One Global Destination” vision of the Government of India. To take the initiative forward, Deputy Chief Minister and Tourism Minister Pravati Parida on Tuesday chaired…

Bhubaneswar, June 17: Expanding its roadmap for planned urban growth, the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) has announced four new Town Planning (TP) Schemes across nearly 969 acres in the Bhubaneswar Development Plan Area (BDPA), marking a major expansion of the city’s land pooling-based urban development model. The proposed schemes have been initiated under Section 23(1)…

Bhubaneswar: Seeking to preserve Odisha’s fading architectural heritage while creating new economic opportunities, the state government has introduced the Heritage Property Promotion Guidelines–2026, opening the door for historic structures to be transformed into curated tourism destinations. The newly notified framework, issued under the Odisha Tourism (Amendment) Policy–2026, is designed to encourage adaptive reuse of heritage…

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Police has put in place extensive security and surveillance measures ahead of the NEET-UG 2026 examination scheduled for June 21, with authorities focusing on ensuring a fair, secure and incident-free conduct of the national-level entrance test across the state. To review preparedness, Director General of Police (DGP) Y.B. Khurania convened a meeting with…

Bhubaneswar: Creating a platform for young voices to be heard in governance and policymaking, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida on Tuesday participated in ‘Advika Barta’, a statewide dialogue initiative that brought adolescents from across Odisha into direct conversation with policymakers and administrators. Organised jointly by the Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights and…