Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is set to undertake another round of regulatory reforms aimed at making compliance simpler for businesses and citizens, with the state Cabinet approving the Odisha Jan Vishwas Bill, 2026 on Monday. The proposed legislation seeks to rationalise licensing and permission procedures, remove duplicate approvals and reduce the compliance burden by introducing…
Bhubaneswar: More than 300 people are killed every year in Odisha in crashes involving vehicles parked dangerously on roads, prompting the state government to strengthen highway safety measures through dedicated truck terminals for long-haul drivers. The Commerce and Transport Department has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) for the…
Bhubaneswar: Odisha is set to equip 1,200 artisans across 12 districts with advanced tool kits to improve productivity, quality and market access while helping traditional handicrafts adapt to changing consumer demands. The initiative, being implemented through the Odisha State Cooperative Handicrafts Corporation Limited (UTKALIKA), covers seven traditional craft sectors—Appliqué, wood, stone, horn, iron, terracotta and…
Bhubaneswar: Odisha is working towards creating a unified secondary and higher secondary education board by merging the Board of Secondary Education (BSE) and the Council of Higher Secondary Education (CHSE), while also expanding digital content, vocational education and open schooling opportunities for students. The proposed merger was announced at the 44th Foundation Day celebration of…
Bhubaneswar: Odisha is building a collaborative urban governance ecosystem that brings together government agencies, knowledge institutions, technical experts and innovation partners to help cities find practical solutions to emerging challenges and improve public services. At the centre of this effort is the Atal Network for Knowledge, Urbanisation and Reform (ANKUR), a platform launched by the…
Bhubaneswar: A four-district economic corridor covering 19 urban areas is taking shape in Odisha with the proposed Bhubaneswar-Kataka-Puri-Paradip Economic Region (BKPPER) aiming to integrate infrastructure, industry, urban development and investment across one of the state’s most economically significant belts. The ambitious initiative is expected to generate more than 40 lakh non-farm jobs and attract corporate…
Bhubaneswar: A decade after the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 came into force, stakeholders in Odisha have called for a stronger focus on prevention, family-based care and grassroots interventions to keep children away from institutional care and conflict with law. The issue came into focus at a State-Level Stakeholders’ Consultation on…
Bhubaneswar: A regular train journey turned into a celebration of books and literature on Sunday as around 100 readers and writers boarded the Bhubaneswar–Daspalla MEMU for a unique literary experience under the Rail Reading Campaign “Gift A Book”. Organised by East Coast Railway in association with Walking Book Fairs, Bhubaneswar, the campaign transformed Train No….
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has stepped up implementation of its decision to change the English spellings of several place names to bring them in line with their Odia pronunciation, directing all district Collectors to ensure uniform use of the revised nomenclature across government establishments. Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue & Disaster Management Department, Dr Arabinda Kumar…
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has decided to carry forward its rural bridge-building programme for another five years, signalling a continued focus on improving road connectivity to villages separated by rivers, streams and other natural barriers. The programme, launched as Biju Setu Yojana in 2011-12, will now be implemented as Setu Bandhan Yojana from 2026-27 to…
