Bhubaneswar: Odisha has emerged as a hub for school-level sports as it hosts the 69th National School Games Federation of India (SGFI) Rugby Championship 2025–26 at Kalinga Stadium, drawing young talent from across the country. The national-level championship, featuring both boys and girls in the Under-17 and Under-14 categories, is being held from April 6…
Bhubaneswar: Seeking to enhance accessibility and efficiency in revenue services, the Odisha government has initiated steps to upgrade its WhatsApp-based ‘Ama Sathi’ chatbot, making it more responsive and citizen-centric. The decision was taken during a high-level review meeting chaired by Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari at Lok Seva Bhawan, where officials discussed measures…
Bhubaneswar: In a major reform aimed at easing the tax burden on individuals and businesses, the Odisha Cabinet has approved the promulgation of an Ordinance to abolish Professional Tax in the state. The amendment to the Odisha State Tax on Professions Trades Callings and Employments Act 2000 will be brought through an Ordinance as the…
Bhubaneswar: In a major step to strengthen digital service delivery at the grassroots level, the Odisha State Cabinet has approved the procurement of 79,033 smartphones under the POSHAN Abhiyaan at a total cost of ₹93.13 crore. The smartphones, identified as Samsung A06 (Model: SM-A065F/DS), will be procured through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal from NF…
New Delhi: Indian Railways has introduced upgraded interiors for the next-generation Amrit Bharat Express coaches, with a sample coach now ready for inspection. The prototype coach was inspected by the Minister of Railways at New Delhi Railway Station, showcasing a redesigned interior aimed at enhancing passenger comfort, safety, and overall travel experience. The upgraded coaches…
Bhubaneswar: Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary has achieved a major milestone in 2025–26, recording its highest-ever revenue of ₹6.02 crore and attracting nearly 1.4 lakh tourists, reaffirming its growing stature as one of India’s emerging wildlife and eco-tourism destinations. The figures mark a sharp rise from the previous financial year (2024–25), when the destination generated ₹5.01 crore…
Bhubaneswar: With temperatures rising across the state, the Odisha government has directed all schools to reschedule their class timings to morning hours to safeguard students from heatwave conditions. As per the order, all educational institutions will now function from 6:30 AM to 10:30 AM with immediate effect from April 2 until the commencement of summer…
Bhubaneswar: In a major move to streamline the supply of LPG and petroleum products, the Odisha government has announced stricter monitoring mechanisms and accelerated plans for transitioning to Piped Natural Gas (PNG) across the state. The decisions were taken at a high-level review meeting jointly chaired by Krushna Chandra Patra, Minister of Food Supplies &…
Bhubaneswar: Odisha has rolled out a week-long statewide capacity-building initiative, “SĀDHANA Saptah – 2026,” aimed at strengthening governance through continuous learning and skill development of government officials. The programme was formally launched by Anu Garg, Chief Secretary of Odisha, at Lok Seva Bhawan. Scheduled from April 2 to 8, the initiative is being organised by…
Bhubaneswar: In a major push to enhance early childhood care infrastructure, Odisha inaugurated 1,889 newly constructed Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) across all 30 districts, marking a significant step towards strengthening grassroots service delivery. The centres were virtually inaugurated by Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Women & Child Development, Mission Shakti and Tourism Pravati Parida in…
