Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has decided to continue its support for children living in difficult circumstances, with the State Cabinet approving the extension of the Jashoda scheme and its sub-scheme Ashirbad for another five years. The decision was taken at the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on August 12. The schemes…
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has approved a major irrigation expansion plan targeting water-deficit and upland areas, with the State Cabinet clearing the Parbati Giri Mega Lift Irrigation Project at an estimated cost of ₹12,458.04 crore. The project, to be funded entirely from the state’s own resources, will be implemented over five years from 2026-27 to…
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has approved a set of amendments to the Odisha Renewable Energy Policy (OREP), 2022, aimed at accelerating renewable energy deployment, attracting fresh investments and making green power more affordable for consumers. The decision was taken at a State Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday. The amendments…
Bhubaneswar: Odisha is set to take its digital governance system to the next level with the State Cabinet approving the implementation of OSWAS 3.0 at a negotiated cost of ₹122.60 crore, excluding taxes. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) Ltd, which had earlier developed the system, has been selected for the five-year project. The upgraded platform will…
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has widened the scope of its semiconductor policy to cover more segments of the industry, including equipment, specialty chemicals, advanced materials and other critical inputs, with the aim of building an integrated semiconductor ecosystem in the state. The State Cabinet has approved the third amendment to the Odisha Semiconductor Manufacturing and…
Bhubaneswar: Odisha is planning to introduce battery-powered boats in Bhitarkanika National Park as part of efforts to make tourism more environment-friendly and reduce the impact of motorised boats on the park’s sensitive ecosystem. The move comes amid concerns over noise and fuel emissions from diesel- and petrol-powered boats operating through Bhitarkanika’s waterways. Officials said the…
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government plans to give a major push to the spiritual and cultural landscape of Puri, with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi directing officials to develop the Puri beach as a prominent spiritual destination and strengthen facilities and security at Gobardhan Peeth. The directions were issued during a high-level meeting at Lok Seva…
Bhubaneswar: Nandankanan Zoological Park observed World Elephant Day 2026 with a range of conservation and awareness activities aimed at helping visitors and students understand elephant behaviour, welfare and the importance of protecting the species. The programme was attended by Tapan Chakravarty, Sarpanch of Daruthenga, Khulana Majhi, Sarpanch of Raghunathpur, and Pradeep Mirase, Deputy Director, Nandankanan…
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government is looking to strengthen the welfare and social security of Gaja Sathis and mahouts as part of a broader strategy to improve elephant conservation and reduce human-elephant conflict in the state. Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia said the government was exploring an insurance-based social security package for…
Bhubaneswar: Young climate leaders from across Odisha on Wednesday called for greater youth participation in climate action and community-level initiatives as the fourth edition of the Odisha Conference of Youth (OCOY 4.0) concluded at XIM University, Bhubaneswar. The three-day conference, organised under the Youth4Water Plus campaign in collaboration with UNICEF Odisha, the Government of Odisha,…
