New Delhi: A high-level consultation on the Urban Challenge Fund (UCF), aimed at accelerating India’s urban transformation, brought together key policymakers and state representatives at the India Habitat Centre following the release of its operational guidelines earlier this month. The meeting was chaired by Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and focused…
Bhubaneswar: Strengthening prospects for mango farmers, a special skill development workshop on scientific cultivation and export-oriented practices was organised by the Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society at the SIRD campus in Bhubaneswar. The programme brought together farmers and agriculture officials from 15 major mango-producing districts, focusing on improving productivity and enabling better market access….
Bhubaneswar: Serious concerns over student safety at a residential school in Odisha have prompted the National Human Rights Commission to seek an urgent report from state authorities following the death of a minor girl and illness of over 100 students in Mayurbhanj district. Acting on its own, the Commission took suo motu cognisance of reports…
Bhubaneswar: Odisha has taken a major step in wildlife conservation with its first-ever house sparrow census, documenting a total of 83,576 birds across the state during 2025–26. The survey, conducted by the Wildlife Foundation Bhubaneswar, revealed a striking regional variation in sparrow populations. Sonepur district emerged as the hotspot, recording over 30,000 sparrows, while coastal…
Bhubaneswar: Major rural development initiatives, including a proposed sugar mill and a textile park in Balangir, were announced by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi during the state-level celebration of National Panchayati Raj Day on Friday. Speaking at the event, the Chief Minister underlined the expanding role of Panchayati Raj institutions, noting that they are no…
Bhubaneswar: Strengthening awareness on digital risks faced by children, a training programme on “Online Safety for Children” was organised for District Education Officers (DEOs) and ADEOs (Academic) in Bhubaneswar, bringing together key stakeholders from the education and child protection ecosystem. The workshop was conducted in collaboration with the Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child…
Bhubaneswar: Odisha is set to host the Junior and Senior Artistic Gymnastics National Championships 2026–27, with the Odisha Gymnastics Association formally announcing the event at a press conference held in the city on Thursday. The championships will be conducted at Kalinga Stadium from April 25 to May 3, bringing together top gymnasts from across the…
Bhubaneswar: More than 4,600 candidates received government appointment letters as the Odisha government organised a large-scale Nijukti Mela at Kalinga Stadium on Thursday, marking a significant push towards employment generation in the state. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi distributed appointment letters to 4,623 recruits across 27 departments, underscoring the government’s continued focus on filling vacancies…
Bhubaneswar: Responding to concerns over the safety of field personnel, the Odisha government has issued a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to safeguard census functionaries engaged in the ongoing first phase of the Census 2027 exercise. In an official communication, Additional Chief Secretary Arabinda Kumar Padhee of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department directed all…
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on April 22 reviewed the performance and future roadmap of power distribution companies (DISCOMs), with a strong focus on improving service delivery, reducing losses, and accelerating the transition to clean energy. The 29th Board meetings of DISCOMs were chaired by Chief Secretary Anu Garg at Lok Seva Bhawan. The review covered…
