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…
Bhubaneswar: People across Odisha came together in large numbers to celebrate “Ama Poshak Ama Parichaya” (Our Attire, Our Identity) Day, proudly donning traditional handloom attire as part of the ongoing Odia Pakhya being observed from April 1 to 14. Organised under the aegis of the Odia Language Literature and Culture Department, the celebration on its…
Bhubaneswar: In a major step towards improving international travel access for residents of Odisha, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday inaugurated a new Visa Application Centre operated by VFS Global in Bhubaneswar. The facility marks a significant milestone in enhancing citizen-centric services and reflects the state’s growing global engagement. Speaking at the event, the…
