The Odisha government has begun efforts to rescue five migrant workers from Kendrapada district who are reportedly stranded in Thailand. The workers, who travelled on tourist visas but were employed in a plywood company, claim they are being held against their will, denied wages, and subjected to harassment.
The Odisha government felicitated para archer Payal Nag for winning two gold medals at the World Para Archery Series 2026 in Bangkok and qualifying for the Para Asian Games. She received a cash award and funds for sports equipment.
The Odisha vigilance department apprehended two government officers on Wednesday for accepting bribes in separate incidents. An Assistant Civil Supplies Officer in Keonjhar district was caught taking Rs 15,000, while a junior engineer with the National Health Mission in Sundargarh was caught taking Rs 5,000.
BJD leader Naveen Patnaik has criticised the BJP government in Odisha for its alleged failure to protect women, while the Deputy Chief Minister defends the government's record and accuses Patnaik's previous administration of similar shortcomings.
The Supreme Court has given the Odisha government one month to decide on the remission plea of Ravindra Pal, alias Dara Singh, who is serving a life sentence for the 1999 murders of Australian missionary Graham Stuart Staines and his two minor sons.
HCLTech, India's third-largest IT services company, announced plans to establish a global technology centre and an AI-optimised data centre in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, with a total investment of approximately Rs 15,000 crore, marking its entry into the AI infrastructure business.
How did hundreds of errors slip through multiple stages of drafting, editing, proofreading, expert review and final approval before making their way into classrooms?
The Supreme Court dismissed the Odisha government's plea to modify an order allowing the release of the animated film "Mahaprabhu Jagannath". The court emphasised that creativity, art, and culture should not be curtailed due to sensitivities regarding deity depictions, especially for children's animation.
State-owned Coal India Ltd (CIL) and ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AMNS) have signed an MoU to explore setting up a coal gasification plant near AMNS's Paradip pellet plant in Odisha. This initiative aims to produce synthesis gas for cleaner steel production, reduce reliance on imported fuels, and align with India's goal of gasifying 100 million tonnes of coal by 2030, supported by a Rs 37,500-crore government incentive scheme.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi dismissed an officer from government service due to alleged corruption, specifically irregularities in land-related matters during his tenure as additional tahsildar in Bhubaneswar.
Maoist leader Azad alias Dana Keshab Rao has been released after spending over 15 years in jail as an undertrial prisoner, following his acquittal in all 49 cases registered against him in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.
A government engineer in Odisha's Bhadrak district is under investigation after the Vigilance Department allegedly discovered multiple assets, including land plots and residential buildings, disproportionate to his known income sources.
The Odisha government has roped in IIT-Bhubaneswar to introduce a queue management system at the Jagannath Temple in Puri, including setting up wooden ramps for a clearer view of the deities, law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said on Tuesday.
The Odisha Gymnastics Association is under investigation for allegedly using the name of its deceased president to secure funds from the state government. A complaint questions the association's governance and financial practices, including the sanctioning of funds from multiple agencies for the same event.
The Odisha Vigilance Department has uncovered significant assets, including multiple buildings and plots of land, allegedly belonging to a government engineer, prompting an investigation into disproportionate assets.
Under the Odisha state premature release policy, prisoners whose death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment become eligible for remission after completing 25 years in prison, subject to recommendations by the Odisha State Sentence Review Board and approval by the state government. Dara Singh has now spent more than 26 years in prison.
A controversy has erupted within Hockey India over the national teams' new saffron jerseys, replacing the traditional blue.
Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has expressed strong "anguish" over the Indian hockey team's decision to change its traditional blue jersey to saffron for the upcoming FIH World Cup. Patnaik, whose state government previously sponsored the team, criticised the move as "petty politics" and an attempt to erase sporting legacy, alleging pressure from the BJP government in Odisha. Hockey India stated the saffron colour symbolises courage, sacrifice, and new beginnings, inspired by the national flag.
The Odisha government has officially changed the English spellings of 64 places, including major cities like Cuttack (now Kataka) and Balasore (now Baleshwar), to align with Odia phonetics. This move aims to preserve the state's linguistic and cultural identity by correcting colonial-era anglicised names and standardising official records.
Opposition parties in Odisha, including the BJD and Congress, have criticised the ruling BJP for failing to maintain law and order after a violent attack in Puri district. The incident, captured in a viral video, has sparked concerns about public safety and governance in the state.
BJD president Naveen Patnaik has written to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, seeking his intervention in the killing of a pregnant woman in Odisha's Ganjam district and demanding action against the culprits.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has directed civil and police authorities to collaborate in curbing organised crime, instilling fear among criminals, and building public confidence. This follows a review of the state's law and order situation after recent incidents, including a mob lynching and a murder case.
The Odisha government has issued a notice to Vedanta Aluminium Limited, Jharsuguda, demanding 233.11 crore for allegedly extracting over 30 lakh cubic metres of water monthly from the Bheden river system without authorisation between May 2025 and April 2026, a charge the company denies, claiming compliance with existing agreements.
The Odisha Vigilance has arrested Baikuntha Nath Behera, an assistant executive engineer, for possessing disproportionate assets worth crores, including over Rs 2 crore in cash, multiple properties, and gold jewellery. The arrest followed raids that uncovered extensive wealth, with some lockers yet to be opened.
Odisha Vigilance arrested a cooperative official, Patitapaban Majhi, for allegedly misappropriating over Rs 33 lakh in government funds during his tenure at the Garhsantri Service Co-operative Society.
Odisha Vigilance has seized an additional 703 grams of gold from a bank locker belonging to Baikuntha Nath Behera, an assistant executive engineer, bringing the total recovery to 1.255 kg. Behera was arrested for possessing assets disproportionate to his known income, including over Rs 2 crore in cash, five buildings, 14 plots, and significant deposits.
Odisha Vigilance has seized an additional 703 grams of gold from a bank locker belonging to Baikuntha Nath Behera, an assistant executive engineer, bringing the total recovery to 1.255 kg. Behera was arrested for possessing assets disproportionate to his known income, including over Rs 2 crore in cash, five buildings, 14 plots, and significant deposits.
Odisha is in shock after a pregnant woman was brutally murdered in Ganjam district. Political leaders are calling for swift action and justice for the victim and her orphaned daughter.
The missing seafarer has been identified as Sarthak Mahapatra, a native of Kespur in Bhadrak district.
A CAG report has revealed significant deficiencies in the management and security of prisons in Odisha, including shortages of staff, infrastructure, and equipment, raising concerns about the safety and welfare of inmates and the public.
Two more workers from Odisha who were stranded in Thailand have returned home after the state government intervened. This follows the return of four other workers last week. The workers had faced hardships including non-payment of wages.
One more person has been arrested in connection with the lynching of a GRP constable in Odisha, bringing the total number of arrests to 18. The incident occurred after the constable was accused of attempted rape following a road accident.
Opposition parties in Odisha, BJD and Congress, have criticised Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, accusing him of a surge in police brutality. The allegations stem from a custodial death in Ganjam district and other instances of alleged police misconduct. The BJP has defended the government, stating that prompt action has been taken in response to these cases.
The Odisha Vigilance Department has uncovered assets worth crores of rupees, including over Rs 2 crore in cash, multiple properties, and gold, during raids on an assistant executive engineer. The engineer, Baikuntha Nath Behera, is under investigation for disproportionate assets. Separately, a lineman was arrested for accepting a bribe.
A man and his female friend were allegedly assaulted with sticks by a group of people in Odisha's Berhampur city, triggering outrage after a video of the incident went viral on social media.
The Odisha Gymnastics Association secretary has apologised for using the late president's name on official letterheads, attributing it to an unintentional mistake after reports surfaced regarding invoices issued under the deceased president's name.
Former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan stated that attempts were made to "mislead" Gen Z during the NEET paper leak protests, prompting his resignation, and also addressed criticism from former Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik.
Odisha's Director General of Police (DGP) YB Khurania announced that 77 Maoists have surrendered to police in the state between January 2025 and March 2025. He also noted that 23 Maoists from Odisha surrendered in Chhattisgarh during the same period, and 27 Maoists were killed in encounters with security forces.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has requested a detailed report from Odisha officials regarding the deaths of six people in a septic tank, raising concerns about human rights violations.
A 73-year-old man in Odisha's Jajpur district attempted self-immolation during a public grievance hearing, citing unaddressed appeals for an approach road to his house.
