Bhubaneswar, August 17: The Chief General Manager (MSME) on Monday chaired a review meeting to assess the status of various pending matters related to the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) section, with a particular focus on land-related issues and timely disposal of cases. The meeting was attended by Land Officers, MSME officials and other concerned officers. Officials reviewed the status of pending land-related matters…
Odisha Coast on Alert: Fishermen Advised Not to Venture Into Sea Till August 18
Bhubaneswar, Aug. 17 (UDN): The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a weather advisory for fishermen along the Odisha coast, warning of squally conditions and rough to very rough seas over the next two days. Representational Image According to the latest forecast, wind speeds of 40–50 kmph, with gusts reaching up to 60 kmph, are likely along and off the Odisha coast on August 17…
BJD Deploys Three Senior Leaders to Monitor Relief Operations in Flood-Hit Odisha Districts
Bhubaneswar, Aug. 17 (UDN): With the flood situation worsening in several parts of Odisha, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has assigned three senior leaders to oversee relief and restoration efforts in the worst-affected districts. According to an office order issued by BJD president Naveen Patnaik on Monday, former minister Pradip Kumar Amat has been assigned to Jajpur, former minister Dr Arun Kumar Sahoo to Bhadrak,…
Vizhinjam Port Set to Open Kerala’s Gateway to Global Trade
Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 17: Kerala’s Vizhinjam International Seaport is poised to emerge as a major gateway for the state to global trade, strengthening India’s position in international shipping and transshipment. Located near Thiruvananthapuram, the deep-water port is strategically positioned close to major international shipping routes, giving it the potential to attract large container vessels and strengthen India’s transshipment capabilities. The port is expected to reduce the…
Anurag Jain Assumes Charge as NITI Aayog CEO
New Delhi, August 17: Senior IAS officer Anurag Jain on Monday took charge as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NITI Aayog, marking his return to the Central government after serving as Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh. Jain, a 1989-batch Indian Administrative Service officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, was appointed CEO of NITI Aayog by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet in July.…
OCS Aspirants Meet Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan, Thank Odisha Government Over Attempt Cap Removal
Bhubaneswar, Aug. 17 (UDN): A group of Odisha Civil Services (OCS) aspirants met Prithiviraj Harichandan, Cabinet Minister for Law, Works and Excise and MLA from Chilika, and expressed their gratitude to the Odisha Government for removing the existing six-attempt limit for the OCS examination. Under the revised policy, eligible candidates will now be able to appear for the OCS examination until they reach the prescribed…
NPS Enrolments Among Zomato Delivery Partners Cross 2 Lakh, Marking a Major Milestone
New Delhi, Aug 17: Zomato, India’s food ordering and delivery platform, announced that the National Pension System corpus built by the delivery partners onboarded on its delivery platform under the ‘NPS Platform Workers Model’ has crossed ₹1 crore, with enrolments under the scheme surpassing 2 lakh Permanent Retirement Account Numbers. The milestone marks a significant step forward from the model’s launch in October 2025, when it was introduced in collaboration with HDFC Pension, India’s largest Corporate NPS Point of Presence…
EV Charging Fire Guts Eight Vehicles at Bhubaneswar Garage
Bhubaneswar, Aug. 17 (UDN): Eight vehicles were gutted after a fire broke out at a garage in Anand Vihar near Nakagate in Bhubaneswar during the early hours of Monday. Representational Image According to preliminary information, the fire reportedly started while an electric vehicle was being charged inside the garage. A short circuit is suspected to have triggered the blaze, which quickly spread to other vehicles…
Who Won Rakhi This Year? Palmonas Says: Let’s Call It a Tie
This Raksha Bandhan, Palmonas puts a playful spin on the ultimate sibling rivalry – where every argument, victory, and gift is scored, but love always has the final say. Every sibling relationship comes with its own scoreboard. Who is the favourite, who got away with more, who apologised first, and, come Raksha Bandhan, who gave the better gift? While siblings keep score on everything, one…
Puri Jagannath Temple Darshan to Remain Closed for Four Hours Today
Puri, Aug. 17 (UDN): Devotees visiting the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri will not be allowed public darshan for four hours on Monday evening due to the observance of the traditional Khasapada Lagi Niti. Representational Image According to the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), the special ritual will be performed on the occasion of Shrabana Shukla Panchami after completion of the second Bhoga Mandapa offering.…