Rourkela: Researchers at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela, in collaboration with scientists from IIT Guwahati, IIT Bombay and NISER Bhubaneswar, have developed lead-free materials that change their light-emission properties in response to heat and moisture, opening up potential applications in anti-counterfeiting, humidity sensing and lighting technologies. The research focuses on bismuth-based organic-inorganic hybrid compounds as...

Nilagiri: With the annual tourist season at Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary in Baleshwar district approaching, damaged roads and neglected visitor facilities have raised concerns over the Forest Department’s preparedness to welcome tourists. Spread across 272.75 sq km of dense sal forest, the sanctuary generally remains open from November 1 to June 15. However, several essential facilities remain in...

Pottangi: Polling for Andhra Pradesh’s Zilla Parishad and Mandal Parishad elections in Kotia panchayat, Koraput district, has been rescheduled from 3 to 5 November, with vote counting moved from 5 to 7 November. According to a notification issued by Andhra Pradesh State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha, the revised schedule was announced through letter No. 905/ SEC-B1/2026....

Bhubaneswar: In a significant move to tackle urban flooding and protect the state’s natural water systems, the state government has proposed a comprehensive statewide framework to identify, restore, protect and monitor natural drainage channels, water bodies and flood-retention areas across all urban local bodies (ULBs). The proposed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) aims to prevent encroachment, unauthorised filling,...

Nandapur: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has directed the Koraput Collector to take steps to improve the deteriorating condition of Padua PM SHRI Higher Secondary School in Kulabir panchayat under Nandapur block of Koraput district. In a letter dated October 23, 2026, NCPCR Registrar Sudha Choudhury asked the district administration to ensure compliance...

SUSHANT KUMAR JENA, OP Kataka Sadar: The Odisha Police Headquarters has directed all police districts to take steps to make the Closed User Group (CUG) phone numbers of police stations publicly accessible, enabling people to contact their nearest police station during emergencies. The move comes as landline services provided by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) have stopped...

Bhubaneswar: The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) seized 8,295 bottles of packaged drinking water and 500 labels bearing the ISI mark from a unit in Kusupur area in Puri district for allegedly using the mark without a valid licence. The BIS team found the establishment manufacturing, filling and dispatching packaged drinking water in PET bottles bearing the...

Bhubaneswar: The Mahanadi Bachao Andolan (MBA) has demanded immediate public disclosure of the Central Water Commission (CWC) report on the proposed sharing of Mahanadi River water between Odisha and Chhattisgarh, raising concerns over the state's long-term water security, agricultural needs and ecological sustainability. “Odisha’s people cannot be kept in the dark while decisions are taken about the...

Bhubaneswar: Governor Brajmohan Ram Wednesday stressed the need to ensure zero casualties and minimise crop damage amid Cyclone Arnab. The governor took stock of the cyclone situation during a meeting with Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh Parabhakar Patil at Lok Bhavan. Patil briefed him on the cyclone situation and the measures taken to protect people and property. Several...

Dhanada Kanta Mishra In 2017, I asked whether India could create a world-class university within a generation, when no Indian institution ranked among the world’s top 200. Nearly a decade later, India’s visibility has improved considerably, but its depth has not. The pressing question now lies closer to home: can Odisha use the Centre’s new university-township initiative...