When Kitchenware Turns Hazardous The utensils we cook in are often taken for granted, yet they can directly influence how safe our meals truly are. While traditional Indian cookware such as clay pots, brass vessels, and copper utensils carried well-documented health benefits, today’s mass-produced alternatives don’t always meet those standards. Recently, the US Food and…
Two Boards, One System in Transition For decades, Odisha’s school education system has been overseen by two distinct bodies: the Board of Secondary Education (BSE), which manages curriculum and examinations for Classes I to X, and the Council of Higher Secondary Education (CHSE), which supervises Classes XI and XII. In a landmark step, the state…
Odisha has emerged as the frontrunner in implementing the Watershed Development Component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana 2.0 (WDC-PMKSY 2.0). The state has utilised 83% of its allocated funds, earning high praise from Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan during a nationwide review meeting. Efficient Use of Central Funds The programme, launched in FY 2021-22…
The Odisha government has announced a sweeping reshuffle across its police administration, reassigning several senior officers to new postings. The changes, notified by the Home Department on Thursday, aim to inject fresh momentum into law enforcement and strengthen oversight in key divisions, including Commissionerate Police, Vigilance, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), and State Police Headquarters. New…
A Veteran Politician in Custody Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sri Lanka’s long-time political stalwart and former president, was arrested on Friday over allegations of misusing public money for private travel. The 76-year-old, who briefly steered the country through its financial meltdown in 2022, now faces one of the most serious challenges of his career. The arrest marks a…
Why India Matters for OpenAI OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, is cementing its presence in one of its most important markets by opening its first Indian office in New Delhi later this year. Backed by Microsoft, the company has formally registered as a legal entity in India and already begun local hiring. For OpenAI, India…
A War Grinding into Its Third Year The war in Ukraine, now in its fourth calendar year, has entrenched itself as one of Europe’s most destructive conflicts since World War II. Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, following years of tension after the annexation of Crimea in 2014, has left cities in ruins, displaced millions, and…
A Familiar Flashpoint in US–India Relations The United States–India relationship has weathered repeated trade disputes, but Washington’s latest criticism marks a renewed escalation. President Donald Trump’s trade adviser, Peter Navarro, has reignited tensions by accusing New Delhi of running a “profiteering scheme” through discounted Russian oil imports. The controversy has revived debates over tariffs, energy security,…
From Street Chaos to Courtroom Debate Over the past few months, the Supreme Court has been closely examining the issue of stray dogs, a matter that has stirred strong emotions across the country. Triggered by a spike in dog bite incidents and rising concerns over rabies, the debate escalated after a previous order mandated the removal…
The Controversial Polavaram Project The Polavaram multipurpose irrigation project on the Godavari River has remained at the heart of a long-standing inter-state dispute. While Andhra Pradesh champions it as a lifeline for irrigation and drinking water, neighboring states, especially Odisha and Chhattisgarh, have consistently raised alarm over its environmental and humanitarian costs. Odisha’s biggest worry…
