In a significant move to support the biodiesel industry, the Odisha government, led by the BJP, has approved an exemption for methanol (methyl alcohol) used in biodiesel production. The decision, made during a state cabinet meeting on August 7 chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Majhi, exempts methanol from both import fees and excise duty. This…
A catastrophic explosion at a pharmaceutical plant in Andhra Pradesh has claimed 17 lives and left nearly 40 others injured. The blast, which occurred on August 22, has devastated the region, prompting extensive rescue efforts and a high-level inquiry into the incident. Ongoing Rescue Operations Hampered by Dense Smoke Rescue operations were immediately launched at…
Government Targets Seven Major Cities with New Initiative India is poised to invest nearly $300 million over the next two years to tackle urban flooding and enhance water conservation efforts in seven major cities, including Mumbai, Chennai, and Bengaluru. This ambitious plan, recently approved by the federal government, aims to expand water bodies such as…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on a significant two-nation tour on Wednesday, marking a historic visit to Poland and Ukraine. The trip underscores India’s growing influence in global diplomacy, as Modi becomes the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Poland in 45 years and the first to set foot in Ukraine since the establishment of…
Revised Question Pattern and Marking Scheme Announced The Council of Higher Secondary Education (CHSE), Odisha, has announced a significant revision in the question pattern and marking scheme for the upcoming Plus Two examinations. This change, aimed at ensuring uniformity in question patterns and the distribution of marks, was officially communicated through a notification issued on…
Statewide Protests Disrupt Normal Life Odisha witnessed widespread disruptions as the dawn-to-dusk ‘Bharat Bandh,’ called by various Dalit and Adivasi organizations, brought normal life to a standstill on Wednesday. The 12-hour strike, led by the Bhim Army, the National Confederation of Dalit Organisations (NACDAOR), Odisha Adivasi Kalyan Mahasangha, Adivasi Ekta Parishad, and other groups, aimed…
Election Process Begins The Election Commission has officially set the wheels in motion for the long-awaited assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir by issuing a notification for the first phase of polling. This marks a significant milestone in the democratic process for the Union Territory, which last held assembly elections in 2014. The first phase…
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced nine candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha bypolls, signaling its intent to secure a majority in the Upper House. The party has long sought dominance in the Rajya Sabha, where it has traditionally relied on support from unaligned parties to push its legislative agenda. The upcoming bypolls are…
Who Is Behind the Bharat Bandh? The Reservation Bachao Sangharsh Samiti has called for a nationwide Bharat Bandh on August 21 to protest the Supreme Court’s recent ruling regarding SC/ST reservations. The ruling, issued on August 1, allows states to create sub-categories within the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs), prioritizing those who are…
West Bengal is currently engulfed in an unprecedented wave of protests, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee facing intense pressure like never before. The public outrage stems from the horrific rape and murder of a junior doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College on August 9. The incident has placed the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and its…
