Odisha Politics & Governance

VFS Global visa application centre opens in Bhubaneswar

1 April 2026

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurated a VFS Global visa application centre at the Baba Saheb Ambedkar Bus Terminal in Bhubaneswar. Initially, the centre offers visa application services for the United Kingdom, Ireland, Austria, Estonia, Italy, Malta, Switzerland, Japan, Morocco and Egypt; the addition of other countries was planned for a later phase.

Key Facts

• VFS Global handles outsourced visa and passport administration for governments and diplomatic missions; visa decisions remain with the relevant authorities.

Odisha begins Census 2027 self-enumeration

1 April 2026

Odisha began the self-enumeration phase of Census 2027, allowing residents to submit household information online through the census portal. The voluntary online option was scheduled to run until 15 April, followed by door-to-door enumeration by census officials from 16 April.

Key Facts

• The Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, under the Union Home Ministry, conducts India’s census.

Projects worth over ₹204 crore launched or inaugurated in Athmallik

1 April 2026

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launched and inaugurated projects worth more than ₹204.32 crore during a visit to Athmallik in Angul district. The programme also included the distribution of government-scheme benefits to beneficiaries.

Pradhan said the government aimed to build hundreds of pucca houses for poor and middle-income families and provide pensions to new beneficiaries.

Key Facts

• Odisha’s Subhadra Yojana provides eligible women ₹50,000 over five years to promote economic empowerment.

Odisha extends kharif paddy procurement by seven days

2 April 2026

Odisha extended the kharif paddy procurement period by seven days beyond the 31 March deadline, allowing farmers additional time to sell their stocks. The Cooperation Minister said 18.64 lakh farmers had sold paddy and 77 lakh metric tonnes had been procured statewide.

The extension followed reports of unsold paddy in Sambalpur, including at a mandi in Maneswar block. The district supplies officer said farmers with valid tokens could still sell their paddy; the minister cited limited mill storage as a cause of delays.

Key Facts

• Minimum Support Price sets a government-approved floor price for selected kharif and rabi crops to support farmers’ returns.
• The Food Corporation of India , under the Union food ministry, is among the agencies involved in implementing procurement at MSP.

Odisha inaugurates 1,889 Anganwadi centres across 30 districts

2 April 2026

Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida virtually inaugurated 1,889 newly built Anganwadi centres across the state’s 30 districts. The centres are intended to provide nutrition support, early education and health awareness for children, pregnant women and new mothers. The department has set a target of inaugurating a further 2,500 Anganwadi buildings in July.

Key Facts

• Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) combines supplementary nutrition and preschool education with immunisation, health check-ups and referrals for young children and mothers.

IIM Sambalpur awards degrees to 416 students at its 10th convocation

4 April 2026

IIM Sambalpur awarded degrees to 416 students at its 10th convocation, held at its Goshala campus with Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati as chief guest. The degrees included five PhDs and five for working professionals.

Institute director Mahadeo Prasad Jaiswal said women made up 76% of this year’s graduating cohort.

Key Facts

• IIM Sambalpur is a public business school in Odisha.

Odisha launches statewide school-entry campaign for the new academic year

4 April 2026

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi launched the statewide Khadi Chhuan school-entry campaign for the new academic year, encouraging enrolment in Shishu Vatika and primary classes. More than five lakh children enrolled in government primary schools, and education-awareness vehicles were set to visit districts and blocks.

The Chief Minister announced plans to integrate Anganwadi centres with Shishu Vatika in phases and establish model schools in villages.

Key Facts

• Anganwadi centres provide basic health services, nutrition support and preschool activities.

Odisha team wins 57 medals at India Skills 2025–26

4 April 2026

Odisha’s team secured 57 medals at the India Skills 2025–26 national competition: 15 gold, 12 silver and 14 bronze. Sixteen participants also received Medallions for Excellence, while 90 competitors from Odisha took part.

The awards were presented at the India Expo Centre in Greater Noida. The five-day competition began on 29 March and was held across five centres.

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