Odisha Politics & Governance

Revenue Board orders restoration of Jagannath temple land records near Gundicha Temple

1 October 2026

The Odisha Revenue Board directed settlement authorities to restore land near Puri’s Gundicha Temple to the records of Lord Jagannath in its Amruta Manohi status. The Board found that the original record named the deity as owner, while a later entry placed the land in an individual’s name before it was sold. The required prior state approval for the transfer was not evidenced in the case.

Key Facts

• Section 16(2) of the Shri Jagannath Temple Act requires prior state approval for transfers of immovable property held by the temple committee.

Odisha sets regularisation rules for eligible junior teachers appointed in 2023–24

1 October 2026

Odisha issued rules to regularise eligible schematic junior teachers appointed in primary and upper-primary schools in 2023–24 as Level-V(A) Assistant Teachers in the elementary cadre. Regularisation is effective from 1 January 2026. Service before that date remains schematic or contractual and does not count towards regular-cadre seniority or other regular-service benefits.

Ganjam orders prescription checks for abortion medicines

1 October 2026

Ganjam district directed drug inspectors to ensure that abortion medicines, including mifepristone and misoprostol combinations, are not sold without a valid medical prescription. The Collector ordered regular monitoring and surprise inspections, with legal action where necessary, and asked inspectors to act within seven days and report the steps taken.

Odisha clarifies eligibility and deadlines under compassionate appointment rules

1 October 2026

Odisha clarified that compassionate appointment applications are assessed under the rules in force on the date of the government employee’s death. If the family’s only eligible applicant was a minor son, he may apply within three years of turning 18; a daughter eligible when she applied does not lose eligibility solely because she later marries. Departments were directed to decide pending cases within three months.

Odisha reviews NEP-aligned textbooks for Classes 9 and 10

1 October 2026

Odisha’s curriculum committee met on 1 October to discuss NEP-aligned curricula and textbooks for Classes 9 and 10. Preparation had begun on 11 September, with NCERT textbooks being translated into Odia and local examples added; printing and distribution for the next academic year were planned.

Key Facts

• NEP 2020 restructures school education into a 5+3+3+4 curricular and age-stage framework.
• Odisha says adapting NCERT textbooks aims to give its pupils learning at a standard comparable with students nationwide.

Omfed announces ₹2-per-litre milk price increase

2 October 2026

Omfed announced a ₹2-per-litre increase in milk prices, with revised rates scheduled to take effect on 4 October. The reported new prices include ₹58 per litre for toned milk, ₹60 for premium, ₹62 for Gold and ₹66 for Gold Plus.

Key Facts

• OMFED is a state cooperative federation that promotes milk production and manages procurement, processing and marketing.

Odisha High Court rejects Vedanta plea for concessional bauxite

2 October 2026

The Odisha High Court rejected Vedanta Limited’s plea for concessional bauxite supplies under older agreements and upheld Odisha Mining Corporation’s market-based pricing and demand notices. The court also withdrew interim protections previously granted to the company, allowing OMC to pursue legal action and recover dues.

Key Facts

• Promissory estoppel cannot be enforced contrary to law or amended regulations, the court held.
• The ruling affirms that public interest takes priority in the use of natural resources.

Odisha’s SAMS portal receives SKOCH Platinum Award

2 October 2026

Odisha’s Higher Education Department received the SKOCH Platinum Award 2026 for its Student Academic Management System (SAMS) portal. The platform supports digital higher-education processes, including applications, merit lists, seat allotment and admissions.

Key Facts

• SAMS streamlines admissions digitally, reducing repeated campus visits and improving transparency.

Bhubaneswar extends dry-waste collection to 31 nearby panchayats

2 October 2026

The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation began collecting dry waste from 31 panchayats across Bhubaneswar, Jatni, Balianta and Balipatna blocks. Waste, including sanitary pads and napkins, is to be collected from designated central points every seven to 15 days and taken to the corporation’s processing facility. The initiative extends solid-waste services to surrounding panchayats; a separate compressed-biogas plant for wet waste was still under construction.

Key Facts

• Swachh Bharat Mission promotes source segregation into wet, dry and hazardous waste to improve recycling and ...