The registration certificates (RCs) of more than 20 lakh vehicles in Odisha have reportedly been cancelled after their mandatory documents were not renewed within the required period.

The move follows the new vehicle classification policy introduced by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Under the system, vehicles are being classified based on the status of their registration and other essential documents.

According to the new classification system, more than 20 lakh vehicles registered in Odisha have reportedly been moved to the “Permanent Archive” category due to non-renewal of required documents. Once an RC is cancelled, operating the vehicle on public roads becomes illegal.

The classification process is being carried out using vehicle-related information available in the VAHAN database, including expired and non-renewed documents.

Vehicles Divided Into Four Categories

Under the new vehicle classification policy, vehicles are being placed into four categories based on their documentation status.

Category 1: Vehicles with all required documents valid and up to date.

Category 2: Vehicles for which some of the required documents are valid, while others need renewal.

Category 3: Vehicles whose documents have not been updated for a relatively short period.

Category 4: Vehicles whose required documents have not been updated for around two to three years.

The classification is intended to identify vehicles with outdated documentation and improve compliance with transport regulations.

Vehicle Owners Advised to Update Documents

The State Transport Authority (STA) has urged vehicle owners to check the status of their documents and complete the renewal process at the earliest.

STA Commissioner Amitabh Thakur advised vehicle owners to ensure that their RC, insurance, Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate and other mandatory documents remain valid and updated.

Vehicle owners are particularly advised to verify their vehicle status in the VAHAN database. Driving a vehicle whose registration has been cancelled could lead to legal action, as such vehicles are not authorised to operate on public roads.

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Bhubaneswar DCP Jagmohan Meena’s resignation has taken a significant step forward, with the Odisha government forwarding his resignation letter to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs along with a No Objection Certificate (NOC).

A 2013-batch IPS officer, Meena had submitted his resignation on July 6. His resignation has now been accepted at the state level, and the required documents have been sent to the Centre for further processing.

Originally from Rajasthan, Jagmohan Meena has had a distinguished career in the Odisha Police. Before joining the police service, he pursued higher education at IIT Kanpur, earning B.Tech and M.Tech degrees in Aerospace Engineering.

During his 13-year career as an IPS officer, Meena served in several key positions across Odisha. He served as the Deputy Commissioner of Police in both Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. He also held the position of Superintendent of Police in Angul, Ganjam and the Maoist-affected district of Malkangiri.

While serving as Malkangiri SP in 2019, Meena played a key role in anti-Naxal operations in the district. In recognition of his contribution and courage, he was awarded the Police Medal for Gallantry in 2019.

His resignation from government service has now triggered speculation about his next move. According to reports, Meena is likely to shift to the private sector after leaving the police service. There is also discussion that he may join a company associated with a close relative in Rajasthan.

However, his future plans have not been officially confirmed so far. The resignation process will now proceed at the Centre after the Odisha government forwarded his resignation along with the NOC.

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The Odisha government is set to release the fifth instalment of the Subhadra Scheme on August 28, coinciding with Raksha Purnima. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi will disburse the financial assistance from Nayagarh in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida.

Under the fifth instalment, ₹5,000 will be directly transferred to the bank accounts of around 1 crore, 1 lakh, 99 thousand and 119 eligible women beneficiaries.

So far, the government has already transferred more than ₹20,648 crore through the first four instalments of the scheme, benefiting over one crore women across Odisha. According to Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, nearly 1.02 crore women received assistance under the fourth instalment alone.

The government has set August 28 as the target date for transferring the fifth instalment to the accounts of all eligible beneficiaries.

₹50,000 Assistance Over Five Years

Launched on September 17, 2024, the Subhadra Scheme provides eligible women with financial assistance of ₹10,000 every year for five years. The amount is paid in two instalments of ₹5,000 each, generally around Raksha Purnima and International Women’s Day.

Under the scheme, every eligible beneficiary is expected to receive a total of ₹50,000 over five years through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

The Odisha government has allocated ₹10,145 crore for the Subhadra Scheme in the 2026–27 Budget. The scheme is aimed at strengthening women’s financial independence and promoting greater economic inclusion.

New Beneficiaries May Get ₹25,000 at One Go

The biggest highlight of the upcoming disbursement is that women who have not received any Subhadra assistance so far, despite being eligible, as well as newly approved beneficiaries, may receive the cumulative amount of all five instalments.

This means eligible beneficiaries who are receiving the benefit for the first time could get up to ₹25,000 in a single transfer, covering five instalments of ₹5,000 each.

With the fifth instalment set to be released on Raksha Purnima, lakhs of women across Odisha are now awaiting the money to be credited to their bank accounts.

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A devastating flash flood near Nepal’s border with Tibet has triggered a major humanitarian crisis, with hundreds of travellers reported missing. According to preliminary reports, 105 Indian nationals are among 384 travellers whose whereabouts were yet to be confirmed after the disaster in Nepal’s Rasuwa district.

The flash flood swept through the Bhote Koshi River valley on Wednesday, damaging homes, roads, bridges and hydropower infrastructure. The disaster also disrupted communication and transportation along the route used by pilgrims travelling towards the Kailash Manasarovar region.

Amid the crisis, the Odisha government has established a 24×7 control room at Odisha Niwas in New Delhi to assist Odisha residents who may have been stranded or affected in Nepal.

According to the notification issued by the Office of the Chief Resident Commissioner, Odisha, people seeking assistance can contact the control room at 011-23012807, 7428135044 or 8527580245.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has also provided emergency helpline numbers for assistance related to Indian nationals affected by the disaster: +977 9851316807 and +977 9709107500.

Most of the missing Indian travellers were reportedly on their way to Tibet for the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra. The Nepal Tourism Board said the missing list included 291 foreign nationals and 93 Nepali nationals, with Indian nationals among the largest groups of foreign travellers affected.

Bihar on High Alert

The disaster has also prompted heightened preparedness in Bihar, particularly in districts along the Gandak River, amid concerns over possible flooding downstream.

Authorities have issued special alerts for West Champaran, East Champaran, Gopalganj, Saran, Muzaffarpur and Vaishali. Officials in Sitamarhi, Sheohar and other vulnerable districts have also been directed to maintain close and continuous monitoring of the situation.

A meeting of the Bihar Disaster Management Department was held on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit. District Magistrates and SPs/SSPs of the concerned districts participated through video conferencing.

Officials have been directed to remain prepared for any rise in water levels and possible flooding in vulnerable areas. Rescue and relief arrangements are being closely monitored as authorities assess the impact of the devastating Nepal floods.

With rescue operations continuing in the affected areas, families of missing travellers are seeking information about their loved ones. Indian authorities are coordinating with Nepalese agencies to facilitate rescue, relief and verification efforts.

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Odisha is likely to witness an increase in rainfall from tomorrow as a cyclonic circulation is expected to develop over the Bay of Bengal. The Regional Meteorological Centre has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall in several parts of coastal Odisha.

Several districts have already received significant rainfall over the past 24 hours. Balangir recorded 101 mm, Bargarh 95.8 mm, Jharsuguda 37.3 mm, Malkangiri 36.4 mm and Jajpur 31.5 mm of rainfall. Barakot block in Deogarh district recorded the highest rainfall at 162.2 mm.

Four blocks received more than 100 mm of rainfall, while nine blocks and one urban area recorded rainfall between 50 mm and 100 mm. From August 1 to 25, Odisha recorded a cumulative rainfall of 344.4 mm.

Meanwhile, flood-like conditions have affected several areas of Bhadrak, Jajpur and Kendrapara districts.

In Bhadrak, 75,432 people in 70 villages under 18 panchayats of Tihidi and Chandbali blocks have been affected. In Jajpur, around 21,000 people in 41 villages under 15 panchayats across Bari, Binjharpur and Dasarathpur blocks have been affected.

In Kendrapara, 5,475 people have been affected across five blocks, one urban area, 11 wards, 35 panchayats and 64 villages.

Heavy rainfall has also affected parts of Keonjhar, Nabarangpur and Koraput districts. In Nabarangpur, nine blocks have been affected and 1,622 people have been shifted to relief camps. In Koraput, 660 people have been evacuated to safer locations.

To deal with the situation, nine rescue teams have been deployed in vulnerable areas for quick rescue and relief operations.

The administration has allocated a total of ₹170.30 crore in different phases for managing relief camps and carrying out other emergency measures in flood-affected areas.

Authorities have been directed to closely monitor the situation, particularly in low-lying areas vulnerable to waterlogging and flooding. Officials have also been asked to keep a close watch on roads and underpasses as rainfall is expected to intensify from tomorrow.

With the possible development of the cyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal, authorities are on alert and residents in vulnerable areas have been advised to remain cautious.

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The historic Bali Jatra in Cuttack will be held from November 24 to December 1, with the festival scheduled to continue for eight days this year.

A preliminary preparatory meeting was held under the chairmanship of the Cuttack District Collector, where detailed discussions were held on arrangements for the upcoming festival. The district administration has proposed to the state government that the fair be organised across both the upper and lower Bali Jatra grounds this year.

With around three months remaining for the festival, officials discussed several key issues, including stall booking, ground design, disaster management, crowd control and traffic arrangements.

The administration also plans to make the stall allotment and booking process more organised this year. Traffic management will receive special attention to prevent congestion and ensure smooth movement of visitors during the festival.

The proposal to use both the upper and lower grounds comes amid last year’s controversy over not holding Bali Jatra on the upper ground. The district administration has said it will coordinate with various departments to make this year’s festival more organised, attractive and visitor-friendly.

The festival is also expected to feature performances by popular Bollywood and Ollywood artists, similar to previous years. The detailed list of performers is expected to be finalised later.

Safety arrangements will also be given special priority. Following last year’s incident involving a stalled amusement ride, the administration plans to constitute a special technical team to inspect all rides before and during the festival.

Officials said the technical inspection will be aimed at preventing any recurrence of such incidents and ensuring the safety of visitors.

The administration is expected to intensify preparations in the coming weeks so that the eight-day historic festival can be conducted smoothly and safely.

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The Orissa High Court has issued a show-cause notice to former Director General of Police (DGP) Yogesh Bahadur Khurania, asking why contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated against him.

The High Court took serious note of allegations that its earlier order was repeatedly not implemented despite several opportunities. The court also raised concerns over the alleged submission of misleading information through an affidavit in connection with the case.

According to the allegations, Khurania had knowingly violated an order issued by the High Court on September 25, 2025. The court has therefore asked him to explain why action should not be taken against him under Section 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act.

As Khurania has already retired from the post of DGP, the Inspector General of Police (Personnel) has been directed to serve the show-cause notice on him. The former DGP has been asked to submit his response within seven days of receiving the notice.

The development came during the hearing of a case filed by Sagarika Parida, a woman police officer who was allegedly removed from service. The High Court had directed the authorities in September last year to reinstate her.

However, instead of implementing the order, allegations were made that the former DGP had submitted misleading facts before the court through an affidavit.

Khurania retired from the post of DGP on the 16th of this month. The High Court, however, made it clear that his retirement would not prevent contempt proceedings from continuing against him.

The court has also directed the authorities to ensure implementation of its earlier order regarding the reinstatement of the petitioner within four weeks.

The High Court further warned that if there is any negligence in complying with the direction, the officer currently holding charge as DGP and the IG (Personnel) will have to appear before the court in person on September 28.

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Gold prices witnessed a slight decline in the retail market on Wednesday, August 26, after reaching record levels in Delhi’s bullion market a day earlier. Despite the marginal correction, gold and silver prices have continued to remain significantly higher over the past week.

On Tuesday, gold prices in Delhi’s bullion market increased for the fourth consecutive session. The price of 99.9% pure 24-carat gold jumped by ₹2,700 per 10 grams to reach ₹1,67,100 per 10 grams. On Monday, the same gold was priced at ₹1,64,400 per 10 grams.

Gold Price Today

According to Bullion.co.in, at around 6:30 am on Wednesday, 24-carat gold was priced at ₹1,63,430 per 10 grams, while 22-carat gold stood at ₹1,49,811 per 10 grams.

Gold has gained more than 3.18% over the past week, highlighting the strong upward trend despite Wednesday’s slight decline.

Chennai Records Highest Gold Price

Among major Indian cities, Chennai recorded the highest gold prices on Wednesday. The price of 24-carat gold stood at ₹1,63,610 per 10 grams, while 22-carat gold was priced at ₹1,49,976 per 10 grams.

In Delhi, 24-carat gold was available at ₹1,62,850 per 10 grams, while 22-carat gold stood at ₹1,49,279 per 10 grams.

Silver Prices Also Decline

Silver prices also witnessed a decline. According to data from the All India Sarafa Association, silver prices fell by ₹3,500 per kilogram on Tuesday to ₹2,50,000 per kg, compared with ₹2,53,500 per kg in the previous session.

On Wednesday, 999 fine silver was priced at ₹2,45,540 per kg, while 925 sterling silver stood at ₹2,27,125 per kg. Despite the recent correction, 999 fine silver has gained 3.24% over the past week.

Silver Rates Across Major Cities

On Wednesday, silver was priced at ₹2,44,670 per kg in Delhi, ₹2,45,090 in Mumbai, ₹2,45,810 in Chennai and ₹2,45,290 in Bengaluru.

Overall, while gold and silver prices have eased slightly in the retail market, both precious metals continue to remain on a strong upward trend compared with levels seen a week ago.

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A sudden and devastating flood struck Nepal’s mountainous region on Wednesday after floodwaters surged into the Bhotekoshi River, reportedly originating from the Tibetan side of the Nepal-China border. The disaster has caused widespread destruction in several areas, damaging homes, roads, bridges and power infrastructure.

At least 16 people have died so far in the flash floods and landslides in Nepal’s Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading districts, while several others remain missing. Reports suggest that 105 Indian nationals are among those reported missing. Authorities fear that the death toll could rise as rescue teams continue their operations in affected areas.

The Rasuwa district, located along the Nepal-China border, has been particularly badly affected. Severe flooding and landslides have damaged houses, roads and other infrastructure, while several villages have reportedly been swept away by the powerful flow of water.

The disaster has also left hundreds of Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims stranded in the Rasuwagadhi area. Around 390 pilgrims, including 93 Nepali nationals, were scheduled to cross into China on Wednesday. According to Basu Kumar Adhikari, Managing Director of Touch Kailash Travels and Tours in Kathmandu, only a few pilgrims could be contacted by around 3 pm, while there was no reliable information about many others.

Rescue and relief operations are underway, but communication remains disrupted in several affected areas, making it difficult for authorities to establish the exact number of missing people and assess the full extent of the damage.

The situation has also triggered concern in neighbouring India, particularly in Bihar, where authorities have issued alerts over the possible impact of the rising water levels. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has personally spoken with Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary to review the state’s preparedness and the situation arising from the floods.

Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu has issued emergency helpline numbers to assist Indian nationals affected by the disaster. Indian citizens requiring assistance can contact +977 985 131 6807 or +977 970 910 7500.

With rescue operations continuing and several people still unaccounted for, authorities remain on high alert across the affected regions.

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Women passengers across several cities in Odisha will be able to travel free on Ama Bus services on August 27, 2026, on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. The initiative has been announced by the Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) as part of its commitment to safe, convenient and affordable public transportation for women.

The free travel facility will be available on all Ama Bus services operating in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Berhampur and Keonjhar. CRUT expects more than one lakh women passengers to benefit from the initiative in a single day.

The move aims to ensure that women can travel safely and comfortably without the burden of fares. It is also aligned with the state government’s broader focus on women’s empowerment and is expected to complement initiatives aimed at strengthening women’s social and economic participation.

Ama Bus services are equipped with GPS-based tracking, CCTV surveillance, trained staff, passenger assistance systems and technology-driven operations. CRUT said these measures have helped strengthen the safety and reliability of urban public transport.

CRUT has also appealed to citizens to choose public transport during the festival. Greater use of buses can help reduce traffic congestion, control pollution and contribute to a cleaner urban environment.

Women travelling under the free-travel facility will be required to obtain a Zero Ticket during their journey. CRUT has urged passengers to cooperate with bus staff and follow passenger etiquette to ensure a smooth and comfortable travel experience.

The initiative is expected to provide women passengers with a safe, reliable and hassle-free travel experience across all cities where Ama Bus services are operational.

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