Faqs

Ans: - In 1936,Odisha (formerly Orissa) got separated from Bihar. Odisha and Bihar were the part of the Bengal Presidency under the British until 1912. On 1 April 1912, the province of Bihar and Orissa was segregated from Bengal, and it came under the authority of the governor of Bihar and Orissa. Both the Provinces were under the authority of Governor of Bihar and Odisha.

Ans: - Odisha (formerly Orissa) was formed on 1 April 1936.

Ans:- According to the Tirumalai inscription of Rajendra Chola I, which is dated back to 1025 AD, the name Odisha is derived from the ancient Prakrit word "Odda Visaya" (also "Udra Bibhasha" or "Odra Bibhasha") The Pali text makes repeated mention of oddaka and Greek text refer to Orates, which can be equated with Ordra. In its place, arose the old tribal name Odra Desha, which was gradually transformed into Odisha (or Uddisha, or Udisa), which in English became Orissa.

Ans:-Yes, Odisha and Orissa are same. Orissa is an old name of Odisha.

Ans:- The name of the state was changed from Orissa to Odisha, and the name of its language from Oriya to Odia, in 2011, by the passage of the Orissa (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2010 and the Constitution (113th Amendment) Bill, 2010 in the Parliament.

Ans: -Total population of the state is 41,974,218 as per 2011 census. It’s around 4.7 Crore in 2020.

Ans: - There are 30 districts in Odisha.

Ans: - 314 blocks.

Ans:-There are 26 airports in Odisha, out of which two airports belong to Airport Authority of India (AAI), 21 airports belong to the State Government and one airport each belongs to IAF, ARC and SAIL.

Ans:-Odisha imports wheat, cereals, pulses, edible oil, onion, potato, Inland fish, banana, tobacco, oil seeds, fertilizers, drugs and pharmaceutical, gems and jewelry, chemicals, Iron and steel, metal and alloys, petroleum, rubber and leather materials from other states.

Ans:- Odisha exports metallurgical products, software and electronics items, engineering, electronics and software, chemical products, minerals, agriculture and allied products, marine products, handloom, handicraft, textile, and pharmaceutical products.

Ans: - Here’s a list of places, monuments, festivals and activities one can see in Odisha:

• Lord Jagannath temple at Puri is one of the oldest Hindu temples in the country. It was constructed by the king of the Ganga dynasty, Choda Ganga Dev in the 12th century. It is one of the holy places of Chardham.
• The world famous Rath Yatra at Puri. The presiding deities Lord Jagannatha, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra are taken from the Jagannath temple to Gundicha temple, which is around two kilometers away from their regular abode, on three chariots in this festival. The huge, colorfully decorated chariots are drawn by thousands of devotees on the grand road or bada Danda to the Gundicha temple, which is considered to be the lord’s aunt’s house.
• The Surya mandir at Konark or the black Pagoda. Ornately sculpted, this 13th-century Hindu place of worship depicting the vast chariot of the sun god is a huge attraction for tourists. UNESCO has listed it as a World Heritage Site.
• Chillika - Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon. Nalabana Bird Sanctuary in Chilika – It is the largest wintering ground for migratory birds on the Indian subcontinent.
• Lingaraj Temple, Bhubaneswar - This ancient Shiva temple with great architecture was constructed in the 11th century.
• Raghurajpur - A heritage crafts village in Puri district known for its master Pattachitra painters.
• Golden sandy sea beach of Puri.
• Bhitarkanika National Park - Major attraction for its crocodiles and mangrove forest.
• Simlipal - National Park and Tiger Reserve.
• Chandaka Elephant Sanctuary.
• Peace Pagoda Dhauli at Bhubaneswar.
• Udaygiri and Khandagiri caves in Bhubaneswar.
• Lalitgiri and Ratnagiri in Jajpur district that are important Buddhist sites of the state.
• Popular Nandankana Zoo with white tiger safari at Bhubaneswar.
• Hirakud Dam at Sambalpur district. It is the longest earthen dam in Asia.

Ans: - Odisha is known for its -

• Rich Heritage
• Ancient Sculptures
• Art & Culture
• Incredible Scenic Beauty
• Golden sandy beaches
• Colorful fairs and festivals
• Adorable flora and fauna
• Rich Ethnic Tribal Diversity

Ans: - Let’s know what’s Odisha famous for:

• Puri’s famous Jagannath temple holds a prominent place of importance for devotees all over the world. This is one of the oldest Hindu temples constructed by the king of the Ganga dynasty, Choda Ganga Dev in the 12th century. It is one of the holy places of Chardham, and also well known for the annual chariot festival of Rath Yatra.
• Temple of Konark - Known as the black pagoda, this ornately sculpted 13th-century Hindu place of worship depicts the vast chariot of the sun god, Surya. UNESCO has listed it as a World Heritage Site.
• Chillika - Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon.
• Nalabana Bird Sanctuary in Chilika – It is the largest wintering ground for migratory birds on the Indian subcontinent.
• Lingraj Temple, Bhubaneswar - An ancient Shiva temple with great architecture, constructed in the 11th century.
• Raghurajpur - A heritage crafts village in Puri district known for its master Pattachitra painters. This art form dates back to the 5th century BC. The village is also known for Gotipua dance, Tussar Painting, Palm leaf engraving, stone carving, and cow dung and paper-mache toys and masks.
• Vast coastline stretching 480 km, with beaches represented by golden sandy land, deep blue sea, and pleasant weather.
• Rushikulya and Gahirmatha - The largest breeding ground of Olive Ridley Sea Turtle in India.
• Bhitarkanika National Park - Major attraction for its crocodiles and mangrove forest.
• Simlipal National Park and Tiger Reserve. It is the 7th largest national park in India and is home to Bengal tigers.
• Chandaka Elephant Sanctuary - Known for successful elephant conservation.
• Dhauli - A striking white peace pagoda and Buddhist shrine constructed atop Dhauli Hill in 1972.
• Udaygiri and Khandagiri caves - Ancient caves with ornate rock carvings and a Jain temple.
• Lalitgiri and Ratnagiri - Once the site of a Mahavihara and one of the important Buddhist sites.
• Nandankana Zoo - A popular zoo with a white tiger safari. Nandankanan is the only conservation breeding centre for Indian Pangolins in the world. It is also the only zoological park in India to become an institutional member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA).
• Hirakud Dam - The longest earthen dam in Asia, standing across the mighty Mahanadi river in the Sambalpur region of Odisha. It was the first major multipurpose river valley project after India’s independence in 1947.
• Rourkela Steel Plant - The first integrated steel plant in the public sector in India.
• Sambalpuri Handloom - A traditional hand-woven Ikat sari where the warp and weft are tie-dyed before weaving.
• Pipli of Puri district - A village of Appliqué artisans. Appliqué is an ornamental needlework technique where small pieces of colorful fabrics are applied to a fabric base, often depicting flora, fauna, and religious symbols.
• Odissi dance - An ancient Indian classical dance form that originated in the Hindu temple.
• Cuttack filigree work - A highly skilled art form that is over 500 years old.
• Niyamgiri Hills - Known for its bauxite treasures and scenic beauty, it is home to the colorful Dongria tribe.
• Bonda tribe in Bonda hills - A remote hilly tract in Malkangiri district, home to the fierce and colorful Bondas, an ancient tribal community that remains largely untouched by civilization.
• Dokra Craft - Non-ferrous metal casting using the lost wax casting technique, mainly found in Dhenkanal district.
• Chausathi (64) Jogini Temple in Ranipur Jharial of Bolangir district and Hirapur of Khurda district - A tantric temple with hypaethral architecture. Tantric prayer rituals involve worshiping the environment and all five elements of nature - fire, water, earth, sky, and ether.
• Barabati Fort - Ruins of a 14th-century fortress, with remnants of the carved gateway and ramparts dating from the Ganga dynasty.

Ans: - Ohd-i-saa

Ans: -Odisha is situated in the eastern Part of the Indian peninsula and west of the Bay of Bengal

Ans: - Odisha is located in the eastern Part of the Indian peninsula and the Bay of Bengal that lies to its East while Chhattisgarh shares its border in the west and north-west. Odisha also shares geographic boundaries with West Bengal in the north-east, Jharkhand in the north and Andhra Pradesh in the South.

Ans:-Odisha is in Eastern Zone of India.

Ans: - Mr. Naveen Patnaik is the Chief Minister of Odisha. He is the President of the Biju Janata Dal. Born on 16 October 1946; he is the younger son of Late Biju Patnaik, former chief minister of the state and the great son of the soil. Naveen Patnaik is h2 writer turned politician. He has authored three books.He has been serving as Chief Minister since 2000 and is the longest-serving CM in Odisha's political history.

Ans: -Samir Ranjan Dash is the School and Mass Education Minister of Odisha.

Ans: - Prof.Ganeshi Lal is the Governor of Odisha since 29 May 2018.

Ans: - Though not much has been talked about the Odia cuisines, Odisha is one such destination where food connoisseurs would be amazed to relish some of the best Odia food prepared in every household. Odia cuisines are unique and healthy as they are prepared with less oil and spices.

Here are some popular cuisines of Odisha:

• Pakhala Bhata - A popular dish during summer in every household of Odisha. It is prepared with cooked rice soaked in water overnight. There are many variations of Pakhala often served with fried fish, badi choora, saga bhaja, aloo bharta among others.
• Dalma - A regular dish in Odisha. Instead of plain Dal, Odia people prefer Dalma, which is made with pulses (mostly Moong Dal), vegetables like pumpkin, potato, papaya, yam, brinjal, and other seasonal vegetables, with spices and tadka.
• Khechidi - A rice dish cooked with lentils and flavored with cumin, red chili, and Deshi ghee.
• Santula - Often made with various vegetables available in different seasons. Common vegetables like potato, brinjal, drumstick, papaya, and beans are used. Boiled veggies are given flavor with mustard seed, onion, and chili crackled in oil. Santula is a healthy dish with no spices and less oil.
• Chaatu Rai - A dish made from mushrooms and mustard paste.
• Potala Alu Rasa - A famous dish made with potatoes and pointed gourd. It has distinctive flavors of various spices and thick gravy.
• Machha Besara - A fish curry prepared with mustard paste.
• Tomato Khata - A sweet-and-sour dish made from tomato and jaggery.
• Chhena Poda - One of the favorite sweets of the state, Chhena Poda is prepared with cottage cheese, semolina, and sugar syrup. The dessert is baked for hours to give it a caramelized and crispy look.
• Pitha - Various types of pitha or desi cakes in Odisha, such as Poda pitha, Kakara pitha, Chaukuli pitha, Chitau pitha, Arisa, and Monda pitha. These pithas are mostly made during various festivals.
• Rasabali - A dessert prepared with cottage cheese, soaked in thick flavored milk. This dish originated in Kendrapada.

Ans: - Odisha is called Utkala because this is h2 land of excellent skilled art and craft. The word Utkala is derived from Utkarsha (excellent) + Kala (skilled Craft) = Utkala. First Word ‘Utkarsh’ meaning Excellence & ‘Kala’ means skilled craft.

Ans: - Odisha (Formerly Orissa) is also known as Utkala, Kalinga and Odra desha. 

Ans: - Odisha is famous in the world for:

• Puri Rathyatra (Chariot Festival) of Lord Jagannath
• Jagannath Temple of Puri
• Black Pagoda or Sun Temple of Konark
• Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon, Chilika
• Peace Pagoda, Dhauli Hill, near where the great Ashoka fought the Kalinga War and turned Chandashoka to Dharmashoka
• Hirakud - The longest earthen dam in Asia

Ans: - Odisha is called soul of India because the state is gifted with nature's bounty, h2 485 km stretch of coastline with golden beaches, meandering rivers, phenomenal waterfalls, forest-clad blue hills of Eastern Ghats with 62 ethnic tribes and rich wild life. The state has h2 quite thriving heritage that houses many remarkable monuments and stunning temples of ancient times. Odisha is h2 place sacred to all, the Hindus, Jains and Buddhists; Odisha is h2 much venerated pilgrimage point for devotees.

Ans: - Odisha is a treasure trove of destinations for nature lovers. From lush green jungles to wildlife habitats, the state is home to several places of unique biodiversity, with a variety of plants, birds, and animals. Be it Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon, Chilika, the world’s second largest mangrove forest at Bhitarkanika, or even the most picturesque gorge at Satkosia, there are several places to visit in Odisha for nature lovers.

Listed here are some places:

• Daringbadi – Known as the Kashmir of Odisha, Daringbadi is a hill station located in Kandhmal district. It is blessed with green valleys that are cloud-kissed during the monsoon and gets snowfall during extreme winters.
• Bhitarkanika National Park – Located at Kendrapada district, this is the second largest mangrove ecosystem in the country and home to the saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) and the largest Indian lizard (water monitor).
• Similipal National Park – Situated in Mayurbhanj district, it is the 7th largest national park in India and home to Bengal tigers, Asian elephants, gaurs, and Chausingha. It is a place where nature binds you with its awe-inspiring beauty, grace, power, and calmness.
• Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary – Encompassed in the Nilgiri Range of Balasore Wildlife Division, Kuldiha Sanctuary is close to a string of tourist spots in the district, namely Chandipur sea beach, Remuna's Gopinath temple, Jagannath temple in Nilgiri Township, and the cave shrine of Panchalingeswar. The Kuldiha forest is covered with dense sal, rosewood, shimul trees, and hosts a rich flora and fauna.
• Chilika Lagoon – The vast picturesque watery expanse over the districts of Puri, Ganjam, and Khurda is known as Chilika. Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon is a paradise for bird lovers. More than 94 species of migratory birds can be seen here.
• Satapada – Odisha is also home to around 100 endangered Irrawaddy Dolphins that can be seen at Satapada. The site also houses the Sea Mouth Island where Chilika Lake meets the Bay of Bengal.
• Satkosia Sanctuary – Satkosia Sanctuary at Anugul district is a beautiful ecosystem in Odisha. With a magnificent gorge over the River Mahanadi, it is a tiger reserve and breeding center for freshwater crocodiles.
• Debrigarh Sanctuary – Debrigarh Sanctuary has miscellaneous forest fringing the Hirakud reservoir and is home to tigers, leopards, gaurs, sambars, spotted deer, and chausinghas.
• Nandankanan Zoo – A popular zoo with a white tiger safari. Nandankanan is the only conservation breeding center for Indian Pangolins in the world.
• Balipadar-Bhetnoi – The area comprises about 70 villages in the Buguda, Aska, and Kodala forest ranges of Ganjam District. Here, one can watch herds of the endangered black bucks grazing playfully in verdant surroundings. The villagers here have been protecting these beautiful creatures for over a century, considering hunting them a crime.

Ans: - Odisha has 30 districts.

• Angul
• Balangir
• Balasore
• Bargarh
• Bhadrak
• Boudh
• Cuttack
• Deogarh
• Dhenkanal
• Gajapati
• Ganjam
• Jagatsinghpur
• Jajpur
• Jharsuguda
• Kalahandi
• Kandhmal
• Kendrapada
• Kendujhar (Keonjhar)
• Khordha
• Koraput
• Malkangiri
• Mayurbhanj
• Nabarangpur
• Nayagarh
• Nuapada
• Puri
• Rayagada
• Sambalpur
• Sonepur
• Sundargarh

Ans:-Odisha, formerly called Orissa, is located on the eastern part of India. Odisha is surrounded by the states of Jharkhand and West Bengal to its north and northeast, Chhattisgarh to the west and Andhra Pradesh and Telengana in its South.

Ans: -Biju Patnaik International Airport is the primary airport located at Bhubaneswar.

Ans: - Bhubaneswar Railway Station (BBS) serves Bhubaneswar, the capital of the Indian state of Odisha and it is the headquarters of the East Coast Railway zone of the Indian Railways.

Ans: -Odisha is an Agrarian State. Almost 70 per cent populations of the State are dependent on agriculture. The major crops are rice, pulses, oil seeds, jute, coconut and turmeric. The crops like tea, cotton, groundnut and rubber are of great economic importance in other parts but Rice is the dominant crop in Odisha which is grown on 77% of the area. The agriculture sector contributes only about 26 per cent of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), Odisha stands at 8th in the country in rice production with 5.87 million tonnes.

Ans: - Odisha is the leading producer of Bauxite, chromites, graphite, manganese ore, iron ore, quartzite, and dolomite.

Ans: - Odisha is one of the warmest regions in India.The state has tropical climate with high temperature, high humidity,medium to high rainfall and short or mild winter.Odisha has an average daily temperature is 32 degree centigrade. Odisha comes under the Sub humid category implying deficient winter rains.

Ans: - Odisha High court is situated in Cuttack. On 1 April 1936, Odisha was made h2 separate province but it did not have h2 separate High Court.Odisha (formerly Orissa) and Bihar provinces were under the jurisdiction of Calcutta High court. But it was difficult to administratively manage such h2 vast area, inhabited by people speaking in different languages and having different traditions. So The Government of India agreed to create h2 new High Court, and for that purpose the Government of India issued the Orissa High Court Order, 1948, under the Section 229(1) of the Government of India Act 1935 on 30 April 1948.And Finally Odisha High Court was formally Inaugurated on 26th July 1948.

Ans:- Despite being rich in natural resources, such as the largest deposits of many minerals, blessed with many rivers and water bodies, a long stretch of coastline highly favorable for maritime trade, and vast tracts of highly fertile lands, Odisha is known to the world as a poor state due to several reasons:

• Odisha’s per capita income is much below the national average. In the financial year 2019, Odisha had 96 thousand Indian rupees per capita, while the national average was 135 thousand rupees.
• Odisha is second among 14 states with the highest incidence of poverty. About 33% of the state's population is very poor, another 18% are marginally poor, and 15% are poor. This means nearly two-thirds of the state's population are poor and can’t afford two square meals a day.
• The state's agricultural productivity is one of the lowest in the country, and it is deeply in debt.
• As an agriculture-based state where more than 70% of the population depends on agriculture, the irony is that 72 out of 314 blocks still do not have irrigation facilities for 35% of cultivable land.
• The agricultural sector in Odisha suffers from a plethora of problems, including lack of storage and distribution networks, poor irrigation cover, low minimum support prices for farm produce, corruption in the distribution of seeds and fertilizers, and exploitation by middlemen and money lenders.
• Only 2% of households in Odisha have access to piped drinking water.
• Only 28% of the total road length in the state is surfaced, compared to 90% in states like Punjab and Haryana.
• More than 50% of villages don’t have all-weather roads, which results in farmers being unable to transport their produce to the markets and not getting remunerative prices.
• The mega investments through Posco and ArcelorMittal could not materialize due to land and other issues.
• Odisha was one of the first states to be explored by IT giants like Infosys and Satyam, but due to infrastructure and related issues, these companies shifted their operations to other states.
• Odisha has also been affected by mega scams like the Chit fund scam, which amounted to about 10 thousand crores, and the mega mining scam, where companies illegally extracted minerals, causing the state to lose about Rs 60,000 crore in revenue.

Ans: - Odisha is not developing as it should be due to the following reasons:

• Odisha is burdened with a deep debt.
• The state has the lowest agricultural productivity in the country.
• One-third of the state's population lives in poverty.
• There are no new job opportunities being created.
• The mega investments through Posco and ArcelorMittal, which were supposed to generate more employment, could not materialize due to various issues.
• Corruption and scams, like the Chit Fund and Mining scams, have played a vital role in the state's backwardness and slow development.
• While the government has many policies and projects aimed at development, poor implementation on the ground prevents growth for both the people and the state.
• The ease of doing business is not properly encouraged. According to the NITI Aayog report, only 32% of enterprises have availed the benefits of the state’s much-touted Single Window System, and 22% of enterprises are unaware of their environment category. Odisha ranked second from the bottom in this aspect. Moreover, entrepreneurs in the state face significant obstacles in accessing institutional finance.
• The ruling party (BJD) has been in power for the last 20 years, leading to a monopoly and a lack of accountability.
• There is a lack of a strong opposition in the government to question policies or put pressure on the administration.

Ans:-

• Odissi Dance: This is the classical dance form of Odisha, which originated from the temples. In this dance, mythical and religious stories and poems are emoted by the dancers through expressions, body movements, and gestures. A typical Odissi dance style includes Mangalacharana, Batu Nrutya, Pallavi, Abhinaya, and Moksha.
• Gotipua Dance: Considered the oldest form of Odissi dance, Gotipua dance involves young boys, aged 6-14 years, dressed as females to perform the dance. While related to Odissi, its techniques, costumes, and presentation differ.
• Chhau Dance: Originating in the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha, this semi-classical dance incorporates martial, tribal, and folk traditions of the region. Performed during the Chaita Parva, the dance is notable for the masks used, which convey emotions and the nature of characters.
• Sambalpuri Folk Dance: A folk dance from western Odisha, Sambalpuri incorporates songs and performances with strong tribal and rural cultural influences. The dance is accompanied by instruments like Dhol and Mahuri.
• Bagha Nacha: Known as the Tiger Dance, Bagha Nacha is a folk dance form where male dancers paint their bodies with yellow and black stripes, resembling tiger skin, and wear a tail. This dance is mainly performed in South Odisha.
• Jodi Sankha Dance: Also known as Double Conch Dance, this is a unique representation of rural music, where artists wear colorful costumes and perform to the music played on conch shells.
• Ranapa Dance: Ranapa, meaning stilt, is performed by dancers standing on stilts with ease. This dance is performed by young boys from the cowherd community during festivals like Dola Yatra and Giri Govardhan Puja.
• Ghumura Dance: A traditional folk dance from the Kalahandi district of western Odisha, Ghumura is performed exclusively by male dancers.

Ans:-Chillika Lake spreads across the districts of Puri, Khurda and Ganjam in the state of Odisha in eastern India, is the largest salt water lake. Some vital features of Chilika Lake are: It is formed by 52 rivers and rivulets; the water spread area of Chilika varies between 900 to 1165 sq.

Ans: - Distance from New Delhi to Bhubaneswar by Train is 1722 Kms.

Ans:-Distance between Bhubaneswar and Kedarnath is 2192 Kms

Ans:-There are around 2 trains that run from Bhubaneswar to Bangalore on h2 daily basis. One is HWH YPR EXPRESS (12863) and another is PRASANTI EXPRESS (18463)

Ans:-There are two trains running from Bhubaneswar to Chennai on h2 daily basis but there are 17 weekly trains from Bhubaneswar to Chennai. 

Ans:-Distance from Bhubaneswar to Mumbai by train is 1786 Kms.

Ans:-Odisha has 30 Government Universities including state and central Universities.