Maruti Suzuki India Limited has commenced commercial production at its fourth plant in Hansalpur, Gujarat. This new facility has an annual capacity of 250,000 units, bringing the total capacity of the Hansalpur site to 1 million units and the company's overall national capacity to 2.9 million units. The plant will initially focus on producing the e-Vitara electric vehicle. Separately, due to flood situations in Odisha, schools in Bhadrak district are closed, and devotee entry is restricted at Dhabaleswar shrine. https://sambad.in/india-and-beyond/maruti-suzuki-begins-production-at-fourth-unit-in-hansalpur-12213606

Due to the possibility of heavy rain caused by a low-pressure system, the District Collector of Jagatsinghpur has declared a holiday for all schools and Anganwadis tomorrow. This order applies to all government, private, higher secondary schools, OAVs, and Kendriya Vidyalayas. The decision was taken as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of students. https://otvkhabar.in/odisha/jagatsinghpur-declares-school-holiday-tomorrow-due-to-heavy-rainfall-and-low-pressure-weather-conditions-12199366

Leading jewelry brand Tanishq has launched Diamond Expertise Centres (DXC) at three stores in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack to provide a transparent diamond buying experience. Customers can benefit from expert guidance and modern evaluation tools for natural diamonds. The brand also introduced various collections like 'Srotika', inspired by Odisha's heritage. Under the 'Festival of Diamonds', Tanishq is offering a 20% discount on diamond value and zero deduction on old gold exchange until September 3rd. https://sambad.in/business/tanishq-diamond-expertise-centers-launch-bhubaneswar-cuttack-odisha-12215221

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is launching a pilot project to introduce plastic (polymer) notes in India. Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary announced in Lok Sabha that 100 crore notes of Rs 10 and Rs 20 denominations, valued at Rs 3,000 crore, will be printed. Five cities—Bhubaneswar, Kochi, Mysore, Jaipur, and Shimla—have been selected for field trials to test durability across different climates. Polymer notes are water-resistant and more durable than paper ones. The government clarified there is no plan to replace existing paper currency entirely. https://argusnews.in/national/rbi-to-print-3000-crore-plastic-notes-bhubaneswar-trial

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a low-pressure area is likely to form over the Bay of Bengal around August 9 or 10. Rainfall is expected to increase in Odisha from August 2, with heavy rains predicted in South Odisha. A cyclonic circulation is also anticipated between August 6 and 12, potentially intensifying into a low-pressure system. Residents are advised to stay indoors during lightning and avoid unnecessary travel. https://odishasambad.in/odisha-weather-update-rainfall-to-increase-from-august-2-low-pressure-area-likely-on-august-9/

The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has stayed a show-cause notice issued by AIIMS Bhubaneswar to Professor Debasish Hota, HOD of Pharmacology. Dr. Hota alleged harassment by the management because he had filed a case in the High Court regarding the appointment of a permanent director. The notice was issued regarding a one-day leave taken by him. The CAT has granted the respondents three weeks to file a response and scheduled the next hearing for August 31. https://sambad.in/metro/aiims-bhubaneswar-professor-debashish-hota-cat-stay-show-cause-notice-12214111

Exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen returned to Kolkata after 19 years on Friday. She was forced to leave the city in 2007 following protests against her controversial book 'Dwikhandito'. Currently residing in Delhi, the 63-year-old author expressed her happiness upon landing at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport. She is scheduled to attend an anti-fundamentalism event at Rabindra Sadan. Her visit has sparked political debate, with TMC and BJP leaders expressing conflicting views. https://sambad.in/india-and-beyond/taslima-nasreen-returns-to-kolkata-19-years-after-she-was-forced-to-leave-12216156

A tragic double death has occurred in Sagarpali village, Jharsuguda district. A 26-year-old youth named Sunil Patania died after being bitten by a poisonous snake while sleeping. In a shocking turn of events, while the family was performing Sunil's last rites at the cremation ground, his 75-year-old uncle, Indrajit Patania, collapsed and died. Indrajit was reportedly a kidney patient. The twin tragedies in a single day have left the entire village in a state of mourning. https://sambad.in/state/youth-dies-of-snakebite-uncle-collapses-during-last-rites-in-jharsuguda-family-mourns-two-deaths-in-a-day-12209963

A farmer named Sandeep Chaudhary from Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, sold four 'Miyazaki' mangoes, known as the world's most expensive variety, for approximately 2 lakh rupees. The deal was initially set for 3.5 lakh rupees, but Sandeep gave a discount of 1.39 lakh rupees as the buyer wanted them for his mother. Sandeep has about 40 such trees in his orchard, and this success comes after three years of hard work, despite initial mockery from others regarding the high price of these mangoes. https://www.samayalive.in/feature/%E0%AD%AA-%E0%AC%9F%E0%AC%BF-%E0%AC%86%E0%AC%AE%E0%AD%8D%E0%AC%AC%E0%AC%B0-%E0%AC%AE%E0%AD%82%E0%AC%B2%E0%AD%8D%E0%AD%9F-%E0%AD%A8%E0%AC%B2%E0%AC%95%E0%AD%8D%E0%AC%B7/article-37875

The article details the spiritual significance and rewards of witnessing Lord Jagannath's Ratha Yatra as described in scriptures like Skanda Purana and Niladri Mahodaya. It explains that seeing the deities on their chariots, especially during the return journey (Bahuda Yatra), leads to salvation and Vaikuntha. Walking to see the chariots yields the merit of an Ashvamedha Yagna at every step. Additionally, visiting the deities on the Adapa Mandapa is equivalent to a thousand Vajapeya Yagnas, offering liberation from the cycle of rebirth. https://sambad.in/special/life-mantra-the-benefits-of-seeing-the-rath-yatra-12213857