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Padaraj Umakanta Nayak, headmaster of Government High School, Alipingal in Jagatsinghpur district, was among 48 teachers from across India who received the National Teachers’ Award 2026. President Droupadi Murmu presented the awards at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on Teachers’ Day.   Nayak was recognised for his contribution to school education and his innovative approach to teaching. His work includes the use of technology, experiential learning, STEM activities and other creative methods intended to make classroom education more engaging for students.   His recognition is particularly significant for Jagatsinghpur because his work is based at Government High School, Alipingal. More than two decades of service and efforts to improve rural education helped earn him recognition at the national level.   The National Teachers’ Award brings national attention to educational innovation taking place within Jagatsinghpur district. Nayak’s achievement can also serve as encouragement for teachers and students across the district to explore innovative approaches to teaching, science and learning.

Jagatsinghpur district is being considered for a new Greenfield University, with Odisha’s Higher Education Department initiating the land-identification process for the proposed institution. The development could significantly expand higher-education infrastructure in the district if the project progresses through subsequent stages.   The Jagatsinghpur district administration was reportedly asked to identify approximately 50 to 100 acres of suitable land within or close to the district headquarters. Identifying an appropriate site is an important early step before detailed planning, infrastructure development and establishment of the proposed university can proceed.   A university within Jagatsinghpur could provide students from the district and surrounding areas with greater access to higher education closer to home. Over the longer term, such an institution could also support academic activity, skill development, research and employment opportunities in the region.   The proposal is therefore an important development for Jagatsinghpur’s education sector, although the university remains at a planning stage rather than being an operational institution. Further government decisions, land finalisation and project implementation will determine how and when the proposed university takes shape.

The Jagatsinghpur district administration directed education officials to accelerate Mandatory Biometric Update camps for schoolchildren. The initiative is intended to ensure that eligible students complete required Aadhaar biometric updates without unnecessary delays.   Block Education Officers were asked to facilitate the process and improve coverage among students requiring updates. Conducting Aadhaar-related services through organised camps can make the process more accessible to children and their families, particularly those who may otherwise need to travel to separate enrolment or update centres.   Updated Aadhaar information can be important for students accessing various government-linked services. Accurate records may be required for scholarships, Direct Benefit Transfer schemes and other education or welfare programmes where Aadhaar-based verification is used.   By organising and accelerating these camps, the district administration aims to reduce difficulties faced by students whose biometric information requires updating. The initiative also demonstrates an effort to coordinate education administration and identity-document services at the district and block levels.

The proposed Rameswar–Paradip coastal highway moved forward after the National Highways Authority of India received strong bidder interest for different packages of the project. The approximately 160-kilometre access-controlled corridor is planned to improve road connectivity along Odisha’s coast, including the important Paradip region.   According to the published report, NHAI received 17 bids for packages of the coastal highway. The Konark–Paradip section attracted seven bids, reflecting significant interest from infrastructure companies in developing the corridor. The project is being progressed through separate packages as part of the tendering process.   For Jagatsinghpur district, improved connectivity to Paradip Port and surrounding industrial areas could be particularly important. A stronger road corridor can support passenger movement as well as transportation of goods between the port, industrial centres and other parts of Odisha.   The project could therefore become an important component of long-term infrastructure development around Paradip. As the bidding and project-development process progresses, the coastal highway is expected to remain significant for Jagatsinghpur because of the district’s major maritime, industrial and logistics activities.

A clean drinking water awareness programme was organised at Jaykrushna High School in Ibrisingh under Tirtol block of Jagatsinghpur district. The initiative was conducted by Radio Outreach 90.8 FM to educate students about the importance of consuming safe and clean drinking water, particularly during the monsoon season.   Around 150 students participated in the programme. The awareness session explained how contaminated drinking water can contribute to waterborne illnesses and why proper sanitation, safe water storage and personal hygiene are important for protecting individual and community health.   Students were encouraged to carry the information they learned back to their families and communities. Such school-based awareness programmes can help young people understand practical preventive measures and encourage healthier habits in households, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall when contamination risks may increase.   The programme represents a community-focused effort to improve public awareness in rural Jagatsinghpur. By involving students directly, the initiative sought to make information about safe drinking water and disease prevention more accessible while encouraging younger residents to participate in promoting healthier communities.