The Orissa Government on Monday has launched e-Registration of land records. The era of e-governance entered into the state, the state government introduced the online registration of land records, it is in the interest of the people. Now the hassle-free sale and purchase of land through e-governance in the state is possible.

The Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has inaugurated the e-Registration project in the capital on Monday. e-Registration activities will be carried by the E-Governance Services Ltd, which is jointly formed by Orissa Computer Application Centre and Industrial Development Corporation. The e-registration of lands records will help the people to adopt easy way of registering their land records through online and e-governance. However, the stamp vendors of the state are reportedly opposing the project.

The Common Admissions Test (CAT) re-test is to be held on January 30 & 31, 2010. Due to the software glitches in the exam system around 2000 students could not appear the CAT exam. Now they can appear the CAT re-test. The results of the CAT re-test may be declared in the month of February 2010.

The exam conductor of the phase 11 CAT re-exam is likely to intimate the selected students to appear the re-examination. It is expected that the selected students may get the details about the exam by January 10, 2010. From November 28 to December 8, 2009, the first phase of the CAT exam was conducted across India. CAT scoring the essential for the management aspirants, good score in the CAT exam will decide their admission into various reputed management institutes.

The Central Empowered Committee (CEC), appointed by Supreme Court of India, has asked the state government the details about all the 602 mines. The Orissa government is to submit the details about all the mines to CEC by February 15, 2010. PV Jayakrishnan is heading the CEC.

According to media reports, the state government said that out of the total 602 mines in the state, 274 are in operation and closed mines number are 139. And 189 have applied for renewal of the mining leases in the state. Mining laws violations were reported in the state, which could the major reason for the directive from the CEC.

The Government of India has asked Posco India Pvt Ltd, the arm of South Korean Steel maker to apply fresh application for setting up SEZ in Orissa. The Posco project has been held up since 2005, the year it signed MoU with the Orissa State government.

Due to protest by local people, Posco India has been problem in acquiring around 4,000 acres of land. Posco is scheduled to set up 12 million-tonnes project with Special Economic Zone status in Orissa. On Wednesday, Posco India Pvt Ltd is asked to file Form A - afresh application for setting up the 12 mtpa plant in Orissa.

The Orissa Government has decided to implement UGC pay-scale for university and government college faculties. This decision was taken in a cabinet meeting chaired by the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday evening.

The cabinet has also approved to set up 2,631 new schools and upgrade 5,616 others schools. The state government plans to recruit 17,820 teachers (sikhya sahayakas) for the schools. The Chief Secretary T N Mishra briefed media about decisions were taken in the cabinet meeting.

After the cabinet’s approval, the 5,567 lecturers, readers and profession working in the government universities and colleges will get their revised pay as per the Sixth Pay Commission. The cabinet has also decided to regularize the services of 326 nurses, those were appointed on Ad hoc basis. Besides, the cabinet has also approved to give government assistance to 167 madrasas.