2.The Centre Thursday assured the Supreme Court that it will neither denotify waqf properties, including ‘waqf by user’, nor make any appointments to the Central Waqf Council and waqf boards till May 5.

3.Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Ganeshram Singhkhuntia Thursday announced that steps are being taken to grant Similipal the status of a National Park soon.

4.Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Naveen Patnaik Thursday filed his nomination papers for the post of BJD president for the ninth time here. The former CM was the sole candidate for the post.

5.Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari Thursday laid the foundation stones for 17 projects and inaugurated two others worth `4,173 crore in the state, and said Odisha will soon get America-like highways.

6.In a major relief, the Supreme Court Thursday extended till December 31 the services of terminated West Bengal teachers found 'untainted' by the CBI.

7.Maharashtra government has decided that Hindi as a third language will be mandatory for students in classes 1 to 5 in Marathi and English-medium schools across the state, in a departure from the practice of studying two languages.

8.Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar Thursday questioned the judiciary setting a timeline for the President to take decisions and act as a ‘super Parliament’, saying the Supreme Court cannot fire a ‘nuclear missile’ at democratic forces.

9.Padma Shri awardee and internationally acclaimed sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik met President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan Wednesday, her office confirmed Thursday.

10.The Olive Ridley turtle, tagged at Wheelers Island in Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary on Odisha coast March 18, 2021, has swam around 3,600 km through the Bay of Bengal to lay eggs in Guhagar beach in Maharashtra, prompting experts to emphasise the need for an elaborate scientific study of their migration behaviour.

11.A major milestone in the Khurda Road–Bolangir New Rail Line project has been achieved with the successful breakthrough (daylighting) of the 4,185-metre-long Tunnel T-4 between Adenigarh and Charichhak stations in Boudh district Wednesday.

12. Over 1,000 kg of gold articles offered to 21 temples across Tamil Nadu by devotees but lying unused were melted and converted into 24-carat bars and deposited in banks. This investment of gold bars is fetching it an annual interest of Rs 17.81 crore, the government said Thursday.

13.Tamil Nadu Minister for Tamil Development, Information and Publicity, MP Saminathan, has announced that a statue of the revered Tamil poet, philosopher, and saint Thiruvalluvar will be installed at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi at an estimated cost of Rs 50 lakh.

14.The Madras High Court Thursday directed the Tamil Nadu police to file a case against state Forest Minister K Ponmudy, following his recent controversial remarks and warned of contempt if they failed to do so.

15. In a recently-filed chargesheet in the Associated Journals Limited-Young Indian-National Herald money-laundering case, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has sought confiscation of assets worth Rs661 crore that it has attached during the course of the investigation, according to official sources.