State PCS - Odisha (OPSC)

• 19 Mar 2026

Kusunpur Set to Become Odisha’s First Smart Village

Why in News? 

Kusunpur village in Kendrapada district of Odisha is set to become the state’s first smart village under a mission‑mode initiative launched by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), marking a major step toward technology‑driven and sustainable rural development.  

Key Points: 

• Project Launch: CSIR, under the Ministry of Science and Technology, initiated the smart village project for Kusunpur, aligning with the broader vision of a “Viksit Bharat @ 2047”. 
• Vision & Objective: The project aims to bring modern technologies and scientific solutions to rural life, improving quality of life and supporting sustainable, resilient village development. 
• Implementation: The initiative includes collaboration between CSIR research institutions, local administration, and implementation partners to introduce practical solutions. 
• Infrastructure Development: Planned interventions include climate‑resilient buildings, community toilets, and comprehensive village planning through CSIR‑CBRI support. 
• Mission Mode Approach: Multiple CSIR research institutions collaborate to implement practical, scalable solutions across various sectors. 
  • CSIR‑Central Building Research Institute (CBRI), Roorkee 
  • CSIR‑Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (IMMT), Bhubaneswar 
  • CSIR‑Central Electronics Engineering Research Institute (CEERI) 
  • CSIR‑National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST) 
  • CSIR‑Structural Engineering Research Centre (SERC) 
  • CSIR‑Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI) 
• Rural Empowerment: The project is expected to enhance self‑reliance, sustainable agriculture practices, and quality of life, potentially serving as a model for other rural areas in the state and across India. 

Read More: CSIR, Viksit Bharat @ 2047 

15th Century Odisha Rulers’ Inscriptions Found in Guntur Temple

Why in News? 

A 15th-century inscription linked to the Gajapati rulers of Odisha has been discovered on a stone pillar at the Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple in Ramachandrapura Agraharam, Guntur, highlighting strong historical ties between Odisha and the Andhra region during the late medieval period. 

Key Points: 

• Discovery of Inscriptions: The inscriptions were found in a temple complex in Guntur district. 
• Link to Odisha Rulers: The inscriptions are associated with the Gajapati dynasty of Odisha. 
  • The Gajapati rulers were powerful kings who controlled large parts of eastern and southern India during the medieval period 
• The Rulers: The inscriptions are attributed to the reign of Gajapati Kapilendra Deva (the founder of the Gajapati dynasty) and his son Purushottama Deva. 
• Language & Script: The inscriptions are carved in Medieval Odia and Telugu scripts, reflecting the linguistic synthesis of the region during that era. 
• Content: One inscription records the grant of land and villages to the Malleswara Swamy Temple for its daily rituals and maintenance. 
  • The second inscription details a remission of taxes for the local weaving community (Kaikala) and merchants, a common administrative practice to ensure loyalty in newly conquered territories. 
• Date: The epigraphs are dated to the Saka Era, corresponding to the mid-to-late 15th century (approx. 1460–1480 CE). 
• Significance:Confirms that Odisha rulers had political control over parts of present-day Andhra Pradesh. 
• Cultural Exchange:Use of multiple scripts (Telugu and Odia) shows linguistic and cultural interaction