Times Business Awards Odisha 2026, an initiative of Optimal Media Solutions, a division of The Times of India, brought together an impressive mix of business leaders, entrepreneurs and policy makers. The evening reflected the momentum of a state steadily emerging as a hub of enterprise, innovation and industrial progress.Chief guest Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, in his keynote address, highlighted Odisha’s transformation from a resource-driven economy to a knowledge-driven and manufacturing-based growth engine. He emphasized that entrepreneurs and wealth creators are at the center of building a self-reliant India. Referring to India’s growing economy, he underlined the role of digital infrastructure, innovation and young workforce in driving growth. Describing Odisha as a land of ‘possibilities and positivity’, he pointed to its mineral power, connectivity and talent pool and positioned it as a key pillar in the Purvodaya vision.

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The evening also saw strong participation from industry voices highlighting collaboration, MSME growth and sustainability while recognizing the individuals and organizations shaping Odisha’s growing business ecosystem.This spirit of cooperation and leadership extends to all sectors, with each sector making a unique contribution to the development of the state.

Entrepreneur, Professional and Leadership

At the heart of Odisha’s growth story are individuals whose leadership continues to inspire enterprise and innovation.

food and agriculture sector

Manufacturing, Industrial and Core Sectors

The industrial backbone of Odisha is growing with organizations enhancing scale, efficiency and global competitiveness.

Education and Institutional Excellence

Education remains the cornerstone of Odisha’s development, with institutions focusing on holistic and future-ready education.

Real estate and infrastructure

Odisha’s urban transformation is being shaped by developers and infrastructure leaders focused on quality, sustainability and long-term value creation.

Logistics, Technology and Emerging Innovations

Innovation based enterprises are playing a vital role in building the future ready economy of Odisha.

Retail, lifestyle and consumer brands

Odisha’s consumer landscape is evolving with brands that combine heritage, design and modern retail experiences.

Hospitality, Media and Services

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The services sector reflects Odisha’s growing aspirations in lifestyle, tourism and cultural identity.

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The awards are based on a structured, objective research process where participants submit factual data on performance and achievements, which is evaluated through a merit-based framework.Comment:The survey was conducted by an independent agency, and the publication takes no responsibility for the results. Readers are advised to exercise discretion.Disclaimer: The above content is non-editorial, and TIL disclaims any and all warranties, express or implied, related to it, and does not guarantee, endorse, or necessarily endorse any content.

When? Neha Dhupia And Angad Bedi Married in an intimate Gurudwara ceremony in 2018, it took many by surprise. The couple had never accepted their relationship publicly, so the sudden marriage soon became a topic of discussion. Just six months later, the arrival of their daughter Mehr sparked widespread curiosity about the timeline of their relationship. Now, the couple has opened up about their journey and how a long-standing friendship and an unexpected pregnancy brought them together.During a conversation on Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiyaa’s podcast, Angad revealed that his feelings for Neha were one-sided for years. He said, “I was chasing Neha for 8 years. I was chasing her all the time, but she never said yes, she was too busy.”He also recalled the moment when he first noticed her. “When I saw her for the first time, I thought she was so beautiful. She was running on the treadmill and I was standing behind, just watching and thinking, what an amazing form. I fell in love with her running form. I thought, she’s an athlete.”At that time, Neha was deeply focused on her career and was not actively looking for a relationship. “I thought I had to get up, exercise, go to work — my whole focus was on work. It wasn’t that I wanted to only focus on work, but if I met someone interesting along the way, that was OK,” she shared.Angad also tried to bridge the gap by collaborating professionally. “She asked me to do a film with her and said there would be no narration, just show. I went. I spent time with her on the set, but her mother was also there. I spent a lot of time with her mother. I thought, if her mother is so good, she must be good too,” he said.Despite his efforts, she struggles to get his attention. “There were 5-6 interesting people around her. I wasn’t even in her peripheral vision,” Angad admitted, adding that even his parents were supportive. “I went to his parents and they said, ‘We’re OK, ask him.’ But he kept me aside for years.What ultimately changed everything was their pregnancy, which both describe as a turning point in their story. Neha said, “I want to say that thank God we got pregnant, it is a blessing that brought the love story.” “Otherwise, you keep looking here and there. The love you’re looking for is right next to you, but we always look away. He was right next to me the whole time.”She further added, “It was our daughter who brought us together because we were pregnant, we were doing this. The whole universe came together first for her, then for me, then for us.”Angad lightened the mood by cracking a joke about his place in her life and said, “I am in the top five in her priority list – first kids, then work, then parents, then home, then me.” Neha replied smilingly, “Priority one is family, priority two is work and me.”In a separate conversation with Peeping Moon, Neha addressed the speculations directly. “Let me set the record straight, yes, I was pregnant before marriage so it’s okay.” Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, he also recalled how the news surprised even his close friends. “It was just chaos at the time, I was pregnant.” She revealed that while she could not invite Soha Ali Khan At the wedding, the actor was among the first to know about her pregnancy.Recalling that period, Neha admitted that her relationship with Angad was still new. “You’re like that… not married, you barely dated that guy. This information, no matter how unconventional or conservative you are, is easier to share with your friends, and friends who just had a baby, than it is to tell your parents. It’s harder to get.”

A Ukrainian drone strike caused a “massive fire” at Russia’s Tuapse oil refinery on the Black Sea, Russian officials said Tuesday, forcing the evacuation of nearby buildings.Refinery, owned by RosneftAccording to industry sources, operations were suspended from April 16 following the first drone attack. It mainly supplies oil products for export.Reuters reported that Ukraine had no immediate comment on the latest attack. Kiev has stepped up attacks inside Russia since March as US-brokered talks over the war in Ukraine stalled and Washington focused primarily on the Iran conflict.Veniamin Kondratiev, governor of Russia’s Krasnodar region, said the latest attack caused a massive fire at the facility.“Another serious incident has occurred in Tuapse. A massive fire broke out at an oil refinery after a drone attack,” Kondratiev said on Telegram.The Tuapse refinery is one of Russia’s major Black Sea energy facilities and has been targeted in drone strikes before.The head of the Tuapse district, Sergei Boyko, ordered the evacuation of roads around the refinery due to fears the fire could spread to surrounding areas.Officials did not immediately provide casualties or details on the scale of damage beyond the fire. Emergency services were deployed to control the fire.The refinery and the nearby Tuapse port have faced repeated attacks in recent months. An earlier attack caused oil to spill into the sea and cause a fire that took several days to extinguish.Last week, local residents were advised to stay indoors, keep windows closed and wipe down surfaces as byproducts of the previous fire mixed with rainwater, leaving a “black layer” in areas near the terminal, local officials said.The Kremlin said measures were being taken in response to the latest attack. According to Reuters, Kremlin officials said the necessary measures were being taken following the Ukrainian drone attack on the refinery.The Tuapse refinery has an annual production capacity of approximately 12 million metric tons or 240,000 barrels per day. It produces naphtha, diesel, fuel oil and vacuum gasoil.Its Black Sea location makes it strategically important for Russian fuel exports.

In 2008, a diamond mining operation near Oranjemund, Namibia resulted in the discovery of an important piece of history when the wreck of the Portuguese merchant ship Bom Jesus, lost at sea in 1533, was found after being buried under layers of sand and water for more than 500 years. The discovery allows archaeologists to view the wreck as a time capsule of the era of Discovery, with the ship’s contents almost perfectly preserved, thanks to the ship’s cargo of copper ingots, which provided protection to the ship from marine degradation. The discovery of Bom Jesus has opened up many new opportunities to study the global trade routes of the 16th century, as well as the shipbuilding techniques of the time and the dangers faced by early explorers during their journeys through the dangerous Atlantic Ocean.

Gold, ivory and cannons: 500-year-old shipwreck discovered in desert sands

According to a report bymariner’s mirror‘, On March 7, 1533, Bom Jesus departed from Lisbon en route to the Indian subcontinent with trade goods that were taken on board. Historical analysis by archaeologists and historians indicates that the ship capsized during a severe storm, which caused waves to wash towards the coast of Namibia and then collided with a reef. Since most human remains have not been found, it is believed that some crew members survived the initial sinking, but the ship and its valuable cargo remained buried beneath the sands of the Skeleton Coast for nearly 500 years.

How a poisonous cargo preserved history

During the excavation of the wreck, experts found more than 40 tons of material – including an incredible variety of artefacts that had largely escaped cleanup because they were located in an area previously protected from diamond mining. The shipment included thousands of gold and silver coins, bronze cannons, navigational astrolabes and several hundred pieces of ivory, according to a report, ‘The Mariner’s Mirror’. Another interesting thing about these objects is that they were found in a well-preserved state (including organic material) due to the biocidal properties of copper wares, which prevented marine organisms from eating the organic remains of sunken ships.

What do ivory and copper indicate? early global trade

Among some of the most important maritime archaeological discoveries found in Southern Africa, copper ingots (about 17 tons) bear the trident of the Fugger family of Augsburg, Germany, and are evidence that Renaissance Europe traded extensively with sub-Saharan Africa. The ivory that was also found has given scientists important information about the historical population of West African forest elephants and how early global trade affected the environment.

Kritika Kamra takes a completely different avatar in its latest series, Matka King. Playing a Parsi woman from 1960s South Mumbai, she says the role required a subtle and thoughtful approach. The actress, who recently tied the knot with Gaurav Kapoor, said, “I am not a Mumbai girl. I really had to understand the culture and tradition (of the Parsi community). I wanted the character to have a bit of decency and restraint in the way she conducts herself, in her voice.”Kritika credits her decision to take up the show to its producer, Nagraj Manjule. “When I found out that Nagraj Manjule was making a series, I thought it would be a great opportunity for me to be a part of it.” She further adds that Manjule’s previous work, Fandry, had a deep impact on her. “I’d been a fan of his work even before Sairat; I had seen his film Fandry in Maami. I discovered him when I was educating myself about cinema. At the time, the film really spoke to me; it had a lasting impact on me. Years later, when Sairat came out, it was a gut-wrenching shock, and I knew it was the same director.“His decision to move away from television at the peak of his career remains a matter of curiosity for many. Describing her mindset, she says, “I’m an unsettler. I’m not in a hurry. I don’t think this is going to be my peak, so I should make the most of it and then retire. I don’t have any fear or insecurity of missing out on getting a part.”The actress adds, “From a very young age, I knew that acting is what I want to do for the rest of my life. It’s a marathon – if you try to climb too fast, the higher the risk of falling. You have to wake up every day and commit to it again and again, especially if you really care about the art. That’s why I stepped away from television. It’s been a decade since I left – it gave me freedom and identity, but now what I’m doing is It is close, it just took time to make it. Some of my shows made me popular really quickly. Being famous, making good money and having security is nice, but it wasn’t motivating me. Creatively, it was no longer attractive. I work more for recognition than fame.”Author: Renuka.Vyavahare@timesofindia.com