Odisha

Odisha, previously known as Orissa, is an Indian state situated in the country's eastern region. It is the eighth-largest state in total land area and the eleventh-largest in terms of population. The state contains the third biggest number of Scheduled Tribes in India, according to the United Nations Development Programme. West Bengal and Jharkhand are its northern neighbours, while Chhattisgarh is its western neighbour, and Andhra Pradesh is its southern neighbour. In addition to its shoreline along the Bay of Bengal, Odisha has a coastline of 485 kilometres (301 miles) in length. According to local legend, the location is known as Utkala, and it is referenced in India's national hymn, "Jana Gana Mana." Odia is the official language of Odisha, and it is considered to be one of India's Classical Languages.

The ancient kingdom of Kalinga, which was conquered by the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka (and later reclaimed by King Kharavela) in 261 BCE, culminating in the Kalinga War, overlaps with the boundaries of modern-day Odisha. The Kalinga War was fought between the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka and King Kharavela. Orissa Province, consisting of the Odia-speaking districts of Bihar and Orissa Province, was founded on 1 April 1936 by the British Indian administration, delineating the contemporary borders of Odisha in the process. Utkala Dibasa is commemorated on the first of April every year. Cuttack was established as the regional capital by Anantavarman Chodaganga in around 1135, and the city continued to serve as the region's capital under a variety of kings until the establishment of the British Empire in 1948. Later that, Bhubaneswar was declared as the state capital.

Odisha's economy is the 16th-largest state economy in India, with a gross domestic product of 5.33 trillion (US$70 billion) and a per capita GDP of 116,614 (US$1,500). According to the Human Development Index, Odisha ranks 32nd among Indian states.