In a major revelation, Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) flagged serious irregularities in advertisement spending by the Odisha government on private television channels during the BJD-led government, on Wednesday.

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The report highlights that the Information and Public Relations (I&PR) department delayed implementing Central Bureau of Communication (CBC) rates while allocating ads, resulting in an excess expenditure of Rs 12.11 crore from the state exchequer.

This overspending occurred despite a standing policy from 1998, which mandates that all ads be issued as per CBC-approved rates. Interestingly, the CAG found that during financial years 2018–19 and 2020–21, a total of Rs 74.37 crore was

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