Bhubaneswar, Sept. 25 -- Twenty-four minor girls staying in government-run tribal school hostels in Odisha became pregnant during the last two academic years, with 15 cases reported in 2025-26, school and mass education minister Nityananda Gond told the state Assembly on Friday.

Replying to a question by Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati, Gond said nine cases were reported in 2024-25 and 15 in 2025-26. Of the nine cases reported in 2024-25, three were from Rayagada and one each from Balasore, Debagarh, Keonjhar, Koraput, Malkangiri and Mayurbhanj.

In 2025-26, Kandhamal reported the highest number of cases at five, followed by Koraput with four. Debagarh, Keonjhar, Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj, Rayagada and Sundargarh reported one case each,...