Sonakshi Sarkar

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Hyderabad-based Kaashyap Cleantech Innovations Pvt Ltd to commercialise a technology that converts greenhouse gases into bio-methanol, a clean liquid fuel with industrial applications. The partnership aims to take a research-driven innovation from the laboratory to large-scale commercial production. Developed by researchers at IIT-Guwahati, the technology uses chemoautotrophic bacteria to convert methane and carbon dioxide — two major greenhouse gases — into bio-methanol through a biological process. According to the institute, the technology offers an alternative to conventional methanol production methods, which generally require high energy…

A Delhi court has issued a notice to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on a plea seeking registration of an FIR over his alleged remarks concerning “Miya Muslims”, bringing the matter back under judicial scrutiny. Additional Sessions Judge Sonu Agnihotri issued the notice while hearing a revision petition filed by activist Harsh Mander. The petition challenges an earlier order passed by a magistrate court on April 20, which had declined to direct the police to register an FIR against the Assam Chief Minister. The case relates to remarks allegedly made by Sarma during a public event held in Digboi…

BJP president Nitin Nabin has described the passage of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill in the Assam Legislative Assembly as a “historic” decision and said the legislation would help strengthen equal rights and a uniform civil system in the country. Reacting to the development, Nabin said the Bharatiya Janata Party has always followed the principle of “justice for all and appeasement of none” and maintained that the new law reflects the party’s long-standing commitment towards equal justice. “The passage of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill in the Assam Legislative Assembly is a significant step towards equal rights and…

Assam has recorded the first confirmed sighting of the bent-toed gecko species Cyrtodactylus bapme at Urpad Beel, adding another important discovery to the state’s growing biodiversity records. The finding has drawn attention from researchers and conservationists, who said the presence of the species reflects the ecological richness of Assam’s wetlands and forest ecosystems. They noted that such habitats continue to support several rare and lesser-known species despite increasing environmental challenges. The gecko was documented at Urpad Beel, a wetland area known for its ecological importance and diverse wildlife population. The wetland has long served as a habitat for various aquatic…

Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday reiterated the Assam government’s commitment to provide government jobs to two lakh youths, while also stressing the need to build a strong culture of entrepreneurship and expand economic opportunities for women across the state. Speaking during the third day of the Assam Assembly session on May 26, the chief minister said the employment promise made during the elections remained a key responsibility of his government and a commitment he personally continued to remember. “People today may or may not remind me of it, but at this sacred moment of taking responsibility as Chief Minister, I…

Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said the Assam government aims to raise the daily wages of tea garden workers to Rs 450 during its tenure, while stressing that the target would depend on the growth and strengthening of the state’s tea industry.Speaking during the third day of the Assam Assembly session on May 26, the chief minister said the government had already increased tea garden workers’ wages to nearly Rs 300 and now wanted to take the next step through broader economic reforms and industry expansion.“For the first time, we have raised the wages of tea garden workers to nearly…

Fuel prices continued to rise across the country after the Assembly elections, with petrol in Assam’s Guwahati crossing the Rs 100 mark and touching Rs 105 per litre, while diesel climbed to Rs 97.23 per litre. According to available figures, this is the fourth fuel price increase in the last 10 days. During this period, petrol prices have increased by Rs 2.72 per litre, while diesel prices have gone up by Rs 2.84 per litre. The continued rise in fuel costs has added to public concern over inflation and increasing household expenses. Many residents have expressed frustration over the growing…

The Gauhati High Court is scheduled to hear the bail plea of Shyamkanu Mahanta on Monday in connection with the widely discussed Zubeen Garg death case, as legal proceedings in the matter enter a crucial stage. The hearing, which comes up for the third time before the court, is expected to play an important role in deciding Mahanta’s immediate legal future. The case has drawn significant public attention across Assam over the past few weeks, with both the defence and the prosecution placing detailed submissions before the court. The matter was earlier heard on May 15 and May 22 in…