Sonakshi Sarkar

Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve has expanded market opportunities for local artisans by taking its Eco-Shop to major online platforms, a move aimed at connecting conservation efforts with sustainable livelihood opportunities for communities living around the protected area. The Eco-Shop, managed by the Kaziranga Staff Welfare Society, is now available on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) and Amazon, enabling handcrafted products made by local communities to reach customers across the country. Officials said the initiative is expected to strengthen economic opportunities for artisans and producer groups from villages located in the fringe areas of Kaziranga. According to an official statement,…

Guwahati Police have busted an alleged Indian Premier League (IPL) betting racket operating from the city and seized cash, jewellery, luxury vehicles, digital devices and property-related documents during a raid conducted on the night of the IPL final.The operation was carried out following extensive intelligence gathering by a specially constituted police team. According to officials, the team acted on specific inputs regarding illegal betting activities and conducted a raid while the IPL final match was underway. Addressing the media, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Shambhavi Mishra said the operation was led by the Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police and involved…

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced that the much-awaited expansion of the state cabinet will take place on June 5, with the swearing-in ceremony scheduled to be held in Guwahati. The announcement came a day after the Chief Minister met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. Sharing the update through social media, Sarma said that the list of ministers to be inducted into the cabinet has been finalised and approved. The cabinet expansion is expected to be a significant political development for the ruling BJP-led government ahead of the next phase of governance in the state. While…

Raijor Dal president and Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi criticised the Assam government for discontinuing subsidised ration items and demanded that Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma fulfil his election promise of providing free mustard oil to ration card holders across the state.Addressing the media, Gogoi said the government should immediately restore subsidised salt, sugar and lentils that were recently withdrawn and also begin distributing the free one litre mustard oil that was promised during the election campaign. He alleged that the Chief Minister had repeatedly assured people at public meetings that beneficiaries of the ration scheme would receive free mustard oil…

Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve recorded its highest-ever tourist footfall in 2025-26, welcoming 4.68 lakh visitors during the financial year, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Thursday. The UNESCO World Heritage Site registered an increase of more than 15 per cent compared to the previous year, when 4.06 lakh tourists visited the park. The chief minister described 2025-26 as the "best year on record" for Kaziranga and said the growth reflected Assam's continued focus on wildlife conservation and tourism development. "Tourist footfall rose to 4.68 lakh, up from 4.06 lakh the previous year. A decade ago, the…

The Tamranga and Konora Beels in Assam's Bongaigaon district are steadily gaining recognition as one of Lower Assam's emerging nature tourism destinations, attracting visitors with their scenic beauty, rich biodiversity and peaceful environment. Located between Ghilaguri and Bishnupur in Jogighopa, the two wetlands lie close to each other and form a unique ecosystem connected to the Brahmaputra River. The wetlands support a wide variety of aquatic species, wildlife and birds, making the area an important ecological zone as well as a popular recreational spot. Nature lovers, birdwatchers and photographers are increasingly visiting the beels to experience the region's natural charm.…

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…