Blog - The Purbottar

27 Apr

EY-HICA seeks GST cut on household insecticides to boost fight against mosquito-borne diseases

Business BureauBusiness

A joint report released by EY India and the Home Insect Control Association (HICA) has called for reducing the GST on household insecticide products from 18% to 5%, saying the move is crucial to improve affordability and strengthen India’s fight against mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue and chikungunya. The report, titled “GST Rationalization for Household Insecticides: A Public Health Imperative”, states that products such as liquid vapourisers, coils and aerosols play a key role in preventive healthcare, especially in areas where large-scale interventions like indoor spraying and bed nets face practical limitations. However, the current 18% GST has made…

27 Apr

Montra Electric expands EVIATOR range with two new electric truck variants

Business BureauBusiness

Montra Electric has expanded its electric small commercial vehicle (eSCV) portfolio with the launch of two new variants — EVIATOR 350 (32kWh) and EVIATOR 350L+ (50kWh) — aimed at strengthening its presence in India’s growing electric logistics segment. The company said the new models were developed using operational data gathered from over 600 EVIATOR vehicles that have collectively covered more than 65 lakh kilometres across different logistics applications. The EVIATOR 350 with a 32kWh battery has been designed for short-distance urban logistics and can handle daily runs of up to 140 km. Meanwhile, the EVIATOR 350L+ with a 50kWh battery…

27 Apr

PM Modi Predicts BJP Win, Vows to Attend Bengal Oath Ceremony

anuprova EditorWest Bengal

Addressing a massive "Vijay Sankalp" rally in Barrackpore on Monday, April 27, 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed absolute confidence in a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) victory in the ongoing West Bengal Assembly elections. Closing his campaign ahead of the second and final phase of polling on April 29, the Prime Minister declared that the "mood of Bengal" has clearly shifted in favor of change. "I am returning to Delhi with the faith that I will come to Bengal again to attend the BJP government's oath-taking ceremony after the results on May 4," he told the cheering crowd, signaling an…

27 Apr

Xiaomi launches first Mini LED TV Series in India, targets premium home entertainment segment

Business BureauBusiness

Xiaomi India has launched its first Mini LED television lineup in India with the introduction of the Xiaomi TV S Mini LED Series, marking the company’s entry into the premium large-screen home entertainment segment. The new series is powered by QD Mini-LED technology that combines Quantum Dot colour and Mini LED backlighting to deliver improved brightness, contrast, and colour accuracy. The televisions offer peak brightness of 1200 nits and support Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and Filmmaker Mode for enhanced cinematic viewing. The lineup also features 4K Ultra HD resolution, DLG 120Hz, MEMC, and Auto Low Latency Mode for smoother gaming and…

27 Apr

AP QueerStation Calls the Transgender Persons (Amendment) Bill 2026 “Exclusionary and Regressive”

nanika EditorArunachal Pradesh

The AP QueerStation has voiced strong opposition to the Transgender Persons (Amendment) Bill 2026, warning that the proposed legislation is already fostering an environment of discrimination and uncertainty for the transgender community in Arunachal Pradesh. During a recent meeting, members recounted distressing experiences at district administrative offices, where individuals reported being dismissed, humiliated, and denied essential services. These incidents, attributed to both the anticipated implementation of the bill and a pervasive lack of institutional sensitivity, have prompted the collective to explore legal avenues, including filing petitions in the High Court, with guidance from legal adviser Ebo Milli. The community’s critique…

27 Apr

Healthcare, Education, Bridge Projects to Get Boost During PM’s Sikkim Tour

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will begin a two-day visit to Sikkim on Monday as the Himalayan state prepares to hold the closing ceremony of its 50th Year of Statehood celebrations. The visit is expected to bring a major development push to the state, with projects worth more than Rs 4,000 crore set to be inaugurated, launched, or announced across multiple sectors. According to the official schedule released by the Prime Minister’s Office, Modi is expected to arrive in Gangtok at around 3 pm on April 27. During his visit, he is scheduled to take part in several programmes, including public…

27 Apr

NH Stretch Closed, Multi-Agency Security Deployed Ahead of Sikkim Statehood 50th Anniversary Celebrations

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

Tight security arrangements and temporary traffic restrictions have been put in place in Gangtok ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to Sikkim beginning Monday. According to officials, the Sikkim Police has imposed temporary traffic curbs in several parts of the state capital to ensure security during the Prime Minister’s movement. As part of the arrangements, a key stretch of the National Highway between Ganju Lama Dwar and Zero Point has been closed for vehicular movement for a limited period.Police officials said the nearly three-kilometre stretch will remain shut from 2:30 pm onwards on Monday to allow secure passage…

27 Apr

PEDIGREE ropes in cricketer Jemimah Rodrigues for new pet nutrition campaign

Business BureauBusiness

PEDIGREE has launched a new digital-first campaign in India featuring Indian cricketer Jemimah Rodrigues to promote its gravy-based dog food range as a complete everyday meal for pets. The campaign, announced by Mars Incorporated on April 25, focuses on encouraging pet parents to shift towards nutrition-led feeding choices for dogs. The campaign highlights PEDIGREE Gravy as a balanced meal option backed by research from the Waltham Petcare Science Institute. According to the company, the product offers complete nutrition and contains protein equivalent to eight chicken livers when fed as recommended. The campaign films use cricket-themed storytelling to showcase the bond…

27 Apr

Assam Police Bust Illegal Betting Den in Tinsukia, Cash Seized

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Assam Police have busted an alleged gambling racket operating from a house in Digboi town of Tinsukia district and arrested six people, including an employee of Indian Oil Corporation Limited, officials said. The operation was carried out by a police team under the supervision of Co-District Superintendent of Police Himangshu Gohain after officers received specific information about gambling activities allegedly taking place in the area. According to police sources, the raid was conducted at a house located in Lachit Nagar along the Digboi–Pengaree Road under the jurisdiction of Digboi Police Station. Investigators said the suspected gambling operation had reportedly been…

27 Apr

Tezpur Researcher Brings Global Honour to Assam with University Innovator Award

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Young scientist Dr Shekhar Suman Bora from Assam has brought international recognition to the state after receiving the prestigious ‘University Innovator Award’ at the 2026 Texas Innovation Conference & Awards held in the United States.The achievement has drawn praise from several quarters, including Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who described the recognition as a proud moment for both Assam and the country.In a message shared on social media on April 26, the Chief Minister congratulated Dr Bora and said the award reflected the growing role of Indian researchers and scientists in global scientific innovation. He said achievements like this…