Blog - The Purbottar

27 Jan

Road Restoration Brings Relief to Residents and Businesses Following October 2023 Floods

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

Tourist movement to parts of North Sikkim has returned to near-normal levels following the reopening of the Toong–Naga Road, restoring a key road link that had remained disrupted for months after the devastating glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) of October 2023. The reopening has brought visible relief to local residents and businesses that depend heavily on tourism for their livelihood. Chairman of the Sikkim Welfare Commission, Nim Tshering Lepcha, said tourist traffic towards Lachung is now moving smoothly. According to him, around 400 tourist vehicles are travelling to the area daily. He said the road conditions have improved significantly, allowing…

27 Jan

Honda road safety campaign engages over 2,400 students in Guwahati

Business BureauBusiness

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) continued its nationwide road safety awareness drive with an interactive learning programme in Guwahati, engaging over 2,400 students from Army Public School. The initiative aimed to build awareness on responsible road behaviour and promote safe riding habits among young citizens. The programme focused on practical understanding of road safety through structured sessions covering traffic discipline, safe riding practices and the importance of awareness in daily commuting. Participants were encouraged to view road safety not just as a set of rules, but as a daily habit that impacts both personal and public well-being. Interactive formats,…

27 Jan

Kotak Mahindra Bank Q3FY26 profit rises 5% to Rs 4,924 crore on higher assets and deposits

Business BureauBusiness

Kotak Mahindra Bank on Friday reported a 5 per cent year-on-year rise in its consolidated net profit for the third quarter of FY26, helped by steady growth in advances, deposits and assets under management.The bank’s consolidated profit after tax (PAT) for the quarter ended December 31, 2025, stood at ₹4,924 crore, compared to ₹4,701 crore in the same period last year. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, profit increased by 10 per cent. The consolidated results include an estimated post-tax cost of ₹98 crore due to the new Labour Code. On a standalone basis, the bank posted a PAT of ₹3,446 crore…

27 Jan

India, EU Seal Landmark Deal, Strengthen Multipolar World Order

editorEconomy

India’s landmark free trade agreement with the European Union marks more than an economic milestone; it underscores the shift toward a truly multipolar global order. Together, India and the EU form one of the world’s largest economic partnerships, spanning nearly 2 billion people and accounting for about a quarter of global GDP.The deal completes a key gap in India’s foreign policy vision under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, positioning New Delhi to engage all major power centres on its own terms. While India already maintains strong ties with the US, Russia, Japan, ASEAN nations and Indo-Pacific partners, the EU — a…

27 Jan

Voluntary recall of 125cc Hybrid scooter models by Yamaha

Business BureauBusiness

India Yamaha Motor Pvt. Ltd. has announced a voluntary recall of 3,06,635 units of its 125cc hybrid scooter models to address a potential front brake-related issue, underscoring the company’s focus on customer safety. The recall covers scooters manufactured between May 2, 2024, and September 3, 2025, and is effective immediately. According to India Yamaha Motor Pvt. Ltd., the recall has been initiated after it was identified that, under certain operating conditions, the front brake caliper may exhibit limited function in select units. The issue affects the RayZR 125 Fi Hybrid and Fascino 125 Fi Hybrid models. Yamaha clarified that the…

27 Jan

Nuvoco Vistas launches Artiste Elite decorative concrete range for premium contemporary spaces

Business BureauBusiness

Nuvoco Vistas Corp. Ltd., one of India’s trusted building materials companies, on Thursday announced the launch of the Artiste Elite Collection, a premium addition to its Artiste Decorative Concrete portfolio. The new range has been developed to meet the needs of modern construction and landscaping projects, combining design appeal with technical precision. The Artiste Elite Collection introduces four contemporary, application-ready decorative concrete finishes. Designed with refined textures, modern patterns and natural colour palettes, the range is suitable for walkways, driveways, landscape areas, podiums and other premium outdoor and semi-outdoor spaces. The finishes are aimed at enhancing visual appeal while delivering…

27 Jan

India and the European Union are about to announce a historic trade agreement

Banasree SarkarNational

In an effort to strengthen their relationship amid concerns with the US, the European Union and India are about to announce a historic trade agreement following nearly 20 years of intermittent negotiations. The deal has been finalized, according to Rajesh Agarwal, India's Commerce Secretary. The statement is anticipated in Delhi, where European Council President António Luís Santos da Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are present. In response to economic and geopolitical pressure from the US, both the EU and India are looking to deepen their strategic and commercial connections with the rest of the globe. India…

27 Jan

Republic Day Row in Assam: BJP Questions Gaurav Gogoi’s Participation, Congress Calls Claims Baseless

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

The Assam unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday stepped up its political attack on state Congress president Gaurav Gogoi, alleging that he was not seen participating in Republic Day celebrations in the state. In a post on social media platform X, the BJP’s Assam unit claimed that Gogoi could not be “located” on one of the country’s most important national occasions. The party said that while there is no legal requirement for any political leader to take part in Republic Day events, the absence of the state Congress president on such a day raised questions. The BJP…

27 Jan

From Til Pitha to Black Rice Kheer: Northeast’s Traditional Cuisine Shines at Republic Day Celebrations

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Assam’s rich and time-honoured food traditions received national attention on January 26 as the state’s traditional cuisine took centre stage at the Republic Day high tea hosted by the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The special high tea, organised as part of the Republic Day celebrations, featured a carefully curated menu showcasing traditional dishes from across the Northeastern states. The menu drew culinary selections from Assam, Tripura, Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, with Assamese delicacies forming a major highlight of the Northeast food presentation. Several items closely linked to Assam’s harvest festival Magh Bihu were served, reflecting the state’s deep connection between food,…

25 Jan

Bollywood multiverse lights up Kapil Sharma’s stage in star-studded episode of The Great Indian Kapil Show Season 4

Business BureauBusiness

Comedy and Bollywood nostalgia came together in a big way on the latest episode of The Great Indian Kapil Show Season 4, as host Kapil Sharma delivered a laughter-packed night featuring multiple Bollywood icons and memorable pop-culture moments. The episode drew loud applause when a famous film dialogue about Khandala resurfaced, leading to a fresh comic exchange that quickly became the highlight of the show. The episode featured Sunil Grover portraying Aamir Khan and Salman Khan, while Krushna Abhishek brought Shah Rukh Khan and Govinda to life with his signature humour and dance moves. Kiku Sharda added to the chaos…