Blog - The Purbottar

23 Oct

Paytm taps Kolkata Metro network to expand digital ticketing ahead of Durga Puja

Business BureauBusiness

Paytm has partnered with Kolkata Metro to introduce mobile QR ticket booking on its app ahead of Durga Puja 2026, targeting increased demand for convenient public transport during the festive season. The service will allow passengers to book journeys between any two metro stations, receive QR tickets on their mobile phones and scan them directly at entry gates, reducing the need to queue at ticket counters. One 97 Communications Limited, which operates Paytm, has secured exclusive mobile ticketing rights for at least one year under the partnership. Kolkata Metro will promote the service through its official communication channels, while Paytm…

23 Oct

BHIM Payments App brings instant NPS account opening to eligible users

Business BureauBusiness

NPCI BHIM Services Limited (NBSL), a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has launched Tatkal NPS on the BHIM Payments App, enabling eligible Indian citizens to open National Pension System (NPS) accounts through a three-step digital process without visiting a branch or submitting fresh paperwork. Announced on October 14, 2026, the facility, introduced by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), uses existing bank-verified KYC details to simplify onboarding. Users need to enter their date of birth, select an eligible bank account and make their first contribution through UPI. The service is currently available…

23 Oct

Indian Private Sector Output Expands for 63rd Month as Cost Pressures Ease

nanika EditorBusiness

India’s private sector activity experienced a robust acceleration in October, expanding at its fastest pace in four months driven by a noticeable recovery in new business demand and stronger momentum across services output. According to the latest HSBC Flash India Composite Output Index, which measures combined activity across both the manufacturing and services sectors, the private sector output index climbed to 56.7 in October from 55.9 in September. This marked the strongest growth reading recorded since June, continuing an impressive streak where the overall composite index has stayed above the critical 50-point expansion threshold for 63 consecutive months. A breakdown…

22 Oct

Sonia Gandhi on Instagram

barnalighosh EditorIndia

For the first time, senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has made her debut on the popular social media platform Instagram. On Thursday, right after opening her Instagram account, the leader revealed the first look of her much-awaited autobiography 'Belonging: A Journey of Love'. Within just a few minutes of opening the account, more than four and a half thousand people started following Sonia Gandhi. So far, she has followed only three accounts, which include her son Rahul Gandhi, daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and the official page of the Congress party. In her first published post, Sonia Gandhi wrote, "Hello everyone,…

22 Oct

Indian High Commissioner Assures Visa Simplification during Courtesy Meeting with IMCAB

Business CorrespondentBusiness, Featured

Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi gave assurance regarding the simplification of visa processing procedure in a courtesy meeting with Indian Media Correspondents' Association, Bangladesh (IMCAB). This courtesy visit took place today, 22 October, Thursday at 11:30 AM in the conference hall of the High Commission, Baridhara. A delegation of ten members attended this meeting headed by the president of IMCAB Shaheen Chowdhury and general secretary Masum Billah.As a result of the discussion raised in the meeting, High Commissioner informed that they are considering the difficulties of getting Indian visas with some special initiatives so that patients can easily get visas.…

22 Oct

Asthma, Flu, and Winter Health: How Preventive Care Makes All the Difference

sunny EditorHealth

For individuals managing asthma, the flu frequently transcends a few days of routine fatigue and fever by triggering intensified breathlessness, chronic coughing, and severe attacks that can demand hospitalization or emergency intervention, highlighting why preventing respiratory infections remains central to keeping asthma stable throughout the year. Despite affecting millions throughout India, asthma remains largely under-diagnosed, with the Indian Global Asthma Network study indicating that nearly 82% of people with current wheeze and roughly 70% of those displaying severe symptoms had never received an official diagnosis, causing many to live unaware of their underlying condition or protective measures for years. Individuals…

20 Oct

Only 12 Plants Found: Rare Shrub’s Rediscovery Highlights Urgent Conservation Need

Preeti SinghAssam

A rare flowering shrub believed to have vanished from Indian botanical records for over two centuries has been rediscovered in Assam's Bongaigaon district, marking a significant milestone for botanical research in the state. Assam Forest and Climate Change Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah announced that the species, Ardisia colorata, was rediscovered in the Abhayapuri area by Gauhati University researchers Manash Baruah and Nilakshee Devi during extensive botanical surveys conducted across Assam between 2020 and 2025. According to the minister, the finding represents the first confirmed record of the species in India in nearly 204 years. The shrub was originally described in…

18 Oct

Assam’s Dhubri Residents Jailed in Rangpur: Police Claim Illegal Entry, Defence Alleges BSF Pushback

Preeti SinghAssam, Bangladesh

A court in Bangladesh has ordered the imprisonment of two Indian nationals who were injured in alleged firing by the Border Security Force (BSF), after rejecting their bail petitions in a case related to illegal entry into Bangladesh. The order was issued on October 15 by Judge Rafiqul Islam of Rangpur Metropolitan Chief Judicial Magistrate Court-2. The accused have been identified as Ismail Hossain (35) and Khaja Abdul Alim Mondal (39), both residents of Dhubri district in Assam, India. According to the police complaint, authorities received information on October 4 that two injured Indian nationals were undergoing treatment at a…

18 Oct

Assam Govt Remains Alert on Borders: CM Claims 30 Infiltrators Prevented, No Details Disclosed

Preeti SinghAssam

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday claimed that Assam Police had identified and prevented 30 suspected illegal infiltrators from entering India. In a post on social media platform X, the Chief Minister praised the state's security vigilance and credited the police for intercepting the individuals. Referring to Goddess Durga, Sarma wrote, “Mahishasur Mardini at the borders. With the blessings of Maa Durga, 30 illegal infiltrators have been identified by Assam Police and prevented from entering Bharat with their nefarious intentions.” He further stated that security agencies remain vigilant at the state's borders at all times. “Each day, each…

18 Oct

Kahilipara police nab Two Bike Lifters within 2 hours using GPS tracking

barnalighosh EditorAssam

Two notorious bike thieves have been caught by Kahilipara Police. The arrested have been identified as Saddam Hussain and Sahjamal Sheikh, who were held along with the stolen bike. According to police, the duo stole a Royal Enfield Hunter (Reg No. AS 01 GQ 0839) from Kanaklata Path in Kahilipara at around 4:30 am on Friday. After the theft, police tracked the bike's GPS location showing it moving towards Goalpara and immediately alerted Dhupdhara Police. At around 6:30 am, while the thieves were on the move, police intercepted them and caught one thief along with the stolen bike. The other…