Blog - The Purbottar

18 Jul

Indian Racing League makes history with first-ever driver draft for 2025 season

Business BureauBusiness

The Indian Racing Festival 2025 roared to life with a historic milestone — the Indian Racing League (IRL) conducted its first-ever official Driver Draft at Taj Lands End, Mumbai, unveiling a full lineup of 24 drivers across six city-based franchises. The event brought together franchise owners, motorsport executives, and media to mark a transformative moment in Indian motorsport, promising a more inclusive, data-driven, and competitive season ahead. Each team selected a diverse quartet comprising an international ace, a domestic Indian talent, an emerging Indian-origin or global racer, and a female driver. Notable inclusions include Neel Jani, Jon Lancaster, and Raoul…

18 Jul

Himanta Biswa Sarma blames Rahul Gandhi for Goalpara violence

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday strongly blamed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for inciting unrest that led to violent clashes between alleged encroachers and security personnel in the Paikan Reserve Forest area of Goalpara district. The confrontation resulted in the death of one person and left 21 police and forest officials injured. The Chief Minister, in a sharply worded statement posted on his official X handle (formerly Twitter), alleged that Rahul Gandhi’s recent statements during his Assam visit had directly encouraged encroachment on government forest land. “Rahul Gandhi came to Assam and openly encouraged encroachers to occupy forest…

18 Jul

Honda India Foundation launches ‘Project Buniyaad’ in Sikkim to empower youth through hospitality training

Business BureauBusiness

On the occasion of World Youth Skills Day, Honda India Foundation (HIF) launched its flagship CSR initiative, Project Buniyaad, in Sikkim through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the Directorate of Craftsmanship Training & Scheme (DCTSE), Skill Development Department (SDD), Government of Sikkim. The MoU was formalized at Chintan Bhawan, Gangtok, in the presence of Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang and senior officials from HIF and the state government. The initiative, part of the World Bank-supported Sikkim INSPIRES Program, aims to provide structured, industry-aligned training in the hospitality sector, complete with certification and job placement. Targeted especially at youth…

18 Jul

Bangladesh Breaks Ground on Asia’s Largest Solar-Cooling Data Center

Mohini BarmanBangladesh

Bangladesh has begun construction of what will be Asia’s largest solar-cooled data center in Mymensingh, in partnership with Chinese and German firms. The center will house servers for government e-services, banks, and telecom providers, and will run on 80% solar energy. The $220 million facility is also designed to be flood-resilient and climate adaptive. Officials say it will create over 1,500 skilled IT jobs, offering a digital infrastructure boost to the entire South Asian region. This project aligns with India’s own push toward sustainable data parks in Kerala and Gujarat, promoting cross-border green tech diplomacy.

18 Jul

London Introduces ‘Green Heat Zones’ to Combat Rising Urban Temperatures

Mohini BarmanInternational

The London Mayor’s Office has launched a “Green Heat Zone” pilot in five boroughs to combat the rising urban heat island effect. The plan includes planting 250,000 trees, installing cooling pavements, and expanding green rooftops. Data from the Met Office shows that inner London now experiences up to 6°C higher temperatures than nearby rural zones. Vulnerable residents, including the elderly, will also receive cooling kits and subsidies on AC units powered by renewable energy. South Asian cities like Delhi and Dhaka, facing similar heat stress, are closely monitoring this climate-resilient model for adaptation in densely populated zones.

17 Jul

Tech Mahindra Q1 results: Consolidated net profit upgrade 34% y-o-y to ₹1,141 crore; revenue up 2.7%

editorBusiness, News

Tech Mahindra on Wednesday, July 16 announced that its consolidated net profit rose 34% y-o-y to ₹1,140.6 crore in Q1 FY26 from ₹851.5 crore in the same period last year. The Pune-based company's operating revenue stood at ₹13,351 crore in the quarter under review, up 2.7% y-o-y to ₹11,263.7 crore from ₹13,005 crore in the June quarter of FY25. In Q1 FY26, Tech Mahindra generated revenues of ₹11,263.7 crore from its IT segment, up 3.55% from ₹10,878 crore in the same period last year. However, revenues from its business process services (BPS) declined 1.88% to ₹2,087.5 crore from ₹2,127.5 crore…

17 Jul

Bandhan AMC marks 25 years of transforming savers into investors

Business BureauBusiness

Bandhan AMC Limited, one of India’s leading asset management companies, has completed 25 years in the mutual fund industry, celebrating its journey from ANZ Grindlays to its current identity through a music-led film titled “Raju Bhaiya Ki Kahani.” The animated film traces the relatable story of a common man’s evolution from a cautious saver to a confident investor, echoing the experiences of millions of Indians. Reflecting on the milestone, Vishal Kapoor, CEO of Bandhan AMC, said, “From our inception to becoming Bandhan AMC, our journey has been guided by a commitment to financial inclusion, innovation, and investor empowerment. As we…

17 Jul

Dibrugarh DC holds Independence Day preparatory meet, stresses cleanliness and participation

editorAssam

On July 16, in the District Commissioner's conference room, District Commissioner (DC) Bikram Kairi presided over a preparatory meeting for the 79th Independence Day celebrations in the Dibrugarh district. The DC reviewed departmental responsibilities and asked all officials to guarantee smooth execution of assigned duties in the meeting in order to make the celebration a huge success. In accordance with the official protocols and schedules, he also ordered that the national flag be raised at government buildings, schools, organizations, companies, and even private homes. Prior to the event, the DC emphasized cleanliness and asked for extensive campaigns throughout the Dibrugarh…

17 Jul

Flipkart Food Fest 2.0 sparks gourmet revolution with celebrity chefs, brand launches and 100M+ impressions

Business BureauBusiness

Flipkart hosted the vibrant second edition of its Food Fest 2025 at its Bengaluru campus on July 8-9, showcasing India's evolving taste in gourmet culture. The event attracted over 25,000 footfalls, featured more than 40 engagement zones, 10 new brand launches, and clocked over 100 million online impressions. Celebrity chefs Ranveer Brar and Pooja Dhingra headlined the fest with culinary masterclasses, alongside stand-up acts by Rahul Subramanian and live music from Rosemary & The Herbs. The event was designed to blend food discovery with entertainment, attracting influencers and top creators to produce over 1000 pieces of content. Iconic brands like…

17 Jul

Govt employees in Sikkim barred from seeking political help for promotions

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

The Sikkim government has issued a fresh warning to all state government employees against using political or external influence to secure personal benefits related to service matters. The directive reinforces long-standing rules meant to ensure transparency and fairness in public service. The circular, issued by the Department of Personnel on July 15, was signed by Chief Secretary R. Telang and serves as a direct reminder of Rule 21 under the Sikkim Government Servants' Conduct Rules, 1981. This rule explicitly bars government employees from seeking political or other forms of external influence to advance their personal interests in areas such as…